Transmigrated Into The True Heiress

Chapter 180: Embarrassed Through A Couple’s Kiss

Lyle held two suitcases in one hand and gripped Ephyra’s hand with the other as they walked toward the cars parked in the lot of the hotel.

Ephyra was still complaining—she’d been doing so ever since they started packing. Groaning, she rubbed her cheek against Lyle’s shoulder and muttered, "Ugh, I’m going to miss the time we spent here. I’m really, really, really going to miss it, Lyle. Lyle, do you think we’re going to come here again? or maybe somewhere else? Why don’t we go to Paris next time? Once I’m done with college. Okay, no—once it’s the holidays, I’ll come, and we can go somewhere else."

She tilted her face up to grin at him. "What do you think? It’s great, not being cooped up in your mansion every single time. I knew my idea was perfect. This was perfect. And besides," she added with a teasing glint in her eyes, "you got your greatest gift."

Lyle raised a brow, looking down at her with amusement softening his expression. "And what greatest gift did I get?"

Ephyra narrowed her eyes, pretending to be offended. "Really? You’re going to say you don’t know? Think again, or I swear I’ll be very angry."

Lyle stopped walking. Then, without warning, he leaned down, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close—so close she could feel the strength in his chest against hers. He kissed her hard.

The kiss was long but slow, a mixture of tenderness and possession that left her breathless. When he finally pulled away—a decision that was clearly his—their mouths remained close, a thin strand of saliva still connecting them. His breath fanned over her lips as his voice dropped low, intimate.

"I didn’t get a gift," he murmured. "I got my life. You are my life, Ephyra."

He pressed a kiss to her temple, then trailed another down the side of her face.

Ephyra blinked up at him, caught by the warmth and intensity in his gaze. The sheer heat of it made her heart flutter, and she pulled him back in, kissing him again—this time with a soft hum of agreement that melted into his mouth.

A few meters away, the hotel president—who had come out personally to see them off—wisely turned away, pretending to check the sky. Then, deciding the clouds were not very interesting, he pulled out his phone and busied himself with his schedule. The bodyguards, on the other hand, stood still as statues, pretending not to exist.

The kiss, which Ephyra had started but Lyle had inevitably taken control of, only ended when she playfully bit his lower lip.

When the hotel president noticed they’d finally pulled apart, he cleared his throat delicately. "Um... Sir Lyle, ma’am. If you’re ready, then let’s go. Everything is prepared for you."

Ephyra chuckled softly, catching the man’s flustered expression. "What’s making you so embarrassed? It’s not like it’s the first time couples have kissed."

The president nodded quickly—so fast his head nearly rattled. "Yes, yes, of course. Forgive me."

Inside, though, he thought sheepishly, It’s not about couples kissing... It’s about Lyle Aelion kissing. But he would never dare say that out loud.

Lyle placed an arm around Ephyra’s waist as they approached the car. Immediately, two guards stepped forward, collected the suitcases, and placed them neatly in the trunk. Lyle opened the door, guiding Ephyra inside before following behind her.

The car door closed with a soft click, sealing them off from the world outside.

The car ride was filled with Ephyra teasing Lyle—relentlessly, playfully, and without restraint. Every time he tried to respond with logic, she countered with mischief. Eventually, he had had enough.

So he leaned over and kissed her.

Not a soft kiss. Not a teasing one either. It was long, slow, and utterly torturous—the kind that made her toes curl and her brain short-circuit halfway through. By the time he finally pulled away, she was breathless and glaring at him.

"That’s it," she declared, wiping her lips dramatically. "You’re not kissing me for the rest of the week."

Lyle only laughed, a deep, low sound that filled the car. "If that’s what you want."

"It is what I want," she insisted, crossing her arms. "Don’t test me."

"Of course not," he said smoothly, though the faint amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth gave him away. "I wouldn’t dare."

When she narrowed her eyes suspiciously, he raised both hands in surrender and added, "I apologize, sincerely."

That earned a satisfied hum from Ephyra, who leaned back against her seat, pleased.

To pass the time, they decided to watch something. Lyle let her choose, and unsurprisingly, she picked an Asian drama—one of those modern ones filled with comedic misunderstandings, over-the-top villains, and impossibly dramatic love triangles.

