Twenty

Chapter 20

Atasha immediately recognized that she had made a blunder.

'He was right. The world of the jungle is a survival of the fittest.'

If she keeps on throwing shade at other people's nature just because it doesn't coincide with the norms she grew up with, the problem is certainly with her, not them.

"You don't have to apologize. Actually, you didn't do anything wrong. I mean, by your standard of life, killing is… a necessity to be alive."

It doesn't sit right but she feels like it was the right thing to say during that moment.

"Everyone needs to survive, one way or another. This world is a dangerous place after all."

It's not that there are no laws within this world. It's just that, things are not as humane and strict as the human society lives by.

If she instills in him the values she is accustomed to, it would be like forcing a devil to be moral or making a lion eat a cabbage leaf.

"Then, could you please stop mentioning anything about breaking apart with me? I will never force you to do anything that you're against. Atasha, I will wait for you to fully accept me. Can you at least give me a chance? I would like to properly court you by your world's standards."

The man's declaration left Atasha who was deep in her thought astonished.

"You… will court me?" her wide-open eyes blinked like crazy. Her chubby cheeks flushed red giving her small pimples a ruddy glow.

It would be a lie if she said that her heart did not flutter. It's pretty normal to be enamored by one's beauty but how can she pull herself together if he acts sweetly?

She pinched herself covertly to check if she was becoming delusional.

The erratic beat of her heart was so loud and fast that she could hardly contain it to herself. The thumping of her heart is giving her away!

'Oh no, this is bad. No, this is the worst!' her frantic concern was all over her face.

Zethus chuckled when he saw her blushing and becoming a little conscious of him. He felt that it was a good sign.

The subtle changes in her emotions seemed to be known by the other person and that just made her more nervous. She covered her face shyly, but the man pulled them up his lips and kissed her soft, small hands.

"Why you…! Don't just kiss me at will. I've never given my consent!"

She could feel the heat rising to her nape.

It's making her lose focus!

"You're right. I'm sorry."

Zethus immediately admitted his wrong and apologized.

This made Atasha a little sobber but before she could say anything, the man stared at her. His charmingly devilish eyes captivated her like a bewitching fox.

His aloof beauty bloomed like the coming of spring as he smiled subtly before saying, "Then, will you permit me to kiss you?"

'Say w-what? Do you really have to ask just because I said so?'

Atasha felt as though a scorching lava burst from her depths and dyed her face in brighter hot red. She looked away anxiously.

The irregular and deafening thuds of her pulse made her wonder if she incurred a heart disorder. She didn't know how to respond.

'What would that make me if I said he can? Ugh!'

It was as if she was cornered with a million-dollar question that she could not miss or turn down. A question that would greatly influence her life.

Atasha was put in a dilemma for some time. Then all of a sudden, the other person called it off after making her head hurt.

That actually happened next...

"I'm just kidding."

The man quickly retracted his words when he saw her baffled and anxious look. So, he decided to stop and not push his luck.

However, the other person only felt vexed and infuriated at how he perfectly pushed her buttons.

'What the hell?'

In an instant, Atasha's face turned from red to white and blue to black.

'Is this guy playing with me?'

Somehow, she had the urge to tear off the smile on his handsome face. One moment he was taking her to cloud nine, and the next thing she knew he dropped her off from the peak of Mt. Tai without a single sign.

'A jerk! He's a total jerk!' she tried to maintain her forced, crappy smile and restrain herself from doing something irreversible.

'For some reason, I feel like a girl who was ghosted.'

It was frustrating but she couldn't lash out at him for having a change of heart!

Damn right, how can she ever forget? This man is the same scumbag who called her a 'cow.' Now that she remembers it, the irritation in her heart just increased tenfold.

What fluttering of heart? What erratic heartbeat?

That was only a spur of the moment! She wasn't smitten by him at all! If anything, those were out of anger. It's due to anger!

Atasha glared at him and scoffed. Zethus was left clueless as to why the female was irritated. Did he do something wrong? 

Indeed, females are hard to read.

However, now that it comes to this, he can only use the enlightenment he has gained from the girl's memories.

'A satisfied wife means a peaceful life.' Zethus worded, noting to himself the mantra of men he came across. 

After he learned the truth about her and the world she came from, Zethus learned a golden rule that he must keep in mind lest he wanted to jeopardize his peaceful life and future:

'Bad food creates problems; Good food solves problems; and No food means a huge problem!' 

"I will make you good food when we get out so don't be mad, okay?" he spoke softly, trying to appease his wife. As though his cold and aloof persona shattered and birthed a doting husband in the flesh.

Atasha didn't know whether to laugh or cry. To think that he would bribe with food so openly. 

'Did I strike him for a glutton?' she gave out a long sigh. 

Atasha felt so drained that she couldn't even gather her rage just thinking about this troublesome guy. Should she be offended or be glad to have someone suddenly doting on her? 

"Good," nevermind, she likes food anyway. 

'I can't even decide if he's just clever or a simpleton.'

"All for my wife," his low yet enchanting voice sounded so sweet which didn't match his usually cold persona.

Zethus was happy with her response. The girl was also letting him call her wife without big reactions anymore.

He was elated, so started to talk to her more and explained, "Since I've seen through your memories, would you like to see mine?"

This time, Atasha turned serious and conflicted.

"You're letting me see your memories?"

If she had a choice, she wouldn't let anyone peer through her past. But this man right here volunteered to do so. Just because he felt that it was the right thing. Unbelievable.

However, his next words made the girl's face twitch. She knew it. The man is clearly a simpleton not clever at all!

"You said that it is a crucial step to be familiar with each other for a relationship to prosper. Since we are now husband and wife, I was hoping to solidify our connection."

How can she forget the nonsense she uttered with Regalus just because she was bewildered by that golden snake's unbridled actions?

So, this man was spying next to them and eavesdropping on their conversation!