Perhaps pets really did grow closer to the ones who bought them.

I was working on my exercises when, at Katie's prompting, Snowy suddenly pounced on me and slashed hard.

Several bloody scratches instantly appeared across my pale, slender arm.

Ian, who had just returned home, froze at the sight.

Katie's eyes welled with tears at once. She ran over and wrapped her arms around his lean waist. "Ian, they say cats are the most perceptive. Look at her! She took care of Snowy for so long, and Snowy still scratched her. She must be bad luck. Can't you just make her leave?"

After all those days of sulking, this was the first time Katie had acted spoiled toward him.

Ian pulled her into his arms, soothed her with a gentle voice, and ruffled her hair. When he looked up again, his gaze landed on me.

Clutching my injured arm, I stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room. My eyes stung. Tears shimmered at the edges.

Before he could say anything, I lowered my head and silently began packing my few belongings.

The moment I stepped out of the villa gates, my phone chimed.

I tapped on the screen, and it lit up.

The first thing I saw was Ian's dark profile picture.

[Villa No. 199, South District. Go there for now. When I have time, I'll go see you.]

The comments sprang out.

[The male lead just finds the supporting female character useful. He's keeping her around for later, in case the female lead throws another tantrum.]

[Are the leads going to have another misunderstanding?]

[Nope. Katie's older brother is about to return from overseas. He dotes on her, too. He'll definitely help her deal with the supporting female character.]

[Hahaha! Her brother loves cats, too. He once had a pink-and-white cat. Truly, no cat lover can resist a sweet, cat-like girl such as the female lead!]

-

The comments streamed past my eyes. I pursed my lips and hailed a cab to the address Ian had given me.

The contract clearly stated that I was required to strictly obey the sponsor's arrangements.

He could tear up the contract at any time, but I couldn't. The cost of breach was something I could never afford.

What I hadn't expected was that Snowy's scratch would accelerate my heat cycle.

What I'd expected even less was that Ian would come that very night.

When the lock clicked, I was standing in the foyer while hugging a pillow. A pair of unruly pink-and-white cat ears perched atop my head.

Cold air rushed in.

A tall figure stood at the doorway and blocked out the light.

I stared blankly as my eyes met Ian's. My ears shot upright.

"S-Sir."

My tail refused to retract and hung awkwardly behind me.

My mind went completely blank. I turned around and bolted upstairs, then dove into the bed and wrapped myself tightly in the blanket like a stuffed spring roll.

'Crap! I forgot to lock the door!'

Measured footsteps followed. They stopped outside my room.

Creak.

The door opened.

One side of the mattress dipped gently.

The familiar woody scent instantly filled the space. It was overwhelming.

Buried beneath the blanket, I could feel his gaze sweeping over me as if it might strip me bare.

Only when I was nearly out of breath did I poke my head out. My hair was disheveled, and my eyes were shimmering with tears.

Ian sat at the edge of the bed. Against the backlight, all I could see clearly was the immaculate black belt at his waist.

Beside him rested a small pink medical kit.

My ears twitched. Before I could react, a large hand reached out and lifted me straight out of the blanket.

I panicked and struggled with everything I had.

My identity as a cat was exposed. I was going to be captured and dissected!

"Meow! Meow, meow, meow!"

In my desperation, all I could manage were the frantic sounds of a startled kitten.

The moment the noise left my mouth, I froze. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I looked up in horror and cautiously watched Ian's reaction.

In the dim light, his gaze drifted calmly over my fluffy ears. There wasn't any visible emotion on his face.

Even so, he wouldn't stop stroking my waist gently. When he finally spoke, his voice was rougher than usual.

"Why are you hiding? Relax. I won't tell anyone. Come out. Let me treat the wound."

Only then did I obediently crawl out from beneath the blanket.

I watched as Ian opened the medical kit, dipped a cotton swab into the antiseptic, and carefully cleaned my wound.

The wound had already scabbed over. The touch of the cotton swab sent a sharp, stinging pain through my arm.

I bit my lip and forced myself not to make a sound.

In the heavy silence, Ian suddenly spoke.

"Katie's spoiled. I've already punished her for what happened today." He paused briefly before adding, "I'll have her change the way she addresses you from now on."

[Hilarious. By punish, he means taking away the female lead's phone and sending her to bed early. He seriously loves her too much.]

[Being called a wretch suits her just fine. Isn't that what the supporting female character is? Wearing fake cat ears and a tail to seduce the male lead, even meowing. Ugh, she's so fake and calculating!]

[True love is true love. Even if the female lead does absolutely nothing, the male lead will still adore her. The supporting female character is trying way too hard.]

Reading the comments, the weight pressing on my chest finally eased.

So they all thought my ears and tail were just props.

Ian must have thought the same thing.

Relief flooded through me. My brows relaxed. My eyes curved as I quickly flashed him a bright smile.

"It's okay, sir. I'm not upset."

After all, being insulted a little was far better than starving.

Ian's hand paused for the briefest moment. "Okay."

For some reason, I felt the air around him turn colder. Maybe it was just my imagination.

I asked Ian to help me request leave from school.

There was no way I could attend classes like this.

Over the following days, he visited almost every day. He claimed he was worried about me getting an infection.

Cats had extraordinary recovery abilities. My scratch wounds had long since faded into faint pink lines.

More than once, I woke in the middle of the night with the distinct sensation that someone was sitting beside my bed. That same woody scent lingered in the air as though someone had been there and watched me for a long time.

On the final day of my heat cycle, my ears and tail began to turn slightly translucent. Summoning my courage at last, I pressed down my twitching ears and stepped into Ian's study.

He was reviewing documents. Hearing movement, he looked up. His dark gaze landed on me.

Clutching the hem of my clothes nervously, I shuffled forward.

"S-Sir, would you like to touch my ears? They'll be gone, so…"

Before I could finish, I felt a sudden chill down my spine.

Snip!

I heard the sound of scissors slicing cleanly through something soft.

The tail hanging behind me was cut off at the tailhead with a pair of scissors.