Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 46: The Contract

Zethan murmured softly, a slow grin spreading across his face.

"But first..."

He brought the cigarette to his lips one last time before effortlessly snuffing it out. The lingering scent filled the air, and Lilia instinctively turned away, her face wrinkling in discomfort. The smoke made her itch slightly, a familiar irritation she never quite got used to.

He chuckled lightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Seems like my Loris doesn't like cigars."

Lilia's brows furrowed in confusion, her gaze narrowing.

"Now, what punishment should I give you?" He spoke slowly.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered what kind of punishment he had in store for her this time. Would he summon the artist again to paint them? Or did he have something else planned? She had no idea what Zethan could possibly come up with, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.

Before she could voice her thoughts, Zethan spoke again, breaking her concentration.

"But before we begin... just as you wanted, the contract is ready."

It was a good thing she had chosen this nightwear. She couldn't even imagine how she would have faced him otherwise. The loose fabric provided a sense of security—one she was grateful for at this moment. She silently wondered if the fabric was enough to protect her from whatever else he might do.

Finally, she opened her mouth to speak. "I would really appreciate it if you quit smoking for now," she said, her nose already itching from the smoke curling in the air.

Zethan exhaled slowly, the faint smirk on his lips making her stomach tighten for reasons she couldn't quite pinpoint. It wasn't just the smirk. It was the way his dark eyes looked at her lazily, the way the smoke curled in the air, drifting between them. There was something about it that made her heart race.

"Besides," she continued, her voice trembling just a little, "smoking isn't good for you. It affects the lungs."

At that, Zethan chuckled, a low, mocking sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Lungs, you say? What do you even know about biology?"

Lilia frowned, momentarily thrown off. What did biology have to do with this? She was simply stating a fact. Why did he always have to twist everything she said, always making her feel as though she was playing a game she didn't know the rules to?

She took a breath and met his gaze. "You can do it after the wedding. It wouldn't be comfortable for my husband and me to make a stop at a psychiatric hospital on our way to our honeymoon, don't you think, Mr. Zethan?"

Whatever she had just said seemed to amuse him to the core. Was she actually trying to turn his own words against him? It almost seemed as though she had succeeded in making him pause.

For some reason, he hadn't expected it—hadn't expected her to speak to him in such a way. And yet, those words struck something deep within him, rattling him in a way he couldn't quite explain. His grin widened, as if he were thoroughly enjoying her attempt to play his own game.

Then, with deliberate ease, he flicked the cigar away and caught it between his palms, pressing it shut. The ashes crumbled, disintegrating into a fine powder before falling from his fingers.

A strange unease settled in Lilia's chest as she watched him.

And then, with practiced precision, he tossed the remnants straight into the dustbin—smooth, effortless, and calculated.

He then stood and began to walk towards her.

But she held her ground. This time, she wouldn't back away. If he was going to walk toward her, then so be it—she would stand firm.

Yet, just as he came within inches of her, her breath hitched.

And then—he passed her.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't spare her a glance. Instead, he strode toward the bed and lay down, his hands resting behind his head, legs casually crossed.

Then, in a voice that sent a shiver down her spine, he spoke.

"Come sit beside me, Loris."

Why did his words sound so different in her ears? A tremor of unease ran through her as she tried to push the feeling away.

'Stop it, Lilia,' she told herself. 'Nothing is going to happen.'

She walked toward where he lay, each step echoing in the quiet room. As she neared, Zethan slowly shifted to make space beside him, his movements deliberate and controlled. There was no rush in him, no urgency. Just a steady, calm patience that made her feel even more unsettled.

His tall build looked almost sinful the way he lay there, casual yet commanding, as though the entire room was his to control. She sat down beside him, her body stiff with tension. The moment she did, her heart began to race again—faster this time, almost as if it were trying to escape her chest.

What is wrong with me? Lilia couldn't understand it. Every time Zethan was around her, her heart would race, her mind would scatter. She couldn't hold onto a single thought for long before another rushed in to replace it.

Zethan watched her, amusement flickering in his eyes, a hint of mischief in his gaze. It seemed like he found some sort of entertainment in her discomfort, in the way she struggled to hold herself together in his presence.

Then he spoke, breaking the silence.

"Loris, open the drawer," he said, his voice calm.

Without a word, Lilia obeyed, opening the drawer to find a golden-like file inside. Her brow furrowed. Was that... a contract?

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The moment she took the file, she turned to ask him if he had prepared it, but something about the way his eyes looked at her—so listless, yet piercing—made her pause. It was as if his gaze alone could drive her thoughts to madness.

Shivers ran down her spine, and her cheeks flushed with warmth. She bit her lip, quickly averting her gaze, unable to hold his stare. The intensity of his gaze, the way he watched her with such depth, made her feel small.

Just imagine if he... if he...

"Why are you red?" Zethan asked, his lips curling into a slight smile.

"I... I..." Lilia stumbled over her words, her throat dry. She couldn't find the right words to explain what she was feeling.

Her thoughts faltered, the weight of them almost too much to bear.

Then Zethan spoke again, his smirk tugging at his lips. "I've signed my part of the contract, so now it's your turn," he said casually, as if the entire situation were no more than a formality to him.

Lilia swallowed nervously before responding, "I'd like to read it first."

Zethan's grin widened, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Of course, Loris. Are you just going to sign it without reading? Even a dummy would know you should read the contract first, before signing."

Lilia turned to him, a flash of irritation passing through her. Had he just insulted her indirectly? She rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin.

Zethan's eyes widened slightly at her reaction, surprise flickering across his face.

His tone shifted, a hint of coldness creeping into his voice. "I was planning to make this punishment easy for you, but you're giving me more and more reasons to make it harder."

Lilia steeled herself. Wait—was the reason for the punishment because of how she had acted toward him yesterday? Trying to act unaffected, she spoke, her voice steady but careful.

"Mr. Zethan, please, if you wouldn't mind, let me read it."

Zethan fell silent, his gaze sharp, a tinge of something darker in his eyes. "Oh, this is something. You're really something, Loris."

Lilia paused, her heart skipping a beat. She didn't understand what he meant by that, but it felt like the air around them had thickened.

"Go on, Loris. Read it out loud," he spoke nonchalantly as if she had no choice but to comply.

Lilia refused to look at him. She did not want her face turning scarlet again. The last thing she needed was for him to see the effect he had on her. With a deep breath, she began to read through the clauses, her eyes scanning the fine print.

"Party A... and Party B must sleep together in the same room. Party A must not involve themselves in Party B's business." She paused, trying to understand this. Then she continued, "Party A can fulfill this agreement if both Party A and Party B wish to c... c... consummate, as long as both parties are in agreement."

Lilia's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "C... Consummate?"

Zethan nodded, his voice calm and unbothered. "Yes."

"Is there a problem with consummating?" he continued, his gaze unwavering. "We are getting married, and from what I know, it won't be... surprising. Of course, something like that would happen. So it's better we acknowledge that now."

Lilia spoke, her voice steady but cautious. "I think that part wouldn't really be necessary, Mr. Zethan."

Zethan chuckled, a low, knowing sound that seemed to fill the room. "You don't have to worry. I'm saying this only for your benefit. Who knows, you might come running and begging later." He paused, then added, "Besides, just as you're into inexperienced men, I'm into experienced women."

Lilia turned to him, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she stared at him. The words hung in the air between them, charged with a tension she couldn't ignore.

A tense silence filled the room, thick with unspoken words. Then, Zethan broke the stillness.

"Go on, Loris. Keep reading. You've got some punishment to deal with."

Why did he sound so eager to see her punished?