Semua Bab Contractually Yours: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Jem's POV It’s a stormy night, and I’m just returning from my mother’s hospital when the rain starts to fall heavily.I rushed to huddle beneath a tiny metal shelter by the bus stop, already drenched, arms wrapped around myself as I tap my feet against the cold pavement. The storm has chased everyone away—no buses, no people, just the relentless drumming of rain above me.With nothing else to focus on, my thoughts drift back to the hospital. I can’t stop thinking about how pale Mom’s smile looked before I left her ward.I remembered how the doctor avoided my eyes when he told me the outstanding payment for my mom’s treatment was now more than a week overdue—and that if the debt remained unpaid, he would have no choice but to disconnect her ventilator.The words kept ringing in my ears. I bet that was the most polite way of saying I couldn’t afford to keep her alive anymore.I wasn't feeling the cold anymore.Right now, all I could feel inside of me was pure disappointment.I'm disapp

Dante's POV By the time I got home, the rain had already stopped, though I was completely soaked, as if I had been sitting under it the whole time.The incident under the bridge replayed in my head as I walked into my bedroom—that stranger's face—the panic in his eyes.There's something about him—the way he ran up to pull me down from the ledge even though I wasn't trying to jump. He must have thought I was gonna jump, so he tried to stop me.I can't seem to stop thinking about his touch—the sudden jolt I felt when his fingers brushed my wrist.I shook my head softly and started to strip off my wet clothes.I stepped into my bathroom and grabbed a towel and dabbed it through my hair, exhaling sharply as I stepped back into my room.“Why on earth will I ever even think about jumping off the bridge?!” The question suddenly popped in my head again.I just wanted the rain—the silence. A moment where the noise in my head would stop. Yet somehow, even that had been interrupted.I've lived

Jem's POV It’s been weeks since I last went home—since the night of the rain, when I discovered the longevity serum.I’ve been sleeping in the laundry room of the restaurant where I work.I couldn’t go home. Not after that rainy night. And not after my landlord called to tell me that a group of men in black suits had flooded the compound. They had a sketch of my face. They were looking for me.From the way he described it, the situation was serious. They had even forced their way into my apartment to check if I was hiding inside.The moment my landlord told me this, I didn’t need to think twice. I knew exactly who they were—the loan sharks. The company I owe money to.Since last month, I stopped paying the 0.8% interest. I stopped picking up their calls. So I wasn’t surprised when they showed up in my house.I’m a debtor as we speak. I can’t even count how many loans I’ve taken from different companies—and I haven’t paid back a single one.That night, after my landlord warned me abou

Jem's POV Every head turned towards us. Conversations died. Even Dante’s speech stopped mid-way.I froze at once.I can't believe this girl hasn't grown up yet.Is she really still this petty?Is this really who Dante was about to hand over his entire empire to?Surprisingly for me, I was still relaxed despite all the eyes on us now.I knew I was in trouble already.I could've just left when she asked me to.Now, look what I've caused upon myself.The attention—the eyes, and barely audible whispers were killing me faster than the fact that I knew I might lose my opportunity of getting paid here.Honestly… right now, nothing scares me more than losing this job.I looked around slowly. I couldn’t count the number of judgmental eyes that seemed to be casting me out. The situation reminded me of what happened at the police academy just a few weeks ago… the exact same way Mara had made the whole university turn against me with just their stares.Why does this girl want to ruin me complete

Jem’s POV I was still sitting on the cold metal bench at the train station, my body slightly curled forward like someone who had given up on comfort.My eyes were half-open, blinking slowly, as though I didn’t even have the strength to fully wake up. I had slept here all night—yes, right here on this same bench where I was still sitting. I had drifted through the night like a homeless man with no family.After I was kicked out of the party last night, I had begged for almost half an hour outside the estate gate, but nobody paid any attention to me. Even the security guards ignored me the entire time, like I was nothing but dust.I had begged for at least half my payment, but no one was listening.I knew the settlement had ended in an ugly way. It was really bad. But how was that supposed to be entirely my fault?Everyone was so focused on Dante when he collapsed that no one even noticed when Mara ordered the guards to drag me out of the hall and throw me out of the estate—without even