Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 41: Behind Closed Doors.

Just as she spoke those words, Lilia turned to him, and to her surprise, he grinned. Before he leaned closer—closer than usual—Lilia's heart began to race. He gently lifted her chin, his touch warm, and spoke in a low, hushed voice, "Tell me, Loris, why should I tell you?"

Lilia hesitated, her mind racing. Was it something private? Something he didn't want to share? She knew one thing about herself: no matter how painful the truth might be, if it was something private, she wouldn't want to pry. She respected people's boundaries, especially when it came to personal matters. If something private involved her, she wouldn't want anyone forcing her to reveal it.

Though it pained her to even consider the possibility of him keeping something from her, she understood. If it was something he wasn't ready to share, she wouldn't press further. After all, they didn't know each other well enough to start exchanging secrets, not yet.

Finally, she spoke, her voice steady but soft. "If it's private, then fine, you don't have to tell me. I'm sorry for asking such a question."

With that, Lilia opened the car door, the cool night air greeting her as she slowly closed it behind her. She didn't dare look back. She could almost feel Zethan's stunned silence pressing against her, his eyes no doubt wide with surprise, but she didn't want to stay to explain herself. Not now.

As Lilia walked toward the mansion, her footsteps echoed in the quiet night, the sound seemingly magnified by the stillness. The ache in her chest grew stronger,She hated it. She hated the fear creeping into her thoughts, the uncertainty gnawing at her mind. But it wasn't just any fear—it was the fear that she might fall for Zethan faster than expected.

But no, it wasn't love. No, this was hatred. Or was it? Hatred for what? For the rumors she had heard? The whispers about him? No, she couldn't judge him based on that. Rumors were just rumors. She kept reminding herself of this, over and over again, but it felt like she had been doing so for far longer than she should have.

When she finally reached her room, she didn't waste any time. She moved to the edge of the bed, the soft, luxurious fabric of the bedspread beneath her fingers. On the side of the nightstand was a small button, labeled, "Call for Evie." She pressed it slowly, almost hesitant, but she knew she needed her. Evie had been her constant companion, always there when needed.

Moments later, a soft knock sounded on the door, followed by the gentle opening of it. Evie stepped in, her figure framed by the doorway, always poised, always professional.

"Good evening, Miss Lilia. I hope you enjoyed the party," Evie said with a polite smile, her voice as steady as ever.

Lilia offered a small smile of her own, nodding. "Yes, I did. Thanks for asking, Evie."

Evie's smile remained polite as she stepped further into the room, her eyes assessing, always perceptive. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Lilia hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to trouble Evie with her tangled thoughts.She let out a soft sigh and spoke, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability. "I called for you to help with my straps."

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Evie nodded without hesitation and began helping Lilia with the gown. As the last strap was loosened, Evie stood back, her eyes scanning Lilia's face. "Miss Lilia, is there anything else I could assist you with?"

Lilia shook her head, her thoughts far away. "No, that will be all." She wanted to be alone now, to clear her mind.

Evie gave a small nod and offered one last polite smile. "I'll take my leave then. Your bath has already been prepared."

Lilia nodded, giving her a quiet thanks as Evie exited the room, closing the door gently behind her. She felt the weight of solitude settle over her, the silence amplifying the thoughts that seemed to swirl within her head.

Sighing, Lilia quickly slipped out of her gown and walked toward the bathroom. She needed to unwind, to release the tension. But she refused to let herself stress any more about him—not over someone who likely didn't even care. The water would be her escape for tonight.

Stepping into the bathroom, she turned on the shower, the steam rising and filling the air. As the warm water cascaded over her, Lilia closed her eyes, letting the soothing flow wash away the mounting tension. She allowed the sensation to sink into her muscles, but it wasn't enough to calm her racing thoughts.

After a while, she decided to sink into the bathtub instead, hoping that the change of environment would help her mind quiet down. The warm water enveloped her, and she closed her eyes again, trying to relax.

She tidied up and washed her face, scrubbing away the remnants of the day.

The usual cucumber face mask sat by the edge of the tub, so she tore it open and placed it on her face. The cool sensation was a welcome relief, and, for some reason, it seemed to help her worries melt away. The chill of the mask was a stark contrast to the warmth of the water, but it worked. Her body began to unwind, and her mind slowly began to follow.

Time passed in a blur of relaxation, and when she finally stepped out of the tub, the calm she had longed for still felt elusive. She began her body care routine in silence, the movements mechanical as she slipped into a long, silk, sleeveless white nightdress. Her hair, still damp from the shower she blow-dried it before gathering it into a loose bun before she walked toward her bed.

One of the things she usually did to escape the weight of her thoughts was work on a puzzle game on her phone. The satisfying clicking sound of the pieces falling into place always seemed to bring her mind back to a place of focus, away from the chaos. Thanks to the bath, she felt a little more at ease.

Reaching for her phone, she prepared herself for the quiet distraction the game would offer. But before she could even unlock the screen, a knock came at the door.

Evie, she assumed. But then, another knock. This time, it was a bit more insistent.

Lilia furrowed her brows, wondering why Evie would return. Had something come up? Was there an issue with the bath or her gown? She wasn't sure, but her curiosity got the better of her.

She stood up and made her way to the door, opening it without thinking. But when she saw who stood there, her breath hitched in surprise.

It wasn't Evie.

It was Zethan.

A slight flicker of surprise crossed Lilia's face, but she quickly masked it. Zethan wasn't sure why, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt compelled to meet her. Normally, he was the kind of person who remained cool and unreadable, someone who didn't care much for people's emotions. But something about Lilia had unsettled him. It was as if she was a puzzle he couldn't figure out, and for reasons he couldn't quite explain, he found himself standing outside her door, knocking softly instead of simply walking in as he usually would.

It was a strange feeling, this unfamiliar urge to be polite, to follow the social norms that he usually ignored. But standing there, waiting for her to open the door, he felt something stir inside him. When Lilia finally did, his eyes widened slightly, taking in the sight of her. The silk nightgown clung to her curves in a way that made his thoughts stall for a moment. He quickly looked away, forcing his gaze to meet hers.

Lilia, equally surprised, had expected Evie to be at the door. She had opened it without thinking, only to find Zethan standing there instead. She blinked, taken aback—not just by his unexpected visit, but by the fact that he had actually knocked. This was... different.

"Please Leave," she said, her voice betraying a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

Before she could say anything further, Zethan spoke, his voice low and steady, but there was something in it—something unspoken.

"Loris I...." But before he could finish whatever he had intended to say, the door was slammed shut right in his face.

His eyes widened in disbelief. Did his fiancée just do that? Did she really just slam the door in his face?

'Unbelievable'

He stood there for a moment, stunned, and then a soft laugh escaped him—a laugh full of disbelief and suprise. Just when he was trying to act like a gentleman, she did this. As if that wasn't enough, he moved to knock again, but just as his knuckles were about to make contact with the wood—

"CLICK."

The sound of the lock turning echoed through the quiet hallway.