Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 45: Can’t Wait…

Lilia's gaze snapped to him in disbelief. She wanted to dismiss his words, to convince herself that he was only messing with her. But the unwavering seriousness in his expression made it difficult.

Then again, Zethan had always been capable of masking his emotions behind an unreadable face.

"Don't be ridiculous. That's not possible," she spoke quietly.

Yet, even as she said it, a strange feeling clawed at her chest.

'Why was he so serious?'

Zethan's lips twitched into something that wasn't quite a smirk. His dark eyes glinted under the light as he leaned slightly forward.

"Oh, believe me, Lilia, it is possible," he murmured.

A shiver ghosted down her spine at the way he said her name.

Just as she opened her mouth to argue—

Growl.

Her stomach betrayed her.

Lilia's cheeks burned instantly, her eyes widening in mortification. Her head snapped toward Zethan—

His lips curled, a low chuckle escaping as he leaned back against the chair with a knowing glint in his gaze.

"Go on. You may leave."

The way he had said that—oh no. What if he thought it was just a stomachache? Or worse—oh goodness—what if he assumed she needed to use the toilet instead of realizing she was just hungry?

Lilia practically shot up from her seat, her face flushing harder than before. But just as she turned, something crossed her mind, making her pause mid-step. Slowly, she glanced back at him, her expression still tinged with embarrassment.

"Why do I even have a punishment?" she asked, trying to ignore how fast her heart was beating.

Zethan tilted his head slightly, watching her in amusement.

"I have plenty of reasons," he said smoothly. "I'll tell you tonight—during your punishment."

"Tonight?"

She blinked, caught off guard. What was that supposed to mean?

Before she could press further—

Growl.

Her stomach betrayed her again.

Her eyes widened even further as her lips parted in horror. Without another word, she spun on her heel and practically stormed toward the exit, her movements stiff with embarrassment.

Behind her, Zethan's quiet chuckle followed.

"Cute."

The moment she stepped outside, Lilia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Then, she groaned.

"Of all times, Lilia. Of all the precious moments, you just had to disgrace yourself in front of that proud man. Ugh!"

Frustrated, she smacked her forehead.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!"

"Ms. Lilia, are you okay?"

She jolted in surprise, turning sharply to find Evie watching her with concern.

Great. Another witness to her humiliation.

Lilia forced a tight smile, rubbing the back of her neck as she nodded quickly. "Yes! Everything is fine."

Evie hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Your bath is ready."

Lilia exhaled sharply, forcing herself to regain some composure. "Thank you."

Without another word, she hurried inside and straight to her room. The moment she stepped in, she collapsed onto her bed, grabbing the nearest pillow and burying her face into it.

"Arrggh!"

Could today get any more embarrassing?

Shaking off the thought, she sat up abruptly. She was not about to let anything else go wrong.

After her bath, Lilia dressed in a simple matching outfit, tying her hair into a loose ponytail before stepping out of her room. Despite her earlier hunger, she realized her stomach hadn't made a single sound since those mortifying moments.

Embarrassment truly had a way of making someone look like a fool.

Descending the stairs, she spotted Evie waiting near the dining area. The maid bowed respectfully, her expression calm as ever.

Lilia's gaze instinctively swept across the room.

Normally, Zethan would be here.

Where is he?

As if reading her thoughts, Evie spoke.

"Mr. Zethan left earlier. He will return later."

Lilia nodded, brushing off the strange feeling that settled in her chest.

'Why was I even looking for him?'

Wasn't it better when he wasn't around?

Shaking off the thought, she took her seat and began eating in silence.

"Mr. Zethan also instructed that if you feel bored, we have a list of activities you could do," Evie informed her.

Lilia tilted her head slightly. "Could you name them, please?"

"Painting, watering the plants and gardens, among other tasks," Evie replied.

Lilia nodded thoughtfully. "I think I'd like to rest today. I'll start those tomorrow."

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Evie inclined her head in acknowledgment. "Understood, Ms. Lilia. Also, per Mr. Zethan's instructions, your belongings will be moved to his room tonight, meaning you will no longer be staying in your own room."

