Time stood still in the drawing room.
Shouko was facing the door. Mother Yuasa was looking at her back with malicious intent written all over her face. Father Yuasa broke into a cold sweat. He urgently tugged his wife's arm, threatening her to stay silent.
But, for a brainless woman like Mother Yuasa who had lived her life looking down on others, she wasn't the one to back down just because of her husband's anger.
"Why? Are you intrigued by what I'm saying?" Mother Yuasa sneered. The irritation she felt earlier dissipated as it was replaced with a triumphant in her black heart. "Do you think your husband is being honest with you? Haven't you thought that he hides secrets from you?"
Mai and Noriko looked pale as the spiteful woman continued speaking. They were eager to run toward her and tear down her vile face. Better yet if they could just cut her malicious tongue!
Shouko closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The tears that were trying to trickle down her face were gone. Without looking at Mother Yuasa, she replied in a clear voice, signifying nothing was bothering her.
"Even though my husband keeps a few secrets from me, I would be a fool to hear them from you."
With that, she reached out for the handle and walked calmly through the door.
Mother Yuasa was astonished. She was fuming with anger. Her face distorted in an ugly way as the sound of Shouko's footsteps faded in the hallway.
"Another maid will send you off," Mai coldly stared at Mother Yuasa. She wasn't afraid to be reprimanded for being rude to a vile guest. "Our Young Madam is tired. You may take your leave."
Shortly after, Mai and Noriko followed Shouko. The door was closed tightly, sealing the two of them from the rest of the mansion.
The air in the drawing room turned heavier as seconds passed by. Neither Father Yuasa nor Mother Yuasa spoke. The latter was still engulfed in her burning wrath, she couldn't accept that that bastard could leave with her head held high!
How hateful!
"ARE YOU CRAZY?"
Father Yuasa suddenly burst out in fury, he aggressively pulled his wife's arm. Mother Yuasa flinched in pain.
"What are you doing?" She immediately shook his hand off of her. "You're the crazy one! You... Argh!"
"Keep your mouth shut if you don't want to be finished," Father Yuasa whispered in a harsh voice, his fingers were roughly pinching Mother Yuasa's chin.
He didn't even care about the pain he inflicted on his own wife as he continued, "Do you think you could live well if you revealed the truth just now? Mr. Kashino would utterly destroy you! You would live a life worse than death!"
Father Yuasa brusquely let go of her chin. His face was red as his vexation kept boiling inside him. He sharply stared at Mother Yuasa.
How did this woman turn stupider? Wasn't she aware of their current situation?
"Know your place. If Mr. Kashino made another move, we could just say goodbye to our glory!" He harshly reminded her, a bitter memory resurface in his mind.
Right now, Father Yuasa was just a chairman in name while all of the power was held by his distant relative, Hiroto. Hiroto came into power after he lost the investment he made after Shouko's marriage to Kyoya. Since Hiroto took office, the company began to thrive again even though their status had yet to reach the Kashino Corporation.
The one who silently supported Hiroto to lead the company was none other than his own son-in-law.
Kyoya was sending a message that with just a flick of his finger, he could completely wipe out his father-in-law's existence from his own family company. Since then, Father Yuasa felt like he was walking on thin ice. He had to be careful with his every move.
This son-in-law of his had never put him in his eyes!
"Then, what should we do?" Mother Yuasa's initial arrogance vanished. Her face turned pale as she thought she could no longer afford the wealth she had been accustomed since young. "Didn't you have a backup plan with..."
"Hush!" Father Yuasa threw her a glare again. He said in a very quiet voice. "The walls have ears. We'd better speak at home."
He stormed out of the room, leaving his wife behind. Mother Yuasa gritted her teeth, she was so mortified by what had happened.
She came here with the thought of seeing Shouko crying in despair yet she was the one who got humiliated. That girl didn't even give her a glance after she tried piquing her interest.
How furious!
With a stomp of her feet, Mother Yuasa ran out of the drawing room. Her husband had long gone, walking toward the main door of the mansion. Not even a maid bid her farewell.
On the second floor, Grandpa Kashino was watching the black car of the Yuasa couple leaving the mansion through the windows of the lounge. His lips curled up into a smirk. Faint joy flashed in his eyes. His chuckle started to fill the room.
Have a wish to bully his precious granddaughter-in-law? They could only dream!
