Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 38: Ex-Fiance

Zethan's ex-fiancé? Why was she here?

The thought echoed in Lilia's head, sounding absurd. Was it just her, or was this truly strange? Why would Zethan's ex-fiancé show up at his engagement party? The more she thought about it, the more clueless she felt.

The thought lingered, like a cloud she couldn't shake off. Was she simply overthinking things?The whole situation felt wrong, but why?

As the conversation around her carried on, the air seemed to press in tighter. Every word was a foreign noise. Just as the man finished speaking, she turned—only to catch herself frowning. No, she wouldn't let her mind falter. She knew full well what people called a scandal.

Gossip could twist even the simplest things into unstoppable truths. No, she wouldn't let herself be a part of this. Her thoughts needed to be stronger than this.

Zethan smirked. "Oh, really? I had no idea."

The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable. But there was something beneath it—a flicker of surprise, perhaps. Even Zethan hadn't expected Ava to show up at the engagement party. But who was this Ava? Lilia needed to know.

The man nodded, offering a polite smile. "I'll be leaving now, Mr. Zethan. My wife is probably looking for me. I had left to meet you. Congratulations once more on your engagement. I will make sure to attend the wedding," he chuckled respectfully, his words smooth and measured.

Zethan responded with a curt nod, his face expressionless. He picked up his glass and took a sip, as though everything was normal, as though the situation didn't feel strange.

Lilia realized something—she hadn't touched her grape juice since those first few sips. Strangely, the drink no longer held any appeal. Her appetite had vanished, as if it had been swallowed by the tension that had begun to rise in the air.

It wasn't about the drink, was it? No.

The thought of Ava lingered, but it was ridiculous. Why should it matter to her? Zethan's ex-fiancé being here meant nothing, right?

In fact she marrying Zethan wasn't about love.

'Then why did it sting badly'

But love... That word. It could cause undeniable pain. She knew it all too well. Love was a weapon, a promise, and a broken dream. She could feel it deep within her, as if the idea of love itself was a challenge she wasn't prepared to face.

Because a man like Zethan—someone who could break hearts without a second thought, who cared nothing for anyone's emotions—wasn't someone she should even consider. She wasn't supposed to be thinking about him. She wasn't supposed to feel anything.

What was she even doing?

Lilia couldn't answer that. But she did know one thing—she had a better plan. A clearer path that would never involve him.

'Lilia shut up,' she told herself firmly.

Her mind cleared for a moment. She was starting to think straight again, but as her eyes scanned the room, something caught her attention. Whispers had begun to rise. At first, she dismissed them, but then, she realized that eyes were shifting toward a particular direction—first to Zethan, then to her.

Curiosity tugged at her, pulling her gaze to follow theirs. She wasn't sure what she expected to find, but when she did, it was impossible to ignore. There, across the room, a woman stood.

Lilia's breath caught in her throat.

Oh, goodness. The lady was stunning—breathtaking, even. She wasn't just beautiful; she was the kind of beauty that turned heads, that drew the attention of the entire room. There was something magnetic about her, something undeniable.

She wore a royal blue body-hugging dress, the fabric clinging to her perfect figure, with a high slit that ran up to her thigh. Every curve was accentuated, and the way her blonde hair shimmered under the lights added to the image of effortless elegance. She exuded confidence, and somehow, it made Lilia feel small. As if her presence alone was enough to cast a shadow over everything else.

Lilia's curiosity deepened. Who was she? What was her connection to Zethan?

The way people shifted their gazes—first to Lilia, then back to the lady—made it clear. Something important was happening here. Something that she wasn't a part of. And for some inexplicable reason, it bothered her.

Just as Lilia was about to pull her thoughts together, it happened.

The woman turned.

For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. Lilia's heart skipped. She was far away, seated above the area where the woman stood, yet there was no mistaking it. With a glass of wine in her hand, the woman lifted her head—and their eyes met.

Lilia's breath caught in her throat, and for a fleeting second, it felt as though the entire room had gone silent.

The woman didn't look away. Instead, she took a slow, deliberate sip from her glass, a small, almost imperceptible smile gracing her lips. Her lips—perfectly painted in blood red—twisted into something... teasing. Almost knowing.

Wait. Was she really looking at her?

