Kelly's knees were still weak, her mind spinning from the flash of memories that weren't entirely hers.. or maybe they were. The whole thing clashed in her head, putting her in a confused state.
She had been here before. But I still can't figure out when..how??
Rowel still held her firmly yet carefully, as if he knew just how fragile she felt at that moment. His silver-black eyes watched her waiting.
She took a shaky breath, willing her body to steady itself. "What… What did you do to me?"
Rowel didn't answer immediately. He reached into his coat, pulling out a small, silver pendant. The second Kelly's gaze landed on it, something inside her lurched.
A sharp pain flashed through her brain.
She stumbled back, gasping.
A memory…promise…betrayal!
Rowel stood over her with desperation in his eyes. "Don't forget." His voice was raw, pleading. "You promised, Kelly."
But she had forgotten.
Kelly clutched her head, as she heard echoes from her past ringing in her head but she couldn't comprehend it
Rowel stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You're remembering."
"No," she snapped, voice unsteady. "I don't remember. I don't even know what's real."
He studied her for a moment before slipping the pendant into her palm." Then start with this."
The second it touched her skin, heat coiled through her veins, her breath catching in her throat.
She saw herself—not as she was now, but as someone older, stronger, a survivor.
And standing beside her, always just within reach, was Rowel.
The truth hit her like a storm.
This wasn't just about the past.
It was about the war they had left unfinished.
Trapped in His World…
Kelly sat on the cold leather seat of Rowel Don's limousine, her hands clenched into fists on her lap. The weight of the pendant in her palm was unbearable like it carried a secret too heavy for her to hold.
She had a feeling that she wasn't supposed to be there
Not in even his car, in his world.
But what could she do? Than to sit and watch because she had no choice.
Minutes ago, she had still been in her rundown apartment, trying to recall memories, drowning in unpaid bills and unanswered calls from creditors. Now, she was sitting beside the most ruthless billionaire in the city—a man who claimed she had made a deal with him.
But she remembered nothing.
Rowel sat across from her, one arm resting on the back of the seat, with his tailored suit hugging his powerful frame, and the sharp angles of his face were unreadable.
"You're awfully quiet," he said, sipping from the glass of whiskey in his hand. His deep, smooth voice sent a shiver down her spine.
Kelly forced herself to meet his gaze. "Maybe because I don't remember ever agreeing on this!"
A slow, dark smirk played on his lips. "Oh, but you did." Reaching forward he rested his elbows on his knees and said "Kelly.. where do you think you got the money for your mother's surgery huh? Tell me!"
Her breath caught. "What?"
His smirk widened. "You think miracles happen for free?"
Her stomach twisted and inside her, she fought "No no no, that couldn't be right"
Her mother's surgery!! The only reason she was still alive. The hospital had said an anonymous benefactor covered the costs.
But if that benefactor was Rowel Don…
She swallowed hard, her fingers trembling. "What do you want from me?"
Rowel leaned back, watching her like a predator amused by its prey. "Nothing much," he said, voice deceptively smooth. "Just… you."
Her heart pounded. "Me?"
"You owe me, Kelly." His gaze darkened. "And I always collect what's mine."
Mine... Is this a joke?!
The word echoed in her mind, cold and inescapable.
She had walked into a trap. And now, there was no way out.
___
Kelly could feel her heart racing in her ears as Rowel's voice vibrated within the confines of the limousine. He said "You owe me, Kelly. And I always collect what's mine."
Giving her a cold gaze..pinned her down like a trap, the truth was heavy she couldn't deny it as much as she wanted to and tell him that he was wrong
The pay was her mother's surgery…
The miracle she had never questioned…
Had come with a price.
His price..!
Holding tight to the pendant in her lap she whispered "It can't be...this is a mistake Rowel, it's all a mistake because I can't remember making a deal with you"
Of course, Rowel didn't show any reaction instantly; instead, he had a slow sip of his whiskey and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. And he said.
"You think that changes anything?" His voice was smooth, almost amused." Whether you remember or not, a deal was made. And I'm here to make sure you fulfill it!"
A chill ran down Kelly's spine.
"I didn't—"she started, but he cut her off.
"Oh yes you did Kell"
The finality in his tone left no room for argument or disagreement
She paced with a shaky breath, forcing herself to think accurately. If this was true, that she had signed a deal with him unknowingly, she needed to be smart, but time wasn't really on her side.
She forced her expression into something softer, something almost submissive, and said, "Then… what do you want me to do?"
Rowel slowly turned his head with a smirk, as if he could see right through her little act.
"I'm glad you asked."
Suddenly, the car slowed down and stopped in front of a tall glass skyscraper; Kelly turned her head to see where they were. Upon realizing, she had chills
That tower of building with the name "Don Enterprises" inscribed on it displays a symbol of power and wealth
She was sure she had heard the name before, even seen it on the news. It was a corporate empire, one of the biggest in the country. And at the center of it all was him.. Rowel Don.
The door was opened by a well-mannered driver who gestured for her to step out.
Kelly paused for a second.
But Rowel didn't hesitate to step down and reached for her hand and said "Welcome to your new home, Kelly"
Her heart paused for a moment. "My new Home?"
The security guards couldn't blink as their powerful boss escorted a woman who didn't belong in this world. Rowel didn't mind as he led her through the sleek lobby
The ride on the elevator was silent like a graveyard. Thick tension filled the air, suffocating the atmosphere
As the elevator slides open, Rowel lets go of her hands and says
"This will be your world now," he said. "You will live here. Under my roof. Under my rules."
Kelly's hands quiver. "But you can't just—"
He interrupted immediately "I can" turning to her face "And I have..already"
She panicked and stared at him, trying to hide her true feelings. "What exactly do you want from me?"
Then Rowel took a step closer. Then another, and another, until.. the space between them was gone.
She trembled and moved back until her back hit the glass, and she lost her breath as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"I want you to remember," he said. "I want you to know why you came to me that night, why you begged me to save her. And why you promised me everything in return."
Her heart pounded.
He was too close. His presence was suffocating.
"I don't remember Rowel." she managed to choke out.
Rowel's hand lifted, his fingers lightly touching her jaw. The touch was surprisingly gentle, yet it held the weight of something far more dangerous.
"You will Kelly," he murmured. "And when you do, you'll understand why you can't leave."
Kelly felt the world hovering around her as if the walls were closing in.
Trapped..!
Owned..!
She realized she had walked into a cage, and the master key holder was Rowel Don.
But if he thought she would break so easily—he was wrong. She may seem weak now, but one thing was certain!
She would definitely find a way out for sure
Even if it meant taking him down with her.