A Bride as A Collateral for Debt

"You're such a jinx!" the aunt screamed, grabbing Kana by the collar as she stepped into the house. The 21-year-old woman was forcefully dragged and thrown to the floor, her knees and palms slamming hard against the tiles.

Her heart and breath seemed to stop for a moment. She didn't even feel the pain in her knees and palms. Her eyes widened as she stared at her blurry reflection on the floor. Kana looked at her aunt with fear.

"W-what is it, Aunt?" she whispered.

"You still dare to ask? You jinx!" Suddenly, her cousin appeared, screaming hysterically from her room, tears streaming down her face. Kana's attention shifted. Why was her cousin crying? She turned to her aunt, whose face was flushed.

"I don't understand. What happened? Where's Uncle?" confused, Kana tried to get up, but her aunt approached her and yanked her short hair, pulling Kana's head back.

"Au-aunt... it hu-hurts..." Kana whimpered, trying to hold her aunt's hand to stop her from pulling her hair harder.

"Hurt, you say?" the aunt whispered, pulling Kana's hair even harder.

"Just this little bit, you complain about pain? Then what about me who has had to endure ten years of having a jinx like you?" the aunt screamed. Kana could only close her eyes tightly, hearing the piercing scream that stabbed her heart.

Being called a "jinx" was nothing new to her since she first came to this house after her parents died 14 years ago. Her uncle insisted on taking custody of her because he was the only family Kana had left, even though her aunt and cousin disagreed. As a result, whenever there was a problem in this house, Kana was always blamed.

"Au-aunt... at least, tell me, what's wrong? What happened? Did the debt collectors come again?" Kana tried to think clearly, even though her heart had been torn apart by her aunt and cousin's words and actions.

But her hair was pulled again, this time making her wince.

"You ungrateful child! You act as if the problem will be solved just by asking?" the aunt's voice rose. The woman in her forties looked at her sternly.

"If you only knew... your uncle..." The woman in her forties' voice began to tremble.

"Because of you..." Her breath hitched, her voice suddenly disappeared. Kana couldn't get any clues about what had actually happened while she was at work.

"You jinx! If you only knew, because of you, Dad died!" her cousin shouted, which sounded like a bolt of lightning to her. Kana couldn't believe what she was hearing. It couldn't be! Both of her hands immediately went up and covered her ears.

"No... This can't be!" Kana hysterically denied, which earned her a hard slap from her cousin, causing her aunt's grip on her hair to loosen, leaving a strand of hair in the forty-year-old woman's hand.

"It's all because of you, Kana!" her cousin accused, now staring at her with blazing eyes.

"Be-because of me?" Kana repeated, holding her cheek where she had been slapped.

"You ungrateful child!" Her aunt immediately pulled her collar.

"Do you want to act innocent?" the aunt snapped.

"But, Aunt, what caused Uncle's death? T-this must be a mistake. Maybe it's a scam! You know, Aunt, there are many scams going around to extort money-" Suddenly, Kana was spat on.

"You dare say that? I even saw my husband's lifeless body at the morgue!" the frustrated aunt screamed, gasping for breath. The forty-year-old woman raised her head again, staring coldly at Kana.

"He died this afternoon after being hit by a car on his way back from looking for a guarantor for his debt!" the aunt screamed again, which made Kana go limp. Her aunt's grip on her collar loosened. The forty-year-old woman then sat limply on the floor.

A single tear rolled down Kana's cheek. Her heart felt shattered hearing her aunt's story, but deep down, she thought the same. Her parents had died to fulfill her desire to vacation in the mountains, and now her uncle had died to support her.

"I'm so-sorry..." Suddenly, her collar was pulled again by her cousin.

"If you want to apologize, then give me all your salary!" her cousin demanded, making Kana's eyes widen. Salary? That's right, she had just been paid today. Her cousin's attention shifted to the sling bag still hanging on Kana's shoulder.

