Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 57: Broken..

Zethan's gaze shifted towards her in slight surprise, his lips twitching up before he smiled, revealing his perfect teeth.

Lilia's mouth opened and closed in shock. Whoa. His perfectly shaped teeth made him look even more handsome—breathtaking, even. Not that he wasn't already, but this? This was on another level.

She wasn't the only one affected. The chefs had gone completely still, either stunned by his sudden smile or still processing what Lilia had said earlier.

Then, Zethan spoke. "I wouldn't mind that at all."

Lilia's eyes widened slightly. 'Wait—what?' She had only said that to make him eat—to get him to stop looking at her that way—not for any other reason. Yet, he actually wanted her to do it?

She scrambled for an excuse. "That would make us late," she blurted out, hoping to dodge the moment.

Zethan nodded. "Fair enough."

Without another word, he picked up his cutlery and began eating quietly. Lilia quickly focused on her own meal, though her mind remained elsewhere. His reaction... it didn't seem like he was joking.

When they finished, he stood up, and so did she.

Zethan shifted slightly, moving his hand into position for her to place hers on top. Just as she hesitated, her small hands landed lightly against his palm.

Then, without warning, his fingers intertwined with hers. His grip was firm but not suffocating, his thumb pressing gently against her skin.

Lilia's breath caught.

He led her toward the mansion door, his pace slow, deliberate—as if savoring the moment.

As soon as they stepped outside, the chauffeur was already waiting by the sleek black car. The man was well-dressed and composed, his stance straight and professional. He gave a respectful nod before opening the door.

Lilia and Zethan slid inside, the leather seats cool against her skin. The door shut with a soft click.

The car pulled away smoothly, the hum of the engine filling the silence.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts.

Then, hesitantly, Lilia turned to him. "If I may ask... is there a reason why you don't want me to wear the engagement ring during our wedding?"

Zethan remained quiet for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice softer than before. "It's not that there's a bad reason for it... but I thought it through and realized I want you to be different."

He exhaled, his fingers brushing against his lap.

"As you already know, I had an ex-fiancée. She had an engagement ring from me. But with you..." He turned to her, his gaze locking onto hers. "I don't want you wearing that same symbol on our wedding day. I want your wedding ring to be yours alone and different from the engagement ring"

Lilia turned her face to the side, her heart warming at his words.

He had thought about this—about her.

Yet, a small part of her ached at the mention of his..ex.

She wanted to ask more, to understand why his engagement had ended, especially since she knew part of it was because of her.

But she pushed the thought away.

Was he doing this because he cared? Or was he just being considerate?

She didn't want to overthink it.

Noticing her silence, Zethan shifted his gaze towards her.

She was staring out the window now, lost in thought.

He followed her gaze, taking in the scenery. His mansion was a little far from the city, surrounded by trees, and the road leading there had a natural, almost mystical beauty to it. The birds soared in the sky, the leaves whispered in the wind—it was all so peaceful.

Zethan smirked. "Hmm, who knew my little Loris was so into nature?"

Lilia blinked, turning to him slightly surprised. She hadn't expected him to actually care about her thoughts.

Still, she answered, "I don't know... but I think I've developed a liking for it. Nature can be terrifying, especially at night, but... I feel like it has its own way of surprising people. There are hidden creatures, hidden beauties... things you wouldn't notice at first glance. And that's part of why I enjoy it."

She bit her lip, suddenly self-conscious. 'Did I say too much?'

She turned her face away.

'He's probably bored.'

Most of the time, people found her interests unimportant. Her family definitely did.

"I'm sorry if I said too much," she murmured.

The moment those words left her lips, she felt a sudden grip on her chin.

Zethan turned her face towards him, his fingers firm yet oddly gentle.

His thumb grazed her lips before pressing them together.

Then, to her shock, he slipped his thumb inside, pressing it against her tongue.

Lilia's breath hitched.

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His voice dropped lower, dangerously smooth.

"If you ever apologize for doing nothing wrong, I'll punish you."

A shiver ran down her spine.

Zethan's gaze darkened, his thumb lingering against her tongue.

"And when I say punish," he continued, "I don't just mean punish. It will be a scolding session."