Ephyra got completely absorbed within minutes, reacting to every scene as though she were part of it. She gasped, groaned, and even covered her face at the secondhand embarrassment that unfolded onscreen. Lyle didn’t say a word. He barely even glanced at the screen.

He was watching her.

Her eyes lit up with every twist, her lips curling into small smiles, her brows furrowing at every heartbreaking scene. Five minutes into the episode, he realized he hadn’t heard a single line of dialogue. He’d just been studying her expressions—quietly, contentedly—as if memorizing them.

When the episode finally ended, Ephyra yawned, stretched, and curled into his side. Within minutes, her breathing evened out, her head resting against his chest.

Lyle adjusted his position carefully, making sure not to wake her. His hand brushed through her hair once, then came to rest at her waist, holding her close as the car continued down the road.

By the time the cars turned into the driveway of the Aelion estate, the night had grown still. The iron gates opened soundlessly, and the convoy of vehicles glided across the wide expanse of the compound before coming to a stop in front of the mansion.

Lyle looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms—her face peaceful, her lips slightly parted—and exhaled softly, as if reluctant to disturb the moment. Then, with deliberate care, he slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly.

A guard immediately stepped forward, opening the car door. The cool night air greeted them as Lyle stepped out, Ephyra still fast asleep against his chest.

At the bottom of the porch stairs stood Jania and Han, both waiting respectfully. The porch light cast a warm glow over their faces as their eyes shifted from Lyle to the sleeping Ephyra in his arms.

Han’s mouth twitched, as if he wanted to remark but thought better of it. Jania, on the other hand, simply grinned, happy that she was finally seeing what Ephyra told her through the phone with her eyes.

...

Lyle passed by them without so much as a glance, his steps steady as he disappeared into the mansion with Ephyra still sleeping peacefully in his arms.

When he was gone, Han moved closer to Jania, who was still smiling, clearly amused by the scene.

"I guess you know a lot of things I don’t, hmm?" he asked, his tone half-curious, half-accusing.

Jania turned to him with a shrug, her grin widening. "Just the things I’ve heard."

Han narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in them. "And what are those things, exactly?"

Jania laughed at his expression, clearly enjoying herself. She reached out and patted his shoulder lightly. "Nothing much. Just the things Ephyra tells me. You know we’re very close, so she tells me everything."

She leaned closer until her lips were near his ear, her voice dropping to a mischievous whisper. "And I mean every single detail."

Han immediately pushed her away with a scowl. "Fuck off. If you know something, just say it."

Jania took a few steps back, still laughing. "Okay, sure—but the look on your face just now? Totally worth it."

Han sighed and turned toward the grand double doors, pretending not to care. "You’re insufferable."

Ignoring his words, Jania’s expression shifted slightly—less teasing, more thoughtful—as she spoke again. "Are you wondering if they’re together?"

Han glanced back at her, his brow furrowed. "Together how?"

Jania crossed her arms, stepping up the porch stairs with a lazy grace. "Han, if you’re going to ask a question, at least make it clear, darling."

He followed her, exhaling in mild irritation. "Are they in a real relationship now?"

Jania turned at the doorway, meeting his gaze with a knowing smile. "What do you think?" she said simply before disappearing into the foyer.

Han paused for a moment, frowning. He hadn’t expected a straight answer—but somehow, that vague reply bothered him more. With a resigned sigh, he muttered under his breath, "I’ll just ask Ephyra myself," and turned toward the staircase.

But before he could take a step, Jania—now sprawled comfortably on the living room couch, her shoes kicked off—called out lazily, "Oh, by the way."

Han stopped and looked over his shoulder. "What is it?"

"I’ve been digging around for Ephyra’s background," Jania said, propping her chin on her hand. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp. "But can you fucking believe that, despite the holes in her childhood records, I couldn’t find a single solid lead?"

That got Han’s attention. His brows rose slightly. "Really? And what inconsistencies did you find in her childhood information?"

Jania sat up straighter, her playful expression fading as the topic shifted. "Her mother’s death for example," she started.