"Where is it? Where did you keep your salary?" The 18-year-old girl pulled the sling bag off Kana's shoulder and rummaged through its contents brutally.

"I-it's-"

"Here it is!" Her cousin found a rather thick white envelope with Kana's name on it. Her cousin showed the white envelope in front of Kana's face.

"Consider this your payment for living here all these years!" she sneered, then threw the worn sling bag back at Kana. The 18-year-old girl took out the contents of the envelope and counted the bills.

"Only one hundred and twenty dollars?" she pressed, attracting her mother's attention.

"Your salary is only one hundred and twenty dollars? Do you think how much money my father has spent until he had to die! You jinx!" Kana was pushed hard by her cousin, causing her to fall to the floor.

"Bu-but, Aunt... my salary as a waiter is only-" Suddenly, Kana's hand was pulled forcefully by her aunt.

"Au-aunt...."

"Get up!" the aunt ordered in a cold voice.

"But, Aunt...." Kana whimpered, looking at her aunt with trembling eyes.

"I said get up! Or else!" the aunt shouted again, which immediately made Kana stand up. Right after that, her aunt dragged Kana towards the front door.

"Au-aunt... where are we going?" Kana asked, confused.

"Where are we going, you say? Now it's your job to find the rest of your uncle's debt! You're the one who has to pay it!" the aunt screamed.

"Bu-but, Aunt... It's already late, where am I supposed to find the money-"

"Do anything, even sell your body! The important thing is that you can only come back when you have Thirty two thousands dollars!" the aunt screamed again, making Kana's eyes widen once more.

"Thirty two thousands? Isn't Uncle's debt fifty thousands dollars?" Kana remembered, she had even helped her uncle make a list of people her uncle owed money to.

"Do you think that debt doesn't accrue interest? You ungrateful child!" Her aunt opened the door and threw Kana out of the house so hard that the energy-less body was thrown out, but suddenly, a hand caught her.

Kana raised her head and found a man with slicked-back hair wearing a turtleneck shirt and leather jacket staring straight at her aunt and cousin.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... What's going on here? Is this how this family mourns?"

Kana frowned at the arrogant and cold voice of the man. Kana then turned around, seeing her aunt and cousin standing there, their eyes wide. The man's aura was so strong that it made the atmosphere tense.

Her aunt's trembling index finger pointed at the man who was now standing beside Kana.

"Wh-who are you?"

The man with slicked-back hair and a leather jacket standing next to Kana merely raised his eyebrows while smirking.

"Who am I?" the man repeated with a grin. Kana, standing beside him, instinctively stepped back. She felt uneasy about this man.

"Yes! Who are you? Why are you here at this hour? Or could it be..."

"Are you a debt collector?" shouted her cousin, which instantly froze her mother in place.

"A-debt collector?" her aunt stammered, trembling. Hearing this, Kana reflexively distanced herself, but her hand was roughly grabbed by the man. Kana tried to break free, but his grip was too strong.

"If you are a debt collector, then take her!" her aunt pointed at Kana. Kana's eyes widened in shock. She knew she had to find money to pay her uncle's debts, but if she was handed over like this to a debt collector, wouldn't something dangerous happen to her?

"Her? You mean the girl in my grasp?" the man asked, showing Kana's hand that he was holding tightly.

"Yes, that's right! She is Kana! She is my niece who will pay her late husband's debts! She has promised to pay!" her aunt elaborated.

"Oh..." The man lifted his chin and then turned to Kana.

"So this girl is named Kana?" he pressed again, making Kana shudder. For some reason, he emphasized the name "Kana."

"Yes! That girl is Kana Kemala!" Her aunt even mentioned Kana's full name. It seemed her fate was sealed with this frightening man. Kana could only shut her eyes tightly.

"It turns out it was this easy to get Kana..." the man murmured, causing Kana's eyes to widen. The woman quickly turned to the man who was still firmly gripping her wrist.

