She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at the faint bruise along her jaw. It wasn’t from a punch or slap — no, they were too careful for that. Words hit harder. Every insult, every laugh, every glare had chipped away at her. Yuta’s rough shove yesterday left the mark, but his muttered words hurt more.

She traced the fading bruise, exhaustion weighing her down. She was tired of standing them.

The mansion’s luxury did nothing to hide the suffocating tension. Smiles for the cameras, but once alone, the masks came off. And the contract? It was nothing more than chains. She couldn’t quit.

---

As she stepped into the hallway, laughter echoed from the living room. It was the kind that twisted her stomach — the same laughter they used when mocking her. Maybe she could slip in, grab a glass of water, and leave.

But luck never sided with her.

"Well, look who decided to show up." Johnny's smirk was smug, his voice dripping with mockery. "We were just talking about you."

"Wishing you’d disappear, mostly," Yuta added, amusement flashing in his eyes.

She stayed silent. That was safest.

But Doyoung, always the most vicious, leaned forward. "Why so quiet? Are we too intimidating for you? Or maybe you’re afraid we’ll teach you another lesson?"

Her fists clenched. The thought of leaving her room just to face their torment was unbearable.

Jaehyun, from the corner, spoke at last. "She’s pathetic," his voice calm, deliberate. "I almost feel sorry for her."

"Are you going to cry now?" Jungwoo taunted, tilting his head. His unpredictability was the worst. One moment mocking, the next dangerously angry.

"I’m not," she whispered.

But even that was a mistake.

"Speak up," Mark's voice cut through, his disapproval sharper than the others. "If you’re this useless, at least have the courage to admit it."

She bit her lip, refusing to react. They wanted her to break. But inside, she was screaming.

She hated them. She hated the mansion. She hated the contract that held her prisoner.