Chapter 36 Episode 36

Chapter 36 Episode 36

Chapter 36

The atmosphere inside the café felt warm and lively. The aroma of food mixed with the sound of customers chatting filled the room. Emeli and Ivy sat near the window while enjoying their meals. On the table were pasta, fries, and two glasses of cold drinks that were slowly covered in condensation.

Ivy still had not stopped teasing Emeli.

“So it’s true that you like Mr. Victor?” she asked while resting her chin on her hand.

Emeli immediately stirred her drink, pretending to be busy. “You really talk too much.”

Ivy laughed softly. “I’m just surprised. So many guys chased after you before, but you ignored all of them.”

“That’s because I didn’t like them.”

“So now you do?”

Emeli stayed silent for a few seconds before giving a faint smile. “Maybe…”

Ivy immediately squealed softly. “Oh my God! Emeli has finally fallen in love after breaking up with Aric!”

“Keep your voice down!” Emeli protested shyly.

Ivy laughed in satisfaction when she saw her best friend’s face turn red. “But seriously, Mr. Victor is really handsome. Back in college, a lot of girls liked him too.”

Emeli nodded slowly while poking at her food. “Yeah…”

“But it seems like he’s different with you,” Ivy continued while narrowing her eyes teasingly. “You can totally see it from the way he looks at you.”

Emeli was just about to answer when suddenly a hand grabbed her arm firmly.

“Eh—”

Emeli’s body reflexively stood up because of the pull. Her eyes widened instantly when she saw who had arrived.

Who else could it be if not Ken.

The man stood there with a cold face and sharp gaze that immediately made Emeli’s heart drop.

“M-Mr. Ken…?”

Ivy also fell silent. Her eyes widened as she looked at the tall man with such an intimidating aura.

But Ken did not care about the people around them at all. His hand immediately wrapped around Emeli’s waist before lifting her body just like that.

“Oh my God—Sir! Put me down!” Emeli protested in panic.

“Quiet,” Ken said flatly.

Emeli immediately struggled on his shoulder. “I can walk by myself!”

But Ken kept walking out of the café without caring about the stares from the people around them.

“Mr. Ken! This is embarrassing!”

“If you knew embarrassment, you should’ve answered my calls.”

Ken’s voice was low, but it was clearly filled with pressure.

Ivy, who was still sitting in her chair, could only stare blankly. Her eyes followed Ken’s back as he carried Emeli out just like that.

“Oh my God…” she muttered softly.

Several customers even turned their heads curiously.

Ivy blinked several times, still trying to process what had just happened.

“First Mr. Victor… now this guy…” She stared blankly toward the café entrance. “Why is Emeli’s life filled with handsome men?”

She snorted softly while leaning back against her chair. A feeling of jealousy suddenly disturbed her heart.

Back in college, she had always been the center of attention. Many men approached her, and many praised her beauty. But just now… even Victor had barely paid attention to her at all.

“So annoying,” she grumbled softly while stabbing her food harshly.

Meanwhile outside the café, Ken opened the back car door and immediately placed Emeli inside.

Thud.

“Mr. Ken!” Emeli glared at him in both annoyance and panic. “Why do you have to act like this?!”

But the car door had already closed.

Ken entered and sat beside her. The distance between them instantly felt narrow. The man’s cold aura filled the car, making it hard for Emeli to breathe comfortably.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls?” Ken asked bluntly.

Emeli frowned. “I was eating with my friend.”

“I don’t like being ignored.”

“I also have my own life!” Emeli shot back spontaneously.

Ken’s gaze immediately turned sharp.

And before Emeli could react, the man’s hand had already grabbed her chin before kissing her lips roughly.

“Mmph—”

Emeli was instantly shocked. The kiss felt completely different from before. It was not gentle. Not slow. Ken seemed to be venting his emotions.

“M-Mr…” Emeli’s voice caught between her breaths.

But Ken only pressed his lips harder against hers before moving down to her jaw and then to her neck. The man’s warm breath swept against her skin, making Emeli’s body tense.