"Ben!" the man called, mentioning another man's name. Suddenly, a bespectacled man appeared behind him, bowing while holding a folder.

"Please take care of all the family debts. Settle everything and give them a reward equal to their debts..."

"Yes, Sir!" the man named Ben exclaimed without daring to lift his head. Who was this man? Instead of collecting debts, he was going to pay her uncle's debts! Even giving money equal to the uncle's debts!

"A-are you serious?" her aunt asked, now astonished by the man's words.

"Yes..." The slick-haired man lifted the corners of his mouth again.

"Do you think, why did your late husband come to me this morning?" he chuckled while signing the documents handed to him by the bespectacled man.

Instantly, her aunt's eyes widened.

"Young Master Ivander! Are you Young Master Ivander?" her aunt exclaimed, drawing the slick-haired man's attention, making him raise the corners of his mouth.

"It seems you remember my name," he said with a grin, then turned his attention back to the bespectacled man who was retracting the documents.

"Handle the final process and..." His attention returned to the middle-aged woman in front of him.

"Since you have handed Kana over to me, never try to meet her, contact her, or even claim her as family, because you have sold this girl to me!" the man pressed again.

"Yes! Yes, we understand. Just take her, take Kana, and don't let us see her again," her aunt said with a bright smile, while Kana stared at her with wide eyes. The woman shook her head, but her aunt pretended not to notice, staring straight at the slick-haired man in front of her.

"Alright. Then I will take this girl." The man then looked at Kana, who was still shaking her head.

"What a foolish girl!" the man scolded.

"You come with me now and don't resist!" he shouted as he left, dragging Kana with him.

"N-no! Aunt! Don't do this!" Kana tried to call for help, but her aunt, approached by the bespectacled man, completely ignored Kana's cries.

"Aunt! Please! Don't let Kana be taken by this man!" Kana struggled to free herself from the grip of the slick-haired man who was still dragging her.

"Hey, let go! Don't take me!" Kana pressed, but the man continued to ignore her.

"Hey, where are you taking me? Who are you really? Let go-" The man named Ivander suddenly yanked Kana's hand roughly, causing her body to almost collide with his. Kana reflexively shut her eyes to avoid looking at the arrogant face of this strong-aura man.

"Let go, you say?" Ivander repeated.

"Did you not hear, your aunt just sold you to me! So now you are mine! You belong to Ivander Aslan Harvey!" the man pressed again. Instantly, Kana's eyes widened, and her pupils accidentally met the cold gaze of the man named Ivander.

"Harvey" was a name she was familiar with because it was deeply etched in her memory. Harvey Land was the most beautiful resort under the Harvey group, a dream destination for Kana to vacation with her parents. However, her parents' desire to fulfill her wish 14 years ago ended up making her an orphan. If only Kana hadn't forced her parents to go to the resort located in the mountains via an extreme route, her life would have been different.

"If you want to be safe, you better follow my words!" he said sarcastically, snapping Kana out of her reverie. The man forcefully dragged Kana toward a black coupe parked not far from her house.

"W-where are we going?" Kana asked, staring at Ivander's jaw, which was higher than hers.

The man opened his car door.

"Enough, don't ask too many questions, just get in!" he shouted, roughly throwing Kana into the car. Feeling freed from the grip of the slick-haired man, Kana quickly got up and tried to exit the vehicle. However, Ivander's large hand immediately touched her neck and pressed his thumb against Kana's carotid artery.

"Y-you! What are you doing? Y-you ... Are you trying kill me?" whispered Kana, her voice choked. Ivander's grip on her neck was now much stronger than on her hand. She couldn't move at all.

The man swiftly entered the car, throwing a sharp glare at Kana.

"This is what happens if you dare to resist me!" Ivander pressed again as he sat beside Kana and closed the door. With the remaining strength she had, Kana tried to grip the man's hand that was now choking her neck.

"L-let go! W-what are you t-taking me for?" Kana retorted.

"I will only let go if you stay quiet!" Ivander stated firmly.

