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Chapter 693 155.4 - Case of a breakfast

And Irina Emberheart trusted her instincts.

She pushed back her chair and stood, walking toward him with deliberate steps. Astron remained where he was, leaning casually against the counter as he watched her approach. His sharp purple gaze followed her every move, calm and composed, but she noticed the faintest flicker of something in his eyes-amusement? Challenge? She couldn\'t quite place it, but it only fueled her determination.

Stopping just in front of him, she set her empty cup down on the counter with a sharp clink. "Refill," she said flatly, holding his gaze.

Astron arched a brow but didn\'t move immediately. "Demanding, aren\'t we?" he remarked, his tone light.

Irina crossed her arms, her expression unwavering. "Stop dodging," she said firmly. "You didn\'t just \'pick what you had. That\'s a lie."

Astron sighed softly, his calm demeanor unshaken as he reached for the teapot. "You\'re persistent," he said, pouring the tea into her cup. The fragrant steam curled upward, but his movements were almost too casual, too composed.

"And you\'re deflecting," Irina shot back, her tone sharp. She took the cup and stepped closer, her fiery gaze locked onto his. "Why those herbs, Astron? Why those exact three?"

Astron paused for a fraction of a second, the briefest hesitation in his otherwise smooth actions. It was enough for Irina to pounce. "See? You hesitated," she said triumphantly, her tone gaining a hint of smugness. "You do know something."

He set the teapot down with a quiet clink, finally meeting her gaze fully. "You\'re reading too much into this," he said, his voice calm but firmer now. "It\'s just food,

Irina."

"Just food?" she echoed incredulously, her hands moving to her hips. "Do you have any idea how many herbs exist that you could have chosen? And you just happened to pick the exact ones I like? That\'s not a coincidence."

Astron tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Why does it matter so much to you?" he asked quietly. "Do you think I have some secret motive for making AMTMH--R8,EBUMHBE FR F5, P55" ,E 3Ru

breakfast?"

"It\'s not about the motive," Irina replied, her voice softer but no less insistent. "It\'s about you not being honest. I want to know how you knew."

The silence stretched between them, the air thick with unspoken tension. Astron\'s gaze didn\'t waver, but Irina could feel the weight of his thoughts, the way he seemed to be calculating his next move.

Finally, he exhaled softly, his lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. "And if I said I guessed?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of challenge.

Irina leaned closer, her fiery hair brushing against her shoulders as she stared him down. "Then I\'d say you\'re a very lucky guesser," she said dryly, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "But I don\'t believe in luck like that. So, I\'ll ask again-how did you know?"

Astron\'s smirk widened ever so slightly, the amusement in his eyes more evident now. "You\'re relentless," he said, almost as if to himself. "Fine. Let\'s just say..." He leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping to a softer, more deliberate tone. "I pay attention." Irina blinked, her breath hitching as his words sank in. "Pay attention?" she repeated, her voice faltering slightly.

He straightened, his calm composure firmly in place as he picked up his own cup. "You can learn a lot by observing," he said simply, taking a slow sip of his tea.

Irina stared at him, her mind racing. Pay attention? What does that mean? How much does he know about me? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, though she wasn\'t sure if it was unease or something else entirely.

Well, she knew the answer internally though.

Irina\'s lips parted slightly, her voice stumbling as she latched onto his words. "Observing? You\'ve been... observing me?"

Astron set his cup down with a deliberate calmness, his sharp purple eyes meeting hers. "I observe everyone," he said simply, his tone even.

Her fiery eyes narrowed at his response, a flicker of irritation crossing her features. "Everyone?" she echoed, her tone pointed. "So, you\'re saying you do the same for Julia or Lilia? Or Senior Maya? Sylvie?"

For a brief moment, Astron\'s gaze sharpened a flicker of something unspoken crossing his expression at the mention of those names. But just as quickly, his composure returned, his voice steady as he replied, "Yes. I do."

Irina bristled, but before she could interrupt, he continued, his tone taking on a faint edge of challenge. "The same goes for Ethan, Lucas, Carl, Victor, Eleanor, or anyone else I\'ve crossed paths with."

His words struck like a hammer, and Irina felt her chest tighten as she realized what he was saying. He wasn\'t denying it-he was leveling the playing field, making it clearn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

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that his observations weren\'t personal. But still...

Everyone? The thought clawed at her, and she clenched her fists slightly at her sides. She understood his point, but understanding didn\'t stop the faint sting in her chest. Why? Why did it bother her so much? Why couldn\'t she be satisfied with his answer? Her fiery gaze flicked up to meet his, a mix of frustration and something more vulnerable flickering in her eyes. "But..." she started, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of something she couldn\'t quite name.

