My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 60: Greatest Regret

Chapter 60: Greatest Regret

Ares, despite knowing better, stretched his hand out for a handshake, though he was fully aware that Zylan wouldn’t acknowledge him. But still, he tried. However, much to both his and Naomi’s surprise, Zylan had already turned away as he held Naomi’s hand. With a quiet but firm gesture, Zylan guided Naomi to the chair, gently pushing it in for her to sit.

Ares froze, his hand still outstretched, as he watched the scene unfold before him. The shock was palpable. Naomi, sensing the discomfort in the air, quickly spoke up, her voice steady but firm. "If you don’t mind, my husband would prefer to join our conversation."

Ares blinked, trying to process the words. He shook his head slightly, his lips curving into a strained smile.

"Of course," he said, but internally, he couldn’t hide his surprise and the lingering frustration. He did mind—he really did—but there was nothing he could do about it now. It was too late to voice any objection. No denying just the word husband left him feeling a slight pang of pain, but he smiled it off.

Naomi had already made it clear, and he had no choice but to accept it. His thoughts shifted quickly, reminding himself of a lesson he should have learned long ago—that in life, opportunities slip away quickly, and if you’re not fast enough, someone else will seize them before you.

Ares let out a soft sigh and forced another smile, attempting to mask the tension he was feeling. "I don’t mind at all" he said, his voice smoother than he felt.

Naomi returned a polite smile, but it was clear that she was aware of the unease between them. Meanwhile, Zylan, standing beside Naomi, stared at Ares with a cold, scrutinizing look. Ares gulped, the weight of Zylan’s gaze making him feel small and uncomfortable. He quickly sat down, trying to shake off the sense of unease that had settled over him. Shifting his focus back to Naomi, he cleared his throat and forced a more casual tone. "Would you like to order some coffee?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation back to something normal, though it felt awkward with Zylan’s looming presence at the table.

Just as those words left his mouth, Naomi raised an eyebrow, surprised. Then Ares spoke gently, "Just kidding. I know you don’t take coffee—just tea."

Naomi smiled, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You still remember?"

Ares nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. "Of course I do. Do you remember the time when you came to visit and I accidentally gave you coffee instead of tea?"

Naomi blushed even deeper, a wave of embarrassment flooding her as she quickly spoke, "Stop saying that, I have no idea why I drank it," she muttered quietly, clearly still cringing at the memory.

Ares chuckled softly. "You should’ve just told me you don’t take coffee," he teased, his tone light. Naomi’s face grew even redder as she recalled the incident. That day, she’d been too shy to mention her dislike for coffee, and she had ended up throwing up on the living room floor. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life.

Her cheeks flushed with shame as she hurriedly spoke, "Please, Ares, stop."

Ares, however, wasn’t done. "And I remember how you threw up right after finishing the coffee," he laughed, shaking his head.

Naomi was on the verge of laughing too, but her shyness made her glance quickly at Zylan, and then back at Ares. She couldn’t possibly imagine how this might be making her look to Zylan. The embarrassment was overwhelming. She wished she could disappear.

To her surprise, the reason for her embarrassment was not because of Ares saying it; it was simply because she did not want Zylan to know that part of her life—it was just too embarrassing for her. But he was silent. He just looked at her unreadably, and now Naomi had no idea what he was thinking. And it annoyed her. She hated not knowing what was going through his mind. It made her feel exposed, vulnerable.

Before she could dwell on it any longer, a man arrived holding a menu-like book. The only difference was that it was not the type of menu she was used to seeing on tables. This one was different—more extravagant. He spoke in a polite tone, bowing slightly as he addressed Zylan.

"Good to... see you, Mr. Z—Zylan," he stammered, his smile a little too eager. "We were not expecting you to be here, and we are very much glad that you decided to try our café. I am the CEO of this Mirror’s Coffee," he said with a smile, carefully dropping the menu in front of Zylan.

Zylan barely spared him a glance, his expression as unreadable as always. "Thank my wife," Zylan spoke, his voice low but sharp. "She chose here, not me."

His words hung in the air like a stone dropped in still water. The room fell silent, and it was as though time itself had paused for a few moments, giving everyone in the vicinity time to process the gravity of his words.

