Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 37: Years Of Training

The names of the fiancé and fiancée glowed on the massive hall's large screen, casting a soft light over the room. The golden letters shimmered for a moment before the brightness dimmed, allowing the atmosphere to settle into a refined elegance.

As the glow faded, Zethan Lyall and Lilia stepped in with practiced ease, their presence commanding attention.

A hush fell over the room, as if the very air had thickened. All heads turned, drawn to the couple at the center of attention—some faces reflecting disbelief, others confirming that the rumors were, indeed, true.

They were genuinely surprised that Zethan was officially getting engaged, meaning he was actually celebrating it.

Lilia couldn't even remember the last time she had been under such intense scrutiny. The weight of countless eyes pressed down on her, leaving an unsettling tightness in her chest. A part of her longed to turn away, to disappear into the shadows of the grand hall, but she knew that was impossible.

She had to endure it.

For some reason she couldn't quite explain, the large chandelier overhead flickered, casting a shifting glow in her direction. At that moment, Zethan glanced down at her, offering a subtle nod—a silent reassurance that he was by her side, that she had nothing to fear.

And, inexplicably, confidence welled up within her.

With steady steps, she walked beside him.

Her gaze swept over the sea of faces, pausing when it landed on her father. He sat at one of the grand tables, his hands folded neatly on his lap, a small, unreadable smile playing on his lips. But Lilia already knew the truth—it wasn't a smile meant for her. It was the look of a man satisfied with what he stood to gain tonight.

No one dared to say it aloud, but she understood.

Beside him sat her mother, her expression as pristine as ever, offering no warmth, no genuine emotion. Next to her was Lowell and her sister, dressed in identical ensembles—coordinated as always, presenting a united front. At least in appearance.

Finally, Zethan led her along the designated path to their reserved seats, positioned at the very front of the hall. The fiancé and fiancée had their own special place, meant to highlight them above the rest.

As they settled in, the lights returned to normal, yet the weight of the room's collective gaze lingered. Some guests still seemed frozen in shock, their disbelief refusing to fade.

Zethan Lyall—of all people—was tying the knot. Unbelievable.

The realization rippled through the crowd, quiet murmurs spreading like wildfire.

A brief silence filled the air. Then, before Lilia even realized it, a soft round of applause spread through the hall. A slow, hesitant beginning, but soon, more hands joined in—a subtle, yet unmistakable welcome for the engaged couple.

Before she could fully process the moment, a waiter approached, elegantly pushing a polished rolling cart. This wasn't like normal, where the servers simply carried drinks on trays. No, this was deliberate. Ornate. Elegant.

A variety of drinks glistened under the chandelier's glow, neatly arranged atop the cart. The waiter's movements were precise as he came to a stop beside them.

Zethan's sharp gaze flicked toward the selection before he gestured toward a particular bottle.

"Black wine."

His voice, though quiet, carried enough authority to make the waiter react immediately. A bow followed, and soon, a set of fine glasses were placed before him.

But before Zethan could take them, he suddenly spoke again.

"No. Give her grape juice."

The waiter's eyes widened slightly in surprise but recovered just as quickly, nodding in understanding. Without hesitation, he rolled the cart away. Within less than a minute, another attendant arrived—this time, with a different cart, offering an array of exquisite juices.

With practiced ease, the attendant selected a well-shaped, covered glass and placed it on the table beside Lilia.

She hesitated.

Why had Zaytan refused to let her drink the wine?

She had never had a single sip of alcohol in her life, but she had also never needed anyone to make that decision for her. And yet, strangely enough... she found herself relieved.

The last thing she wanted was to get drunk and embarrass herself. Especially not in front of this infuriating man, who would undoubtedly seize any opportunity to tease her.

She picked up the glass of grape juice and took a slow sip, carefully maintaining her composure. She was acutely aware of the countless eyes still on her, even if she couldn't pinpoint every single one.

She could feel it.

Of course, there were those who were happy for her. But mixed in were others who weren't as welcoming—those who barely hid their jealousy behind polite smiles and feigned indifference.

Still, she paid them no mind.

Before she knew it, the lights dimmed once again, casting a soft glow over the area. A slow, ethereal light reached their table, drawing everyone's attention to the massive screen at the front of the hall.

