Page 139 of King of Ruin

"I will marry the man who loves me."

The simple certainty in her voice made Astrid's eyes widen.

Within seconds, her expression crumbled.

"Oh my God..."

Before Elise could react, Astrid stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her tightly.

"You are making me cry. How do you do that?"

Her voice came out muffled against Elise's shoulder as she hugged her with such force that Elise couldn't help but laugh softly.

After a moment, Astrid pulled away, wiping at the corner of her eyes before looking at Elise with complete determination.

"I promise you," she said, pointing at Elise with a serious expression, "I am going to make Xavier fall head over heels in love with me."

Elise blinked.

Astrid's confidence only grew.

"I'm going to win him over, and then you will finally be free to find the true love of your life." She nodded firmly, as though she had already made the decision for both of them. "You deserve to be happy, and I will do everything I can to make sure that happens."

She grabbed Elise's hands excitedly.

"From now on, I am going to put in all my effort to make Xavier fall for me."

After a while, Astrid left the Chen Mansion to meet a few friends, while Elise returned to the bedroom. Although she hadn't stepped out into the snow herself, she had stood near the entrance long enough for the icy air to seep into her bones. A few melting snowflakes had landed on her bare skin, leaving her shoulders slightly damp, and the lingering chill clung to her like a second skin.

The moment she stepped into the bedroom, she frowned.

It felt unusually cold.

"Xavier must be freezing," she murmured to herself.

She knew his habits all too well. Even on the coldest winter days, he rarely turned on the heating. He preferred the crisp, freezing air, as though he welcomed the discomfort.

With a quiet sigh, she walked to the closet, took out a thick woolen shawl before heading back out.

She checked the bathroom first.

Empty.

Then the upstairs sitting room.

Still no sign of him.

A faint uneasiness settled in her chest as she made her way toward the study.

Her fingers curled around the brass doorknob before she gently pushed the heavy wooden door open.

The familiar scent of polished wood, aged books, and expensive leather greeted her immediately. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, packed with neatly arranged files and leather-bound volumes. A solid mahogany desk sat before the tall windows, where the pale winter light filtered through the snowfall, casting long shadows across the room.

"Xavier?"

Her voice was soft as she stepped inside, her eyes searching every corner.

The study appeared empty.