My brother lost a bet and used me as collateral, handing me over to his sworn enemy to be his canary. Standing outside the room, separated by a single door, I could hear Leo and his friends’ jeers as clear as day. “A honeypot? More like a trap for the blind. Jason is a lumbering idiot.” “Just wait till his sister gets here. You guys can watch me break her.” “Her, manipulate me? Heh. Not a chance in hell.” The moment I pushed the door open, I lifted my chin. Leo took a sharp breath. “M is for 'my one and only,' A is for 'always and forever,' N is for 'nothing can keep us apart'…” “Right, where was I?” 1 A heavy silence fell over the room. I stood frozen in place, my heart pounding like a drum, my brother’s words echoing in my mind— “Chloe, when you get there, you have to be so, so careful. That guy, Leo, he’s ruthless, a total psycho. He’s not even human!” “You have to protect yourself. The second I pay back the money, I’ll come get you!” I remembered my brother, Jason, sitting on a hospital bed, his leg in a cast, his face bruised and swollen, his eyes welling up with tears. The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. But there was a problem. With so many people in the room, which one was “Leo”? My eyes scanned the crowd. A man was lounging in the corner, leaning against the sofa with an air of effortless command. He seemed different from the rest. That must be him, right? I walked over cautiously. “A-are you Leo?” “Hi, I’m Jason’s sister, Chloe,” I said, then offered a tentative, placating smile. “You live up to the reputation, Mr. Leo. You have such a powerful presence.” Someone behind me snorted with laughter. “Luke, she thinks you’re Leo.” Wrong one? I paled, turning to the man who had spoken and apologizing profusely. This one wore gold-rimmed glasses and had the shrewd look of a seasoned strategist. Was he Leo? I pasted on another smile. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Leo. I must be blind to have mistaken you for someone else.” This time, the man laughed even louder. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist. The world spun, and I found myself falling into someone’s lap. His thighs were solid muscle, radiating a powerful heat. I looked up and met a pair of dark, stormy eyes. His face was a mask of displeasure, his voice laced with ice. “Just like your pathetic brother. Annoying from the second you open your mouth.” “You can’t even recognize your own sugar daddy. You got a death wish?” 2 Honestly, my brother wasn’t as useless as Leo made him out to be. He was a good brother. He’d doted on me ever since he started his business from scratch. He just had terrible luck with investments, which is how he ended up losing his entire fortune to Leo. That day, Jason had knelt and begged Leo for a long time, pleading with him to spare our family. He’d even bashed his head on the floor until it bled. But the arrogant heir was merciless. “Can’t pay the money? Then pay with your body.” Jason, terrified, clutched his behind and stammered that he was straight and would need some time to mentally prepare himself. Leo’s face had darkened. He kicked my brother’s leg. “Jason, are you a fucking idiot? What the hell are you thinking?” That one kick broke my brother’s leg. Not only did Leo not pay for the medical bills, he used it as an opportunity to humiliate Jason further, telling him to show up for work at his company the next day as a security guard to work off the debt. But my brother couldn’t even walk. How was he supposed to work? It was an impossible demand. For every day he didn’t show up, the interest would double. Jason was on the verge of a breakdown. I couldn’t just watch him fall apart. Left with no other choice, I had to resort to this. And now, seeing Leo in person, I knew my brother hadn't been exaggerating. Leo was all looks and no substance, with a temper to match. Dealing with someone this petty was going to require all of my focus. 3 I went home with Leo. The car ride was silent. I assumed he was still angry about what happened earlier. I carefully reached out and tugged on his sleeve. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mistake you for…” “Don’t touch me!” He yanked his sleeve away with a look of pure disgust. Well… It was clear Leo really, truly despised me. The butler, Mr. Peterson, greeted us at the door. “Young Master, and this is?” Leo, a cigarette dangling from his lips, shot me a sideways glance. “A canary. You get it?” Seeing Mr. Peterson’s confused expression, he explained impatiently. “You’re so out of touch, old man. How do you not know what that is?” “It’s like… a toy. A little plaything someone gives you to settle a debt. Understand now?” I stood there, shifting awkwardly on my feet. Mr. Peterson’s expression changed. He leaned in and whispered to Leo. “Sir, this kind of contract isn’t legally enforceable. It infringes on her personal freedom and violates public decency laws…” “Besides, this woman is stunningly beautiful. Aren’t you worried she and her brother are plotting something?” The two of them were whispering as if I wasn’t even there. I quickly waved my hands, trying to explain earnestly. “My brother and I really aren’t plotting anything! We’re genuinely trying to pay back the debt.” Leo narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Peterson, while I don’t agree with your assessment of her looks, you do have a point.” “Get the guest room ready. She can stay in there.” “I want to see exactly what kind of tricks this woman has up her sleeve.” 