Chapitre 59: Even When You Jinxed Your Own Family, He Still Kept You By His Side

The air inside the drawing room was stagnant. Aside from Shouko who was leisurely sipping the tea, the Yuasa couple remained in silence. It was as if she was enveloped in a soft cocoon filled with comfort.

After Grandpa left with Old Toshio, only Mai and Noriko remained there.

Mother Yuasa silently glared at her husband, she was tempted to cause a ruckus but when she remembered where was she right now, she would be an idiot if she did so.

Shouko lowered down her gaze, her eyes fell onto the clear brown surface of the tea.

"You haven't said anything about why you want to meet me, Father," She lifted up her eyes, shifting her gaze from the teacup to the older man sitting in front of her. "Or, do you just come here to sit in silence?"

Father Yuasa pursed his lips, the creases between his brows deepened. He clenched and unclenched his fists, suppressing the irritation that started to rise within him.

"Shouko..." Father Yuasa called out to her. He was smiling yet in Shouko's eyes, it appeared insincere. "Well... how are you?"

Shouko restrained herself from laughing. His question sounded too fake as if he needed to force himself to say the few words.

Maybe this was the first time she heard the words that were supposed to carry concern from this man. Although he was pressured to say them.

"I'm well and healthy," Shouko smiled, playing along with her father. "I've been out of the hospital for more than a month so of course I'm good right now."

Her voice might sound gentle and soft but each of her words was laced in sarcasm. It had been more than a month but, he as a father asked about her health after such a long time?

What a joke.

Father Yuasa froze while Mother Yuasa could no longer hold back her anger.

"How rude!" Mother Yuasa berated her, her face was a black as the bottom of a pan. Her delicately trimmed eyebrows scrunched up as she gritted her teeth. "Is that how you spoke to your father? He's just asking of your well-being!"

Shouko smiled while accepting the woman's wrath, her lips remained to curl up into a smile. She leaned down slightly, placing the empty teacup on the table.

"Father asked about my health and I answered him. What's wrong with that?" Shouko poured more tea into her cup. She shook her head when Mai wanted to come forward and help her.

Before Mother Yuasa erupted again, she calmly added, "Father still didn't answer my question. What is the thing that you want to talk to me about? I know you're not here because you're concern with my well-being. Rather than wasting our time, it's best if you speak now."

Shouko brought the teacup to her lips, slowly sipping the tea. She didn't even look at the complicated expression on the Yuasa couple's faces. It was obvious that their thoughts were conflicting with each other.

Mai and Noriko who had just quietly stood near the door were beaming with delight. It was good to see this shameless couple being pushed to a corner.

It was even better because their young madam didn't buckle under the pressure!

"I heard Ono came to visit you so... I feel like seeing you too," Father Yuasa threw a glare at his wife, prompting her to keep her mouth shut. He then looked at Shouko again with a stiff smile. "En, you must hear about the situation of the company, right? Actually... I have a good investment plan and I hope your husband could help me with it."

Shouko's expression didn't falter. She had already roughly guessed about their intention to meet her. It must be regarding something material instead of their affection toward a daughter.

"You should go and meet my husband instead of coming here. I don't have a say in his company's finance," Shouko swiftly reminded them of the fact. Her soft voice turned several degrees colder.

"Yes, but... he listens to you the most," Father Yuasa desperately looked at his daughter, wishing for her to sympathize with him. "Shouko, I know I'm not a good father. I didn't treat you right and I'm really sorry about that. But... I'm still your father. Can't you help me a little? I guarantee you that the profit of this investment would be so high! I promise to give you a part of it!"

Shouko felt an urge to pinch the space between her brows. She got a headache just by listening to this man.

At first, she agreed to meet her parents because she was curious about how much they had changed over the span of five years. Aside from their appearance, they were getting greedier. They were not ashamed to come looking for her to get money.

"Father, Kyoya told me he gave you one billion after we got married and he even reminded you to stop making it hard for me," Shouko deliberately mentioned about it. It wasn't surprising to see the incredulous look in Father Yuasa's eyes. "You thought you could manipulate me as I have lost my memory so that's why you came to see me. Am I right?"

"What? Nonsense!" Father Yuasa was quick to refute the claim. "I came to visit you and tried to seek help as well. Is that something inappropriate? Moreover, you are still my daughter."

Shouko let out a chuckle, it was funny to hear this man claiming that she was his daughter. Once she was done laughing, she stood up from the couch.

"Go and see Kyoya if you have the guts," Shouko was still smiling yet a trace of sadness was concealed in her eyes. "Thank you for visiting me. You may leave now. I won't see you off."

She bowed to the couple before started walking toward the door.

She didn't want to feel sad because of the people who didn't cherish her yet it was hard to cheer herself up.

This man was her birth father. Although she appeared calm, she couldn't help but feel disappointed for the thousandth times.

Maybe, this was what Kyoya felt all these years. He yearned for his mother to love and accept him yet that woman kept on walking ahead without turning back even for once. He could only watch her left him behind.

How helpless must he be?

Shouko sighed inwardly.

"Just because you're married to someone's rich you think you could trample on your father? Such a bastard! You're as bad as your seductress mother!"

Shouko paused her step. Her face lost a little bit of color.

She rarely mentioned her mother but whenever she did, she would only talk nice about her.

To hear someone else disgracing her late mother...

"Erika! Shut up!" Father Yuasa yelled at his wife. His forehead bulged with veins under his anger. "Keep quiet will you?"

"What are you mad about?" Mother Yuasa sharply stared at her husband. Within a second, she looked at the back of Shouko. The woman chuckled coldly. "Why? Do you feel worthless or something? If not for your powerful husband, your life wouldn't be as good as now. Don't think that you're above us."

Shouko pursed her lips. Under the long sleeves of her sweater, she tightened her hands into fists. She refused to turn around and face them.

"Young Madam, please go first," Mai and Noriko who were panicked to see their young madam on the verge of tears, quickly persuaded her to leave the drawing room. "We'll handle it here."

They were afraid of that insane woman would continue spouting something that shouldn't be said.

Such a crazy woman! Didn't she hear the threat coming out from Old Master Kashino's mouth earlier? Must she be seeking death?

Shouko smiled toward the two maids. Even though they didn't urge her to leave, she would do it anyway. It was a waste of her time if she remained here and tried to argue with her stepmother.

Those words... she had heard them countless times since her childhood. The hatred Mother Yuasa felt toward her late mother was boundless even though Father Yuasa was the one who at fault.

Seducing a naive young lady while insisting he was a single man, how rotten his heart was at that time?

Shouko took a step forward. She wanted to leave all the groundless insults behind. It was better to retreat than staying here to worsen the situation.

Retreating didn't mean she had lost.

"Running away?" Mother Yuasa sneered, her eyes were filled with malice. They were directed to the young lady's small back. "You're sure are loved by your husband. Even when you jinxed your own family, he still kept you by his side."

Shouko froze. Her pace slowed down before she stopped exactly in front of the door of the room. Her brows knitted together, showing confusion over Mother Yuasa's words.

What did it mean?