Lilia's heart raced. She was sure the woman had locked eyes with her. But then why did it feel so... heavy? That glance, so brief, yet so loaded with something Lilia couldn't understand.

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Was it Zethan she had looked at? Was there some shared history between them that Lilia was unaware of?

No, that couldn't be it. Lilia had seen it—she was sure of it. That look had been for her. It was unmistakable.

Her eyes quickly shifted toward Zethan, and just as she suspected, his gaze was fixed on her as well.

But why? What was going on? Why was he staring at her this way?

Lilia couldn't understand it. The sudden ache in her chest caught her off guard. The pain was sharp, unexpected. It wasn't just about Ava, was it? It wasn't just about the woman across the room.

But then, Zethan spoke, his voice cool, his tone laced with a subtle mockery.

"Who knew you'd show up here, huh? Skipping your meeting could cost you your job."

Lilia's gaze snapped back to him, confusion rising. Was he talking to her?

No. His eyes were still locked on the blonde woman—the one who had been looking at her like she had all the answers.

Who would have guessed Zethan was into blondes? So why had he chosen to marry her? She clearly wasn't his type.

The question gnawed at Lilia, but she forced herself to focus.

Finally, Zethan turned to her, his expression calm—too calm. As if nothing had happened. As if the woman had never looked at him, as if he hadn't just said those words. As if nothing at all had stirred the air.

And then, he spoke again. His voice was low, unreadable.

"Tell me, Loris, how are you finding the drink?"

His gaze held hers, sharp and calculating, but Lilia couldn't find the words. She couldn't understand why his presence was so unnerving. Or maybe it was something deeper, something within her.

Her expression remained composed, but inside, her mind was a storm of thoughts. She couldn't look at him without feeling the pressure rise. What was he doing? Why did he insist on dragging her into this... this game?

"Good, thanks," she said curtly, her voice cold.

Zethan studied her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. There was something off about her tone—something cold, almost distant. But then, he shrugged, as if it didn't matter.

"Just good? It seems these people aren't perfect at their jobs. Maybe hiring new ones will—"

But Lilia cut him off, her voice quiet, but firm.

"There's no need to fire anyone. The grape juice is top-notch."

Her words hung in the air, cold and final. Her gaze never left his, but her mind was far from the present moment.

Why had he called off his wedding—only to get engaged to her?

Was this her fault?

Had she unknowingly ruined everything by pointing at a man who already had a fiancée?

But she hadn't known. She never would have done it if she had.

Not that night.

Only if she knew, she would not have done anything. No denying it, there was chemistry between them.

Lilia appeared calm on the outside, but inside, her mind was overflowing with countless unanswered questions. Most of them revolved around Zethan. If Zethan had once been her fiancé, why had he broken off the engagement? Of course, he must have had his reasons, and she had no doubt that the decision had something to do with her. But what exactly was his reason? She couldn't shake the thought—Zethan wasn't someone who acted without purpose. There had to be a reason behind his actions, but what was it?

As if that wasn't enough, the lady began walking toward their area. Lilia had no idea why she was approaching. Oh, maybe she had come to congratulate them on their engagement.

But then, something about this woman caught her attention. Everything about her exuded elegance. From what Lilia had observed so far, she seemed effortlessly composed. The way she walked—like a supermodel—commanded attention without her even needing to glance around.

Gracefully, she extended her hand, and a waiter immediately arrived, taking the glass she had been holding and placing it on the table before stepping away. As the lady continued towards them, Lilia remained silent, her curiosity growing. She turned to Zethan, hoping to gauge his reaction—only to find that he and the mysterious woman were already locked in an intense gaze, as if engaging in a silent conversation she couldn't quite decipher.

For some unknown reason, a sharp pang struck Lilia's chest. Wait—why was she feeling this way? Was it because Zethan was staring at another woman instead of her? But that didn't make sense.

She shouldn't feel this way, right? She had no feelings for him... so why did it bother her? Was it... jealousy?

No, no—impossible. She couldn't be jealous. She wouldn't be.

Before she could dwell on it any further, she snapped out of her thoughts, just in time to notice the blonde woman had arrived. Standing before them, the lady turned to Lilia, a small smile grazing her lips, before shifting her gaze to Zethan.

Then she spoke.

"She's as beautiful as they said, Zeth."

Lilia's eyes widened slightly. Zeth? Oh wow—she even had a nickname for him.