Page 134 of King of Ruin

Xavier simply stared at her.

For the first time since walking into the mansion, genuine confusion appeared on his face, followed by disbelief.

His brows slowly drew together.

"You want me..." he repeated slowly, as though he hadn't heard her correctly. "You want me to introduce Astrid as my girlfriend?"

There was something almost incredulous in his voice.

Elise nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

She spoke so matter-of-factly that it only deepened his confusion.

"You're constantly attending business events, charity galas, and public functions. If people keep seeing you with me while Astrid is kept in the background, it'll only create unnecessary misunderstandings." She glanced at Astrid again before returning her attention to Xavier. "That wouldn't be fair to her."

Her voice remained steady and practical.

"So I think you should start introducing her as your girlfriend from now on. That way everyone will understand her place in your life, and no one will say anything that could hurt or embarrass her."

The more sincerely Elise spoke, the darker Xavier's expression became.

Not once had she sounded reluctant. Jealous.

It was as though she truly wanted him to belong to someone else.

The muscles in his jaw tightened so hard that they stood out beneath his skin, and a dangerous look settled in his eyes. He shoved both hands into the pockets of his trousers, clearly restraining himself from saying something far harsher than what was about to leave his mouth.

A humorless laugh escaped him.

"Miss Foster..." he said, his voice low and edged with irritation. "You're very generous, aren't you?"

He took a slow step toward her, his gaze never leaving her face.

"Always thinking about everyone else."

His lips curved into a cold smile.

"If I introduce Astrid as my girlfriend..." He raised an eyebrow, the anger in his eyes impossible to miss. "What happens to the title you hold?"

He held her gaze.

"You're my girlfriend, aren't you?"

His voice hardened.

"You're the woman everyone knows lives with me."

Before he had even finished speaking, Elise answered without the slightest hesitation, as though she had already thought everything through.

"It doesn't matter."

Her reply was calm and matter-of-fact.

"You and I never publicly confirmed our relationship." She met his eyes steadily. "You never officially introduced me asyour girlfriend, never told anyone we were dating, and never acknowledged our relationship in public."

She gave a small shake of her head.