My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 109: Words Unfold

Chapter 109: Words Unfold

Naomi couldn’t believe she was back. From the way everything looked, it seemed as though she had been away for a lifetime. As she glanced around, memories flooded her mind, unbidden and overwhelming. No, Naomi, don’t think about that. Focus on the present, she reminded herself. The past was behind her, and everything felt okay now. Perhaps it was because of Zylan.

He had become such a vital part of her life, a steady anchor in the storm of her existence. Meeting him that night had been a twist of fate she hadn’t expected, but one she was endlessly grateful for.

"Are you ready?" Zylan’s deep, commanding voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the moment.

Naomi turned to face him, nodding as a warm smile tugged at her lips. She was more than ready. With him by her side, she felt like she could face anything. As long as they were together, nothing else mattered.

The chauffeur stepped out of the sleek black car, opening the door with a respectful nod. Zylan exited with his signature grace, every movement exuding confidence and poise. He turned and extended his hand to Naomi, his sharp gaze softening as it rested on her. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her out. Together, they walked toward the mansion’s grand entrance, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the stone path.

As they approached, Naomi noticed a familiar figure standing by the door. It was Nana, the housekeeper who had always greeted her family warmly whenever they visited. Time hadn’t changed her; Nana’s soft, genuine smile remained as radiant as ever, her joy at seeing Naomi evident in her eyes.

"Welcome, Mr. Zylan and Mrs. Naomi," Nana greeted, bowing her head slightly in deference.

"Thank you, Nana," Naomi replied, her voice tinged with emotion.

"It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Naomi," Nana added, her tone gentle and kind. "This way, please. Lunch will be served in thirty minutes. In the meantime, we’ll take you to Mrs. Naomi’s room—unless..."

"No, that’s fine," Zylan interjected smoothly, his voice calm but firm. "My wife’s room will be perfect."

Nana nodded and smiled, gesturing for them to follow. Naomi fell into step beside Zylan as they made their way up the grand staircase. She couldn’t help but wonder if her room was still the same. Had anything changed since she’d last been here? Her mind swirled with a mix of excitement and apprehension. The uncertainty gnawed at her as she climbed the familiar stairs, memories of laughter, tears, and quiet nights surfacing with every step.

When they reached the landing, Nana stopped in front of a familiar door. Pulling a key from her neatly pressed uniform, she turned to Naomi with a calm expression. "Your father isn’t aware of your arrival," she informed her softly. "Shall I go and let him know now?"

Naomi nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. So that explains the quietness, she thought. It was rare for the house to be so still.

Nana unlocked the door, then stepped aside, bowing respectfully before leaving them alone. Naomi hesitated, her hand resting on the doorknob. Slowly, she turned it and pushed the door open.

A wave of nostalgia hit her. The room was pristine, as though cleaned in anticipation of her arrival. It was the same yet different. The faint scent of grape lingered in the air—a scent that was unmistakably hers.

Zylan stepped inside, his tall frame almost dwarfing the room. His sharp eyes swept across the space, taking in every detail. The soft, warm vibe of the room seemed to surprise him. He lingered on the neatly arranged furniture and the unexpected decorations that adorned the walls.

Naomi watched as his gaze settled on the posters: chemistry formulas, physics diagrams, and meticulous calculations scribbled in bold, clear handwriting. A soft smile played on his lips.

"This is... unexpected," he murmured, turning to her. "Not what I’d usually find in a lady’s room, but I like it. It says a lot about you."

Naomi smirked, a teasing glint in her golden eyes. "A lady’s room, huh? Tell me, hubby, what exactly does a lady’s room look like?"

Though her words were lighthearted, there was a flicker of jealousy behind them. Zylan’s gaze softened further, and a low chuckle rumbled from his chest.

"Look at my beautiful wife, getting jealous already," he teased, his tone warm and mischievous.

Naomi flushed, her heart racing at the way he said the word "jealous." Somehow, he had a way of making even the simplest words sound rich, smooth, and irresistibly captivating. She shook her head at him, but a smile tugged at her lips.

Zylan moved further into the room, his gaze still exploring. His attention was drawn to a small table in the corner. It was a reading table—cute and compact, with a neatly arranged lamp, sticky notes, and other essentials. Everything was meticulously organized, a clear reflection of Naomi’s dedication to her studies.

He smiled softly, appreciating this side of her. But then, something else caught his attention.

On the table sat a small picture frame. Zylan leaned closer, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he studied it. The photo showed Naomi, likely in middle school. Her golden hair was styled in two buns, and her golden eyes glinted with an annoyed expression. Beside her stood a boy, laughing with unrestrained joy.

A low chuckle escaped Zylan’s lips. Naomi looked so adorable, her expression betraying her irritation at whatever had amused the boy.

But his amusement quickly faded as his gaze shifted to the boy. Something about the way the boy’s eyes lingered on Naomi made Zylan’s jaw tighten.

As if sensing his attention, Naomi glanced over at him. She noticed where his gaze had settled and spoke softly, "That was back in middle school. This picture used to annoy me so much, but now I see it as a memory worth keeping. I can’t help but laugh at how funny and annoying I looked."

Zylan turned to her, his expression unreadable. He sighed before replying, "You looked beautiful in that picture... but he spoiled it with his laughter."

Naomi blinked in surprise at the faint edge in his tone. A small smile tugged at her lips as she realized he was referring to the boy.

A pang of sadness hit her as she thought about Ares, her old friend. She remembered how hadn’t told him about her marriage the look on his face finding out, and the thought filled her with an unexpected sense of regret.

Before she could dwell on it further, Zylan stepped closer. Gently, he held her chin, tilting her face upward until their eyes met. "Look at me, Eaglet," he said, his voice firm yet tender.

Naomi blinked, startled by the sudden intensity in his gaze. "Is there a problem?" she asked hesitantly.

"No," he replied with a smirk. "I just wanted you to admire me and me alone."

A soft laugh escaped her lips, and she gave his arm a playful punch. "I can’t believe you just said that," she teased.

But the warmth of the moment was interrupted when Zylan’s eyes landed on another picture frame on the table. Curious, he reached for it. Naomi’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what he was doing.

"Wait, don’t look at that!" she exclaimed, rushing toward him.

Zylan raised an eyebrow, holding the frame just out of her reach. "Nope," he said with a mischievous grin, already inspecting the photo.

"Please give it back!" Naomi pleaded, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she tried to maintain her composure.

Zylan’s laughter filled the room as he studied the photo in his hands. The image showed Naomi with her hair in complete disarray, stray strands falling messily over her face. Cake was smeared across her cheeks, lips, and even tangled in her hair. She held two large chunks of the dessert in her hands, while her clothes were equally streaked with frosting.

"You look so adorable," Zylan said between chuckles. "Who knew my wife could be this cute?"

Naomi’s face flushed a deep crimson. She lunged for the photo frame, finally managing to snatch it from him. "You’re impossible," she muttered, stomping to her desk and placing the frame facedown with an audible huff.

Zylan’s laughter only grew louder, his amusement becoming contagious. Naomi tried her best to glare at him, but a smile tugged at her lips. She couldn’t hold it back for long and soon joined in his laughter. The tension that had briefly hung between them dissolved, leaving a lighthearted warmth to fill the room.

It was rare to see Zylan laugh so freely—so openly, as though the weight of his world had been momentarily lifted. She couldn’t help but—

A soft knock at the door interrupted the moment. Naomi straightened up, her laughter fading as she adjusted her dress and walked over to the door. Composing herself, she opened it to find Nana standing there, her usual composed expression firmly in place.

"Mrs. Naomi, it’s time for family lunch," Nana said gently.