CHAPTER 180: UNKNOWN DATE..

Zethan’s lips curled into a smile as he spoke softly, "It seems my wife prefers this place more than the land of the living."

Lilia laughed softly and replied, "I prefer this place because you’re here with me. I’d want to go back to the land of the living only if you’re with me. That’s all that matters."

Zethan’s lips stretched into a wide smile, his perfect teeth coming into view—so dazzling that a passing lady who glanced at him lost her footing.

"Oh, little loris, speaking so flirtily to her husband..." he leaned in and whispered,

"Hmm, that’s new."

Lilia quietly pursed her lips, giving Zethan a playful, pointed look. He merely shrugged. Just then, the waiter arrived and placed their order on the table. He spoke softly, "Thank you for ordering."

Lilia smiled politely. "Thank you very much for bringing the food."

The man gave a respectful nod and hurried away, sensing the tension in the air.

Zethan’s expression remained far from pleased.

Lilia slowly pouted her lips as she picked up a slice of meat kebab. She quietly pushed it into her mouth, puffing her cheeks as she chewed with her mouth slightly open.

Zethan chuckled and reached out, gently pressing her lips together. Her eyes widened in surprise as he said, "You have to eat before you talk, you know. Bad table manners. I haven’t taught you much since I got here, and it seems you’ve forgotten a lot of what I did teach you."

Lilia’s cheeks flushed—she knew exactly what he meant. This perverted man. She shot him a glare, daring him to read her thoughts. Still, she continued eating slowly, deliberately avoiding his gaze. Then, in a quiet voice, she said,

"If you keep that expression up, people might run from you."

She realized many hadn’t come close to the other benches around them—likely because of Zethan’s intimidating aura.

Zethan smirked. "That doesn’t matter. As long as you come closer, I’m fine with that," he said with a wink.

Lilia’s heart trembled slightly with happiness. She gave him a pointed look.

She spoke softly, "You know... I think I might be getting fatter."

As she said it, she lightly pinched her arm, checking if she could feel any extra softness. "I’ve been eating a lot lately, and I’m scared I might get fat before I even realize it."

Zethan chuckled and reached for her hand. "There’s nothing wrong with you gaining a little weight, my wife. In fact, you’d look even more gorgeous. You’re already incredibly beautiful, and no matter what shape you are, you’ll always stand out as the prettiest."

She looked at him, a bit flustered, and finally muttered, "Okay, fine... but you’re just saying that."

Zethan shook his head with a smile. "I’m saying it because I mean it. And I stand by my words. I always do."

And that was the truth. One thing Lilia had learned about Zethan—whatever he said, he meant. He stood by his words. She would never take that for granted. His very presence here, in front of her, was proof enough... and it still left her more than a little shocked.

She leaned back in her seat, placing her hands over her tummy and rubbing it slowly. "So, tell me the truth—do you think I’ve added a little weight... or more than a little?"

Zethan leaned in, resting his chin on one hand as he looked upward thoughtfully, as if seriously considering the question.

Lilia patiently waited, eyes fixed on him.

Then, to her shock, he simply reached for a meat kebab, pushed it into his mouth, and began to chew—slowly.

Her eyes widened. Was he seriously doing this right now? She had expected an answer, not this.

Zethan ate even more leisurely the longer she stared, like he was enjoying the suspense. His eyes sparkled with mischief. Just as he finally swallowed the bite, Lilia glared.

"So," he said casually, "what was the question again?"

"You have to be kidding me!" she exclaimed, pouring juice into her cup and gulping it down. "If I keep this up, I might end up gaining more than usual."

Zethan chuckled, his lips curling. "You’re actually getting thinner. I should be the one asking if you missed a few meals while I was gone," he said quietly.

Lilia froze.

He wasn’t wrong. She had forgotten how little she used to eat when he wasn’t around. Sometimes, just once a day. Other times, the food they left for her would go untouched until it went cold. She’d lie and say she was full.

Her heart thudded at how he knew—without her telling him. She’d been eating so much now that he was around, she’d forgotten how many meals she used to miss when he wasn’t.

Zethan continued, "Then it only makes sense that you catch up on those missed meals. Now dig in... unless you want me to feed you?"

