Chapitre 14: What Happened to Them?

Even when he could sleep in peace during the day, it wasn't the same when night arrived.

And apparently he had shocked the little lady at the house with his ghastly appearance. But, instead of being scared, she was worried instead.

"Why are you so pale?" Shouko's brows almost knitted together when she stared at his face during dinner. "Did you have too much to do until you couldn't rest properly?"

Kyoya could only give a vague answer. He should have assumed that the little amount of sleep he got after calling her could do nothing to his outward appearance. He felt refreshed but he was still exhausted.

"It's nothing, really," Kyoya picked up one of the shrimps and put it into her bowl. "I got some sleep this afternoon so I'm not really tired."

Shouko blinked her eyes a few times, looking at the man's face. Traces of exhaustion could be found on every line of his facial feature.

She felt bad seeing him like this but there was nothing she could do.

"I don't know much about your work but I hope you wouldn't neglect your health," Shouko chose to give him a piece of advice, every word that flew out of her little mouth was like honey dripping in his heart.

Kyoya nodded stiffly yet there was a smile in his eyes. "I won't. Thanks for worrying."

Shouko returned the smile. She went back into enjoying her dinner.

Since it was already late, both of them didn't spend much time together unlike usual. After chatting for a bit, Kyoya wished her good night and returned to his room.

That night, Dr. Sagawa came again. Old Toshio had told him about what happened last night. He knew it would be an impossible task again.

True to his thought, he failed.

"Young Master... you're still thinking of that, is that right?"

His question was answered with silence. Dr. Sagawa sighed. He couldn't help if the patient was unwilling. As the doctor of this man for more than two decades, he knew how much he was tormenting himself inside without feeling the need to share his burdens with someone else.

If this continued, he didn't dare to say how could it affect his body.

"Young Master, we could try again," Dr. Sagawa was unwilling to admit defeat.

"Leave," Kyoya waved his hand. His voice was firm, telling the doctor to stop disturbing him. He closed his eyes tiredly but he still couldn't sleep.

Doctor Sagawa and Old Toshio left without making a sound. Kyoya got off of the bed and walked toward the windows. He opened one of them, letting the breeze of the autumn night cooling down the irritation that was brewing in his heart.

He thought he would lose control.

Yet, nothing happened.

When Old Toshio pointed out that he wasn't as violent as five years ago, he admitted that it was true. Within these five years, he had learned how to be patient and controlling his rage. It was all thanks to her.

Maybe, just maybe, if that woman decided to reappear in front of him, he could face her with calmness?

Only time could tell.

But, he really needed to sleep. How should he solve this?

As he was thinking, Kyoya's mind was turned to the night he slept in the master bedroom without her knowledge.

Should he do that again? But, he was afraid she would wake up in the middle of the night.

After contemplating for a while, he finally surrendered to his yearning.

Kyoya made way to the master bedroom.

In the morning, Shouko found that his face was no longer as pale as yesterday and the purplish marks under his eyes had faded.

"You look better," She commented while they were having breakfast.

As she was enjoying her porridge, she didn't notice that the man froze for a moment before he looked down with guilt in his eyes.

"What are you doing today?" Kyoya intentionally changed the subject. "You've been spending your time in the library these two days."

Shouko laughed softly. She sipped her warm milk before answering him, "Well, I'm indeed going back to the library after this. There are so many books that I have yet to read."

Kyoya couldn't help but chuckle. His entire face brightened, diminishing the last of his exhaustion. "Alright, just spend your time as you see fit. But, it's still better to get some fresh air now and then."

"Okay~"

By this time, she no longer felt any need to distance herself from him. Shouko admitted that she had grown comfortable with this man's companion even though right now their interaction was more like housemates.

As Kyoya went to work, Shouko immediately made her way toward the library. Her steps were so much quicker than before as the pain gradually subsided. Inside the library, Shouko took a few more books and brought them to the lounging couch.

She had finished reading all of her books but she still couldn't move on from it. She had been re-reading all of them all this time.

While Shouko was indulging herself in one of her books, Mai came knocking on the door.

"Young Madam, your sister is here," Mai reported Ono's sudden arrival.

"What?" Shouko was totally surprised, she didn't expect to meet Ono so soon considering she was busy with her own job. "Bring her here and please prepare tea and snacks as well."

"Understood, Young Madam."

Not long after Mai left, Ono was led to the library by Noriko. She immediately went to hug her sister with a beaming smile on her face.

"Aren't you busy?"

Shouko looked at Ono from head to toe. Unlike the other day, today she was dressed in a white frilly blouse and a long pants. It didn't seem like she would go to her office soon.

"I took a day off today so here I come," Ono leaned comfortably against the couch. She turned her head, a mischievous smile hung on her lips. "Don't you have questions to ask me?"

Shouko was dumbfounded. She stared at the smiling Ono with widened eyes. After blinking a few times, she shook her head.

"Even though it has been five years, you still could read me well," Shouko said as laugh bubbled up from her lips.

She was indeed wanted to ask Ono a few important questions but she couldn't find the suitable time. When Ono came the other day, Grandpa Kashino was with them too so she didn't dare to ask.

Since Ono came offering herself so why should she held herself back?