Then, in bold, elegant letters, the symbol of their engagement appeared—The Ring.

A hushed reverence settled over the room.

The golden words shimmered momentarily before fading, leaving only the spotlight shining directly on her and Zethan.

He moved first.

With a calm, effortless motion, he raised his hand, displaying the ring. The emerald-cut diamond gleamed under the dim lighting, its brilliance undeniable.

Lilia followed suit, lifting her hand as well.

The moment their hands aligned, the hall erupted in flashes—dozens of cameras capturing the significance of the event.

She didn't flinch.

Years of training had taught her how to keep a perfect expression in moments like these. Her soft smile remained steady, unwavering, even as the lights momentarily blinded her.

She had been trained for moments like this, just in case she ever got married. Her father had planned far ahead after that deal with Lowell's dad, wanting to make his child perfect and pure.

She'd learned many things she thought were unnecessary, as she rarely left home. Surprisingly, those lessons turned out to be of good use.

Still, the attention was overwhelming.

What kind of engagement party was this?

Everything was done in perfect order, almost eerily silent, as if each movement had been rehearsed.

Then, as if on cue, the clinking of glasses filled the air.

The guests, one after another, lifted their wine glasses.

Zethan turned to her, lifting his own glass.

"Cheers."

Lilia adjusted her posture, careful with every movement, and gently clinked her glass against his.

In an instant, the entire hall followed. A soft symphony of glass-on-glass resonated throughout the room, signaling the finality of the occasion.

And then, as if released from invisible chains, conversations began to flow.

The previously subdued atmosphere shifted into a lively hum. The guests, now free to socialize, moved effortlessly through the hall, exchanging pleasantries, offering congratulations, and basking in the grand event.

One by one, well-dressed figures approached their table, nodding politely as they acknowledged the couple. Some carried genuine smiles, others masked their true thoughts behind carefully curated expressions.

It was, after all, a social event.

And in social events, words rarely meant what they appeared to say.

Just then, an elderly man entered.

Lilia noticed him immediately.

Unlike the others who exuded wealth through tailored suits and pristine jewelry, this man's presence alone spoke of his affluence. He didn't need embellishments. He was wealth itself.

Still, despite his polished appearance, his hands—aged with time—told a different story.

Th𝓮 most uptodate nov𝑒ls are publish𝒆d on ƒreewebηoveℓ.com.

Without his riches, perhaps he would have looked much older.

His slow, deliberate steps carried him toward their table.

A small smile rested on his lips as he greeted Zethan.

"Mr. Zethan, long time no see."

Zethan offered a nod—nothing more. The man, knowing better, didn't attempt to extend his hand. Zethan was never one for unnecessary gestures.

Finally, the man turned to Lilia.

"Your fiancé, I must say, is remarkably beautiful."

To everyone's surprise, Zethan actually grinned.

"You're not wrong."

The man hesitated for a fraction of a second—caught off guard by Zethan's response.

After all, Zethan Lyall wasn't one to offer unnecessary words.

Still, the old man turned back to Lilia, clearly pleased.

"It's really nice to meet you, Miss Lilia. I'm Matthew"

Lilia returned his gaze with a polite smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Matthew. I must say, that suit fits you perfectly."

Lilia was taught one thing about the wealthy: they love compliments. If you have any questions or want to start a conversation, always begin with a compliment. She remembered one of the lessons.

A flicker of amusement crossed his features.

"Oh? Thank you. It's custom-made."

Lilia nodded thoughtfully.

"I see."

Zethan, meanwhile, observed the exchange in silence.

He hadn't expected his usually reserved fiancée to speak so much.

The shock lingered on his face—just for a moment—before he masked it once again.

Then, as if sensing the shift, Mr. Matthew finally spoke again.

"I'm actually surprised you had an engagement party. We all thought you'd be marrying Miss Ava."

Lilia stilled.

That name...

It sounded familiar.

And then, it clicked.

Wasn't that the name Lucas had mentioned?

Wasn't Ava Zethan's ex-fiancée?

And as if to confirm her thoughts, the man added:

"I think I saw her earlier."