Slowly, she found herself unable to resist.Her body relaxed, and her small hands clutched at his clothes tightly.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away. "Well, it's true that you don't have a fever."
Lia, breathing heavily, took a while to steady herself. In a flustered tone, she quickly said, "I—I'll go pack my things."
"Okay."
He gave her the space to move and casually watched her as she gathered her belongings.
"Do you need my help?" he asked.
"No, please sit down," she replied, trying to calm her nerves.
His presence in the small room made her feel suddenly flustered. She hadn't even poured a glass of water, so she put down the things she was holding and went to pour some.
"Would you like a drink? Or would you prefer to watch TV?" she asked.
Cassius saw her panicking and found it rather cute.
Taking the glass of water from her, he drank it with a casual smile.
She turned on the TV, but, by chance, a scene between a man and a woman kissing appeared on the screen.
He cleared his throat. "Do you like watching this kind of thing?"
Lia, flustered, wanted to hide in the ground. "No, no! It just came on randomly. Forget it, you can change the channel."
Handing him the remote, Cassius took it, seeming amused. "They were doing Kabe-Don just now," he noted casually.
"Oh," Lia responded, almost whispering. Why had he specifically mentioned that?
"Do women like that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Lia tugged nervously at the hem of her clothes, unsure how to answer. How could she know what other women liked?
"Maybe," she said, her voice small.
She went back to packing, trying to focus on anything other than the man behind her. But then, suddenly, she felt his arms circle around her waist, his breath warm against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
"Lia, do you like it?" he whispered softly.
Her body stiffened, and her porcelain face flushed a deep red.
"I... I'm fine," she stammered, not even sure if she liked it or not. "Cassius, I still have things to finish packing."
"Let's try it?" His voice was teasing, almost challenging.
"Try... what?" Before she could finish her question, he had her pinned against the wall, one hand on the side of her body to hold her in place.
Lia couldn't stop herself from coughing lightly, startled by the sudden closeness.
A smile danced across Cassius's face. "Drink some water," he suggested, pulling away just enough to grab the glass of hot water he had left on the table.
"Thank you," Lia murmured, still feeling the heat from their closeness as she picked up the glass and drank it quickly.
She tilted her head back slightly, and her lips parted as she drank, revealing the delicate curve of her neck. The sight was enough to make him feel suddenly thirsty, too.
When she finished drinking, it dawned on her that this was the same glass she had just poured for him.
"Sorry... I'll get you another one," she said quickly, embarrassed by the mix-up.
"No need," he replied smoothly. "You rest. I'll go get it."
Before she could protest, he had already walked off with the glass in hand, returning only to drink from it in front of her.
They shared the same cup, a small gesture that stirred something in Lia, though she didn't fully understand it.
"What are you thinking about?" Cassius asked, a knowing look on his face as he walked back toward her.
"I think I'll rest first," Lia said, eager to avoid any further awkwardness.
"Watch TV?" he asked, clearly trying to draw her in.
"No," she replied, shaking her head quickly.
He sank into the sofa, stretching lazily, and then patted his legs with an inviting gesture. "Lia, come here."
"I'll just sit here," she replied, her tone firm as she stayed put.
But Cassius didn't seem to take no for an answer. He moved swiftly, lifting her onto his lap without any warning.
"Cassius!" She was stunned by the suddenness of the action, staring at him wide-eyed.
"I thought you'd be used to this by now," he teased, noticing her unease. "But it seems like our closeness still makes you uncomfortable."
"I'm trying," Lia said quietly, lowering her gaze.
Sitting on his lap, she felt every muscle in her body tense. Cassius's hand rested lightly around her waist, and she could feel his every move.
The TV played a dating show featuring couples on various outings—watching movies, shopping, traveling, and finding food. Lia had assumed it was something that women liked, but she was taken aback to see Cassius watching it with obvious interest.
"Is this how couples date?" he asked casually, glancing at her.
"I think so," Lia replied, not really sure how to answer.
"Yeah," Cassius muttered thoughtfully, his mind somewhere else.
The show ended, and Lia stood up quickly. "I'll go finish packing," she said, eager to keep busy.
"Okay," Cassius agreed, watching her as she moved.
Lia only packed one suitcase. It seemed like she didn't plan on staying too long. If she needed more things, she could always come back for them.
Noticing her modest packing, Cassius frowned slightly but didn't comment. He simply took the suitcase from her hand.
"Cassius, I'll take it," she insisted.
"Don't be stubborn if you're not feeling well," he said gently. "You need to rest."
She gave in, allowing him to carry the bag. "Okay," she said quietly.
On the drive to his villa, Lia rested her head against the window. Cassius sat beside her, eyes closed, silent most of the way.
Occasionally, he'd ask her a question, and she would answer, but for the most part, the ride was filled with the hum of the car and the tension in the air.
"Why did you leave the Valen family?" he asked suddenly, his voice breaking the silence.
"I wanted to leave," Lia replied honestly. "It was time."
Cassius didn't press her any further, respecting her wishes to keep some things to herself.
The car finally pulled up to the villa. Lia followed him inside, where a housekeeper immediately appeared to assist.
"Take Lia's luggage to my room," Cassius instructed with a calm authority.
The implication was clear—Lia wasn't just a guest. She was staying in his room, not just for the night, but indefinitely.
As they walked through the house, Lia could feel the eyes of the staff on her. She kept her gaze down, avoiding the stares but still feeling their weight.
She had expected him to assign her a separate room. Maybe she'd be called over when he wanted her, like the favored women of old. But no, he had chosen to have her live in his room. It was an intimate gesture, one that seemed to suggest they would share more than just one night together.
Did he really think that highly of her?
Back in the room, Lia finally had the chance to speak to him.
Cassius began removing his coat, and she instinctively moved forward to take it.
"I'll do it," she offered, her hands already reaching for his tie.
He looked down at her, watching her hands move with such focus, his black butterfly-like lashes twitching slightly.
Lia didn't notice his gaze. She was too absorbed in her task.
"Cassius," she said, her voice soft but clear.
As she untied his tie, her eyes lifted, meeting his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively took a step back.
"What is it?" he saw her little action, and a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Lia hesitated. "Cassius... you could let me stay in the servants' room. If I live here, it could affect you."
She knew she didn't belong in his room. She had worked at the Valen family company before. Did he trust her so completely that he didn't worry about her motives?
Was he that confident?