Chapter 21: Not As Planned
Lilia couldn't believe this man—his actions, his words. How could he say something so improper, so shameless, and yet so casually? Oh goodness, what was he even thinking? Was this what he called fun? Her mind raced, trying to process everything, but it only left her more flustered. She shook her head, finally finding her voice.
"Mr. Zethan, please. This is highly inappropriate," she said, biting her lip to hold back the frustration threatening to spill over.
His response was immediate, his tone firm and entirely unbothered. "Do you need me to remind you that rules are made by me? And I am the one who enforces them."
Her breath hitched as her fingers clenched into fists at her sides. Lilia bit back a retort, knowing it was futile to argue with someone like him. This man was arrogance personified, and the last thing she wanted was to provoke him further. Still, she kept her composure, even though the tension in the room felt almost suffocating.
Then he stood. The movement was slow, deliberate, and calculated. Each step toward her sent her instincts into overdrive. Without realizing it, she moved backward until her heels brushed against the cold surface of the wall behind her.
"Don't come any closer," she said, her voice sharper now, though she struggled to mask the unease growing within her.
He stopped, tilting his head slightly. The smirk playing on his lips was infuriating, almost mocking. "Or else?"
Her words froze on her tongue. What could she say? What could she do? Her body was tense, her mind scrambling for an answer that didn't come. His smirk deepened, darker now, as he took another step forward.
She felt her back press harder against the wall as her escape routes dwindled. Before she could react, his deep, unsettling voice cut through the silence. "I'm sure you're aware," he said, his tone calm yet laced with an unsettling edge, "that our engagement is tomorrow night."