I could hear Aria giggling like a little girl.
"Mark… help me here," she whispered, voice trembling but playful.
Does she think I'm her boyfriend? I shot her a sidelong glance, amused.
"Such a nice couple you are," the shop owner said, his smirk sharp, eyes gleaming with some unspoken knowledge.
Aria opened her mouth to protest, but I didn't give her the chance.
I pulled her close, pressing my lips to hers. "Lucky guy, isn't it?" I murmured, glancing at the owner. He stiffened but said nothing.
We wandered through the rest of the "date." I bought her sweets, watching her light up with each small delight.
Just before parting ways, I pressed a crisp $1,000 bill into her hand—the same one from that idiot's stolen wallet.
"Here. It's not much, but it should last a week. And… stop working as a hooker. I know you've always dreamed of designing clothes."
Her eyes glistened. She lowered her head, brushing her mouth against my cheek in a fleeting, almost shy peck, then bolted.
I stood frozen for a moment, then checked my phone—7 PM. Time to go home.
Bella greeted me with her usual warm smile. I lost patience.
Pulling her close, I kissed her. She stiffened for a second, then melted against me, wrapping her arms around me. Eventually, she broke away.
"Dinner's ready," she said.
"Oh, I hope it's worth it," I teased. Her blush made her quickly hide behind a smile.
After dinner, I headed upstairs to the wreckage that was my room.
"Damn, I should fix this," I muttered, flopping onto the bed. Laptop in hand, I signed into the government Hunter registration site. No job, no problem—I entered "none" for work. I'd learned to trust no one, especially the government.
Registration complete, I got a date for the Hunter Center. A rank, a salary—finally, some stability. Even the lowest E-rank got 200k a year. I smiled.
A message from Aria blinked on my screen. She couldn't sleep. Partly our morning, partly the money.
I typed:
"So, I registered today. The government's giving me a salary."
She replied:
"You guys get paid?"
"Yes," I answered. "Even E-rank hunters get 200k a year."
She stayed "seen" for five minutes before replying with visible shock:
"What, Mark?! That's insane! Imagine all the things we could do with that money!"
I leaned back, grinning. This was going to be… interesting.
---
Meanwhile, at Aria's house…
"Who are you texting?" John's voice cut the room like a blade. He loomed behind her, a shadow that seemed to press against her skin.
"Nothing… just a friend," Aria murmured, keeping her tone neutral.
"A male friend?" His smile was sharp, predatory. "And the money you made today? Mine. You know that."
Fear coiled tight in her stomach. She swallowed, refusing to look at him.
"Next week," he said, voice low and cold, "you get a client. A C-rank Hunter. Don't resist. You exist to serve. I've already shown him your photos."
Her throat tightened. She wanted to cry, scream, run—but his presence, so controlling, rooted her in place.
"First thing he does when he arrives… don't resist," John whispered, leaning close. The air between them felt heavy with menace.
Aria pressed her hands to her face, trembling, trying to steady her breath.
She remembered this morning with Mark—the warmth, the tenderness. A flicker of hope surged and died almost immediately.
John stormed out, leaving the room echoing with his absence.
Alone, Aria sank to the floor, knees drawn, clutching the clothes Mark had given her. Her tears were quiet, controlled—part sorrow, part longing.
Weirdly enough, she found herself wondering what Mark would think of her, if she slept with that old man. A faint, guilty hope flickered. Maybe… maybe someone cared.
She pressed the fabric to her chest, whispering to herself, "I really envy the girl who's going to be his girlfriend… she's the luckiest one."