Chapter 111: A Silent Reckoning
The room fell into a stunned silence. Naomi’s mother’s face froze in shock. Had Naomi really just said that? And the way Zylan accepted her decision without even thinking twice left everyone utterly speechless.
Her father, who had initially been caught off guard by Naomi’s words, seemed to recover first. He straightened in his seat, his voice steady despite the lingering surprise. "Of course. Thank you very much for your consideration," he said, his lips stretching into a polite smile. But it was clear from the tightness around his eyes that he was still processing the audacity of Naomi’s earlier words.
Naomi simply nodded, her expression calm, betraying no sign of the chaos swirling inside her. "Our pleasure," she responded, her tone even and collected.
She could feel the weight of the silence pressing in on her, suffocating the room. The clinking of silverware against fine china broke the tension, but it didn’t ease the discomfort hanging heavily in the air.
Under the table, Naomi’s hand moved instinctively until it rested on Zylan’s lap. Her fingers brushed lightly against him, a subtle caress. She felt him still at first, though his other hand remained occupied, expertly wielding her fork to pick at the neatly shaped fruits on her plate. He didn’t look up, his focus entirely on the food, but Naomi could feel the minute shift in his muscles as his attention momentarily turned toward her touch.
Zylan glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable, before wordlessly adding more fruit to her plate. His movements were precise, deliberate. And then, with a slow, deliberate shift, his free hand moved beneath the table. Naomi stiffened when she felt his fingers lightly graze her thigh.
Her wide eyes snapped to her parents and sister, checking if they had noticed. But they appeared too focused on their meals, still processing the earlier exchange. Only if she knew that their shock wasn’t solely about her words—they were floored by how easily Zylan had let her take charge.
Heat rushed to Naomi’s face as Zylan’s touch grew bolder. His hand moved with slow, teasing motions along her leg, sending shivers up her spine. Despite herself, Naomi shot him a warning look, her lips pressing into a thin line as she nudged his leg with her own under the table, silently pleading for him to stop. But Zylan acted unbothered, continuing to eat with apparent indifference as though he hadn’t heard her silent plea.
And then, he went further.