Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 87: Ex…

Just as Lilia was about to open her mouth—growl, growl—her stomach betrayed her.

Lilia’s cheeks flushed instantly, her body stiffening in embarrassment. Why now, of all times? She curled her fingers into the fabric of the shirt, pressing her palm against her stomach as if that could silence the offending noise. But it was too late.

A deep chuckle rumbled in front of her.

She didn’t dare look up at him. Her face burned hotter than the morning sun filtering through the windows.

Zethan finally pulled away from her, his voice low and steady. "Go on."

The word was simple, but something about the way he said it—calm, assured—sent a strange shiver down her spine. It was as if he were giving her permission, allowing her to move freely.

Still avoiding his gaze, Lilia turned toward the kitchen area, eager to distract herself with something—anything. Breakfast. Pancakes. That would do.

She moved to the fridge, retrieving the necessary ingredients with practiced ease. Eggs, milk, butter. Then she turned toward the cupboard. The flour was placed just a little too high for her reach. She stretched onto her toes, her fingers barely grazing the edge of the container.

Before she could turn to ask for help, a presence loomed behind her.

Zethan.

Without a word, he lifted her effortlessly.

Her breath hitched.

His hands, firm yet careful, held her steady as she grabbed the flour. A wave of warmth rolled through her, settling deep in her chest. She could feel the heat of his body so close to hers.

"Got it," she murmured, quickly pulling away, but her cheeks burned as she stepped back onto the floor.

Zethan remained close, his presence almost overwhelming. He leaned casually against the counter, arms crossed, watching her. Not just watching—making sure she was safe.

And maybe, just maybe, admiring her.

Lilia pretended not to notice how his gaze drifted lower, trailing over the smooth expanse of her legs. Instead, she focused on gathering the rest of the ingredients, refusing to let her own thoughts wander in a direction they shouldn’t.

Then she turned to him, arms crossed.

"It seems like you’re forgetting something," she said, her eyes flicking toward the sink where the burned pot still sat.

Zethan followed her gaze and chuckled, his grin widening.

"Of course I did," he admitted easily. "You, standing there alone, made me forget my surroundings."

His voice was serious, But the way he said it—so calmly and sexily her stomach fluttered.

Lilia waved him off. "Go wash it. Go to your punishment."

He smirked but didn’t argue. With a slow push off the counter, he strode toward the sink.

Lilia turned back to her task, measuring the flour and cracking the eggs into a bowl, but her attention kept flickering back to him.

Zethan had such a stunning back view.

His broad shoulders, silver hair catching the light, the way his muscles moved effortlessly beneath his fitted shirt—it was all... mesmerizing. And that loosely tied apron draping over his strong frame only made it worse.

Goodness. Why was he so...

She swallowed. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Before she could catch herself, her gaze lingered a moment too long.

Zethan’s voice broke through the silence.

"Admire all you want, Loris" His tone was rich with amusement. "I’m all yours."

Her heart lurched.

"I—I wasn’t admiring," she stammered, turning back to the batter in front of her. "I was just checking if you were washing the pot properly."

He hummed, clearly unconvinced.

Then, slowly, a devilish grin curled on his lips.

"Mmhmm," he murmured, the sound dragging out lazily.

Her cheeks burned even deeper.

And then, he finally spoke again.

"You know... lying is a terrible skill of yours."

Lilia froze.

She hadn’t even noticed him move.

By the time she turned, he was already behind her.

Too close.

His voice dipped lower. "But apart from that, you’re good at everything." He paused, his gaze unwavering. "Not to mention last—"

Before he could finish, Lilia’s small hands shot up, covering his mouth.

She knew exactly where he was going with that sentence.

Her cheeks burned furiously.

"Please, don’t," she whispered.

Zethan grinned against her palms, his lips curving mischievously beneath her touch. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver through her fingers before she finally pulled away, needing distance.

Desperate to shift the conversation, she spoke quickly.

"If you come back here again without finishing the pot, you’ll be punished. I’ll give you more punishment."

