Chapter 88: Dire Ambitions

Damon was caught off guard by her sudden outburst. The sharpness of her tone and the anger in her eyes were unexpected. Her emotions seemed to boil over without warning, leaving him momentarily speechless.

It wasn't the first time he'd seen such resentment. He recognized the look—it was one he was all too familiar with.

"I'm not a noble," Damon said calmly, leaning back in his chair.

 "I don't think you've ever heard of a noble family named Grey, have you?"

Iris didn't seem convinced. Her gaze shifted to the tea cup in front of him, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"But you have to be," she insisted. "That tea etiquette... only nobles bother with that kind of refinement."

Damon tilted his head slightly, perplexed. "Tea etiquette?"

"Yes!" she snapped. "The way you hold the cup, pour the tea, everything about it screams noble upbringing."

Damon chuckled softly, setting the tea cup down.