"Well, I do have questions but, first of all, where's Aunt Masako? It's been almost three weeks since the day I was hospitalized until I return here but I haven't seen her nor could I contact her."

In this world, Ono and Aunt Masako were the ones who had been supporting her. She could stop caring about other people but not them. Ono was here but how about Aunt Masako?

"Err... About that," Ono couldn't tell whether she wanted to cry or laugh listening to Shouko's first question. "Actually, after you got married to Mr. Kashino, Aunt Masako resigned from the company."

"What? She really resigned? But, why?"

This was the unexpected outcome! She still remembered that Aunt Masako threatened Father Yuasa to leave the company if she was to marry into the Watanabe family but since she was not, why did Aunt Masako still resign?

Was it because she was still involved in an arranged marriage at that time? After all, she indeed married Kyoya because of the Yuasa family's condition.

Shouko felt uncomfortable. If Aunt Masako did leave the company because of her, she...

Snap!

"What are you thinking?"

"Huh?"

Shouko stared blankly at Ono who had just snapped her fingers right in front of her eyes. Ono frowned, she clearly understood what had Shouko thought just now.

"Aunt didn't leave because you got married to Mr. Kashino," Ono said, immediately chasing away the ridiculous idea from Shouko's mind. "Well, she didn't agree too at first but after seeing how respectful Mr. Kashino to you, she changed her mind. Especially after you two fell in love with each other and gave..." Ono shut her mouth, she had almost blurted out the secret. "Ah! What I want to say is, Aunt Masako blessed your marriage so stop thinking that she resigned because of you."

Having been accustomed herself to Ono's impulsiveness, Shouko didn't think too much of her babbling except for the key point. She heaved a sigh of relief before inquiry more about Aunt Masako, "Then, why did she resign? Did she has another dispute with Father?"

The word sounded so foreign on her tongue yet Shouko ignored it.

"You could say yes," Ono leaned over, she took the warm tea that was served by Mai earlier. "She has had enough with Father's stupid behavior. She sold most of her precious belongings and went traveling around the world. Once she was gone, she would be super hard to reach because Aunt chose to travel to the place where most tourists do not frequent. The last time she contacted me was when she has just reached Albania. She planned to tour the forests there."

Hearing Ono's explanation, Shouko laughed in wonder. Aunt Masako was really unpredictable. She could imagine how furious her father was when Aunt Masako threw her resignation letter to his face.

"Then, did the company revive after I married into Kashino family?" This was an important question here. She wouldn't tie a knot with such a man like Kyoya if not for her family situation.

"Mr. Kashino invested one billion after your marriage," Ono calmly sipped her tea. She didn't even mind the shock on Shouko's face once she heard the tremendous amount. "Actually, he planned to invest 2.5 billion but after considering how you got mistreated by Father and Mother all these years, your husband said even the one billion was too wasted for them."

Once again, Shouko was shocked.

Kyoya wanted to invest 2.5 billion initially? And then, he reduced the amount because he knew how she had lived with the Yuasa family?

Why did he do that? Even one billion was too much.

"Then... did the company prosper?"

One billion was such a high amount. If Yuasa Group still failed to revive itself, Shouko didn't know what to say. It would be such a waste for Kyoya to lend so much money just to have it loss.

"The company did prosper but after Uncle Hiroto took over the company."

"Ha? Father was no longer the chairman?" Shouko knew who Uncle Hiroto was. He was one of the distant relatives of Yuasa family who worked in the company. Although she wasn't unfamiliar with him, she had heard Aunt Masako praising him for being a good leader.

But, to have someone else as the chairman. Father Yuasa must be too furious and felt himself being humiliated. That old man was someone as petty as that.

"You could say he's just the chairman in name while actually all the power is within Uncle Hiroto's palm." Ono laughed, she didn't even mind that she was laughing at her own father. "Father and Mother have learned to behave themselves since Uncle Hiroto took over, even though Mother was still being stubborn and love flaunting herself."

Hearing about her father and step-mother's misfortunes left a bitter taste in Shouko's mouth. She certainly disliked them for what they had done to her but she couldn't feel joy either. But, she understood they deserved what had happened to them.

Both of them chat until later afternoon. Now, Ono was working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to realize her dream of becoming a diplomat. She had gone to a few countries for diplomacy purposes and even though it was far from the comfort of being an heiress of a conglomerate, she hadn't had the time to regret her decision since she was doing something she loved.

"I'll try contacting Aunt Masako to tell her about you," Ono hugged her sister tightly. She gently patted the back of Shouko's head. "So, don't worry and just rest well. Don't force yourself to remember either. I don't want you to stress yourself out."

"Well, I'll try," Shouko smiled wearily. When she thought of what could have happened in these five years, she was determined to find it out as soon as possible. "Text me whenever you're free. And please come again."

"I will," Ono easily promised her sister. "See you later! Take care!"

Shouko waved at her, she was standing at the main door looking at Ono who had just alighted her car. She remained standing there even until the car had disappeared from the giant carved gates at a distance.

The light in her clear eyes slowly dimming as her gaze went unfocused. Ono's words resounded in her mind.

Shouko bit her lower lip. As the cool autumn breeze gently caressing her face, she tightened the hold of the shawl that was wrapping around her shoulders. Something was definitely bothering her.

To answer her curiosity, she needed to wait for that man to come home.