She shook her head quickly. The last thing she wanted was another punishment.

Not that she hadn't... enjoyed yesterday's one, but still—it had been frustrating.

Zethan smirked. "Unless, of course, you want to be punished."

She shook her head again, cheeks burning.

"Good."

He finally withdrew his thumb, and she turned away, her lips tingling from his touch.

The car finally emerged from the dense trees, transitioning onto the bustling roads of the city. The sight was breathtaking, with towering buildings stretching toward the sky.

Not long after, the car rolled to a smooth stop.

Lilia gazed at the building before her, eyes widening in astonishment.

It looked as though it was made entirely of glass, with only the ceiling appearing to be of a different material. Every inch was transparent, revealing an elegant interior filled with carefully displayed rings and framed photographs.

Her mouth opened and closed as she took in the breathtaking sight.

The rings, shimmering in various shades—silver, gold, black—were simply too beautiful to be real.

A small smile curved on Zethan's lips as he noticed her growing fascination.

"Let's go, Loris," he said, taking her hand and leading her inside.

The moment they entered, rows of staff bowed respectfully.

One of them stepped forward and inclined his head. "Good to see you, Mr. Zethan. Good to see you, Mrs. Lilia. Please, this way. Your appointment has been prepared."

The staff member led them to the elevator and pressed the button for their floor.

Inside, Lilia turned to Zethan. "The rings... they're stunning."

Zethan chuckled. "You haven't seen anything yet."

His words sent a ripple of excitement through her, making her even more eager to see what lay ahead.

The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival. As the doors slid open, they stepped into a refined lounge where three elegantly dressed women bowed.

"Welcome, Mr. Zethan and Mrs. Lilia. This way, please," one of them said.

They were guided to a plush seating area. Lilia turned to Zethan, her eyes bright.

"This place is incredible."

Zethan nodded, his gaze lingering on her.

He couldn't hide his excitement—she was finally becoming more open with him, voicing her thoughts without hesitation.

And for some reason, that thrilled him more than it should.

Moments later, a suited man entered, holding a measuring device.

"Mr. Zethan, shall we proceed with the measurements now?"

Zethan gave a curt nod.

The man turned to Lilia. "Your hand, please, Mrs. Lilia."

Lilia started to extend her hand, but before she could, Zethan's expression darkened.

His hand shot out, gripping the man's wrist in an iron hold.

A sharp hiss of pain escaped the man as Zethan slowly pushed his hand back.

"Where is the woman who should be handling this?"

A sharp hiss of pain escaped the man as Zethan slowly pushed his hand back. "Where is the woman who should be handling this?"

Lilia's head snapped toward Zethan, shock flashing in her eyes.

The man's hand trembled in Zethan's grip, his face tight with pain, but he made no sound. The warning in Zethan's eyes was clear—stay silent, no matter how much it hurts.

Swallowing hard, the man stammered, "I-It's me, Mr. Zethan. I...am in charge of measurements."

Zethan's voice was cold, unyielding. "I want a woman to do it. Not you."

The man bowed stiffly before retreating, his injured hand shaking.

Lilia turned to Zethan, her voice a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Was that necessary? He was just trying to take my measurements."

Zethan's gaze flickered to her, his expression unreadable. "Those hands belong to me. I won't allow any man to touch them."

It was absurd. If someone asked her, why would he turn the attendant away? Wasn't it just a simple hand measurement?

Even having a woman do it seemed to displease him, but it was the only compromise he could tolerate.

Lilia's breath caught. The possessiveness in his voice, the intensity in his eyes—it was overwhelming.

A moment later, a female staff member arrived, her hands trembling slightly. "Mrs. Lilia, please place your hand here. Welcome, Mr. Zethan."

Lilia hesitated, then placed her hand on the scanner. A soft beep sounded as the device captured her measurements.

Not long after, the suited man returned, now holding a glass case containing five exquisite rings, all crafted to her exact size.

It was then that Lilia noticed his hand—wrapped in a fresh bandage.

Had Zethan broken his bones?

Her eyes widened. Just for a simple measurement, he... br...broke this man's hand?

If only she knew—this was just the beginning of his obsession.