"Alright, alright, it's getting late. You don't need to rest, but Veil does. Go to bed already."
Sofia, eager to have grandchildren, shoved her daughter out of the private room.
She arranged for Daisy and Veil to stay in a double room together.
Bang!
After delivering a pot of tea, Sofia slammed the door shut behind her.
Inside the room, only Veil and Daisy remained, each sitting at opposite ends of the bed. The atmosphere was noticeably awkward.
Even someone as bold as Daisy couldn't help but feel the tension.
After all, Veil was Lisa's man—and she was Lisa's best friend.
In this setup, it felt like she was the scheming vixen trying to steal her best friend's boyfriend.
"Veil, thank you for coming today and helping out. But… my mom's a little special. I didn't expect her to be that aggressive.
Looks like you're stuck here for the night. Just make do with this room, okay? It's a double, so we'll each sleep on our own side.
We'll explain everything to Lisa tomorrow, sound good?"
Daisy broke the silence with an apologetic smile, her voice tinged with helplessness.
Veil shrugged and collapsed back onto the bed, letting out a yawn. He fluffed the pillow behind his head and muttered, "Well, at least today's mess is settled. But let me make one thing clear—this is a one-time thing. Don't ever try this again."
Daisy nodded. "Don't worry. Next time, I'll find an excuse to say we broke up. That way, Mom won't bother you anymore."
She couldn't keep using Veil as a shield forever!
Knowing her mom, she'd probably be hoping to hold a grandchild in her arms nine months from now.
To prevent disaster, she had to end this "relationship" before her mom took it too far.
"That's your problem," Veil replied listlessly as he grabbed the teacup on the nightstand, drained it in one gulp, then closed his eyes for a nap.
Daisy lay down on her side of the bed, turning away with a troubled mind.
What was she going to do from now on?
Without Veil as a buffer, how was she going to deal with future blind dates?
There was no better shield than Veil—with his family background alone, he could scare off a whole army of suitors. Even her own relatives wouldn't dare say a word.
But damn it, Veil had already been snatched up by her best friend!
So unfair!
Her mind was a tangled mess of thoughts. Before she knew it, fifteen minutes had slipped by.
Suddenly, Daisy felt something was off. She turned her head—and what she saw sent a chill down her spine.
Veil was staring at her from the other side of the bed. But his eyes… something was wrong.
"What... what's going on?" Daisy's heart raced in panic.
Veil's gaze was like that of a starving wolf eyeing its prey, fixed squarely on Daisy's delicate face and her, frankly, exaggerated curves.
His voice turned grim. "There's something in that tea your mom brought. It's drugged!"
"This… this really does sound like something my mom would do! Okay, calm down! I'll go find her and get the antidote!"
Daisy felt completely defeated.
She'd expected her mom might try something eventually—but she didn't think it would start tonight!
This wasn't right!
Veil was her best friend's boyfriend. No matter what, she couldn't let something happen between them!
Daisy bolted for the door. As soon as she flung it open, she caught sight of her mother—eavesdropping right outside.
She slammed the door shut again and glared at her, extending her hand. "Hurry up and hand over the antidote!"
Sofia straightened from her crouch, completely unapologetic. She even rolled her eyes and poked Daisy's forehead. "You little brat. I knew you were lying to me back there!
If something had really happened between you two, would you be running out here looking for an antidote?!"
"You're too stubborn! Veil is a great guy. You've managed to catch someone like him—it's like our ancestors are smiling down on us. No, wait—it's not just smoke from the ancestral graves. It's a full-blown fire! I didn't blame you before when you missed your chance, but now I'm doing this for your own good—for your future happiness!"
Daisy felt a pang in her chest and finally relented, her voice low and bitter, "Mom, I was wrong, okay? I invited Veil here just to deal with you.
But he's my best friend's boyfriend. I can't do anything with him. If something really happens, how would I ever face her again? Please, give me the antidote. Once I help Veil get through this, you can yell at me all you want."
Sofia's expression shifted several times before she finally threw up her hands. "It's over. Our whole Falkner family is finished. We're all doomed!"
Daisy's eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean?! Don't tell me there's no antidote?!"
Sofia rolled her eyes. "Do I look like someone who leaves herself a backup plan?!
Antidote? Ha! Even if we sent him to the hospital now, no one could counter my exclusive recipe!"
This stuff worked wonders even on her useless husband.
And Veil? A young man at his peak?
Forget it.
If something happened to him, the entire Falkner family would go down with him.
Panicking, Daisy grabbed her phone and started to dial. Sofia grabbed her arm and scolded, "What are you doing now?! Calling an ambulance? You want this to become a public scandal?!"
"No, I was going to call Lisa—have her come help detox Veil!" Daisy's tone was frantic.
If Veil really lost control, her family wouldn't just be ruined—she'd lose her best friend too.
A strange flicker passed through Sofia's eyes, but she masked it well.