Zethan chuckled, finally stepping back. He knew full well that if he teased her any further, she might just explode from embarrassment.

Lilia busied herself again, focusing on breakfast.

Before long, the table was set. Pancakes, grape juice, everything neatly arranged. Just like the previous night, they moved effortlessly, almost in sync, before sitting down to eat.

Something felt different, though.

Lilia noticed it almost immediately.

Zethan was unusually quiet.

Was it something she had said earlier?

A nagging thought tugged at her. She spared him a few glances—quick, fleeting like a shy schoolgirl caught staring at her crush.

And then, finally, Zethan raised his head.

Their gazes locked.

Lilia immediately looked away, pretending to focus on her plate. But the weight of his stare didn’t lift.

"Go on..." she said quietly, her voice hesitant. "Say what you want to say."

Her fingers toyed with the edge of her napkin.

Then, in a softer tone, she added, "Is it okay if I go outside and see the forest?"

She hadn’t meant for it to sound so unsure.

To her surprise, Zethan answered almost immediately.

"You can. I’ll go with you."

Her head shot up, eyes widening slightly.

She hadn’t expected him to agree.

If anything, she had been bracing herself for a refusal.

"Thank you very much, Zethan," she said softly, her voice carrying a sincerity she hadn’t intended to reveal.

For some reason, a slow smile tugged at Zethan’s lips.

And then, as if something within her had suddenly lit up, her excitement bubbled to the surface.

She returned to eating, this time with quiet eagerness.

Once they were done, Lilia rose to her feet, gathering the plates and carrying them to the counter.

Her gaze swept over the kitchen—it was already spotless. The countertops gleamed, the dishes were neatly stacked, and not a single speck of dust remained. Everything was in perfect order.

A warmth spread through her chest again.

It almost felt like...

Like they were a newlywed couple on their honeymoon.

’They were actually’

The thought alone sent an unfamiliar flutter through her heart.

Something she had never imagined experiencing in her wildest dreams.

She lingered for a moment, allowing the sensation to wash over her, before turning toward the sink. With practiced ease, she washed the dishes, the soft clinking of ceramic against metal filling the silence.

Once she was done, she wiped her hands on a towel and turned toward the bathroom.

To her surprise, Zethan followed.

The quiet sound of his footsteps behind her sent a ripple of awareness down her spine.

Just as she reached for the doorknob, a large, warm hand suddenly covered hers.

Her breath hitched.

She turned to him, her brows slightly raised, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"Do you want to have your bath first?" she asked.

To her shock, he shook his head.

"No," he murmured smoothly, his voice deep and unwavering. "I want us to bathe together."

Lilia’s entire body locked up.

Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, turning them a deep shade of red.

"You... you want us to bathe together?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Zethan couldn’t help it.

Laughter erupted from his chest, rich and unrestrained.

The sound echoed through the quiet space, filling the air with something light—something rare.

His amusement lingered as he took in her wide eyes, her flustered expression. Then, with a smirk tugging at his lips, he leaned in ever so slightly and said,

"Fine. Go on, have your bath first. We’ll bathe together later."

Lilia blinked rapidly.

Still caught off guard, she wasted no time. With a sharp inhale, she swiftly turned the doorknob, slipped inside, and shut the door firmly behind her.

Once inside, she pressed her back against the door, her hands clenched at her sides.

She exhaled deeply.

Her cheeks were still burning.

Outside, Zethan shook his head, his smile still lingering—a rare thing, even for him. Just then, a vibration from the counter caught his attention.

His phone.

His expression shifted instantly.

Walking over, he picked up the phone, barely sparing the caller ID a glance.

Lucas.

Without hesitation, he answered.

Silence.

Then—

"Boss..."

Lucas’s voice carried a weight, but Zethan remained impassive.

He waited.

Another pause.

Then—

"There’s something you need to know."

Still, Zethan said nothing. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face.

The pause stretched, but Lucas’s next words cut through.

"It’s about your ex-wife’s death."It was only then that Zethan finally stiffened.