The CEO hesitated for a moment, clearly thrown off by the possessiveness in Zylan’s tone, before recovering with a stiff bow. "Oh... thank you... so much, Ma’am," he stuttered, his voice laden with respect. He seemed to direct all his attention to Naomi now, as if Zylan had already claimed his territory.

Naomi felt a twinge of unease. She didn’t know if it was the CEO’s overly reverent attitude or Zylan’s way of speaking, but something about the whole exchange made her uncomfortable. It felt... unnatural. Almost as if she were the prize being flaunted in front of everyone.

She glanced at Ares, only to see him shift uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers twitching as though fighting an invisible battle. If Naomi hadn’t known better, she would have mistaken him for a man being scorned in the presence of a rival.

Meanwhile, Zylan handed the menu to Naomi without a word. Naomi accepted it, her fingers brushing against his as she took the heavy, leather-bound menu. She opened it slowly, starting from the lowest-priced options. Her eyes widened as she scanned the items, each tea priced outrageously high. Her mouth dried at the thought of ordering anything from here.

She quickly shifted her gaze back to the CEO, who stood there waiting, his hands clasped behind his back like a statue. He was content to wait indefinitely, clearly basking in the opportunity to serve someone of Zylan’s standing. But even that bothered Naomi. It was as though Zylan had the power to command everyone’s attention, even in something as simple as ordering a drink.

Trying to shake off the unease, Naomi quickly decided on something. "Gyokuro Tea, please," she spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The CEO, who had been standing with an air of supreme confidence, nodded vigorously.

"Your order will arrive shortly, Ma’am," he said, his smile widening.

Naomi couldn’t help but feel a little appalled by the subtext of everything. It wasn’t just the extravagant prices or the CEO’s attitude toward Zylan—it was the stark reminder that in this world, status was everything. Despite how wealthy Ares was, he was treated as though he were a beggar in comparison to Zylan. Naomi’s stomach churned at the realization. Was this really how the world worked? Did people get treated differently based solely on their wealth and status?

She was shaken from her thoughts when the CEO turned to Zylan, addressing him with a perfect, almost rehearsed tone. Zylan simply pointed at another tea.

"Pu’erh Tea," he said, the single word like a command. The CEO nodded again, his bow even deeper this time. The air in the room was thick with tension, and Naomi had to look away from the spectacle of it all. She wished they could just go somewhere simple—where people didn’t treat them like they were royalty.

The CEO turned back to Ares with a smile that was far too bright. "The waiter will arrive shortly for your order, Sir," he said, his tone different now. Polite, yes, but tinged with something Naomi couldn’t quite place. It was almost as if he were unsure whether Ares belonged in the same room as them.

Naomi was shocked. Was this really how people viewed status? Ares might be wealthy, but he was still treated like an outsider here. Naomi’s heart twisted in sympathy for him. How could anyone endure being treated this way?

Ares, for his part, had fallen silent. He didn’t speak, didn’t move, as if the words had physically struck him. Naomi could see the change in his posture—his shoulders slumped, his hands fisted beneath the table. He looked like someone who had just been slapped across the face. It was a look Naomi had never expected to see on him.

Not long after, all the orders arrived. Naomi lifted her tea cup, about to take a sip, but just as her mouth was about to reach it, Zylan spoke calmly.

"Hold on," he said.

Naomi turned to him, her brow furrowed in confusion. Zylan, with a practiced ease, gently took the cup from her hand. To both her and Ares’ surprise, he took a sip, as if checking whether Naomi could handle the tea’s flavor.

"Good," he muttered before handing it back to her, his expression unchanged, as though he hadn’t just done something that... oh my. Naomi’s heart skipped a beat as she realized that by taking the cup now, she and Zylan were indirectly sharing a kiss. Her cheeks flushed bright red at the thought.

She took a sip, her hands trembling slightly.

Meanwhile, Ares sat there, his fist balled beneath the table. His chest tightened as he watched the exchange, an unmistakable ache in his heart. It was too late. Too late to tell her that he also had feelings for her. From the way Zylan was behaving, it seemed that he was already addicted to his wife.

Ares’ breath caught in his throat, the weight of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. He couldn’t deny it any longer—his chance had passed. And now, Naomi was more than just a distant thought; she was his greatest regret.