Before she could respond, he reached for the fish kebab.

"You don’t have to worry," she mumbled, quickly slicing it with the small penknife on the tray. She handed him half, which he gladly accepted, then took hers. As she stared down at the remaining piece, memories danced in her mind—past and present overlapping like flickering pictures.

"Wait," she said suddenly. Zethan’s open mouth paused mid-bite.

"Let’s play a game."

Zethan tilted his head, looking from her to the kebab.

"The first to finish the kebab gets a request."

He raised a brow but nodded.

"One... two... go!"

Lilia immediately shoved her portion into her mouth, eating quickly but carefully. But when she glanced at Zethan, he just sat there watching her—calm and unmoving—as if letting her win.

Just as she took her second-to-last bite, he stuffed the rest of his kebab into his mouth in one swift motion.

Before she could even process it, he was done.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, mouth partly full. A piece of food nearly fell, but Zethan swiftly reached out, cupping her chin with his hand. The fallen bits landed on his palm, which he calmly brought to his mouth and ate.

Her eyes widened even more.

How had he done that?

Everything had happened so fast... yet so smoothly, like time had stretched and snapped in a second.

Flustered, she tried to finish the last bite still in her hand and shoved it into her mouth.

How... Had. He. Done. That?

"You... you cheated," Lilia said quietly, almost accusingly, pointing a finger at him.

Zethan turned to her with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Oh, I hadn’t, sweetheart. In fact, I gave you more than enough time," he said smoothly.

And, truthfully... he had.

Lilia opened her mouth, but no words came. She didn’t even know how to argue it. He had waited. He had watched her. But the moment she got comfortable and thought she had the lead, he moved like lightning.

And then there was the way he caught the food that almost fell from her mouth, only to eat it off his palm like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Oh... my. My.

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away, pressing her lips together.

Zethan tilted his head, watching her. "What’s wrong, loris? Speechless already?"

"You’re something," she muttered, still refusing to look at him.

Zethan nodded as he finished. "Something special."

She eyed him cautiously as he leaned forward, his tone low and teasing.

"You owe me a request," he said. "So, I’ll be asking for anything, right?"

Lilia blinked. The way his eyes glinted told her—he had plans. Plans upon plans.

She hesitated, then asked warily, "Alright... what’s your request?"

Zethan gave her a slow, smug smile. "Oh, my request? I wouldn’t dare ask for it here, sweetheart."

He leaned even closer. "Of course not. Only when we’re alone."

Just as he said those words, his thumb moved to the corner of her lips, wiping away a smear of ketchup.

Lilia’s breath caught in her throat.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she tried to read him, lips clamping shut. What kind of request needed privacy? Her mind spun with possibilities, none of them comforting.

She finally muttered, "That’s not fair..."

Zethan gave a nonchalant shrug. "Life’s not fair, sweetheart."

She glared. "See? You did cheat."

Zethan’s lips widened, watching her like a cat ready to pounce. She reminded him of a kitten who’d just discovered its sibling got more milk from the owner—and wasn’t taking it well.

"Oh no, no, no," he said with mock innocence, shaking his head slowly. "I didn’t."

"You did."

"I didn’t."

"You did."

"I didn’t."

"You did!"

Their voices rose in playful defiance, going back and forth like a pair of stubborn children trapped in grown-up bodies.

Zethan’s deep laughter eventually burst out in a full rumble—loud, warm, and completely amused. So loud, in fact, that several passersby turned their heads curiously, wondering what in the world the couple was arguing—and laughing—about.

But Lilia didn’t care. In fact, she was happy.

Because in that moment, despite his teasing and the mystery behind his "request," Zethan’s presence was comfort itself.

Lilia leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper.

"So... when are we going back home?"

The word home slipped from her lips like silk—soft, tender, and full of longing. It wasn’t just a place anymore. It was a feeling, a memory, a heartbeat they both shared. Just hearing it wrapped them in a fleeting warmth neither dared disturb.

But Zethan’s expression shifted slightly.

His tone dropped, the lightness gone. His warmth faded like smoke in the wind.

"What if I told you," he said, voice heavy and eyes dark, "that in order for us to return to the land of the living... I have to die here?"