Chapter 7 Episode 7

The room suddenly felt cramped. Ken sat casually on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. His demeanor was calm—too calm for a situation that made Emeli’s chest feel like it was about to explode.

Meanwhile, Emeli stood a few steps away from him, her breath rising and falling as she tried to process the man’s words.

“Your father’s debt is now in my hands,” Ken said flatly, as if talking about something very ordinary. “So, you will pay it to me.”

Emeli stared at him in disbelief. “What…?!” Her voice rose. “You’re so sly!”

Ken only raised an eyebrow, slightly interested in seeing her reaction.

“Wait a minute!” Emeli stepped forward. “Didn’t those debt collectors already release everything?! Why is it like this now?!”

Ken smiled faintly. “Because I’m the one who saved you.”

That sentence felt like a slap.

Emeli clenched both her hands. Her breathing grew heavier, her chest rising and falling as she held back the surging emotions. She still remembered clearly how she was dragged, how she almost lost everything… and how this man appeared.

“So…” her voice trembled, between anger and disbelief, “you deliberately took over that debt?”

Ken did not answer immediately. He only looked at Emeli calmly, then leaned back deeper into the sofa.

“Just think of it as me buying your problem.”

That answer made Emeli’s blood boil even more.

“This is not fair!” she snapped. “You can’t just do whatever you want like this!”

Ken chuckled softly. “The world has never been fair, Emeli Catrine.”

Silence fell for a moment.

Emeli bit her lip. She tried to think, to find a way out, but her mind was in chaos.

“So…” she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, “how much is it?”

Ken glanced at her. “Do you even have the money right now?”

That question felt like mockery.

Emeli fell silent. Her fists tightened even more. Her nails were almost digging into her own palms.

“…Not yet,” she finally answered softly. “For now, I don’t have the money. But I will try to pay it.”

Ken nodded slowly, as if he already knew.

“In that case,” he said casually, “I have a solution.”

Emeli lifted her head. “What solution?”

Ken slowly stood up from the sofa. His height made Emeli have to look up slightly. The man’s aura immediately changed—more dominant, more pressuring.

“Be my contract woman for one year.”

Thud.

“Hah?” Emeli was completely stunned.

“For one year,” Ken repeated, his voice low but clear. “You will stay by my side whenever I need you.”

Emeli stared at him with widened eyes. “A contract woman…?”

Ken stepped closer. “Yes,” he whispered softly, sending chills down Emeli’s spine. “Especially… in bed matters.”

Emeli’s eyes widened. “You—!”

Her words were cut off. Her chest rose and fell, her face turning red, whether from anger or embarrassment.

“This man really is…” she muttered softly. “A bastard.”

Ken only smiled faintly, as if enjoying every reaction Emeli showed.

“If you refuse,” he continued casually, “I’ll give you 24 hours to pay off that debt.”

Emeli fell silent.

“And if it passes 24 hours,” Ken continued, his eyes narrowing, “there will be a ten percent penalty. If it passes two days, the penalty becomes twenty percent.”

The atmosphere fell silent again.

Those words struck her mercilessly.

Emeli lowered her head. Her breath felt heavy. She knew… she really had no choice.

Slowly, she lifted her face again. Her gaze changed—not as chaotic as before, but colder, more forced to accept reality.

“…Okay,” she finally said.

Ken raised an eyebrow.

“I agree.”

A faint smile appeared on Ken’s face.

“But…” Emeli swallowed, trying to stay strong, “can you give me money for my tuition fees?”

Ken looked at her for a few seconds, as if assessing her.

“Depends.”

Emeli frowned. “Depends on what again?” she started to get annoyed.

Ken stepped closer again, the distance between them now very close. “Depends… on your appearance right now, Emeli.”

“Appearance?” Emeli became even more confused. “What do you mean by appearance?”

But before she could process it, Ken suddenly raised his hand, touched her chin, then moved closer. Until their lips met.

Emeli froze instantly.

The touch was not rough, but deep enough to make her whole body tense. Her heart beat uncontrollably, her mind went blank.

Ken deepened the kiss for a moment, as if testing. Not in a hurry, but enough to make Emeli lose control over her own reaction.

Unconsciously, Emeli’s fingers gripped Ken’s shirt.

Her breath trembled. She truly did not resist.

A few seconds that felt longer than they should. As Emeli began to respond to Ken’s kiss, though hesitant, suddenly—

Tring.

Tring.

The sound of a phone broke the moment.

Emeli jolted.

Ken immediately pulled away slightly, his eyes narrowing sharply toward the sound.

Emeli’s breath was still uneven as she hurriedly took her phone. The screen lit up. And the name was clearly displayed.

The contact was saved by Emeli as—First Love. Her heart pounded rapidly.

Ken saw it. His gaze immediately turned cold.

“Who is that?” he asked sharply.

Emeli fell silent. Her hand trembled slightly, still holding the phone that kept ringing.

Ken stepped closer again, his gaze pressing.

“I’m asking you,” his voice was low, full of pressure, “who is that?”

Emeli swallowed. The call was still ringing.

And somehow… this situation felt far more tense than when she was chased by the debt collectors last night.

She looked at the screen, then back at Ken.

One side of her past was calling.

While the man in front of her… clearly would not let things go easily.

The phone was still ringing.

And Emeli had to choose—to answer… or ignore it.

“I’ll ask once again, who is calling you?” Ken stared at Emeli with a sharp gaze.

Emeli tried to stay calm, the call from Aric had already stopped.

“Can’t you read it, Mr. Ken?” Emeli smiled faintly. “The one calling me is my first love. So—”

Before Emeli could finish her sentence, Ken immediately silenced her with a rough kiss, making it hard for Emeli to breathe.

“You are mine now! Break up with that man, or else…” Ken stared at Emeli closely,

his hand gripping Emeli’s neck.

“Or else what?” Emeli asked, looking nervous and frightened, though she tried to hide her fear.

“Or else, I will …”

To be continued…