"By the time your bestie gets here, Veil might be dead. Or worse, he might explode! You silly girl, you've ruined me!"
With a dramatic sigh, she placed her hand on the doorknob, looking utterly aggrieved.
Daisy grabbed the doorknob and yanked it back. "Mom, what are you doing?! You can't go in there! That's like throwing yourself to the wolves!"
Sofia cursed under her breath. "Then what do you expect me to do? You think it's safe to send just any girl in there?
What if she's dirty and something goes wrong? The whole family still goes down!
You won't go in, I can't go in—what am I supposed to do, you ungrateful little brat?!"
"I…"
Daisy opened her mouth, but no words came. Bitterness filled her chest.
In the end, this was her idea. She had brought it all on herself.
Who told her to have such a savage mom?!
"…Fine! I'll go! I'll go, okay?!"
Daisy looked like a beaten dog, defeated and despondent.
She opened the door with sluggish movements and stumbled back inside.
Her silhouette faded into the room, desolate and filled with dread.
...
The moment Daisy stepped into the room and the door had barely clicked shut behind her, Veil lunged like a predator, pulling her into his arms. She gasped in surprise, still stunned, when suddenly she was lifted off the ground, her feet dangling in midair.
"D-Don't be so quick…" she whispered, but before she could finish, his lips pressed fiercely against hers.
Veil gave no answer, only drowned out her protests with his actions. His kiss was steady and unhurried, yet carried an irresistible pressure. From her forehead, sliding down to the tip of her nose, the corner of her mouth, and tracing along her collarbone—every inch felt like he was deliberately branding her.
Daisy's breathing grew uneven, her body trembling slightly, but she did not resist. She lowered her lashes, surrendering to the rhythm he set.
Veil's palm rested behind her, warm and steady, landing softly but firmly on her hip, producing a low, rhythmic sound. Each tap was perfectly measured—shy enough to spark embarrassment, yet strangely satisfying in a secret way.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. She nearly melted into his embrace, her eyes already glazed over, but she bit her lip stubbornly, refusing to make a sound.
She didn't understand how Veil always knew exactly how to read her reactions, but every time his control and guidance pulled her deeper, beyond her own will.
Was she being passive? Maybe. But right now, there was no hint of resistance in her.
Veil lowered his head to look at her in his arms, a faint, teasing smile tugging at his lips.
"You're trembling," he murmured, his voice close to her ear, like a cool breeze brushing her skin, carrying a shiver-inducing warmth. "Are you scared… or excited?"
Daisy bit her lip, silent. Her eyes lost their sharpness, instead glistening with a mix of vulnerability and longing.
One of Veil's hands held her waist firmly, while the other slid slowly down from her shoulder, tracing the delicate curve of her slim waist. His fingertips glided over her sensitive skin, quietly asserting control over the pace and the moment.
"Why so quiet?" he teased, moving closer to her cheek, voice soft but provocative. "You've always been stubborn, haven't you?"
Her body shifted slightly, as if unconsciously pressing closer against him.
She had thought about resisting, truly, but Veil's presence always felt so overpowering, making surrender instinctive. He didn't need to do much—the calm, confident control alone was enough to throw her heartbeat off rhythm.
"You're exactly this kind of person," Veil said suddenly. "Tough on the outside, but deep down… craving to be tamed."
His words struck like thunder, shattering the fragile mask she had left. Daisy clenched her jaw, wanting to speak but finding her throat too dry to form a word.
Veil gently set her down, sitting at the edge of the bed, pulling her back into his lap. He didn't rush or push further—just ran his fingers slowly through her tangled hair.
"Behave," he said softly. "I'm not in a hurry. Neither should you be."
His tone was casual, but it carried the weight of command—impossible to disobey.
Daisy leaned on his shoulder, closing her eyes, her heart still racing, cheeks burning bright. Yet she stayed—no struggle, no retreat.
Just as he said, maybe she really no longer wanted to fight.
After a while,
Daisy's breath became lighter, quicker, as if wrapped in an irresistible tide of feeling.
She didn't resist—she leaned deeper into Veil's embrace. That dizzying sensation quietly spread deep inside her, like a dream she couldn't predict—warm, gentle, intoxicating.
Veil's movements were urgent but measured, filled with a masterful calm. He bent down, brushing gentle kisses across her forehead, her nose, then her lips—carefully tracing the contours that belonged only to her.
Soft sounds escaped between them.
"You're trembling," he whispered again, his voice low and teasing in her ear. "Are you afraid of me… or just impatient?"
Daisy's eyes closed gently, a faint, elusive smile curling her lips—half reply, half escape.
Her hands quietly circled his back, delicate fingers clutching tightly at his shirt.
"I don't know…" she murmured, her voice weak but trembling, "But… I don't want to stop. I want more."
In that moment, she surrendered completely to his presence—pulled, surrounded, lost in him—as if the entire world had shrunk to only their two.