Chapter 1 Episode 1
The rain poured mercilessly, soaking the window glass in Emeli Catrine’s room. Cold air crept in through the cracks in the walls, but that was not what made her body tremble.
Her hands shook as she opened sheet after sheet of documents on the table.
“What is this?”
Emeli’s voice was soft, almost inaudible. Her eyes traced the numbers written there—numbers far too large for her to comprehend at a glance. There were too many zeros.
Tens of millions, hundreds of millions, even reaching billions because Emeli’s father often gambled, but Emeli had never known about her father’s habit. And now, her father had run away to who knows where?
Her breath caught. “Impossible…” she whispered softly.
She dropped her body onto the chair, the papers still clutched in her hands. Her fingers turned pale from gripping too tightly.
“Dad… what did you actually do…?”
Before her mind could process everything, a loud sound slammed against the door.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Emeli flinched.
“Open the door!” someone shouted from outside.
Her heartbeat immediately raced. She slowly stood up, stepping carefully toward the door.
“Who is it?” she asked, trying to sound calm.
“Open the door, or we’ll break it down.”
Emeli felt her blood run cold. She swallowed, then opened the door slightly.
Five men stood outside. Their faces looked rough, their eyes were sharp, and their aura was extremely dangerous.
“Emeli Catrine?” one of them sneered.
“Yes… me…” she answered softly.
The man immediately pushed the door wide open and entered without permission.
“Good. So you’re the one who will pay off your father’s debt.”
Emeli stepped back.
“I… I just found out about this. Can you give me time? I will find a way to pay.”
The five men exchanged glances, then laughed.
“Hahaha…”
Their laughter made the hairs on the back of Emeli’s neck stand on end.
“How long?” one of the men stepped closer, looking her up and down with a disgusting gaze.
“We already gave your father time. Now it’s your turn.”
Emeli shook her head quickly. “Please… I really need time. I can’t possibly—”
“In that case,” the man cut her off, his voice lowering, “there’s another way.”
Emeli froze.
“Spend the night with us,” he continued casually, “and your father’s debt will be considered paid.”
“Haha… haha…” They laughed again.
“Bastards!” Emeli pushed the man hard.
Her expression turned sharp. The fear in her eyes was replaced with anger.
“Don’t touch me!”
One of them laughed again. “Feisty, huh.”
“Grab her.”
Two men immediately moved quickly, gripping both of Emeli’s hands.
“Let go!” Emeli struggled.
But their grip was strong.
Suddenly, in one swift movement, Emeli twisted her body, kicked one man’s knee until he staggered, then slammed her elbow into another man’s stomach.
“UGH!”
The grip loosened. Emeli did not wait; she ran.
“Catch her!”
The door was wide open, and Emeli ran outside, crashing into the heavy rain that instantly soaked her body.
Her breath was ragged, her steps fast, but the sound of footsteps behind her grew closer.
“Stop!”
But Emeli did not look back.
The rain made the road slippery, her hair stuck to her face, her dress heavy from being soaked. But Emeli kept running.
“Quick! Chase her!”
The narrow alley turned into a busy main road.
Vehicle lights blinded her eyes.
Horns blared.
Emeli stumbled, almost falling, but she forced herself to get back up.
“Help!” she screamed, but her voice drowned in the noise of the night.
On the other side of the city, a luxurious black car moved smoothly through the traffic.
Inside, the atmosphere felt cold.
Alexa Ken, a man known to be cold, cruel, and influential, the richest man in this country, sat in the back seat, his posture straight, his face calm. His gaze was fixed forward.
In the front, his assistant, Juna, held the steering wheel carefully.
“Sir…” Juna spoke, he looked very hesitant.
However, there was no response from Alexa Ken, who was often called Ken.
“Sir, there is new information.”
Juna only took a slow breath.
“He… has returned.”
At that very second, the atmosphere immediately changed. Ken’s fingers, which had been resting casually on the armrest, slowly clenched. His jaw tightened. His cold gaze turned sharp, like cracking ice.
“Repeat that.” His voice sounded low.
Juna swallowed. “According to the information I received, he has truly returned to this country.”
Ken let out a small laugh. Not an ordinary laugh. A cold laugh that made the air feel frozen.
“How daring of him.”
His hand clenched tighter until his knuckles turned white. His gaze darkened.
“After everything he did… he thinks he can just come back like that?”
No one answered. Juna did not even dare to look back.
Ken leaned his head against the seat, but the tension in his body did not lessen in the slightest.
“Find where he is now,” he said quietly.
“Yes, Sir.”
Suddenly, the car stopped abruptly.
Ken was pushed slightly forward, his brows immediately furrowing sharply.
“What is this?” his voice was cold, but clearly contained anger.
Juna panicked. “Sorry, Sir! In front, there is… there is someone!”
Ken looked ahead. Yes, he saw a woman.
The woman was drenched. Her hair was messy. Her breathing was ragged.
The woman ran toward their car. Then—
BANG!
Her hand slammed against the car window.
“Sir! Please help me!” her voice was hoarse, almost breaking.
Ken only stared. His expression… empty. As if whatever was happening in front of him had nothing to do with him.
The woman—Emeli—knocked again, harder.
“I beg you! Please help me!”
Ken slowly pressed a button. The window rolled down. Cold air mixed with rain entered.
Emeli immediately moved closer.
“Sir, please help me… they’re chasing me… I beg you—”
Ken glanced at her. Then… he looked forward again. As if Emeli did not exist. He did not care.
At that moment, the hope in Emeli’s eyes shattered.
“Please…” her voice weakened.
“Please…”
But before she could say more, someone pulled her roughly.
“Found you!”
Emeli screamed. “Let me go!”
Her body was dragged backward, away from the car.
“Sir! Please help me!” she shouted again, this time more desperate.
Ken did not move. His eyes remained fixed forward.
The rain grew heavier. The car door remained closed.
“Please—!”
Emeli’s scream was cut off as one of the men covered her mouth.
“Quiet!”
Emeli struggled, kicking, trying to fight back, but they were too many.
Her body was dragged across the wet asphalt.
“Sir… please…”
Her voice grew more distant.
And inside the car, Juna gripped the steering wheel tightly, he felt sorry for the woman.
“Sir…”
However, Ken remained silent.
But his jaw was still tense. His eyes… slightly narrowed. As if something was bothering him.
Outside, one of the men lifted Emeli roughly.
“Take her!”
And at that mome
nt, suddenly—
BANG!
A gunshot shattered the night. Everyone froze. The men stopped. Emeli’s body fell to the ground. They were startled.
“W-what was that…?”
In the middle of the rain, a figure stood holding a gun.
“Who are you?”