"H-how can I stay quiet? D-do you think, w-what you just d-did to me?" Kana said sarcastically, which immediately raised the corners of Ivander's mouth.

"What did I do?" Ivander leaned closer to Kana's face, which was starting to turn blue.

"I bought you, darling... You have been sold-"

"L-lies!" Kana interrupted, grimacing, screaming as if she were pulling her own veins until they snapped. Her head began to spin.

"Lies, you say?" Ivander repeated, tightening his grip on Kana's neck. He leaned closer to Kana's ear.

"Just so you know, the one who received the payment for you was indeed your aunt... But the one who sold you was your own uncle," Ivander whispered, causing Kana's eyes to widen.

"W-what? U-uncle?" she whispered.

"Yes, your uncle came to me and made you collateral for his debts!" Ivander revealed.

"N-no way!" Finally, Kana managed to break free from the man's grip on her neck. She immediately started coughing. Meanwhile, the slick-haired man just smiled while sitting cross-legged.

"What a foolish woman! Clearly, you are not considered important, yet you still trust those vile people-"

"Stop!" Kana screamed, her breath coming in gasps.

"Don't tell me another lie! Or I will-"

"I will what?" Ivander challenged, now holding Kana's chin with his long finger.

"You, who have no family, no money, no brains, and no dignity, what can you do?"

Kana simply stared at the arrogant man in front of her with piercing eyes. The 21-year-old woman pushed Ivander's finger away from her chin.

"Don't touch me!" Kana said sarcastically as she turned her face away. Ivander smiled.

"Well, until you finally admit what I just said, right?" Ivander remarked, immediately hitting a nerve with Kana.

"No wonder your uncle abandoned you-"

"Uncle would never do that!" Kana interjected, looking at Ivander with trembling eyes.

"Aunt... Aunt might abandon me, but Uncle would-" Kana's voice choked.

"Uncle would never abandon me, let alone sell me... no, that can't be." Tears began to wet Kana's cheeks. She covered her face. She didn't want anyone to see her helplessness, even though Kana truly had no power at all.

"That's the reality, Darling," Ivander said again, turning his face away from Kana. The man preferred to gaze out the window rather than witness the sobs of the woman beside him.

"Don't lie again... You must be lying," Kana whispered, her voice trembling.

Ivander sighed. "You're really stubborn!" he complained, his attention shifting to the driver who had been waiting for his orders.

"Drive the car, please! We have no time left," he commanded. The middle-aged man in the driver's seat started the car and drove off.

During the journey, the slick-haired man occasionally glanced at Kana, who was still hiding her face. He let out a long sigh. "Actually, I want your uncle's daughter," he admitted, instantly stopping Kana's tears. She opened her hands that had been covering her face.

"W-what?"

"Well, but your uncle rejected her and suggested you as collateral for his debt," Ivander continued, glancing at Kana, who was now staring at him.

"Impossible!" Kana replied, which only made the slick-haired man furious.

"Stubborn woman!" Ivander cursed as he pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket. He began fiddling with the screen. "Here it is!" he exclaimed, showing the phone screen to Kana. It was a voice recording.

"Listen to this carefully!" the man pressed as he hit the play button.

[Alright, I will pay all your debts, but I want your daughter in return!] A cold voice similar to Ivander's was heard in the recording.

[D-don't, Sir! Please don't take my daughter!] Kana's eyes widened in shock; the deep, trembling voice was clearly her uncle's.

[So? Didn't I say I need a twenty-year-old woman? If not your daughter, then who? Do you think I'm going to be charitable with you? Just so you know, I don't have that kind of generosity!] Ivander's voice now sounded sarcastic. Kana glanced at him, shaking her head secretly. Upon seeing him for the first time, Kana also knew that this man had no generosity at all.

[Th-then, Sir. Please, not my daughter. My daughter is still eighteen years old. She is still in high school...] Now her uncle's voice was heard again in the audio recording.

