Chapter 7 — Say it again...

"Say it again!" Leon's voice sounded heavy, as if he were holding back something that wanted to explode. He approached slowly, his face only inches away from Giselle's, who was still bound.

Giselle averted her gaze, trying to steady her racing heart. But then she hissed, “My husband, release me. I beg you…”

The voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it echoed in Leon’s ears like a time bomb exploding inside his chest.

Leon’s neck tensed, and he lowered his head slightly. “Say it again. Say it again with the same tone.”

Giselle looked into Leon’s eyes. His eyes were sharp, filled with emotions Leon couldn’t decipher.

“MY HUSBAND, LET ME GO!” Giselle screamed loudly.

And like being burned, Leon lost control. With a swift movement, he grabbed Giselle’s jaw and pressed his lips against hers so greedily, so deeply, as if wanting to punish and possess the girl in one long kiss. Giselle struggled—but her body couldn’t move. She was completely bound.

“Mmhh—! Mr. Le—on... I... can’t... breathe—!” Giselle gasped between broken breaths.

Leon finally realized, his eyes widening. He immediately released the kiss. His breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling uncontrollably.

Giselle remained silent for a few seconds, staring at the man in front of her with a flushed face. Not out of shame, but out of emotion. “Crazy!! You—you kissed me like—like—”

Leon looked at his own hands, then touched his lips, then Giselle again.

“What did I just do?!” Leon thought to himself.

Without saying a word, Leon stood up and walked quickly toward the door.

Giselle shouted from behind, “HEY DON’T GO! LET ME GO FIRST, YOU DEVIL!! YOU PERVERT!”

Leon didn’t respond. He simply left, closing the door behind him and leaving Giselle tied up alone in the room.

In the car, Leon sat in silence. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Damn it!” Leon muttered softly. “What the hell was that?! Why did I…? Why did I kiss Giselle?! That annoying, materialistic girl?!”

Leon ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Why… did I lose control just because of her little scream? Because she called me her husband?”

That voice, Giselle’s face, kept spinning in his head. The girl was too attractive. Too talkative. Too full of herself. But why…

Why did it feel so tempting just now?

Suddenly, Leon pulled out his phone and pressed the speed dial.

“Jo.”

“Yes, Mr. Leon?”

“Go to the basement right now. Untie Giselle.”

“Huh? What do you mean, Mr. Leon—”

“NOW!”

Click. The call ended.

Meanwhile, in the basement.

Giselle was still sitting on the iron chair, her hands and feet bound. She was still trying to steady her breath, suppressing her anger, shame, and her unstable heartbeat.

“You’re crazy. Leon’s crazy. That damn man. I kissed him, he kissed me back. But more wildly! Huh! How dare he leave me here after satisfying himself by kissing me!”

Giselle kicked the air, the chair swaying slightly. “Just wait, Leon. Once I’m free, I’ll cut your lips off!”

Soon after, the door opened. Jo entered with an awkward expression.

“Um. Mrs. Giselle... Mr. Leon told me to... release you.”

“Too late!” Giselle snapped sharply. “Where’s Leon? Where’s that DEVIL? Tell him to come here if he has the guts!”

Jo scratched the back of his neck. “Um... I think Mr. Leon is... calming down.”

“CALMING DOWN AFTER KISSING ME?! YOU’RE CRAZY!”

Jo quickly untied Giselle’s hands and feet.

As soon as she was free, Giselle stood up quickly. “Take me to campus. Now!”

“Alright, Mrs. Giselle.”

As she walked out of the room, Giselle hugged herself. Her lips still felt hot. The remnants of the kiss were still clearly lingering. Her body was still trembling, not out of fear but out of confusion. Why wasn’t her heartbeat back to normal?

“Leon De Santos... you’ll regret this. I swear I’ll punish you!” she whispered to herself. “For the bonus promised by Aunt Hansel, I had to...”