"It''s quite a spectacle, seeing you bending over backward for a girl, Mr. Elian Ashcroft," Sebastian quipped calmly, breaking the already delicate bnce between them.


    Elian''s voice was chilly to the bone. "None of your damn business."


    Sebastian''s expression didn''t betray any emotion, as if he was impervious to provocation. He stretched to adjust his sses. "You might want to clean up yournguage."


    Elianzily lifted his gaze. "If you keep your distance from her, maybe I''ll fulfill your wish."


    Clearly, Sebastian wasn''t interested in engaging with Elian''s wild antics.


    Elian had always been this way, rebellious. When he set his sights on something, he was like a wolf with


    its eyes on a steak. If anyone so much as nced at what he wanted, they''d get bitten.


    Sometimes, Sebastian thought of Elian as a mad dog. Yet, inexplicably, this mad dogmanded an unsettling loyalty from people.


    Sebastian and Elian inhabitedpletely different worlds. Their rtionship was never cordial.


    Just then, Elian received a phone call. After hanging up, he cast a distant nce at Miranda before


    turning to leave. As he walked away, he seemed to be typing something on his phone.


    Miranda, while selecting a gift for Lavinia, felt her phone buzz. She nced at the screen.


    Elian texted, [Something came up, I''ve got to go. Call me if you need anything.]


    Reading the message, Miranda looked towards the direction Elian had left, catching a glimpse of his retreating figure.


    That guy was surprisingly polite.


    Miranda turned back to her task, continuing to browse. She spotted a bracelet that seemed perfect for her godmother.


    "This bracelet is gorgeous," Hannah


    chimed in. "It''s so elegant. I think


    saw it on a celebrity recently;


    sw novel


    everyone''s been raving about it."


    Caius, not particrly adept at appreciating jewelry, simply echoed his sister, "Yeah, looks great."


    If anything caught their eyes, he''d y along withpliments. After all, disagreeing would only spoil the fun.


    From a distance, Sebastian watched Miranda as she selected her jewels, and then beckoned over one of the event organizers.


    "Mr. Everhart, how can I assist you?"


    Sebastian gestured towards Miranda. "Whatever jewelry Miranda selects, put it on my tab."


    He paused. "And if there''s anything for men, put it on Elian''s tab."


    The organizer hesitated. "Uh, charging it to you is no problem, but Mr. Ashcroft..."


    Sebastian''s lips curled into a slight smile. "Don''t worry. Just let him know, he''ll settle it."


    The organizer assumed it was pre-arranged and nodded without any further suspicion. "Understood. I''ll take care of it."


    Sebastian gave a curt nod. "And make sure she doesn''t find out just yet."


    "Got it."


    The staff couldn''t apprehend it more. Mr Everhart was nning to secretly foot Miranda''s bill! In all the events she''d managed, she''d nevere across such a scenario. It was thrilling.


    Sebastian smiled, his gaze returning to Miranda. There was something indescribable in his eyes.


    Miranda sensed a gaze softly


    lingering on her. It was gentle but et


    carried an impalpable depth. Ske didn''t know what that was; it felt like a veil of mystery.