Page 154 of King of Ruin

Then, as if she had already found the simplest solution, she continued, "I'll just call the maids and have Astrid's things moved into the room next door. We'll do what you want. Don't worry."

She gave a small shake of her head, accepting his decision without argument.

But the moment those words left her mouth, Xavier's expression changed completely.

If he had been angry before, now he looked almost overwhelmed.

His jaw tightened, his eyes darkened, and the emotions crossing his face became so intense that even he seemed unable to understand them. He had wanted her to react, wanted her to be bothered, wanted proof that she cared.

"I said don't worry about it," he said quickly, his voice no longer carrying the same explosive anger from before. Instead, there was something almost anxious beneath it. "I'll handle it myself."

He grabbed his phone from the desk, his movements sharp and impatient.

"I'll do it when I want to do it. Stop interfering. You don't have to do anything."

The words came out harsher than he intended, but there was no real anger behind them anymore. He sounded more frustrated with the situation itself, as though he was losing control of something he couldn't explain.

Before anyone could respond, he turned around and stormed out of the office.

Benjamin glanced between Xavier's retreating figure and Elise, a look of complete confusion and concern crossing his face. He had worked for Xavier for years, but even he couldn't understand what had just happened.

Without saying a word, he quickly followed after him.

Once the door closed behind them, silence settled over the office.

Elise's shoulders dropped slightly, the tension finally leaving her body.

Astrid, on the other hand, looked as if someone had just reached into her hands and stolen every piece of gold she had ever owned.

The moment Xavier disappeared from the office, she turned toward Elise with wide eyes and threw her hands into the air in complete disbelief.

"What the hell man?! Wait a damn minute. I never agreed that I was going to sleep with him!"

Her voice was filled with pure panic.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She pointed toward the door where Xavier had left, looking genuinely horrified.

"I only agreed to marry him because I thought I would become a rich wife and take over all of his money and business. That's the whole point!"

She placed a hand over her chest dramatically.

"But him? No. He's not even my type."

Her expression immediately changed as she thought about it.

"I like younger men. Sweet men. The kind who are clingy and affectionate and actually know how to make a woman feel loved."

For a moment, she looked completely dreamy, but then she quickly shook herself and looked back at Elise with determination.

"Still, I won't give up on this. No matter what."

She lifted her chin proudly.

"There are things in life that are bigger than money, and I—"

Before she could finish, Elise quietly pulled out her phone.