Lilia lifted her head, her eyes widening in surprise at his question. Was it obvious that she had never kissed anyone before? She had never even had the opportunity. Her parents ensured she was constantly guarded, never allowing her a mont alone outside their watchful eyes. If she ever went out, she was always accompanied by two or three bodyguards.
The realization hit her hard. She had lived her entire life under strict supervision, never once experiencing the normal freedoms that others took for granted. She had never given much thought to things like romance or intimacy, but now, faced with Zethan's question, she finally realized how little control she had over her own life.
The way he spoke unsettled her—was he genuinely curious, or was he teasing her? His tone was light, almost casual, but sothing in the way he watched her made her heart hamr against her ribs.
Shifting back slightly, she quickly searched for a way to change the subject. "We're running late for the engagent. Let's go," she said, her voice steady, though the faint pink in her cheeks betrayed her.
Zethan chuckled, clearly amused by her reaction. He already knew the answer—he just wanted to hear her say it. But seeing her flustered expression, he decided to let it go. Fornow.
Without another word, they stepped out of her room and descended the grand staircase together. The mansion, with its towering chandeliers and gleaming marble floors, felt colder than usual. Perhaps it was the knowledge that this engagent wasn't sothing she had truly chosen for herself.
Once outside, they entered the waiting car, the atmosphere between them still tinged with unspoken emotions.
The sleek, black car glead under the light as the chauffeur closed the door with practiced ease before slipping into the front seat. At Zethan's silent nod, granting permission to leave, the chauffeur responded with a respectful dip of his head before starting the engine. The car purred to life, then smoothly pulled away from the mansion.
Despite the motion of the vehicle, Lilia remained frozen in her thoughts. She still couldn't shake off Zethan's scent—the intoxicating fragrance that had imprinted itself in her mind. She had morized it, a scent so maddeningly familiar that even now, sitting beside him in the confined space of the car, it made her heart pound in her chest.
She despised how aware she was of him. The warmth of his presence, the way his every movent seed calculated yet effortless.
Then, breaking the silence, Zethan finally turned to her, his voice carrying a teasing edge. "It seems like you aren't even interested in your fiancé. You don't know much about , hmm... completely uninterested."
Lilia turned to him, her voice quiet but firm. "That's because you won't say anything about yourself," she replied. Then, almost as if speaking to herself, she muttered under her breath, "You're too hidden."
Zethan leaned back in his seat, his lips curling slightly. "Oh, really? But you never asked." He tilted his head, amusent flickering in his eyes. "Alright then, go on. Ask anything, and I'll try my best to answer. No promises, though."
Lilia studied him for a mont, as if weighing his words, before finally asking, "Do you have any siblings?"
For a split second, sothing flickered in Zethan's expression—sothing almost unreadable. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"I actually hadn't expected you to ask that," he admitted. "This is an engagent party, after all. A fiancée should know her fiancé well, shouldn't she?" His voice carried a teasing edge, but then, without hesitation, he added, "But since you asked—I have no siblings, Lilia."
Lilia glanced at him, a hint of concern flashing across her face. Was that why he was like this? Cold, unreadable? She couldn't bla him. People had reasons for becoming the way they were.
She hesitated before murmuring, "Asking questions and providing answers about finances and fiancées wouldn't be really necessary."
Zethan's gaze sharpened. "Of course, it would. Questions like these will be asked at an engagent party. Not to ntion," his tone took on a mocking lightness, "my fiancée doesn't even have a ring. I must be a terrible fiancé."
His words made Lilia stiffen. Aring. Of course. One of the key monts at an engagent party was the showcasing of the ring, and here she was—completely ringless. Great. What a perfect way to start an engagent.
She hesitated before offering, "We could... postpone the engagent party. Maybe by then, I'd have a ring."
Zethan chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Look at you, trying your best to delay this engagent."
There was sothing almost amused in his gaze, a mix of curiosity and intrigue. He couldn't quite understand why she was pulling away. Most people would kill for a re glance from him—yet here she was, given a golden opportunity, and she didn't want it.
The realization stirred sothing in him. Was it amusent? Excitent? Or was he simply surprised that, for once, soone was rejecting him? Even if not outright, he could tell—Lilia wanted nothing to do with this engagent.
And that, for so reason, thrilled him.
Before she could fully process her thoughts, he spoke again, his voice laced with amusent.
"I must say, Loris, you're really sothing. First, you asked for a contract. Then, you wanted a divorce. Now, you're trying to postpone the engagent. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you called it off right in the middle of the engagent party."
Lilia finally turned to him, a slow smile curling on her lips. "That would be a great idea, Mr. Zethan," she replied smoothly.
For a mont, Zethan was caught off guard. His eyes flickered with surprise as he realized what had just happened—she had matched his sarcasm perfectly.
He had been the one playing the ga, teasing and provoking, but now, she had thrown it right back at him. And the most unexpected part? She did it so effortlessly, as if she had been mirroring his own mannerisms without even realizing it.
For the first ti in a long while, Zethan found himself at a loss for words.
Then, he finally spoke, his voice dripping with amusent. "You know, that would be very nice. Plot twist—you co running back, begging."
He chuckled, as if already picturing the scene in his mind—her rejecting him in front of everyone at the engagent party, only to return later, pleading for him to take her back. The thought clearly entertained him.
Lilia stilled. Her mind flashed back to the mont he had saved her—the way she had told him she wanted to go ho. She...she...
Her lips barely moved as she whispered, "Arrogant man..."
The mont the words left her mouth, regret hit her instantly.
Zethan's grin widened. "Arrogant, you say?" His voice was rich with amusent. "I wonder who the real arrogant one is between the two of us."
Lilia turned to him, eting his gaze with unwavering determination.
"Mr. Zethan," she said evenly, "I won't co running back. In fact..." She leaned in slightly, a confident smirk playing on her lips. "You'll be the one begging instead."
She knew how absurd she sounded. In fact, the impossibility of her own words was painfully obvious—even to herself.
If she and Zethan were to call off their engagent, it wouldn't change anything in his life. But for her? It would change everything. She would have nowhere to go. Her parents wouldn't even acknowledge her—after all, the only reason they had arranged this marriage was because of Zethan's influential status.
Just as she thought the conversation had died down, Zethan let out a low chuckle—bored, yet sohow amused.
Lilia tensed. She knew he wasn't going to let her words slide so easily.
Then, in a calm, asured tone, he spoke.
"You know what I like about you? Your bravery with words—completely empty."
Lilia's eyes widened. She opened her mouth, then closed it, struggling to process what he had just said.
Had he just insulted her—indirectly?
The car rolled to a slow stop just as Lilia was about to snap back.
The chauffeur stepped out and moved to open the door, but before he could, Zethan raised a hand, signaling him to stop. Imdiately, the man halted, standing silently. He knew better than to question Zethan's intentions.
Without a word, the chauffeur gave a respectful nod and stepped aside.
Lilia, who had witnessed the scene, wondered why Zethan had stopped him, but she remained silent. This man always seed to have a reason for everything he did, but what could it be?
Zethan then turned to Lilia, his gaze steady as he spoke.
"Your hand, Loris."
Lilia blinked. 'Seriously?'
The sa man who had just insulted her was now asking for her hand? Why?
Just as she opened her mouth to demand an explanation, Zethan calmly reached into his suit, lifting the fabric slightly as he slipped a hand inside.
When it erged, he was holding a small, extravagant-looking box.
Lilia's breath hitched.
Was that... a ring box?
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