Irresistible Touch

Chapter 14

Lilian:

The wolf king's fiancée was coming to our town tomorrow. Then... that man I so wanted to avoid would be here too.

Oh, God, please stop tormenting your devout believers this way.

I could not help but feel a headache coming on at the possibility of that wretched man appearing before me once again.

William continued avoiding me, which further strengthened my belief that he must know something. He just did not want to tell me.

Perhaps he felt that this was the best thing to do in order to protect me, but I hated being left in the dark.

It was such an annoying feeling, and I was so irritated that I was about to burst.

Mother soon realized my bad mood, but there was no helping it. It would be impossible for me to hide my feelings in front of her forever.

Especially not my mother who knew me so well.

"Oh, my baby. What's been going on with you recently?" My mother spoke just as tenderly as always, but her eyes were filled with worry.

"Mother, I..." I wanted to reassure her that I was fine, but I knew that I could not hide my feelings from her. So, I changed my mind. "William's been avoiding me recently, so I..."

"Wow, what is this I hear? I told you that William boy was a nice young man, and you lied to me, telling me you had no feelings for him!" My father's teasing voice sounded abrupt.

For goodness' sake, someone help me!

Would you please just let me finish my sentence? Seriously, just showing up out of nowhere and cutting me off...

"Dad, that's not it. It's just..."

Before I could finish my explanation, however, my father took a seat next to me and patted me on the shoulder, nodding his head with a saintly gaze as if to say, "I understand, honey", forcibly cutting me off with no redemption provided.

After that, I might as well just vanish into thin air in front of him. He completely ignored me while chatting enthusiastically with my mother. "Dearest, it seems we don't have to worry about our little baby anymore. See, she in fact has feelings for the nice boy!"

My mother giggled in response. "Yes, I can see it too. I guess the initial rejection was just the usual teenage shyness?"

"Yes, it's just as you said!"

Oh, no!

I covered my face in embarrassment and despair at their one-sided conversation.

I could swear on God right then and there that I really just wanted to use William as an excuse. I had absolutely no feelings for that man whatsoever and I never wanted to create any doubt about that fact.

How did things end up this way?

I knew there was no getting out of this situation now. I started it, and so, I must suffer the consequences.

I glanced at my parents who were happily chatting away again, sighing helplessly.

Well, as long as they were happy, I guess.

Either way, William was now avoiding me and there was no possible way that he would visit my home. Moreover, knowing my parents, they would not ask William any questions either. They were now just pointing and laughing at me in blissful ignorance.

As for the future...

That was something best left for later.

The next day, I made up an excuse to stay home so that I could avoid that man and did not set up the stall with my mother.

When my mother returned at sunset with the leftover pastries, she happily shared with me what she had seen and heard today.

"Lilian, my dear. Listen, the Wolf King's fiancée is truly a very beautiful woman." Then, as if worried that I would misunderstand, she added, "Of course, she's no match for you, my dear. In my eyes, you're the most beautiful girl to ever exist."

I smiled unconcernedly. "Mother, it doesn't matter if you say this behind closed doors, but you should never tell anyone else that. Otherwise, people would think that we're a family of narcissists!"

My mother broke out in laughter and patted me on the back. "What a shame... if you had gone today you could have seen her. She's a really classy-looking young woman with brown hair and gorgeous green eyes. By the way, she bought some pastries from me too, and she praised them. Would you believe that?"

"You always make the best pastries, Mother."

After chatting with her for a while, I went back into my room to change, then I put away my smile and sat on my bed, mulling over my thoughts again.

As expected of that man. Of course, he would have chosen a perfect Luna to marry.

I did have to wonder, though... could someone so gentle and affectionate truly be capable of accepting that ice cube of a man?

I could not help but wonder whether the ice cube would end up melting, or a certain someone would end up freezing over instead.

The latter seemed more likely to happen. Having known that man for three years, I had no confidence that any woman would be able to change or even move him.

As for all the nonsense about being worried about the safety of his fiancée and coming to pick her up in person, only the simple-minded would be fooled by such a thing. What sort of feelings could even exist in a marriage motivated by personal gain?

Whether they truly did love each other or not and what that man came to this town for, it had nothing to do with me.

I just wanted to live my life in peace without anyone ruining it for me.

I stayed home again the next day. I made up my mind that I was not going outside until that unmarried couple left this town. However, when my mother returned from the stand at sunset, a stranger was with her.

I took the unsold leftovers from my mother and asked in confusion, "Mother, who is this?"

My mother introduced me with a big smile, "Sweetie, do you remember what I told you yesterday? This is Diana, the Wolf King's fiancée!"

My pupils constricted and my heart thumped.

For some reason, I had a bad feeling that this Miss Diana had come for me.

Just as my mother had described yesterday, Diana was a very beautiful young woman with long brown hair tied neatly in a bun, and her green eyes looked soft and affectionate like those of a gentle fawn.

Especially that smile of hers, she seemed warm and harmless. She seemed all-around an amiable person.

"You're as beautiful as your mother said you are. A pleasure to meet you, Lilian. My name is Diana, fiancée of Arthur, the Wolf King."

Her voice was extremely pleasant to the ear, almost like the voice of an angel, but in my ears, it sounded strangely off.

That was because I could clearly hear her voice turn louder when she uttered the words, "Arthur, the Wolf King".

Could it be that she knew about what went on between that man and I, so she came to see me for that purpose?

The thought of that happening made my feet go cold.

No! I could not let my parents know what I had done! Absolutely not!

As if sensing my thoughts, Diana approached me and took my hand before turning to my mother with a smile. "Madam, I think Lilian and I are fated to meet. I like her very much. Do you mind if I take her out for a walk with me? Don't worry, it'll be quick. I'll bring her home before dinner starts."

My mother had always been very oblivious and completely unguarded in front of strangers. She readily agreed, "Please, you can bring her back any time you like! It's wonderful that you feel this way about our dear Lilian."

Before I could even react to the situation, I was led out of the house by Diana.