Vampire's Veil Of Obsession
Chapter 77: Chocolate

Chapter 77: Chocolate

Lilia flushed hard at Zethan’s words. With how deep his voice was, there was no denying that someone must have heard him even do he whispered. A sudden rush of heat crept up her neck,She quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard. The last thing she wanted was for people to be eavesdropping on their conversation.

She hadn’t expected him to say that. No, it wasn’t just that—she hadn’t expected him to take her words from earlier so seriously.

Backthen....

She had only meant to lighten the mood because she didn’t like seeing a frown on his face. That was why she had said that. But who would have thought that Zethan would actually take it to heart?

Her heart pounded slightly as she stole a glance at him, but Zethan was already looking at her. His gaze softened for a fleeting moment before his head slowly lifted toward the upstairs landing.

There, Zack stood, his piercing gaze locked onto them.

Zethan’s smile vanished in an instant, his expression darkening—a silent warning flashing in his eyes. The unspoken message was clear, and from the way Zack’s jaw tensed, he had received it loud and clear.

The hall was filled with chatter—rich laughter echoing from different corners. It was shocking how even a rich person’s laughter could reflect their wealth. There was something about the way they laughed—so carefree, so polished, as if even joy had a hierarchy.

Just as they began to walk out, a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Congratulations, Mr. Zethan and Mrs. Lilia, on your wedding."

Her steps halted, her body stiffening slightly.

Lilia’s eyes widened slightly as recognition set in. That voice—she knew it well.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze, already suspecting who it was. And sure enough, her suspicions were confirmed.

It was her father.

Mr Winslow stood before her, his grey-brownish hair neatly swept back. He was dressed in a brown suit with matching pants, his expression lighter than usual. He almost always had a frown on his face—so much so that Lilia had once wondered if that was just his default look.

There was a time she had tried to imagine what he looked like when he was younger. She knew he had been handsome. From old pictures she had seen, he used to smile more. But had time only deepened his frown?

The thought had amused her before, sometimes even making her laugh.

But now, as he stood before her, she was surprised. The ever-present frown was gone, replaced by a small, almost small smile.

Zethan gave him a brief nod, his expression unreadable as always. Lilia finally found her voice.

"Thank you, Father. I had no idea you were coming today."

Mr. Winslow nodded, his gaze steady on his daughter. "Why wouldn’t I come to my own daughter’s wedding?"

But Lilia understood what he truly meant. Beneath the surface of his words lay the real reason.

’Whywouldn’thecomewhentherewouldbepowerfulbusinesspartnersinattendance?’

That was exactly what she would have expected him to say. But instead, he had used her wedding as an excuse.

Before she could dwell on it further, her attention was pulled to the large screen at the reception.

A sudden announcement flashed across it, signaling that the bride and groom would be leaving earlier than usual to prepare for their honeymoon.

Lilia’s eyes widened slightly, heat rising to her cheeks.

Her father, however, turned his attention back to Zethan and spoke respectfully.

"My wife is sick."

Lilia blinked, momentarily thrown off.

That was... unexpected.

"That’s the reason she couldn’t attend your wedding tonight," he clarified, his voice composed as always.

Lilia remained silent for a moment, surprised by the revelation.

Before she could process it fully, her father continued, turning toward Zethan.

"As for Lilia’s twin, she and her fiancé have traveled abroad to prepare for their engagement party."

Zethan gave a curt nod.

Realization dawned on Lilia.

’No wonder Sabina wasn’t here.’

Her father then turned back to them, his tone polite but calm.

"Congratulations once more, Mr. Zethan. I am very grateful that you accepted my daughter’s hand in marriage. I hope she treats you well."

Zethan let out a low chuckle, his sharp gaze locking onto Mr. Winslow.

"I thought it was the other way around," he remarked coolly. "If you’re going to speak English, at least say it correctly."

Mr. Winslow stiffened slightly, his lips pressing together as if to steady himself.

A small exhale left him before he finally spoke again.

"My apologies. It seems my mixed emotions have clouded my words. I only meant to say—I hope you treat my daughter well."

Zethan’s quiet coldness seeped through the air as he replied.

"I would say it’s old age. You’re not getting any younger—that’s why you seem to forget basic things."

His tone was serious, and calm, and yet, there was an unmistakable sharpness to it.

Lilia was silent. shocked

The surprised look on her father’s face was everything.

It was very rare to see him caught off guard—as if he had just begun to rethink his whole existence.

For a moment, silence stretched between them before Mr. Winslow let out a chuckle.

"Fair. I’m not getting any younger Mr Zethan"

Zethan gave another cold nod.

Then, Mr Winslow added, "My daughter can be very stubborn. I hope she changes that."

Zethan let out a quiet chuckle. "That, I would say, is remarkably true, as I wouldn’t say that’s a lie. She’s a very stubborn little loris."

Lilia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

’Did he just—?’

Immediately, she shot him a glare, her lips parting slightly in shock.

Her father was momentarily stunned as well. He hadn’t expected such a casual exchange—nor Lilia’s reaction.

