"Mmph! Mmph!"

Nicole looked at Sol in a panic, unable to stop herself from wanting to scream.

Sol suddenly pressed her against the door, covering her mouth as he said, "Nicole, you promised—you'd grant me one wish."

Fresh from her bath, Nicole's skin was dewy, her delicate face still showing the helpless surprise of being startled. With each sharp breath, the beauty mark on her chest trembled.

"…"

Nicole's struggling stopped, her face tinged with both embarrassment and shyness.

Memory came rushing back—she remembered. She had indeed promised Sol one wish.

That time, Sol's gaze had swept over her body like ants crawling across her skin.

Back then, she'd thought her "future self" would figure something out. She hadn't expected to get so caught up enjoying the buffet with everyone that she'd forgotten entirely.

So… what now?!

Was she about to lose herself to him right here in her own room?

No way!

"Sol, calm down!" Nicole said in a fluster. "Now's not the right time. We're not that close yet. You can think of another wish!"

If Sol tried to force it, she would never give in.

But with how strong he was, she couldn't overpower him at all.

What to do?! Call Anby for help?

But she didn't want Anby to see her like this.

And besides… she had a bad feeling that if Anby came, things might spiral even worse.

What to do?! Aaaah!

"Oh, I see." Sol released her hands, putting on an expression of mock disappointment. "I just wanted a hug. You won't even agree to that?"

"Fine, I'll change my wish. Give me ten million Denny instead."

He had never planned to "claim" Nicole now anyway—moving the relationship too quickly wasn't a good thing.

Especially for someone like him, aiming to be a master seducer—locking into one relationship too early wasn't ideal.

"Just a hug? But now you're changing it to ten million Denny?"

Nicole watched him let go and felt herself relax slightly.

If it was just a hug, that was nothing.

Sol had hugged her plenty of times already—what's one more?

And ten million Denny… that was a sum she could earn, but it would hurt like hell.

She still had to fund the orphanage, pay off debts, and cover salaries.

This man was so bad!

If it had been five hundred thousand Denny, she might have gritted her teeth and agreed.

Nicole suddenly looked up, a resolute, do-or-die expression in her eyes. "No need to change it to ten million Denny. If it's just a hug, go ahead."

"Really? You're sure you're not forcing yourself?" Sol teased with mock hesitation. "Actually, I think ten million Denny sounds nice. Could buy a new car."

"Not forcing myself at all! Go ahead and hug me!"

Nicole's eyes were as firm as if she were walking to the gallows.

But Sol shook his head. "I want you to hug me. Not me hug you."

If he initiated, their relationship would stay in the same place.

If Nicole took the initiative, that meant progress.

On the surface, the one hugging seemed to have the upper hand—but in reality, the one being hugged held the real control.

"You're such a pain!"

Nicole gritted her teeth, shut her eyes, and threw her arms around Sol with force.

"Mmm."

Sol squinted as he took the impact.

His nose landed right at the back of her neck, a faint fragrance surrounding him.

Their bodies pressed together, the force of her hug letting him feel an incredible softness.

He could also feel Nicole's heart pounding wildly, the soft curves at her chest trembling against him.

From the corner of his eye, he could see her pale earlobes turning pink—she was clearly overwhelmed with shyness.

"…"

Nicole was unbearably tense.

Everything Sol felt, she felt too.

And because her body was more sensitive than his, she felt it even more acutely—his heartbeat in sync with hers, the faint friction of skin against skin, the warm breath against her neck…

It was the first time she had felt a man this closely, this intimately.

Every sensation made her face burn and her heart race beyond control.

Two minutes later—

"Sol… that's enough, right?" she asked in a muffled, embarrassed voice.

She could tell something was starting to "rise." If they kept going, she was in trouble.

"Mm, almost," Sol said calmly.

Nicole sighed in relief and began to loosen her grip.

But Sol suddenly pointed in a direction, feigning surprise. "Huh? Who dropped ten thousand Denny over there?"

"Ten thousand Denny?! Mine!"

Nicole instinctively turned to look—but there was nothing there. "You're seeing things. There's nothing—"

Sol seized the chance to tilt her chin up. Meeting her startled gaze, he leaned in and kissed her.

"Mmph!"

Nicole's eyes flew wide, staring at him in disbelief.

This was definitely not part of the wish.

She pounded on his back, trying to get him to calm down.

But oxygen deprivation and overwhelming shyness sapped her strength—her resistance grew weaker and weaker.

Eventually, she gave up struggling entirely.

Sol, growing bolder, tightened his hold on her as if to melt her into him.

Then his tongue slipped in.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Feeling the tongue stirring inside her mouth, Nicole jolted into fierce resistance again.

This was going too far—at this rate, she'd be completely done for.

Gritting her teeth, she bit down on the intruding tongue.

Sol pulled back just in time, dodging the bite.

"Sol! How could you kiss me?! That wasn't part of the wish!"

Nicole pushed him away angrily, her voice trembling with grievance.

It was supposed to be just a hug—but now they'd kissed too.

"Sorry. You're too beautiful—I couldn't help myself," Sol said with an apologetic look, though inside he was savoring the exquisite sensation.

"That's not a valid excuse!" Nicole snapped. "Your wish was just a hug, and you went beyond that!"

If he claimed he couldn't resist her because she was beautiful, what would happen when he met another beautiful woman? That was unacceptable.

Sol spread his hands in mock helplessness. "Well, since I already kissed you… how about letting you kiss me back?"

"They say Nicole has three hundred rabbit warrens—I think you're the slyest one!" Nicole gave a sharp laugh. "If I kiss you back, wouldn't that still be you taking advantage?"

"Then what do you suggest?" Sol asked.

"I'm docking ten years of your salary—to teach you what happens when you cross the boss!"

"Oh, I like the sound of that," Sol said, beaming. "Dock a hundred years, and I'll kiss you nine more times!"

Nicole's face darkened as she physically shoved him out of the room.

Even Nicole, who loved money more than most, didn't care much about it in that moment.