“Ken…” Emeli whispered softly.

She tried pushing against the man’s chest, but she was not strong enough. Instead, her body weakened when Ken kissed her neck slowly.

But suddenly Ken stopped moving.

The man went silent for a few seconds.

Then slowly lifted his face.

His gaze turned dark.

“What is this scent?” he asked softly.

Emeli immediately froze.

Ken leaned closer to her neck again, inhaling the faint scent of perfume lingering there. A masculine fragrance that clearly was not his.

Ken’s jaw instantly tightened.

“Why do you smell like another man’s perfume?” his voice turned cold.

Emeli reflexively moved back a little. “I-I…”

Ken’s hand suddenly gripped her neck lightly, enough to make Emeli hold her breath.

“Tell me honestly, did you just kiss another man?”

Emeli’s eyes widened immediately. “It hurts…”

“I’ll ask one more time,” Ken said sharply. “Who did you just meet?”

“I only—”

“Was that your boyfriend?” Ken suddenly cut her off.

Deg.

Emeli instantly panicked.

The change in her expression only made Ken even more certain.

“So my guess was right?” he asked again, this time lower and more pressing.

Emeli became frightened seeing the different look in Ken’s eyes. There was an emotion far too intense there.

“I only got a ride from him, not—”

“Why is another man’s perfume sticking to your body?”

“I don’t know!”

“Don’t lie!”

Ken’s shout made Emeli tremble reflexively.

Her chest rose and fell quickly. For the first time, she was truly afraid of being this close to Ken.

“Sir… let go…” she whispered weakly.

But Ken still stared at her sharply. “You’re mine.”

Those words instantly made Emeli’s eyes heat up.

“I’m not an object…” her voice trembled.

Ken seemed slightly startled hearing that tone.

And at that very second, Emeli pushed Ken’s body away with all her strength before hurriedly opening the car door.

“Emeli!”

But the girl had already gotten out first.

She immediately ran away without caring about the people staring at her. Her breathing became uneven, and her eyes started burning from the tears she had been holding back.

“Emeli!”

Ken’s voice sounded from behind her, but Emeli did not stop.

A taxi happened to slow down by the roadside. Emeli hurriedly opened the door and got inside with trembling hands.

“Drive, Sir… quickly…” she said with a broken voice.

The taxi driver immediately nodded in confusion before driving off.

Outside, Ken stood there with a hardened jaw while watching the taxi leave.

His hands clenched tightly.

“Damn it…” he muttered harshly.

Juna, who had been standing not far from there, finally approached slowly. He had seen everything from outside the car.

“Sir…” he called carefully.

Ken did not answer.

“I think… you were too harsh on Miss Emeli.”

Ken’s sharp gaze immediately turned toward him.

But Juna dared to continue, “If you keep restraining Miss Emeli like that, she might drift even farther away.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“But you like Miss Emeli, don’t you?”

The atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Juna took a slow breath before speaking again, “Why not just be honest? Wasn’t Miss Emeli also the one who saved you back then?”

“Enough.”

Ken’s voice instantly turned cold.

“Sir—”

“Stay out of my business.” Ken stared at him sharply. “Understand?”

Juna immediately fell silent.

He knew Ken’s emotions were in a terrible state right now. But deep down, he became even more convinced.

His boss had already fallen too deeply for Emeli.

Meanwhile inside the taxi, Emeli sat there hugging her bag tightly. Her tears finally fell.

She hurriedly wiped her cheeks, but the crying only became harder to stop.

The taxi driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Miss, are you okay?”

Emeli immediately shook her head quickly. “I’m fine…”

But her voice sounded extremely weak.

She lowered her head further while biting her lip to hold back the tightness in her chest.

“I’m tired…” she whispered softly.

Her hands were still trembling as she remembered the look in Ken’s eyes earlier.

The longer this continued, the more trapped she felt.

“I really want to be free from Ken as soon as possible.”