Chapter 300
He looked at her with such intensity, every word he spoke seemed meticulously chosen. Miranda remained silent.
He turned his gaze forward. “But, as I said, your choices are yours to make. You are always free,” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “No one can force you to make your own choices, and that certainly includes me.”
He had that intention, but he respected Miranda’s decisions.
“With technology as advanced as it is now, getting anywhere is a piece of cake, Miranda quipped, raising an eyebrow. “So, it really doesn’t matter where we are, does it?”
Elian didn’t disagree. He knew full well that traveling was a breeze these days.
Yet, Miranda’s choices meant something different to him. He merely wished to express his desire to see her as often as possible.
But he wouldn’t interfere with her decisions. No matter what she decided, he would find other ways to achieve his goals. Of course, that was his business.
“Even though you can be anywhere, I still want to see you,” he murmured softly.
Miranda paused, and then smiled faintly after a moment. “We will see each other. Don’t forget, I promised Mr. Ashcroft. I have quite a few patients waiting for me.”
With that, Miranda opened the car door. “I’ll head back first.”
She walked around the car towards the grand front door of the house.
“Miranda!”
His voice made her stop in her tracks. And before the sound trailed off, he was out of the car and striding towards her with those long legs of his, reaching her in just a few steps.
Miranda barely managed to ask, “What’s up?”
Before she could finish her question, she felt his arms wrap tightly around her waist, pulling her forward.
Caught off guard, she found herself pressed up against Elian, their bodies closely entwined. Before she could react, his lips were on hers, warm and insistent.
The lingering, tender kiss made the air around them heat up, and even Miranda’s palms felt incredibly warm.
She instinctively wanted to react, but this kiss was differently gentle, leaving her doing nothing. She had told him she didn’t felt repulsive when staying with Elian, more of a pleasant emotion.
She was a doctor, and the era she lived in before was even more advanced and open than now. So, she didn’t hold onto old–fashioned, conservative views about men and women.
She followed her own moods and feelings. If something felt good, she enjoyed it. If it didn’t, she acted on it.
In her past life, she hadn’t been interested in men or the business of love. She was a go–getter; always aiming to conquer whatever challenge lay at the top of her current path.
That was how she mastered so many skills, even reaching proficiency in most of them. Given how driven she was, she had little time to focus on men.
She blinked her eyes. Elian stood before her, his eyes half–closed, dark lashes casting a soft shadow on his eyelids. His perfectly handsome features seemed almost too artfully crafted.
The heat of their kiss slowly faded, but the taste lingered on her lips, unmistakably his.
He wore a satisfied smile, his gaze locked on her face. Right now, Elian’s eyes had an unmistakable warmth. “You’ll come find me, as you promised.”
10:12
With a click, the sound of metal echoed. Miranda suddenly felt a cool sensation on her wrist.
It was then she noticed the bracelet Elian had clasped around her wrist. The bracelet was beautiful, with a detailed design reminiscent of fine craftsmanship.
Clearly, it had been designed with care. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than an elegant, stylish
accessory.
“What’s this?”
If Miranda hadn’t looked, she might have thought she’d been cuffed.
