How you feel if a doctor told you your surgery was a success—but you lost one of your ovaries, and the wound on your face might leave a scar?
Cry? Beg the doctor to fix your face with plastic surgery? Or would you simply think, "At least I survived. That's what important."?
No.
That might work for other people. But for Karen—after absorbing all that information, after looking at a man named Yaro, who claimed he was responsible for her safety while she was locked behind bars— Karen simply… silent.
She didn't cry or react.Only a slow blink, a quiet sign that she understood. She knew she would never be the same. Her face would never look like it once did. She knew. So what then?
For Karen, a face yeah..only face. Not an asset like it would be for a model or an actress. All she felt was that the scar on her face was nothing more than Aaron Tokugawa's desperation act. He couldn't have her—so he hurt her instead.
Maybe in his twisted mind, if he couldn't own her, breaking her was the next best thing.
Karen didn't care. She was already numb beyond repair.
Even the doctor and Yaro were taken aback by how easily she accepted everything. Everyone knew how important a woman's face was—how it was supposed to be her weapon, her leverage.
But for Karen, her beauty had always felt like a curse. And Aaron had finally broken it. Whether she should thank him for that or curse him, she didn't know. Her fingers touched the soft texture of the bandage covering her cheek.
The doctor told her not to look at the wound yet, not until it fully dried. He also said he would try another surgery—to restore her face to how it once was. Something Karen didn't need or asked for.
***
Tokio visited her in the hospital the next day. She looked at Karen with regret before stepping closer, her eyes lingering on the bandages covering Karen's face and arm. Karen's arm was held in a sling, the other resting limply at her side.
"How are you feeling?" Tokio asked.
"You think?" She asking calm.
"What did the doctor say about your arm?"
"It's in a cast for three months. The orthopedic said it's an open fracture."
Tokio closed her eyes, fighting back a wave of nausea. Now or never, she thought. She exhaled deeply, then bowed ninety degrees, her hands straight at her sides. "I'm sorry, Karen! It's my fault! I sold you to Aaron! If I had refused his offer back then, you wouldn't have ended up in prison—or hurt like this. I'm sorry!"
Karen stared at the top of Tokyo's bowed head. She swallowed hard, pain flickering in her eyes before she shut them tight.
I knew it, she thought. People will sacrifice others to save themselves. They'll lie if it gets them what they want.
"You didn't sell me to Aaron—or to anyone," Karen said quietly. "I would never allowed myself to be owned."
Tokio stayed bowed, too ashamed to look up.
"I'm here because of Aaron," Karen continued flatly. "If he hadn't decided to make me his toy, I wouldn't be here. So I don't need your apology." She turned her face away.
Tokio glanced at her carefully, forcing a bitter smile. "What if… I offered you a freedom?"
"Freedom?" Karen echoed, confused, turning back.
Tokio nodded eagerly. "Yes. Freedom. You won't be in prison anymore."
"Aaron Tokugawa said it himself—only he could free me," Karen replied, bored.
"But that changes if someone with more power steps in."
When Karen still looked lost, Tokio explained gently. "Aaron maybe locked you up, but you were never formally charged. You're not listed as an illegal immigrant either. If I become your guarantor, and Yaro uses his authority, you can be free."
"If that were true, I'd be thrilled," Karen said dryly, clearly uninterested.
Tokio smiled mysteriously. "Then why do you think I'm allowed to visit you right now? You're already free, Karen. You're no longer a prisoner."
"…Is that true?" Karen didn't feel happy or joy.
"It is. And I'd be happy if you came back to work for me. This time, I'll make sure not even Aaron Tokugawa lays a finger on you."
Yeah, between Aaron and Tokio, Karen know better who hold the power. And its not freedom, she know it. That man, just simply have her a false hope, thinking it would be freedom. While the truth, Karen still dancing in his hand.
***
"Miss Leichster has been released." That was the first thing Ken said when he entered Aaron's office, just before the meeting began.
Aaron paused mid-page, his brows knitting as he looked up. "Released? By who?"
"Yaro and Tokio," Ken answered hesitantly, aware they were Aaron's friends.
Aaron closed the file, folding his arms as he thought. His expression was strange—no anger, no shock. And that scared Ken. "You seem… calm."
"Do I?" Aaron smiled faintly, his voice dangerous. "I'm more curious why they decided to meddle in my affairs."
"Maybe they heard about how badly Karen was injured," Ken replied.
"What kind of injury makes them brave enough to stand against me?"
"There's a chance she can't have children. And she has a scar on her face." Ken had a gut about this.
"A scar?"
"On her cheek."
Aaron went silent. He closed his eyes, tilting his head slightly as if piecing something together. When he opened them again, irritation flashed across his face. "Well. That explains a lot."
Ken hesitated, then asked carefully, "Should I cut off Tokio's funding?"
To his surprise, Aaron shook his head sharply. "No. Let it be."
"You're just going to let them?" Ken asked in disbelief.
Aaron stood, straightening his jacket as he walked past the desk toward Ken. "Just this once. Out of respect for our history—I'll let it slide." He opened the door to the meeting room, then stopped. "And Karen—do you know where she's staying?"
No need for asking who is 'she'. "Last time I heard, she's with Tokio. Should I look into it further?"
Aaron scoffed. "No need. I'll visit Tokio tonight."
***
Tokio was sitting behind her desk when the door swung open. She knew Aaron would come—but not this soon.
He walked in calmly, pulled out a chair, and sat across from her, one knee casually raised. He smiled. Cold. Sharp. "I won't ask pointless questions," he said. "I just want to know where Karen is."
Tokyo stood, walked to the minibar, and grabbed a can of soda. "Want one?" she offered. Aaron shook his head. She cracked it open and took a sip. "What right do you have after throwing her in prison? You let her go, Aaron."
"I didn't let her go," Aaron corrected calmly. "I was waiting for her to break."
"And you had someone hurt her," Tokyo snapped.
Aaron frowned. "I did what?"
"Karen was attacked—by your people. Three women. Your women, to be exact. No one knows where she was, not even me."
Aaron silent for a second, then he smiled in disbelief. "You're saying that because Yaro wouldn't do it, so I must be the one?" Aaron asked slowly, his voice icy.
"…Wait. That wasn't you?"
Aaron shook his head firmly. "If I wanted to destroy someone, I'd send Toma or Eji. Never anyone else."
Tokio frowned, confused. "But only you and Yaro knew where she was."
"No. There was one more."
"Who?"
"You don't need to know." Aaron leaned closer, eyes locked onto hers. "Where is Karen?"
Tokio sighed, defeated. "She's recovering, Aaron. At least she's safe with me."
"I won't touch her. I want the one who did this. I need the name."
"Oh please. You can use your resource to find the culprit."
"But why when i can asking Karen?"
"So you can get revenge?" Tokio sighed.
Aaron stood, fixing his jacket. "No. Whoever hurt Karen used my name. And that's my problem to deal with. So where is she?"
Tokyo hesitated, then gave him an address. "That's my villa. Jehd is there, watching over her."