Chapter 197: Playful Banter
Lilia sat outside the beach house, organizing the fish on the bench chair. Night had already fallen, and a cold breeze brushed past her skin. Above her, countless stars shimmered brightly in the sky—more than usual tonight. A good sign, she thought.
The only source of light around them came from a modern bulb Zethan had fixed himself. It was a unique, stick-like light—almost like a balloon—that absorbed sunlight during the day and glowed as soon as darkness fell. It wasn’t ordinary electricity, but it worked perfectly for them: bright and efficient.
Zethan was by the barbecue area, tending to the setup. The ocean breeze kept sweeping things away, so he had tried to cover the back portion with something to keep everything in place. They still needed a bit of air to get the charcoals going, though. The soft sound of the waves in the distance made everything feel calm, soothing.
Lilia had already cut and spiced the fish, neatly arranging them in bowls. Her task was done, and now she just waited. She sat on the bench quietly, facing the sea.
"I’m done," she suddenly heard Zethan’s voice call out. A slow smile curved her lips as she stood up.
"It needs to sit for two minutes—it’s still hot," he added gently.
Lilia gave a quiet nod as he walked back to the bench. Zethan joined her, sitting beside her and gently pulling her into his arms. Her sleeveless gown fluttered lightly in the breeze—simple, perfect for the night.
"We’ll take pictures later," she said softly. "It’s so beautiful. We should take pictures and decorate the living room with them."
Zethan nodded. "Whatever my wife wants."
Lilia smiled again, deeply. She didn’t know what the future held, but in that moment, she wanted nothing more than a happy married life with him. She lifted a finger and pointed at her cheek with a playful pout.
Zethan leaned in and placed a soft kiss on it.