[Then who? Don't tell me you want to hand over your wife!] Ivander interjected in the recording.

[N-no, Sir! How could I!]

[Then, who? Do you still have a daughter?] Instantly, Kana swallowed hard upon hearing Ivander's question in the audio recording.

[Y-yes... Uhm, I mean, she is not my biological daughter, but my niece. Her name is Kana. Kana Kemala. She is twenty-one years old. Her parents have passed away. She is all alone. She is kind, beautiful, and hardworking... she also-]

[Yeah, yeah, yeah!] In the recording, Ivander cut off her uncle's speech.

[I don't need information about her personality. You just need to-] Suddenly, Ivander stopped the audio playback. Kana turned to him.

"Why did you stop it?" Kana asked.

"That was my transaction with your uncle. You just need to hear the evidence that your uncle himself handed you over to me!" Ivander pressed again, putting his phone back in his jacket pocket.

Kana bit her lower lip in silence. She desperately wanted to deny that it wasn't her uncle's voice, but the way he spoke, his voice, it all resembled her uncle.

"You must want to deny it, right? After all, your uncle is dead; this could be a fake recording," Ivander added, drawing Kana's attention. Reflexively, she grabbed the man's arm, looking at him intently.

"Is this a fake recording?" Kana asked, her pupils widening. But Ivander shook his head.

"No. I recorded this conversation when I met your uncle this morning," Ivander explained. "I deliberately recorded it just in case it was difficult to take you away from your family. At least this is proof that you've been handed over to me," he continued.

Kana remained silent while gripping her knees. She had just heard her uncle's last words before his life was taken by God. Yet the words that came out of the man she had considered a father figure were the ones she least wanted to hear.

Unbeknownst to her, tears began to well up in her eyes. She bit her lower lip to hold back all the emotions swirling in her heart. The phrase "It's impossible" remained the most powerful weapon to stave off the pain in her chest from accepting this reality.

"I express my condolences for your uncle's death..." Ivander said again with a tone full of empathy. Kana, with a face full of tears, now turned to the man.

"I didn't expect that today's meeting would be my last with him..." the man said, now looking at Kana.

"Don't worry, I will also take care of his funeral. At least your uncle will rest in peace," Ivander added softly, as if he had completely changed from the rough man who had just dragged and choked her.

However, Kana couldn't speak at all. Her tongue felt tied. Her mind was blank. She was confused, with many emotions now swirling in her heart: sadness, anger, disappointment, heartache. Yet, she should have been calm. At least her uncle would receive a proper resting place. But on the other hand, she realized that whether in the past or present, she was always alone, without a place to return to or even a shoulder to lean on.

"If you're heartbroken now, it's too late..." Ivander said, breaking Kana's reverie.

"H-heartbroken? What do you mean?" Kana asked, still sobbing.

The man glanced at Kana. "Well. I know you must feel betrayed by your uncle. But it's too late. Anyone would feel heartbroken if treated like you, but..." Ivander trailed off.

"Instead of being heartbroken, you should focus on what you need to do after this!" he said, glancing at Kana with his cold gaze.

Kana's eyes widened. She reflexively hugged herself. "W-what should I do after this?" Kana panicked, but she was immediately stunned. "W-what... What if you want to make me your pleasure every night?"

The man's nose crinkled in disgust. "Pleasure- Ugh! What a lowly thought!" Ivander snapped.

"Of course not!" he retorted, making Kana blink in surprise.

"Then... What should I do after this?"

Ivander let out a rough sigh as he turned to Kana, who was still waiting for his answer. "You heard in that recording, right, that I need a twenty-year-old woman?" Ivander questioned, which was met with Kana's nod.

"That's because I need a wife!" Ivander revealed, making Kana blink once more.

"W-wife?" Kana repeated.

Ivander nodded. "Yes, and that's what you need to do after this! Become my wife!" he insisted, leaving Kana in shock.

"W-what? W-wife? Did I hear that wrong?"