Chapter 33: Slapping Face

Mira's composure flickered slightly, her conscience nagging at her for past deeds. She was regarded as an enchantress, a role she embraced—except when confronted with Phoenix, whom she saw as merely a fallback option.

Phoenix maintained a frosty distance, but Mira was convinced it was a tactical ploy. She believed he was smitten with her, and with a bit more persistence, she'd have him wrapped around her finger.

Thus, she offered a playful pout, "It was for your benefit! Phoenix, don't be so cautious!"

"Let's just say I was wrong, shall we? I'll come and make it up to you immediately."

Her lips trembled as she bit them, a surprising blush painting her cheeks. "I could even give you a massage!" she suggested, her voice laced with forced sweetness.

Internally, Phoenix cursed. Mira's act was compelling; she had the makings of a star—if only her performance weren't so deceitful.

But Phoenix wasn't fooled.

"This is inappropriate," he said, his tone firm. "We aren't a couple, and I have my principles."

Mira's frustration mounted. She was offering herself on a silver platter, yet Phoenix played the part of the reserved gentleman. Did she need to spell it out for him?

If he allowed her into his life, she thought, the rewards would be plentiful, and a romantic liaison wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

Ignoring Iris's presence, Mira addressed Phoenix directly, "Phoenix, I've always been quite fond of you. Who's to say what might happen between us down the line? Love has a way of blossoming over time."

She feigned shyness once more, "Oh, how direct I'm being!"

The old Phoenix might have been swayed by such entreaties, but he was now contemplating his next move. To let Mira, this 'White Lotus,' into his abode was a tempting notion born of old desires.

He wasn't being naive; he had once chased her affections. Part of him wanted to settle old scores.

Yet, that impulse was fleeting. In these treacherous times, he couldn't afford to let his guard down. Safety was his priority, not the indulgence of past fantasies.

Phoenix looked at Mira with a mocking glint in his eyes, "Mira, do you really believe I hold affection for you?"

"We had our moments in the past," he conceded. "But you've overestimated my interest."

The sting of his words was evident on Mira's face, contorting into an expression of shock and hurt. Iris, observing the scene, couldn't mask a subtle glint of glee in her gaze.

Friendships, it seemed, were often superficial—supportive on the surface but filled with concealed malice.

Confused and wounded, Mira pressed, "Phoenix, what are you suggesting? Didn't you always have a preference for me?"

Phoenix's response was unsparing, "You have your charms, but I've never sought romance with you. Finding a partner in Solstice City isn't a challenge for someone like me."

His confidence wasn't misplaced; his affluence and good looks set him apart in the social landscape of Solstice City—a fact that even Mira recognized.

Phoenix's blunt admission was a blow to Mira's ego. Accustomed to admiration, she couldn't fathom his indifference.

Previously, she had treated Phoenix as a stepping stone, a means to attract wealthier suitors. Now, he reduced her to a mere option in a sea of many.

Overwhelmed with indignation, Mira retorted, "Phoenix! That's enough!"

But Phoenix was relentless, his words as cutting as ever. "Drop the act. You're well-known for your pursuits in the social elite, not for true affection."

He laid bare her notoriety in the city, revealing the harsh monikers she had earned.

Mira's face drained of color, her body shaking with fury.

"Shut up, Phoenix!" she bellowed.

Phoenix's final words were sharp, "I'm merely stating the obvious. Your actions have led you here."

Without giving Mira a chance to respond, Phoenix ended the call, leaving her with her pride in tatters and the echo of unsaid words.