4 Hearing that I wouldn’t have to share a room with Leo, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. My tightly clenched fists unconsciously relaxed. But Leo caught the subtle movement. He snorted coldly and turned on his heel, walking away. For the next few days, Leo was a ghost. He didn’t give me any tasks, nor did he make any special arrangements for me. For a canary who was supposed to be working off a debt, I was living a life of leisure, getting free room and board. I started to feel restless. Worried that Leo might suddenly find a reason to pick on me, I started looking for things to do myself. One day, I helped Maria with the gardening. The next, I gave Mrs. Davis a hand in the kitchen. I was one step away from asking Mr. Peterson to add me to the official work schedule. Luckily, I fit in quickly. Everyone seemed to like me. Even Mr. Peterson, who had initially been suspicious of me, was now singing my praises. “Miss Chloe is not only beautiful, but she’s also a quick and diligent worker. Never complains.” Maria held my hand and wouldn’t let go. “I heard you studied early childhood education? Do you have a boyfriend? If not, I have a nephew who’s doing his PhD at Stanford. He’s a brilliant young man, you two would be perfect for each other.” They didn’t know about my awkward situation. They just assumed I was another employee, working for a paycheck. Mrs. Davis brought some homemade snacks to my room. “Miss Chloe, you’re five-foot-seven but only a hundred and ten pounds! You’re too thin!” “I made these just for you. Don’t worry, the Young Master will never find out!” I was deeply touched. The anxiety I’d felt when I first arrived melted away. I secretly texted my brother. I told him not to worry. Everyone here, except for Leo, was incredibly kind to me. 5 That evening, Maria’s daughter, Lily, begged me to read her a bedtime story. In the days Leo had been away, she had taken to sneaking into my room to sleep. The little girl even shared half of her gummy bears with me, her big eyes watching me expectantly. My heart melted. We lay on the bed side-by-side, our heads touching as we looked at the storybook together. The summer night was hot and sticky. The silk strap of my slip dress hung loosely on my shoulder, and as I traced the pictures with my finger, it slipped down without me noticing. With every movement, the neckline of my dress dipped lower, revealing more than I intended. Suddenly, the scent of alcohol filled the air. A man’s voice, tight with restrained anger, came from beside me. “Well, look at you, Lily. Getting bold, aren’t you.” “This is my room. Are you going to get out yourself, or do I have to throw you out?” The little girl jumped, startled. She looked at Leo as if she’d seen a ghost, dropped the book, and ran out of the room with a terrified shriek. I scrambled to sit up. Our eyes met, but Leo was the first to look away. “Chloe, the tulips in the garden. Was it your idea to replace them with crabapple blossoms?” “Huh?” I was confused. I only remembered casually mentioning to Maria that crabapple blossoms were considered good luck and looked beautiful when they bloomed. “And another thing—” “I never eat cilantro. Why is that disgusting ingredient in my kitchen?” That was from the wonton soup Mrs. Davis had made for me. It wasn't meant for him. I didn’t say anything. But Leo knew. He knew all these changes were because of me. His frustration was practically spilling from his eyes. “You’ve only been here a few days, and you’ve already charmed everyone in this house. You really are a manipulative piece of work.” Leo had curly hair and a pair of sad, downturned eyes, with two faint beauty marks under his right eye. When he was angry, he looked like a dog with its fur on end. “I was gone for four whole days, and you didn’t send me a single text… Why aren’t you like the other canaries?” “Did you move in here just to read bedtime stories to Lily?” 6 His words made me feel a pang of guilt. My brother had given me Leo’s contact info. But I’d been so busy running around the house these past few days that I’d completely forgotten about it. “I’m sorry, baby.” I moved closer. The moment my arm touched his, Leo’s body went rigid. I pressed my advantage. I deliberately softened my voice, cooing in a placating tone. “It’s my fault. You’re my creditor. You’re the one I should be focused on pleasing.” Then, I launched into a series of barefaced lies. “I asked Maria to change the flowers so you’d feel refreshed when you came home.” “And I’ve been trying out new recipes because I wanted to cook for you. The cilantro was just for garnish.” “Everything I do, I do it for you. Even when you’re not here, I’m thinking about you, waiting for you to come back every day.” “…Is that what you really think?” “Mhm.” The tension in Leo’s expression finally eased. He lowered his gaze. But his eyes darted away as if he’d been burned. A few words tumbled out of his throat. “That nightgown is hideous. It looks like a dish rag. You have no taste.” I smiled sweetly. “Then next time, I’ll wear the kind you like, okay, baby?” Leo was clearly not expecting that. I didn’t argue at all; I just accepted his criticism. His anger, his nitpicking, it was like punching a pillow. It couldn’t get a rise out of me. Right in front of him, I opened the Amazon app on my phone. The “lingerie” section was filled with all sorts of options. Some had even less fabric, in styles that were far more provocative, from black lace to baby pink. I don’t know if it was from anger or something else, but a faint blush spread from the tips of his ears down to his neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He raised a hand. “Just… just get the bestseller.” 7 The day the package arrived, I sent Leo a text: [Come home early tonight. Dinner’s ready. Waiting for you, kisses~] There was a moment of silence from his end. Then, a barrage of messages flooded my phone: [Chloe, did hell freeze over? You’re actually texting me first.] [Heh. