Chapter 44: Slept Together
Zethan's expression darkened with displeasure as he turned to Lilia. His demeanor soon shifted to an unnervingly calm one.
She had known Zethan for some time now, and she could tell that when he became this calm, it was never a good sign.
"Hmm, very unlikely of you to believe such baseless rumors. So tell me, where did you hear that? Was it last night?" Zethan said, his eyes locking onto hers, almost as if searching for a weakness.
Lilia stilled, turning to him as she spoke as if she hadn't heard what he just said, her voice laced with a nonchalance she didn't truly feel. "Who knows if she really has your child?"
The words came out colder than she intended, but they were her only defense in that moment. If Zethan was trying to rattle her, it wasn't going to be that easy. Her chest tightened, and yet, she forced herself to stand her ground, meeting his gaze.
Zethan grinned, the expression widening as he leaned in closer to her. He gently lifted her chin, his face now mere inches from hers. Lilia's breath caught in her throat, her heartbeat quickening in response. His proximity was disarming, yet she refused to show any weakness.
"So tell me, Loris... what if she's carrying my child?" His words hung in the air, each one sinking into her chest like a weight.
Her chest tightened further. The thought of Zethan looking at another woman, let alone touching her, felt like a betrayal. Lilia couldn't stop the surge of jealousy that rose within her, nor the pang of fear that twisted in her stomach. The very thought of him sharing something so intimate with someone else... It hurt more than she wanted to admit.
"Mr. Zethan, if you have a child with another woman, then marrying me isn't really necessary," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. She knew she had to say it. She couldn't let him toy with her emotions, no matter how much it hurt. "After all, there's a way out of the engagement. I won't become a second wife or a mistress to any man—never in this life or the next."
Zethan's grin widened at her words, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. He spoke again, his voice a low hum, "So you..." He trailed off, as though trying to assess her reaction.
He leaned back slightly, his posture now more relaxed, though his tone shifted into something colder, more amused. "Exactly. Those are just baseless rumors. To think you think so lowly of me," he chuckled. "But you're right on one thing—I'm not inexperienced."