"But?"

It\'s not the same, right? I mean...I\'m not just... like everyone else to you, am I?"

She wanted to say, this but strangely, she did not. For whatever reason she didn\'t want to say it at all.

Irina\'s thoughts churned, her gaze locked on Astron\'s calm expression. The gears in her mind spun relentlessly. Can someone really understand someone else\'s preferences just by observing them? Especially something as specific as this?

Her fiery eyes narrowed slightly as doubt crept in. She couldn\'t ignore the situation- how could she? Astron\'s actions weren\'t adding up. It wasn\'t just a matter of casually observing her; it felt... deliberate. Intentional. She bit her lip, her head spinning as she tried to piece it together. Doesn\'t this mean he\'s been paying more attention to me

than he\'s letting on?

And yet... she couldn\'t help but second-guess herself. Am I imagining things? Overthinking? The uncertainty gnawed at her, making her stomach churn. She needed clarity-something solid to hold onto, something that would make sense of this

whirlwind in her mind.

She took a deep breath, fixing him with a casual yet pointed look. "Do you know what Julia likes to eat?" she asked, her tone light, as if the question was an afterthought. Astron glanced at her, his purple eyes steady as ever. He didn\'t respond immediately, as if considering the purpose behind her question. Then, with a faint shrug, he answered. "She likes fruit-based desserts. Citrus tarts, to be specific. She also prefers lighter meals-grilled fish, salads with vinaigrette. And she has a habit of drinking chamomile tea before bed."

Irina blinked, her chest tightening. His response was so calm, so precise, it took her by surprise. But more than that, it was accurate. He\'s right, she thought, her brow furrowing. As Julia\'s friend, she knew those were her preferences-there was no

denying it.

For a moment, she didn\'t know whether to feel relieved or more conflicted. If he could name Julia\'s preferences so easily, didn\'t that mean he paid just as much attention to others? That her suspicions were unfounded? But at the same time... wasn\'t this different?

Her fiery gaze darted back to his, searching for something-an answer, a crack in his composure, anything. But his face remained steady, unreadable, frustratingly calm. "Hmm..." She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. "So, you\'re saying you just... keep track of everyone\'s preferences? Is that it?" Her tone was sharper now, edged with something she couldn\'t quite define.

Astron met her gaze evenly, his lips curving faintly. "If it helps me understand them,

why not?"

His answer was maddeningly simple, yet it left her even more tangled. "Why not?

\'What do you mean why not?"

Irina thought, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Of course, it\'s because...

Her chest tightened as the realization formed, sharp and undeniable. I only want you to look at me. What else? I want you to only pay attention to me, to focus on me. The thought sent a flush of warmth to her cheeks, but it also filled her with a gnawing uncertainty. But... is that too much? Would it come across as demanding? Selfish? She bit her lip, her fiery gaze flickering back to Astron, who had returned to his tea, seemingly unbothered by her internal turmoil. His calmness only made the storm in her head more pronounced. Doesn\'t that mean I\'m just meddling in his life too much? That I\'m trying to control something I have no right to?

Her mind raced as she tried to untangle her emotions. Knowing him, he probably wouldn\'t appreciate it. He values his independence-his space. If I start demanding things like this, would he... push me away?

The thought made her stomach twist uncomfortably. Irina wasn\'t used to feeling this way-unsure, vulnerable, like she was treading on fragile ground. She\'d faced countless challenges, countless opponents, but this was different. This wasn\'t a fight she could win with skill or strength. This was something intangible, something far

more delicate.

But even so, she thought, her resolve hardening. I can\'t just ignore it. I can\'t pretend it

doesn\'t matter.

Her fingers drummed against the table as she wrestled with her thoughts, her fiery temper clashing with her own thoughts.

Finally, she exhaled sharply, leaning forward slightly as she tried to steady her voice.

"Astron," she said, her tone softer than before but no less determined.

He glanced up, his sharp purple eyes locking onto hers. "Yes?" Her heart raced under his gaze, but she held her ground. "Do you ever..." She

hesitated, the words catching in her throat. "Do you ever feel like... you pay more

attention to some people than others?"

Astron tilted his head slightly, considering her question. "Of course," he said after a

moment, his voice calm. "It depends on the situation. Some people require more attention, others less."

His answer was practical, and straightforward. But it wasn\'t what she wanted to hear.

It didn\'t address the knot of emotions twisting inside her.

"Humph."

Hence, she did act.