Behind his back, there was a sound of the door open from the outside. Shouko's figure appeared at the door frame. She smiled helplessly seeing her grandfather's happy mood. Old Toshio was there. He was brewing another pot of tea.
"What are you happy about, Grandpa?" She inquired as she steadily walked toward the old man.
Grandpa turned around. This time, he laughed out loud.
"Your parents are quick to return home. It seems like they're really afraid of you," Grandpa remarked merrily.
"It's you and Kyoya that they are afraid of, Grandpa," Shouko denied as she laughed, she was infected by the old man's mood. "If not for you two, I don't know what would they do to me."
"Aish, child," Grandpa sighed softly. He took both of her hands and gently rubbed them. His old eyes discerned the faint trace of sorrow in her round eyes. "We won't let you be wronged by anyone. You could live peacefully within our protection."
Warmth surged in her heart, prompting Shouko to laugh.
"I am grateful. Thank you, Grandpa."
The grandson and granddaughter-in-law pair sat down on the couch and began to chat. On the side, Mai cautiously called out for Old Toshio. The old man looked at her with a prying gaze.
"That woman tried revealing the truth," Mai said in a low voice lest she would be caught by her young madam.
Old Toshio frowned. He gestured for Mai to follow him. He sent a gaze toward Grandpa Kashino. Understanding the meaning, Grandpa lightly nodded before he continued his chat with Shouko. Shouko was telling him about her and Kyoya's retreat to the suburb.
Old Toshio and Mai left the room. They walked toward the end of the hallway.
"What happened?"
Even though the place they were currently at was far from the lounge, the old butler was still taking precautions by speaking quietly.
Mai recounted the event that occurred in the drawing room. As time passed by, Old Toshio's wrinkles on his forehead grew.
In the end, Old Toshio sighed. He instructed to Mai, "You return to the lounge first. I'm going to call Young Master."
Once Mai left, Old Toshio immediately dialed Kyoya's number. He didn't have to wait long. The call was connected only after the second ring.
"Young Master..."
Kashino Corporation.
Kyoya was analyzing a file when his personal phone rang. Old Toshio's name was displayed on the screen. He swiftly abandoned his work and answered the phone.
The old man greeted him as the call was connected.
"Did they misbehave?" Kyoya's icy cold voice echoed in the quiet office room. To him, it wasn't hard to catch the sign behind Old Toshio's low-spirited voice.
"Yes."
Hearing the word, Kyoya smiled as his eyes flickered with animosity.
"It seemed like Madam Yuasa wanted to trap Young Madam by trying to disclose the secrets but Young Madam didn't bow down. From Mai's words, Young Madam said she was a fool if she listened to her. This..."
If a minute earlier he was irritated by the fact how brazen the Yuasa couple dared to behave when they were meeting his wife, right now his mood was lifted up.
"Where's Young Madam?"
"Young Madam is having a chat with the old master."
"I'll call her."
Back in the lounge, Shouko's phone rang. She smiled apologetically toward Grandpa before she took out her phone from the pocket of her skirt. Her eyes lit up when she saw her husband's name.
"Hello, Kyoya."
"Wife, is everything alright?" Kyoya asked worriedly.
Even though Old Toshio said that his wife was fine, he couldn't help but worry. He needed to hear her voice to ease the restlessness in his heart.
"I'm fine. They wanted to stir up trouble but I didn't relent to them," Shouko smiled sweetly. She was happy to receive his phone call at a time like this.
"Yeah? It's good then. Grandpa is with you, right? Tell him..."
Kyoya muttered out a few words which made Shouko laughed before she smiled at Grandpa with a hint of guilt.
The old man was confused. He raised his brows, silently asking Shouko what was wrong?
"En, Kyoya asked me to pass you a message," Shouko bit her lips, thought for a moment and spoke out, "He said, 'Grandpa should just return home. Your body is old, it's bad to stay outside for long.'"
Grandpa's lips twitched. The teacup in his hand shook.
He was eager to go find his grandson and teach him a lesson! How dare this brat threw him away after using him?
He was the one who asked this old man to come and accompany his wife to face the vile couple yet after everything was settled, that brat just told him to return home?
That insolent brat!
Are you satisfied with how Shouko reacted to Mother Yuasa's provocation?
On another note, it seems like my contract is in the final stage with the legal team. Hope it would pass I am so nervous!
Stay tuned!