Lilia froze, her spoon hovering mid-air.

She blinked at Evie, processing the words slowly.

Move... to his room Tonight.

A heavy silence filled the space.

Finally, she managed a quiet, "Alright."

Evie gave a small bow. "Please, enjoy your meal."

Lilia simply nodded and continued eating in silence, though the food suddenly tasted bland.

***********

The evening arrived faster than she had expected. By then, all of her belongings had already been moved to Zethan's room.

A quiet sigh escaped her lips as she followed Evie through the dimly lit halls.

"I will always be downstairs, meaning I will only come if you call for me. However, I won't be able to enter the room, as no maids are allowed inside," Evie explained. "The staff who work specifically in Mr. Zethan's room are entirely different. They come and go."

Lilia frowned slightly.

"So, you'll be waiting outside the door if I need help?"

Evie gave a small nod. "Yes, I will always stand outside if you require assistance."

Lilia acknowledged her words before hesitating. "Will Zethan be arriving tonight?"

Evie shook her head. "As I mentioned, Mr. Zethan's schedule isn't part of my duties, but I will say that his arrivals are quite unpredictable. If he doesn't return today, he may come later."

A wave of relief washed over Lilia before she could stop it.

She wasn't ready to face him tonight.

Not when she was still flustered from earlier. Not when the thought of sharing a room with him made her uneasy.

They stopped in front of a black door.

Evie turned to her with a soft nod. "You may go in, Miss Lilia."

Lilia hesitated for only a second before stepping forward.

The moment she entered, she instinctively stilled.

The room was both extravagant and unnervingly calm.

Everything—from the bedsheets to the curtains—was black. The only contrast was a single white painting hanging on the wall, making the entire space feel like a monochrome masterpiece.

It was... beautiful.

But why had he let her in if even the maids weren't allowed?

Was he hiding something?

She shook off the thought, her eyes scanning the neatly organized space. The room was spotless, every object placed with precision.

It didn't feel cold or unwelcoming.

It felt like him.

His scent lingered in the air, wrapping around her, making her heartbeat pick up.

Why?

Why would her heart react to nothing more than his scent?

Shaking off the ridiculous thought, she quickly set about freshening up. The sooner she was done, the better.

She walked toward the closet and opened it—only to pause.

The clothes were meticulously arranged.

One side for her. The other for Zethan.

The arrangement was deliberate.

Like a couple sharing a space.

She sighed and shook off the thought before searching for the most modest nightwear she could find.

Eventually, she settled on a long-sleeve, baggy white nightgown.

The moment she stepped into the bathroom, she noticed the black-and-white theme continued even there.

Everything matched.

His soap. His body wash. His cologne.

Her pink toiletries were the only things that stood out.

At this point, she looked like a lost kitten stumbling into a lion's den.

After finishing her bath, she blow-dried her hair before slipping into her nightgown.

As she did that, she couldn't help but realize how much she would love to go on outings—even if not with Zethan. A solo trip would be fine. At least she'd get to enjoy herself, breathe in nature, and just be free—without guards and men watching her every move, suffocating her. She had to convince him to let her go. She wanted to experience the kind of outings she always saw in vlogs and on TV.

She was tired of being cooped up indoors. It wouldn't hurt to see the outside world for herself. She knew it was a harsh place, but there had to be some good in it too... right?

Stepping out of the bathroom, she instinctively turned toward the window—

Only to freeze.

A tickle ran through her nose as she spotted the source.

Zethan.

He sat casually on the windowsill, a cigarette in hand.

His silver hair glowed under the moonlight.

"Oh, Loris, seems you're really enjoying your stay already."

Her breath hitched.

How could he say that when, on her first night, he was already—

Smoking?

Her eyes flickered with disbelief.

Did this man really smoke?

He didn't seem like the type.

Before she could even process her thoughts, he exhaled a slow stream of smoke.

Then, his voice came again.

"I'm too impatient to wait for tonight's punishment."

His lips curled into a smirk.

"It's evening already. Not much difference, Loris. So... let's begin."