Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 25: Shadows of Escape

Lilia turned her attention back to the plate, her thoughts swirling like an endless tide. What had she been thinking? Oh, goodness. So, he had a fiancée—or rather, an ex-fiancée—before her. A soft, almost wistful smile touched her lips as she considered it. Probably. After all, with how impossibly handsome he was, it was hard to imagine any woman leaving him of her own accord.

But then again, men like Zethan never needed to worry about being ignored.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёnovelkiss.com.

And yet, there couldn't possibly be any chance... She sighed inwardly, scolding herself for her ridiculous train of thought. What absurd things are you imagining, Lilia? As if it were even remotely possible that this man—this impossibly striking Zethan—could be a... She shook her head slightly, her lips pressing into a tight line. She wanted to suppress a laugh, not just any laugh, but one aimed squarely at herself. No, the notion was absurd.

With his looks, the idea of him being a virgin was downright laughable.

Lilia bit the inside of her cheek, her mind wandering further. In her world, even finding a virgin lady was rare enough. And yet... no denying it—this man changes women like the seasons. She sighed again, unable to stop herself from questioning. If he knew he couldn't be loyal, then why had he agreed to become a fiancée to Ava? What had he been thinking? And worse, what if Ava had been like her—someone who had foolishly hoped for something real?

Lilia, stop. You're losing your mind.

She forced herself to focus, her hands tightening on the fork, but her traitorous gaze darted toward him. Zethan had turned his attention to her, his expression unreadable, his eyes dark pools that revealed nothing. Her stomach twisted painfully as embarrassment washed over her, sharp and unrelenting. Anger at herself quickly followed. She hurriedly looked away, pretending she hadn't been caught staring. Her face became a mask of indifference, though her thoughts were anything but calm.

Then, Zethan stood suddenly, the soft scraping of his chair against the floor startling her out of her muddled thoughts. Lilia raised her head slowly, her gaze meeting his for the briefest moment before she quickly dropped it back to her plate.

"The meat is all yours," he said, his voice even but laced with quiet authority.

As if recalling something, he added, "I'll be back."

Lilia didn't respond. She continued eating, her outward demeanor cool and composed, but inside, her emotions were a tangled mess. When Zethan began walking away, there was a subtle pause in his stride, as though he expected her to say something. She didn't.

For a moment, he stood there, glancing back at her. His face was as unreadable as ever, but there was a flicker of surprise—so faint he almost doubted it had been there.

She had snubbed him.

A fleeting, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He murmured, "Not bad at all," before continuing on his way.

Lilia sat motionless. Her appetite had vanished entirely. A strange ache lingered in her chest, gnawing at her insides. What was this feeling? Disappointment? Pain? She couldn't quite put a name to it.

Had she really thought he was... different? The thought stung. Foolish. That's what she was. Stupid to believe, even for a fleeting moment, that Zethan might see her as anything special. She swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, her fingers tightening around the edges of the table.

'How stupid of me,' she thought bitterly. He's just like everyone else, and I'm no one special outside these walls.

But isn't this good? At least your plan will finally work.

Her mind latched onto the thought, trying to soothe the storm inside her. With a quiet sigh, she pushed back her chair and stood. Her gaze flickered to the plate of meat he'd left behind. It was hers now, but the idea of eating it held no appeal. Her stomach churned at the mere thought.

She turned to leave, intending to escape the oppressive air of the dining hall. But as she took her first step, she froze.

A soft gasp escaped her lips, and she stumbled back, her hand clutching her chest.

"Oh my..." she whispered, her heart pounding in her ears as she tried to steady her breath.

"Apologies, Miss Lilia."

The voice was soft, respectful, but the unexpectedness of it startled her further. Lilia's head snapped up to see Evie standing nearby, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

How had she arrived without Lilia noticing?

"No, no, it's fine," Lilia replied quickly, forcing a smile despite the racing of her heart. "There's no problem at all."

Evie gave a small, understanding nod, but Lilia could see the faintest flicker of concern in her eyes.

The lady made a mental note: next time, she would be sure to make her presence known—at least loud enough to avoid startling Miss Lilia.

Before the silence stretched too long, Lilia spoke again. Her voice was steadier now, though her hands still trembled slightly. "Would it be alright if you gave me a brief tour of the mansion?" She hesitated, trying to sound casual. "Just a quick walk-through, so I can familiarize myself with everything."

Evie smiled warmly. "Of course, Miss Lilia. This is your home, after all."

If only she knew.

Lilia returned the smile, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes—a hidden intent that Evie couldn't see. The real reason for the tour wasn't to familiarize herself with the mansion, but to scout an escape route.

"Please, this way," Evie said, gesturing toward the doorway.

Lilia followed as Evie led her outside the dining hall and into the wide, ornate passageway of the mansion. The marble floors gleamed under the soft light of the chandeliers, and the walls were adorned with intricate gold patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dim glow.

As they reached the doorway, the fresh evening breeze swept through, rustling Lilia's dark hair. It was cool and soothing, so much so that even her scalp tingled slightly from the sensation. For a moment, she let herself enjoy it. Her hair danced lightly in the wind, catching the light in a way that seemed almost ethereal.

Even Evie seemed momentarily taken aback.

But the lady quickly regained her composure, her professional demeanor slipping back into place. "This way, Miss Lilia," she said, leading her toward the garden.

The path opened to reveal a lush garden filled with vibrant blooms of every color, though one area stood out—Zethan's resting space.

"This is where Mr. Zethan spends his time when he wants an artist to draw him," Evie explained, her voice steady but reverent.

Lilia stopped in her tracks, staring at the plush seating area and the easel positioned at the corner. Around it were clusters of white flowers, their soft petals glowing faintly in the evening light.

"Could this man be any prouder?" she muttered under her breath, barely audible.

The thought annoyed her. Of all the things he could have—a space solely for being painted? Phones existed, didn't they? He could simply snap a picture if he was so obsessed with his looks.

Lilia was good at drawing, something she'd picked up out of boredom and grown to love, but the last thing she'd ever do was draw Zethan.

Evie continued the tour, her voice filling the silence as they walked further into the mansion's grounds.

Eventually, they came across a small gate tucked discreetly at the corner of the estate. Lilia's eyes flickered to it, her interest carefully veiled behind a casual tone. "What's that gate for?" she asked, ensuring her voice held only mild curiosity.

Evie hesitated briefly before answering. "That gate is for the maids and cleaners to use when leaving at night. Here in the mansion, we have different shifts, and this allows them to leave quietly without disturbing the main gate."

Lilia nodded, feigning disinterest. "Makes sense," she said, turning her attention to the nearby flowerbeds. "These flowers are beautiful."

The truth was, the flowers were indeed beautiful, but she didn't want to seem overly interested in the gate.

"These are special flowers, Miss Lilia," Evie replied.

Lilia took a closer look. The flowers were black, their dark petals striking against the soft evening light. At the center of each bloom was a vivid pink, creating a mesmerizing contrast. She had never seen anything like them before.

"Rare," she murmured to herself. "Very rare."

"It seems I really need to rest," Lilia said finally, tearing her gaze away. "It's getting late."

Evie nodded with a smile. "Of course, Miss Lilia. I'll escort you back to your room."

Lilia followed her silently, retracing their steps through the sprawling mansion. When she finally reached her room, she closed the door behind her and let out a shaky breath.

She grabbed her phone from the bedside table and began taking notes—small details she had mentally noted during the tour. Her fingers moved quickly, her focus sharp as the evening darkened around her.

Now, it was time for her escape to begin.