🌸 Chapter 6:
Paige bustled around the kitchen, setting Lena's bags aside and moving with uncharacteristic purpose. The stove clicked to life as she reheated leftovers, added fresh spices, and arranged fruit slices on a plate. The table gleamed—set with a care she hadn't shown in weeks.
At the dining table, Eliot sat hunched forward, his hands clasped tight. His eyes stayed fixed on the floor as though it might open and swallow him whole. The contract sat folded neatly in front of him.
Lena leaned against the counter, watching the strange domestic scene unfold.
"Okay… is anyone going to tell me what's happening?" she asked, her voice cautious.
"I need to head to the store," Eliot said abruptly, standing.
"Now?"
He didn't answer. The door shut behind him before she could push further.
Warmth Before the Storm
Outside, Eliot crossed paths with Kyle, who had just returned from university.
"Hey, I'm home! Smells good," Kyle said. "Where are you going, Dad?"
"Store," Eliot muttered and kept walking.
Kyle raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. He kicked off his shoes and headed into the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom, what's all this? It smells amazing."
"Your sister brought chicken wings. I made soup and rice too. Thought I'd throw in some fruit," Paige said, smiling wider than usual.
When he reached for a wing, she smacked his hand without hesitation. "Go wash up before touching my pot."
Kyle grinned, hands raised in surrender. "Fine, fine. Just one mango slice, though." He snatched it and bolted.
"Come back and I'll chase you with the pan!" Paige called after him.
Lena's brow furrowed slightly.
"It's really lively today. What's going on, Mom? You planning to cook for the whole neighbourhood?"
"Then let's invite them over," Paige joked, setting out more plates.
"You're acting… weird." Lena narrowed her eyes. "Did you win the lottery or something?"
"Leave her alone," Kyle shouted from the hallway. "She's happy for once. Don't ruin it."
Lena rolled her eyes. "Did I ask you anything?"
Kyle peeked around the corner, mocking her voice in falsetto. "Did I ask you anything?"
"You're asking for a beating, aren't you?"
Their bickering halted when Paige set the steaming meat on the table. The scent filled the room, silencing everyone.
They ate together—though Eliot never returned. When Lena asked about him, Paige waved her off.
"He already ate."
Meanwhile…
Eliot slumped over the counter of a dim bar, surrounded by empty glasses.
"I think… I sold my daughter," he mumbled.
A group of men nearby went quiet.
"Did he just say…?"
"Sold his daughter?"
"Now he's drinking away the guilt?"
Eliot didn't answer. He stumbled out into the night, legs heavy, heart heavier.
By the time he returned home, the house was dark. He collapsed on the couch, mumbling to no one.
From the hallway, Lena cracked her bedroom door open. She'd been waiting for him.
Her heart tugged with unease as she watched her father's blank expression.
Something's not right.
The Next Day – At Lumina Corp
The glass doors gleamed under the soft blush of the setting sun.
Lena stood outside, clutching a neatly folded hoodie to her chest.
"Just return this and leave," she whispered, adjusting her worn leather bag. "No big deal. In and out."
She smoothed her black-and-white dress—a simple piece she'd saved for Kyle's graduation. Paired with her only heels, it felt almost elegant. But now, her stomach twisted and her pulse quickened.
"Why do I feel like this?" she murmured, forcing a small smile.
Drawing a steady breath, Lena pushed through the revolving door. The sleek, marble-floored lobby stretched before her, cold and intimidating.
The Collision
At the same time, Will Shade entered through the opposite door like a storm in a tailored coat. Jin trailed beside him, scrolling through his tablet.
"Keep me updated," Will said curtly. "I want the full report—her family, the terms they agreed to. No surprises."
"Yes, sir. All documents are on your desk," Jin replied smoothly.
Will's stride didn't falter. "And schedule—"
He rounded the corner—
—and collided with her.
Lena stumbled backward, her heel twisting sharply on the polished floor. Snap.
She crashed to her knees, her broken shoe dangling.
"I'm so sorry," she blurted, heat flooding her cheeks. "No… no, no. Not today."
Will's dark eyes flicked down. For a moment, they sharpened—recognition? Annoyance? But the flicker vanished as quickly as it came.
"Handle this," he said flatly to Jin.
Then he stepped into the elevator without so much as a glance back.
"You're not even going to say sorry?!" Lena's voice cracked in disbelief.
The doors closed with a soft chime.
The Bombshell
Jin crouched beside her, offering the hoodie.
"Miss, are you alright?" he asked gently. "I apologize on his behalf—Mr. Shade's schedule is… intense."
"You're his assistant?" she muttered, snatching the hoodie.
Jin froze. His gaze lingered on her face.
"Miss Morisawa?"
Lena stiffened. "How do you know my name?"
"It's Jin. We met… briefly." His tone softened. "I assumed you were here to move in. Per the contract."
Her blood ran cold.
"What… contract?"
"The one your parents signed."
Her chest tightened.
"They… they did what?"
"I'm truly sorry," Jin said quietly. "Please talk to them. And… use the back door when leaving. It's quieter."
Like a man fleeing a bomb, Jin darted into the elevator.
Cliffhanger
Lena stepped out of the building moments later, cold air slapping her damp cheeks. One broken heel dangled from her fingers; the hoodie was clutched to her chest like a lifeline.
Her heart pounded.
Deception. Confusion. Anger.
She couldn't decide which one hurt more.