My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 34: Painful Truth

Chapter 34: Painful Truth

Naomi was taken aback as she examined the box. She hadn’t expected it to look so professionally made. The version she knew—the one she’d heard about from Rose—had been much simpler. Back in school, Rose had organized a game, but Naomi hadn’t joined. In that version, everyone wrote things down on scraps of paper and tossed them into a plain box. But this? This was clearly a high-end product from some company.

She’d never seen anything like it, and excitement bubbled up within her. From what Rose had shared, this game was all about unearthing secrets. Knowing how much of a mystery Zylan remained to her, she hoped this might reveal something—just a glimpse, a detail, anything.

"So, should we start?" she asked, glancing at him. Zylan nodded, his expression calm, seemingly unfazed—or maybe he simply didn’t know much about the game. Naomi returned his nod, then led him to the sofa area. They both sat down, and she carefully began unboxing the game, feeling her anticipation build as she did.

She struggled a bit with the box, fumbling slightly. Zylan reached out, silently offering to help, but she quickly said, "Don’t worry, I can do it myself." His gaze lingered on her, his voice low as he replied, "I know you can, but let me."

Her cheeks flushed at the unexpected intensity in his tone. Why did those simple words feel so... intimate? It was just a polite offer, yet it felt different coming from him. Reluctantly, she handed him the box, and, to her surprise, he opened it with ease, revealing its contents.

Naomi took the box back, pulling out a slip of paper inside. It looked like the game’s rules and instructions, so she decided to read them aloud. The spark of excitement remained, but Zylan’s reaction was mixed—somehow both indifferent and curious, as if he wasn’t quite sure why this intrigued her so much. His unreadable expression left her unsettled, reminding her how hard it was to guess what he was thinking unless he chose to reveal it.

Clearing her throat, she read the rules. "There are only two main rules. First, if you’ve chosen ’truth’ more than twice, you have to pick ’dare’ on your next turn. And if you can’t complete the dare... then you drink." She paused, her voice catching slightly. "If you’ve taken a drink twice, then you have to accept a dare chosen by the other player."

The mention of alcohol made Naomi falter for a moment. She’d never actually tasted it, save for one incident she barely remembered: the night she’d been told she was "disvirgined." It had been at a party hosted by her sister, Anna—a party she wasn’t supposed to attend. Anna had strictly forbidden her from going, but she hadn’t cared much, too focused on finishing an assignment. Yet, that night had turned her life upside down, marking a painful shift between her and her family.

Suddenly, Zylan stood up, and Naomi watched him, wondering why he was moving. His voice was soft but firm as he asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

She hesitated, sensing a strange weight to his question. But deep down, her curiosity drove her forward. She needed to know more about Zylan. He was so elusive, as if there were secrets hidden beneath his calm exterior. Even something as simple as learning his birthday felt like it could reveal a hidden piece of him—a piece that might bring trouble or change everything between them.

After a pause, Naomi nodded, silently affirming her decision. Zylan gave her a steady look, then walked over to a nearby cupboard that doubled as a bar. Naomi blinked in surprise; she hadn’t realized there was one in their suite. Their living space was so expansive, more like a small house than a single room, with everything open and connected. The sheer luxury of it still amazed her.

She watched as he reached into the cupboard and pulled out a bottle of clear, aqua-colored alcohol.

"We have to follow the rules," he murmured, his voice both teasing and serious. "Are you certain you want this?"

For a moment, Naomi second-guessed herself. The way he phrased it, as if he already knew what was coming, unsettled her. Did he know the kinds of questions that were in the game? This husband of hers was truly unpredictable, and the more time she spent with him, the more she realized just how little she understood him.

"I want this," she said softly, almost to herself, then repeated with more conviction, "I want this."

Her eyes scanned the boxes labeled For Relationship, For Single, and For Married. Naturally, she chose the married box—they were married, after all. Zylan took a seat across from her, casually reaching for a small glass. Naomi looked at it in confusion; it was almost comically tiny, like the kind of cup an older sibling might give to a younger one as a joke.

"It’s better to start you off with the smallest dose," he remarked with a faint smirk. "If I give you a bigger glass, you might get drunk before we even begin."

She bristled, recognizing the indirect insult. A flare of defiance rose in her, and she suddenly felt determined to prove him wrong.

"Oh, really?" she shot back, her voice daring. "Then maybe you should drink from a small cup too. Who knows? Maybe you’re the one who’s afraid I’ll outlast you."

Zylan went silent, momentarily taken aback. It wasn’t that she’d hit a nerve, but her audacity surprised him. This eaglet of his was growing bolder, and he found it intriguing. With a brief nod, he decided it was best to let her have her small victory for now; engaging in a back-and-forth would only give her more reason to challenge him.

Feeling a surge of satisfaction, Naomi turned her attention back to the game. She opened the box, and the cards spilled out onto the table, dividing naturally into two piles—one labeled Truth and the other Dare. Carefully, she arranged them, then looked up at him, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Let’s begin," she said with a sly grin, biting her lower lip. "You’ll go first."

Zylan nodded, still maintaining his calm demeanor, though inwardly amused. It was fascinating to see how something so simple could bring her so much joy.

"Okay... truth or dare?" Naomi asked, barely giving it a second thought.

"Truth," Zylan replied without hesitation.

Naomi picked up the first card and glanced at it, her lips parting in surprise as she read the question. The words made her pause, and Zylan noticed immediately. Whatever was on that card, it seemed to have shaken her. She hadn’t expected the game to be so direct, so intimate. Now, she wondered if she had miscalculated. This was her idea, after all, but there was no turning back.

Her voice wavered as she read aloud, "Have you... um, ever h-had... um, sex?"

A pang struck her chest, a sharp ache that she didn’t fully understand. Why was she waiting for him to say no? Why did it matter? She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, but she felt her heart pounding, anticipation mingled with dread.

Zylan’s expression remained unreadable as he responded in his low, steady voice. "Yes, I have."

Naomi nodded, her gaze averted, the pain in her chest deepening. She had expected his answer—knew it, even—but still, the truth felt heavier than she’d anticipated.

Zylan leaned in slightly, his low voice sending a shiver down her spine. "Truth or dare?" he asked, his tone calm, yet unreadable—clear and deliberate. Naomi’s heart began to race. She tried to steady herself, unwilling to let petty emotions cloud her judgment. Why should she be angry with him? He was entitled to his past, and besides, theirs wasn’t a marriage built on love. It was a marriage of convenience, a hollow arrangement with boundaries they both understood. If he admired anything about her, it was only to benefit himself. She had to remind herself that she was here for the same reason.

"Truth," Naomi replied after a brief pause.

Zylan studied her for a moment, then nodded. He selected the question with a calm precision that made Naomi uneasy. "If you were given the opportunity to marry again, would you?"

Naomi’s breath hitched, a warmth spreading through her chest. She hadn’t expected such a question, and for a moment, she hesitated, her mind swirling with emotions she wasn’t prepared to confront. Cutting both herself and Zylan off guard, she grabbed the small glass cup and gulped it down in one go. It wasn’t that she couldn’t answer the question—it was just one of those hard questions. She needed more confidence to give a proper response. And besides, she wasn’t here to share things about herself with Zylan. She was here to learn about him, to uncover the parts of him that remained hidden.

"My turn," Naomi said quickly, cutting him off before he could say anything further. She refocused, her gaze sharp.

"Do you think you could be loyal in this marriage?" she asked, her eyes searching his face.

"No," he answered without hesitation, his voice even and unbothered.