Mari breathed a sigh of relief as the old man left, her debt finally settled. But now, a new anxiety took hold of her—a debt she owed to Seiji. She watched him sit on the sofa, his expression calm and collected. The weight of his generosity pressed down on her, and guilt gnawed at the edges of her thoughts.
*What am I supposed to do now?* she wondered, knowing that her body alone could never fully repay him. He had already claimed her in more ways than one, and yet he continued to provide for her and her son. The weight of what she owed him seemed immeasurable now.
"I…" Mari's voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to repay you, Seiji. You've done so much, and I don't have anything left to give."
Seiji looked at her, his amber eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart skip. He didn't respond immediately, letting the silence hang between them, making her feel even more vulnerable.