Chapter 49

Xavier leaned over the couch, placing both hands beside Miranda's face. A sinister glint shone in his dark eyes. Miranda met his gaze. Her expression remained calm and steady. "Mr. Schneider, you've misunderstood. I don't think it's like that at all." "It had better not be," he replied, lifting a strand of her dark hair. "Or I'll lose my respect for you." She chuckled. "Honestly, Mr. Schneider, it doesn't matter to me what you think." Xavier's gaze instantly turned cold. "I used to care about what others thought of me but not anymore," she said with a smirk. She grabbed his tie and tugged it gently. "What matters is that I keep growing and moving forward. Meanwhile, you seem stuck. Maybe you're even slipping back into bad habits." Miranda knew how to stay unaffected in tense situations. However, she wouldn't let herself be taken advantage of. Since Xavier wanted to retaliate against her, she was ready to fight back. Even if she loved him, she wouldn't let him destroy her. "Mira