Zethan smirked at her response before letting out another amused chuckle.

Sensing it was time, Mr.Winslow finally spoke. "I’ll take my leave now. Since you two will be departing earlier, I won’t keep you any longer."

Lilia knew this man very well.

He wanted to take his leave so he could go and catch the most prestigious business partners he could find tonight.

’Kudos,Father. What a well-playedtalk,’ Lilia thought to herself sarcastically.

Zethan nodded once more, his expression unreadable. His gaze was bored, like the conversation itself was unimportant.

And with that, her father stepped aside.

As they began to walk forward, the crowd instinctively parted for them.

All eyes were on them.

Lilia could already hear a group of women giggling softly, whispering amongst themselves as they always did. But she paid them no mind.

She kept moving.

By the time they reached the entrance, the large doors swung open.

Just as she had anticipated, waiting outside was their sleek black car, its polished surface gleaming under the lights.

The chauffeur stood at attention, already holding the door open for them.

Lilia stepped inside, relieved that her wedding dress wasn’t one of those massive, extravagant gowns. She didn’t mind wearing them, and in fact, they were more comfortable than she had initially thought.

As soon as the door shut behind them, she expected the chauffeur to take his seat and start the car.

But to her surprise, he didn’t.

Instead, he walked around to Zethan’s side and opened the door once more.

Lilia’s eyes widened as she saw what he was holding.

A bouquet.

But what made her heart flutter wasn’t just the bouquet itself—it was filled with chocolates.

Zethan turned to her, his expression softening for a fleeting moment as the chauffeur closed the door.

"Here, my wife," he said, handing it to her.

Lilia hesitated before slowly taking it from him, her fingers trembling slightly. She was speechless. She hadn’t expected this. Back at the hall, she had already accepted that she had missed her chance to take one. She had assumed he had forgotten.

But now...

She placed the bouquet beside her, her eyes scanning the assortment. Different varieties of chocolates were arranged carefully, their glossy surfaces reflecting the dim car light. At the center, a few heart-shaped ones stood out, each delicately crafted. Small pieces were decorated with an elegant letter L.

No one needed to tell her what that L meant.

A rush of warmth spread through her chest. Without thinking, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him.

Zethan stiffened, clearly caught off guard.

Lilia pulled away slightly, cupping his face in both hands. She gazed into his eyes before giggling softly. His stunned expression made him look even more endearing.

He might not have realized just how deeply happy she felt at that moment. She had never expected this.

To Zethan’s surprise, she suddenly spoke.

"Why are you so adorable?"

For a second, he just stared at her, stunned.

Adorable.?

What was she talking about?

"I’m not," he muttered.

Still cupping his face, she giggled again.

"Yes, you are."

His brain momentarily shut down as he caught sight of her lips—half-bitten as she tried to suppress another giggle.

Yet here he was, thinking about what to do with her. And she was calling him adorable. If only she knew what she was doing to him.

Lilia gasped, her breath hitching as Zethan effortlessly pulled her onto his lap, his strong hands securing her waist as if she belonged there. Her heart pounded violently, each beat echoing in her ears.

She turned to face him, her pulse racing with anticipation. His dark eyes locked onto hers, unreadable yet utterly consuming. Before she could even process the moment, his smooth voice broke through her haze.

"Would you like some chocolates?"

She nodded instinctively, her body moving before her mind could catch up. The smallest of smiles ghosted across his lips as he reached for one of her chocolates, his long fingers making even the simplest action seem hypnotic. He peeled the wrapper away with practiced ease, the soft crinkle of the foil filling the silent space between them.

Lilia watched, transfixed. She had seen people unwrap chocolates a thousand times before, but why did it feel so different when he did it? Why was it suddenly so mesmerizing? Her gaze followed every movement of his fingers, the slow, deliberate way he tore the foil. And then—

He used his teeth to tear the last bit open.

Ohheavens.

Her breath hitched, her throat dry as she swallowed. There was something so effortlessly seductive about the way he did the simplest things. She was completely and utterly spellbound. But what happened next sent her senses spiraling.

Instead of handing her the chocolate, Zethan placed it on the tip of his tongue, his lips curling slightly.

Lilia barely had a second to react before his mouth was on hers.

The warmth of his lips enveloped her own, and her eyes flew wide in shock. The chocolate slipped between them, melting instantly against the heat of their tongues. The rich, velvety taste flooded her senses as he deepened the kiss, his tongue entwining with hers in a slow, deliberate dance.

Her entire body shuddered, a warmth blooming in her chest, spreading through her veins like liquid fire. The intimacy of it all—the way he was feeding her, sharing the taste of chocolate in such a wickedly intimate way—left her utterly breathless.

Zethan finally pulled away, the chocolate still resting between his lips. His fingers trailed up to her chin, tilting it up ever so slightly.

"Let’s share it," he murmured, his voice low and smooth, sending a shiver down her spine.

Lilia’s lips parted, disbelief flashing across her expression. But before she could utter a single word, his fingers slid to the back of her neck, pulling her forward once more.

And then—his lips crashed onto hers again.