Lilith opened her eyes, staring blankly at Shia.

At the exact moment her gaze landed on him, the sharp sound of fabric tearing filled the air—a crisp, ripping noise, as if signaling the collapse of something intangible.

Even though it wasn't yet the height of summer, the night still carried a faint chill.

Lilith felt a cold breeze brush against her legs and let out a startled cry.

"My stockings…"

"It’s fine. You can change them later," Shia said casually.

Lilith opened her mouth to retort but found her throat blocked, unable to make a sound.

Still… even if she had said anything but kissing was acceptable, this seemed a bit excessive, didn’t it?

Her long eyelashes trembled more intensely, her watery eyes dazed and glistening like an ocean reflecting the stars.

In her gaze, there was nothing but Shia’s figure.

Lilith had always known her fiancé was handsome.

But today, for the first time, she truly felt the allure he exuded.

Suddenly, she realized—he wasn’t so intolerable after all.

She had expected herself to despise the situation.

But now, seeing the person before her clearly, she found that wasn’t the case.

Shia, too, stared deeply into her eyes, clearly noticing the slight softening of her expression.

It seemed he had come a little late.

Perhaps if he had acted sooner, she wouldn’t be as shamelessly stubborn as she was now, both inside and out.

With that thought, the smile on his face widened.

As their gazes locked, Lilith felt as though she could hear the unspoken message in his eyes.

See? You’re not entirely indifferent to men.

Her soft lips parted slightly, but her throat still felt obstructed, leaving her unable to form words.

Or perhaps, she simply had no rebuttal.

No matter how much she resisted, her body’s reactions couldn’t lie.

After what felt like an eternity—maybe a century, or even longer—Lilith had lost all sense of time.

She only knew she was utterly exhausted, her limbs too heavy to move even a single finger.

All she could do was sprawl languidly on the bed, breathing in the soft, cottony scent of the sheets, her pounding heart refusing to calm down.

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Her alluring eyes half-closed, too drained to fully open, she gazed at the spirited youth standing by the bed, a deep sense of unfairness welling in her heart.

Why was she so exhausted, while he still had so much energy?

Her smooth, pale legs lay bare in the cool air, the black stockings that once covered them now torn to shreds and discarded carelessly to the side.

Her disheveled clothing exposed patches of flushed skin tinged with faint pink hues.

She wanted to ask how he felt now, but the question seemed oddly out of place.

Yet Shia appeared to understand her unspoken thoughts, his gaze meeting hers with ease.

He crouched at the edge of the bed, looking her directly in the eyes, his expression filled with genuine joy and affection.

"I’m feeling incredible right now—better than ever," he said.

A hint of happiness flickered in Lilith’s tired eyes.

"Really?"

Shia nodded earnestly.

"If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this. Your help made all the difference."

"With your support, I’m sure I’ll win her over."

As he spoke, he reached out to stroke Lilith’s golden hair.

Soft, warm, and silky, her hair felt wonderful under his fingers, her little head fitting perfectly in his palm.

Hearing his words, Lilith’s exhausted face lit up with a satisfied smile.

She reached out to hold Shia’s hand, interlacing her fingers with his.

"As long as I can help you, it’s all worth it."

After all, this was the foundation for her future harem of happiness!

Lost in her dreams of a blissful future, Lilith remained blissfully unaware of what had just transpired.

Played like a fiddle, and yet none the wiser.

Even after Shia left, the image of his joyful smile lingered in Lilith’s mind.

She couldn’t help but smile herself.

The sound of running water filled the air, steam rising to fog the room.

Tia untied the sash of Lilith’s robe from behind, pausing as she caught sight of Lilith’s reflection in the mirror—a faint, lingering smile on her face.

Tia’s hands hesitated.

Once Lilith had removed her clothes and stepped into the bath, the warm water soothed every pore of her body, washing away her fatigue.

"What are you standing there for?"

Lilith’s voice, tinged with weariness, broke Tia’s daze. Turning her head slightly, her damp golden hair clung to her pale skin, framing her exquisite side profile. Her lashes glistened with droplets of water, radiating an ethereal beauty.

Tia snapped out of her thoughts, stepping forward to help Lilith bathe.

Under the swirling steam, Lilith’s alabaster skin appeared even more translucent.

It was as if she were a masterpiece carved from the finest white jade.

Tia’s fingers brushed against her skin, marveling at its silky, smooth texture, soft and warm like the finest satin.

It was as though she were touching perfection crafted by the heavens.

Yet this flawless masterpiece was now marred by certain… marks.

Staring at the faint traces on Lilith’s skin, Tia’s shock was indescribable.

How could this have happened?

Her heart ached, her movements growing slower and more hesitant.

Her fingertips trembled as they hovered over the marks, afraid of causing pain.

But she knew—it wouldn’t hurt anymore.

In fact, beyond the pain, what overwhelmed her most was… obsession.

Like a damaged work of art, it was only in its imperfection that it reached a pinnacle of beauty.

Just like the Venus de Milo, its brokenness made it even more hauntingly captivating.

Tia couldn’t tear her gaze away from the marks on Lilith’s body.

But above all, she was worried.

She knew exactly what those marks were.

Her heart surged with boundless pity, though she could only feign ignorance.

To maintain the façade, she even forced herself to ask a seemingly oblivious question.

"Young Miss, did you bump into something?"

Lilith’s thoughts were pulled back by Tia’s voice. Lowering her head slightly, she noticed the marks on her own body and felt a pang of annoyance.

But she seized the excuse Tia offered without hesitation.

"Mm."

"Young Miss, you must be more careful in the future. Otherwise… I’ll feel heartbroken for you."

Hearing Tia’s words, Lilith couldn’t help but recall what had happened earlier.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, though the corners quirked upward slightly.

Her eyes reflected a mix of confusion and faint delight.

Once again, she thought about that strange sensation from before.

What was it?

Lilith couldn’t figure it out.

But to Tia, her expression looked unusual.

It lacked the proud elegance of the usual Lilith and instead seemed like… the shy flush of a girl in love?

Tia was startled by her own thought, and what followed was a wave of sorrow.

She had tried so hard to protect her young miss.

And yet, it had come to this.

Had she truly fallen?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com