Chapter 111 Chapter 111. When Guards Fall
A darker glint passed through Lysander’s eyes. To him, breaking someone’s will was a kind of pleasure. And when a woman trembled with embarrassment, her scent thrown into chaos, it only stirred the instincts buried deep inside him.
As if she sensed his stare, Zoria turned her head and frowned at him. Lysander immediately reined in the darkness and returned to his usual courteous demeanor. He smiled faintly. “Zoria, I’m thirsty. I want some water.”
Zoria scowled. “Pour it yourself.”
“I can’t find it.”
Zoria stood up and went into the kitchen, pouring hot water into a paper cup for him. While she was at it, Lysander looked around the apartment again. It was only about fifty square meters, but Zoria kept it spotless and neatly organized, without a speck of dust anywhere. Just this level of cleanliness alone already put her squarely within the standards of the partner he had once envisioned.
Zoria set the cup of water in front of him, her tone flat. “Drink it and leave.”
Lysander reached out for the cup, then paused midair before pulling his hand back. “Then I won’t drink it.”
Zoria was truly at her wit’s end with Lysander. She felt anger welling up with nowhere to vent it. She couldn’t beat him even if she wanted to, and all that remained was a suffocating sense of helpless frustration.
After lunch, Zoria wanted to sleep. She had always had the habit of taking a nap, and lately she’d been even more exhausted than usual. She hadn’t slept well the night before, and now her eyelids kept drooping. But with a dangerous person sitting right beside her, she didn’t dare fall asleep.
“Zoria, has Zephyr been looking for you lately?”
At the sound of Zephyr’s name, Zoria became a little more alert.
“No.” In truth, she had received a call from Zephyr last night, but Zoria didn’t think it was worth mentioning. As long as Zephyr didn’t come bother her, that was enough.
Lysander rubbed his chin and muttered, "This doesn’t feel like Zephyr’s style."
How could Zephyr have held back for so long without coming to drag Zoria back to his side? What was he doing? Or had he truly come to some kind of realization and decided to focus on Faye instead?
"Zephyr isn’t the patient type. If he wants something back, he’ll definitely use force. Zoria, be careful. If he comes to bother you, contact me immediately."
There was genuine concern in Lysander’s eyes. Zoria looked at him in surprise. Lysander, however, misunderstood, thinking she was moved by his words.
His thick brows lifted, the corners of his mouth curling into a thoughtful smile. "What is it? Seeing me care about you like this… are you a little touched?"
Zoria wasn’t surprised because she felt stirred. She was surprised because she hadn’t slept well, her head felt foggy, and she couldn’t focus. She shook her head, still feeling unsettled.
Suddenly, a sharp cramp twisted in her stomach. Zoria shot up and rushed straight into the bathroom. She clutched her chest as her stomach churned like crashing waves, and before long she was vomiting violently, emptying everything she had— even the expensive lunch from earlier.
The acidic burn scorched her throat, tears spilling over. Zoria pulled some tissue and wiped her mouth.
Lysander frowned as he watched her come out, his expression full of concern. "What’s wrong with you?"
Zoria’s face was deathly pale, her slender frame making her look so fragile it seemed she might shatter at a touch.
She shook her head, her voice hoarse and exhausted. "I’m fine. Just a little tired."
She had been feeling nauseous lately, but this was the first time it had been this bad.
Lysander stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Let me help you to bed so you can rest."
To Zoria, the gesture was far too intimate. But she had no strength left to push him away, so she let it be. Even if Lysander really wanted to do something to her, not now— and even if she were healthy, she doubted she could escape a fully grown male like him.
Back in the bedroom, the moment she lay down, Zoria drifted off. Lysander touched her forehead; her temperature was normal, no fever.
"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" He still didn’t feel at ease.
Zoria could barely keep her eyes open and replied weakly, "No need. I probably didn’t sleep well last night, and moving these past few days has worn me out…"
She fell asleep before she could finish. Dark circles beneath her eyes revealed how exhausted she was. Lysander pulled the blanket over her. Watching her sleep, he couldn’t help but laugh softly. Should he think Zoria was too carefree, or that she lacked all sense of caution? How could she dare fall asleep right in front of him?
He glanced at the clock. It was already two in the afternoon. He didn’t stay long and got up to leave. He still had things to take care of today. He would come back in the evening to check on her.
Just in case, he quietly slipped a hand into Zoria’s pocket, took out her house key, and tucked it into his own pants pocket. Then he glanced at the puppy, Hamburger, lying at the edge of the bed.
"Watch your mom carefully. I’ll come by tonight and bring you some food."
At the word "food," Hamburger’s tail wagged like crazy, his dark eyes shining brightly as he stared at Lysander.
Lysander found it amusing. Ever since he had started paying attention to Zoria, even her dog had become more pleasing to look at.
……
Zoria slept for a long time. Groggily, she got out of bed and pulled open the bedroom curtains, only to find that night had already fallen. She suddenly remembered Lysander and called out his name, but there was no response. She figured he must have left.
A wave of loneliness washed over her. In this unfamiliar city, she had no friends and no family. The only thing by her side was a dog. As her thoughts drifted, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. Zoria froze. The knocking came again, urgent and relentless.
Hamburger dashed to the door, wagging his tail while growling at whoever was outside.
"Lysander, it’s already so late. Don’t come bothering me."
Zoria called out. The knocking stopped for two seconds, then suddenly grew more violent, the door shaking violently in its frame. Zoria walked over, one hand gripping the doorknob, and opened it just a crack.
"Lys—" She had just begun to speak, but the name "Lysander" caught painfully in her throat.