Chương 70: Chapter 69: Goddess

"I am sorry," said Vana softly as we walked out of the hall.

"Why? You did nothing wrong," I replied to the teen girl, who had tears dripping from her eyes.

"It is the fault of that man who did not understand the rejection," I added, and that brought a small smile to her face. Click. I opened the door of the small restroom beside the studio and was about to close it when Carla entered. One look at her face made it clear how angry she was. There had been incidents before, but never like this. Most people accepted a refusal after some complaint—but this one had not.

"Sit," I said gently, guiding Vana to the chair. I took out the healing gel from the small cupboard and carefully applied it to her hand. The man had gripped her too hard, leaving swelling behind. Thankfully, it wasn't severe. The gel would heal it within minutes. Physical wounds were easy. Emotional ones would take longer.

"Do you want to rest here or go to your room?" I said. The girl stayed silent for a moment, thinking, then looked at me.

"I want to go back to the hall after this heals," she said. I was about to advise against it when Carla's hand touched my shoulder, and I paused.

"It is fine if you want to go back," Carla said calmly.

"Just rest a little first and freshen up in the studio."

"There is no pressure," I added gently.

"If you don't want to return at all, we can find other ways for you to fulfill your contract." The young woman shook her head.

"No, I want to work." I sighed softly.

"It is your choice," I replied, patting her shoulder before stepping out. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"It is sad that a young woman had to face something like this, especially on her first day," I said as Carla, and I walked toward the inner rooms. Carla nodded.

"It happens often in this line of work. The difference here is that the girls have the choice to say no." I nodded again, thoughtful. This world had its harsh sides, but here at least we were building something better—something safer. Soon, we reached the hidden room. I opened the door, and Carla entered. I followed and closed it behind me. I turned—and found her standing close, her expression intense. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then she stepped forward and took my hands.

The closeness surprised me—but only for a moment. Weeks of unspoken tension gave way, and I drew her into a quiet embrace. We stood there for several breaths, the stress of the day slowly easing between us. She smiled faintly, then looked at me in a way that made my chest tighten. There was something there we had both been circling for weeks.

"Come," I said gently. We left the room together and made our way upstairs. Even along the way, our hands brushed and found each other again, neither of us quite ready to let go. When we reached my room, I opened the door and stepped inside with her. For a moment, we simply stood there, the quiet of the room wrapping around us. I looked at her—and everything I had been holding back felt suddenly very clear.

"I love you," I said quietly. Her expression softened, something warm and certain appearing in her eyes.

"I love you too," she said. I stepped closer. This time when we embraced, it was slower, more deliberate. I could feel her breath steadying against me, feel the trust in the way she leaned in. We stayed like that for a long moment—no rush, no pressure—just warmth. She rested her forehead lightly against mine, and I felt a quiet sense of rightness settle in my chest. Whatever this was between us, it was real.

We spent the rest of the evening talking—about the establishment, about the girls, about the future we were trying to build. Somewhere along the way, the tension of the day faded completely. At some point, we lay down, still talking softly until words gave way to silence. Morning came gently. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, warming the room. I woke slowly, feeling more rested than I had in a long time. Beside me, Carla was still asleep, peaceful and unguarded. A small, content smile rested on her face.

Without realizing it, I found myself smiling too. Everything felt… right.