Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 24: Unspoken Truths

Lilia's breath caught.

How did he... How did he find out? Wait, what?

Zethan chuckled and said, "It's fine if you want to leave for your room, but at least eat more. You need a lot of food, you know."

'Leave for my room? Wait, then why did he say escape? Did he have to use that word? He nearly gave me a heart attack!'

This man was a headache all on his own. She stayed silent, her mind racing. Then, realization dawned—this man had a habit of pausing mid-sentence, observing her reactions before continuing. He was unpredictable, and it was unsettling. There was no way to know if his words were merely casual, or if he intended something deeper, something more dangerous.

She decided to focus on her food. Lilia knew, without even looking, that the sky would be dark by now. She couldn't still believe she'd slept for so long.

Who would've thought?

Surprisingly, though, she felt refreshed, stronger even. That sleep had done wonders for her, leaving her alert and full of energy. She had a plan now—she needed to check out the mansion. If she ever had to escape, she couldn't risk getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, not without knowing the layout of the place. She could already sense how vast and isolated it was.

"I'd like to see around the mansion," she said, her voice steady, even though her heart was still racing.

Zethan, unfazed, dabbed a napkin across his lips and picked up a small piece of meat, bringing it to his mouth. Lilia's gaze fell on his lips.

Why is he doing this? she thought to herself, her eyes refusing to leave his lips that moved slowly yet deliberately. Each movement seemed purposeful, as if he knew exactly what effect it would have on her.

A knot formed in her stomach. She couldn't tear her eyes away, despite feeling foolish. It wasn't just his looks that commanded attention—it was his every action, every glance. His entire presence seemed to pull her in, making it impossible for her to focus on anything else.

He finished his steak, dabbing his lips once more with the napkin before finally meeting her eyes. His gaze was intense, almost unnerving.

"What was your question again?" he asked, his voice calm, unhurried.

Her annoyance spiked at his nonchalance. Was he serious? After keeping her waiting, making her think he'd respond once he was done eating, he was now pretending to notice her? Oh, and to make matters worse, she'd been staring at his lips like a fool. Like some beggar desperate for scraps.

This man is absolutely.....

She opened her mouth to speak, but just then, a man arrived. He was dressed casually, yet his presence was striking. This man was undeniably handsome—so much so that Lilia found herself staring. Sure, she'd met plenty of attractive people here, and while this man was handsome too, no one had left her as shocked and surprised as Zethan. His level of handsomeness was different. There was an effortless air about him, a kind of beauty that didn't need to be flaunted.

If being handsome were illegal, this man would be at the top of the list, she thought, the absurdity of it making her giggle aloud.

Oh heavens

The sound startled her, and she quickly realized both men were now staring at her, their expressions confused. Embarrassed, she cleared her throat and reached for her glass of juice, taking a sip as if the giggle had never happened. But the redness creeping up her neck and ears betrayed her. She could feel her cheeks burning, and she was sure it was obvious.

Zethan broke the silence first, his voice smooth but filled with authority. "Loris, whatever you need, tell your assistant."

His tone shifted to one of seriousness as he reached for a glass of water. Lilia felt an odd sense of unease at the change, as if the lighthearted atmosphere they'd shared just moments before had vanished completely.

"Are you leaving?" she asked hesitantly, her voice slightly high-pitched, betraying her nerves. It wasn't that she didn't want him to go—in fact, she had even prayed for it. His departure would make her escape so much easier.

"You don't want me to?" Zethan teased, his deep voice laced with amusement as a smirk tugged at his lips. "Already missing this handsome being?" His gaze fixed on her, completely ignoring the man who had just entered, as if he were invisible.

Lilia rolled her eyes internally, knowing better than to do it outwardly. Pride.

"It's fine. You may go. Whatever it is, it's probably more important," she replied, trying to mask her irritation. His assistant—or whatever title the man had—was here waiting, yet Zethan seemed in no rush. Did he enjoy making people wait? The thought only added to her growing annoyance. She could feel her temper rising, but she kept it in check of course.

Zethan turned his attention to the man. His voice dropped several degrees, cold and chilling.

"Lucas, you know this is my no-business hour."

Lilia felt a shiver run down her spine. No-business hour? What does that even mean? The phrase was so strange, yet it seemed to hold an unspoken weight. Something about the way he said it made her think it wasn't just some casual comment—it was a rule, a boundary. His eyes never left the man, though she couldn't see any flicker of emotion there.

"Boss, I think this is private," Lucas said hesitantly, his tone careful.

Her eyes widened. 'Oh. So that was why he didn't want to say anything. Because I'm here.'

"Private, huh?" Zethan's tone was deceptively casual, but his face and eyes remained unreadable. "So, tell me, Lucas—how private? Work-private or personal-private?"

"Boss, I'd say... personal-private."

"Nonsense. Speak, Lucas. What is it?" His voice grew sharper, the commanding edge unmistakable. He didn't have to raise his voice; there was something in the coldness of his words that left no room for hesitation.

Lilia stiffened. There was a tension in the air, something thick and suffocating. It was as if whatever Lucas was about to say was dangerous—something that should not have been spoken in front of her. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but the unease gnawed at her insides. She could feel the weight of the moment, the turning of the conversation toward something darker.

"It's about your fiancée...Miss Ava," Lucas trailed off, his voice trailing into a faint whisper.

Lilia froze. Fiancée? Zethan has a fiancée?

Her gaze remained fixed on her plate as a bitter ache settled in her chest. The atmosphere had shifted, growing suffocating. She could feel Zethan's gaze on her, but she stubbornly refused to meet it. Her emotions felt fragile, like a water balloon on the verge of bursting. She had never considered the possibility of Zethan being involved with someone else, and the thought stung in ways she hadn't anticipated.

If he had a fiancée, why had he agreed to her engagement? Was he the type of man who would—no, Lilia, she reminded herself firmly, don't be so quick to jump to conclusions?

Zethan's eyes stayed locked on Lilia. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of her ink-dark, wavy hair away from her face. The texture was softer than he'd expected, like silk slipping through his fingers. She froze at the contact, every muscle in her body tensing, but she didn't pull away. Slowly, as if savoring the moment, he withdrew his hand and leaned back in his chair, his expression darkening as he addressed Lucas.

"Is English your first language?" he asked, his voice suddenly cold.

Lucas scratched the back of his head, visibly confused. He knew one thing about his boss—he usually asked questions indirectly. "Yes, boss."

Lilia also looked confused but refused to show it. She didn't dare move, not even a glance toward Lucas or Zethan. She felt the tension build, thick and heavy, and yet there was something chilling about the calm in Zethan's voice. It felt dangerous, like the calm before a storm. She swallowed hard, hoping she was mistaken, that she hadn't understood the situation correctly.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Zethan laughed, though the sound was cold, devoid of warmth. It sent a shiver through her, the same way a storm could be felt long before the first raindrop hit the ground.

"Then learn how to speak correctly." He paused, his eyes narrowing, his gaze never leaving Lucas. "Ava is not my fiancée."

Lilia finally looked up, her gaze meeting his. Those dark, intense eyes held her captive, their unreadable depths drawing her in. She hated how easily he could see through her while she remained an open book to him. Was he studying her reaction to the news about his fiancée? The thought unsettled her. Or was he denying this fiancée's existence because she was here? How rude of him, she thought.

As if hearing her thoughts again, Zethan smirked.

"She is my ex-fiancée."