Chapter 24: Unspoken Truths
Lilia's breath caught.
How did he... How did he find out? Wait, what?
Zethan chuckled and said, "It's fine if you want to leave for your room, but at least eat more. You need a lot of food, you know."
'Leave for my room? Wait, then why did he say escape? Did he have to use that word? He nearly gave me a heart attack!'
This man was a headache all on his own. She stayed silent, her mind racing. Then, realization dawned—this man had a habit of pausing mid-sentence, observing her reactions before continuing. He was unpredictable, and it was unsettling. There was no way to know if his words were merely casual, or if he intended something deeper, something more dangerous.
She decided to focus on her food. Lilia knew, without even looking, that the sky would be dark by now. She couldn't still believe she'd slept for so long.
Who would've thought?
Surprisingly, though, she felt refreshed, stronger even. That sleep had done wonders for her, leaving her alert and full of energy. She had a plan now—she needed to check out the mansion. If she ever had to escape, she couldn't risk getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, not without knowing the layout of the place. She could already sense how vast and isolated it was.
"I'd like to see around the mansion," she said, her voice steady, even though her heart was still racing.
Zethan, unfazed, dabbed a napkin across his lips and picked up a small piece of meat, bringing it to his mouth. Lilia's gaze fell on his lips.
Why is he doing this? she thought to herself, her eyes refusing to leave his lips that moved slowly yet deliberately. Each movement seemed purposeful, as if he knew exactly what effect it would have on her.