Karma's Gonna Come Collect Your Debt 소설 & 이야기

“We’re so sorry. Please, Mr. Apollo. We were foolish. We didn’t know what we were doing—” “Get to the point,” I cut in, glancing down at my watch. “I have someone waiting for me outside.” She paused. Her hands trembled against the floor, but she didn’t touch me. At least she had that much sense left. “My family had debt. Debt collectors have been threatening us for years. Then one day, the debt collectors told me they’d cancel everything, if we helped with something. He even offered us two million dollars on top.” I folded my arms, waiting.

“Debt upon debt I do not understand what punishment we are suffering from." Kaz was depressed. Even though he didn't want to, he had to borrow from Robin every few days. The fact was that as soon as Kaz took money from Robin and invested it in the company, Maha leaked the company documents and gave them to Robin so that Kaz loses business and again borrows from Robin so that he is so overwhelmed by Robin's debts that he goes to great lengths to get out. “I don't know what kind of karma this is, Kaz. Believe me. When you tell me to laugh and talk to Robin and get ready in front of him, I hate myself."

"That sounds like you just became the thing we were trying to fight." "No. I became something new." I looked at the mummified Council members, who were stirring in their seats—awareness returning to faces that had been empty for centuries. "The Debt Collector was a system. A broken system, but still a system. It collected debts because that's what it was designed to do, not because the debts made sense. I can... I can feel the contracts now. All of them. And most of them are garbage." "Garbage?"

Annoyed, she got up from bed. She opened the door—only to be shocked by three big men standing before her. “Can I help you?” “Pay your debt.” A man stepped forward, pushing past the large men, eyes fixed on Karina. He suddenly smirked. Karina’s anger rose. “I don’t owe you anything. My mother does. I have nothing to do with her debt. You should find her, not me.” The man—known as the most ruthless loan shark—laughed. “Your mother ran off with my money! That damn woman disappeared after borrowing a huge amount. That stupid gambler ran away, and now you’re telling me to collect it from her?”

Underneath it was another flowing signature beside two printed words: Varek Kane. I froze as my eyes locked onto the name. It was the same asshole who had approached Elara in the hardware store. These papers were not legally binding contracts, and that was terrible news. Dad had borrowed money from a loan shark, exactly as Vale had said. Now this bastard was hanging around town, trying to collect what he believed he was owed. Worse than that, he had already made his presence known to an innocent woman. It was a warning tactic. This asshole was trying to frighten me into paying back money I had never borrowed. Dad was dead, and this guy was still trying to collect the debt. The gambling, as f

"I think because I can read, I know when my payment is due." The silence on the other end lasted several seconds. Then— "Listen here, rich boy." Adam immediately disliked the nickname. "You've been ducking us for years. Things have changed around here." "Ducking? I've never missed a payment." "You always paid late." "I paid." Marcus ignored that. "Come settle this today or we'll come to you." Adam's expression became colder. "You know," he said calmly, "there's a reason people hate debt collectors." "Oh yeah?"

As for your debts…" My tone suddenly turned cold. "I've married into the Hargrove family now, which makes me a Hargrove. As they say, once a daughter is married, she's part of her husband's family. Since your debts are in your own names, you'll naturally be responsible for paying them back yourselves. That has absolutely nothing to do with me." I paused, watching their expressions turn dark, and continued, "Also, I remember the repayment term written on the loan contracts was six months. In six months, the debt collectors will come knocking. I suggest you start preparing early. You wouldn't want to end up with nowhere to hide."

Weakness spreads if you let it. “The debt,” I mutter. Before Grande can answer, Lamar bursts back into the room. “You heard?” I nod once. “He owed us half a million,” Lamar growls. “Died before paying a cent.” I rub my temple. In my world, debt isn’t forgotten. It’s paid — in cash, loyalty, or blood. Anything less is disrespect. Brad walks in then, calm as ever. One glance at the file, and he knows what’s going on.

It is an unknown contact. Unknown: Now you want to know? I squeeze my fingers around the phone. I know who this is, although nameless. Unknown: Easy job. One night. Good money. I stammer, and my heart is faster. Me: How much? The reply comes quickly. Unknown: Just enough to mend your troubles. I gulp. Rent. Food. Information about my parents. All the things I never have. "What if I say no?" I whisper under my breath. The phone buzzes again.

"Five years with my boyfriend. I worked four jobs to help repay his debt, but his family's debt keeps growing instead of shrinking. Today we were supposed to go home together for New Year's. He said something happened at the construction site and left again. I don't know when the debt will ever be paid off. Living on toast and pickles every day is really hard." When the train began to move, I hit "Post." I poured every cent I had taken from Anya's livestream into promoting the video. "Benjamin, every lie is a debt. From today on, you can repay it inch by painful inch. I won't stay to watch," I muttered.