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me.] [What do you mean, ‘come home early’? Are you getting possessive already?] [Well, since you’re trying so hard to please me, I guess I can do you the favor of coming home for dinner tonight.] [By the way, did that nightgown arrive yet?] [Answer me.] [?] [Why aren’t you replying? Playing games with me?] [?????] … I put down my phone and looked at Mr. Peterson with a helpless expression. “Is Leo… always like this with his… canaries?” Mr. Peterson looked shocked. “Of course not! The Young Master has never even…” Realizing he’d said too much, he quickly stopped himself. “The Young Master is a workaholic. He’s rarely home, and when he’s busy, he even forgets his own birthday. He has plenty of admirers, but he’s never brought a woman home before. You’re the first.” Perhaps my good behavior recently had lowered Mr. Peterson’s guard. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop. He poured out story after story about Leo’s childhood. “He’s actually a really good person, you know. He just has a sharp tongue.” “You hear him call me ‘old man,’ but he knows I love anime, and he gets me a new collectible figure for my birthday every year.” “Maria and Mrs. Davis get gifts too. Some kind of expensive face cream, I think…” “And he was a business prodigy from a young age. When he was ten, he took advantage of his grandmother’s dementia and tricked her into giving him New Year’s money five times.” “He also has a childhood friend, Ethan. When they were kids, the Young Master loved playing ‘treasure hunt’ at his house. One time, he found Ethan’s parents’ divorce papers…” I… had no words. 8 That evening, when Leo came home, the living room was pitch black. He had night blindness and hated the dark. It made him feel unsafe. “Chloe, where are you?” Silence. He walked further into the living room, a flicker of irritation on his face. “You said you’d be waiting at home…” In an instant, all the lights flashed on. Leo’s words caught in his throat. He saw the floor covered in a sea of deep blue and purple roses. BOOM— At the same moment, the massive floor-to-ceiling windows reflected a dazzling fireworks display exploding in the night sky. Golden sparks rained down like a shower of stars. The brilliant light danced in Leo’s stunned eyes. He stood frozen, his head tilted back, a small, unconscious smile playing on his lips as he watched, mesmerized. I emerged from the shadows, holding a cake. “Happy birthday, Leo.” He noticed me and stiffened for a moment, then quickly composed his expression, trying to look stern. “It’s not my birthday today.” “I know.” “Mr. Peterson told me. You remember everyone else’s birthday, but you always forget your own.” “So, I wanted to give you a proper celebration.” Leo snorted. “…That blabbering old man.” I smiled and took his rigid hand, leading him to the dining room. On the table was a large birthday cake. And several of Leo’s favorite dishes. “You… you made all of this yourself?” I nodded. His eyes lit up, sparkling like their own tiny fireworks show. 9 After dinner, the bathroom door was yanked open. Leo emerged from the steam, toweling his damp, brown curls. His fingers were long and elegant, his tanned arms defined by sharp lines and raised veins. Droplets of water traced paths down the sharp lines of his abs, disappearing under the towel wrapped around his waist. Leo had a very tempting body. Sensing my gaze, the tips of his ears turned red, but his tone remained cool. “What are you staring at?” I walked closer. I gently touched the faint scar on his side. “Does it hurt?” The skin under my fingertips tightened instantly. “Th-that was from when I was a kid. I forgot all about it.” “How did you get it?” He turned his face away, his eyelashes fluttering down unnaturally. “I got kicked by a donkey.” “Was it your stepmother?” “…That old man told you everything, didn’t he.” I looked up at him, my expression serious. “Leo, it’s okay to be vulnerable.” “You can say it when you’re in pain, you can cry when you’re sad, and you can shout it from the rooftops when you like something.” “Why do you always say the opposite of what you mean, pretending you don’t care?” I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the scar. “It’s okay. You can keep up your tough act.” “But I’ll be here to catch all your complicated emotions, until you’re ready to show your true self.” His dark eyes burned into mine, as if my words had struck a chord deep within him. He suddenly pulled me into his arms. I could feel the frantic pounding of his heart, hear his ragged breaths. “Chloe, you’re so annoying.” “…After how I treated your brother, don’t you hate me?” My answer was gentle, but also carefully worded. “My brother’s investment failed because of his own bad luck. Paying back a debt is the right thing to do.” “If he had dealt with someone else, he might have lost more than just the use of his leg.” Leo’s heart beat even faster. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Like a lost puppy in a garden. I opened my arms, stood on my toes, and hugged him tightly. “Do you like it when I hug you like this? I want to hear the truth.” Silence stretched between us, wrapped in the soft, yellow light. After a long moment, he buried his face in my neck and mumbled a soft “yeah.” “…I like it.” “Hmm? I didn’t quite hear that.” “I… I like it when you hug me.” The smile on my face deepened. “What else do you like?” Leo’s gaze dropped to my sheer slip dress, and his eyes suddenly darkened.
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