My Wife Offered Me 200 MILLION To Divorce Her,Until She Heard My Thoughts | Ai Recap

The CEO's secretary was desperate for a promotion. To clear the path, he deliberately framed the CEO's husband for leaking trade secrets.

Just as the ice queen CEO was about to sign the divorce papers, she suddenly began to hear her husband's inner thoughts. "This is amazing. 200 million yen. A full 200 million. Imagine how many houses I can buy and how many beautiful girls I can meet with that. My ex-wife is certainly generous. Much appreciated."

Nana Haruka's eyelashes fluttered. She saw her husband, Sato Ren, sitting there with his lips pressed firmly together. Yet, his voice was ringing clearly in her mind. The voice didn't travel through the air. It vibrated directly within her consciousness.

Always the stoic professional, she didn't let a flicker of emotion show. She calmly shifted her gaze to the man standing beside her, Kanda Teo. Secretary Kanda was staring intensely at the divorce agreement in Ren's [music] hand. Noticing Haruka's gaze, he immediately put on a mask of perfect sympathy, as if mourning the tragic end of their marriage.

"Mr. Sato," Kanda said, his voice dripping with false consolation, while a tiny, almost invisible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You really have caused a great deal of trouble for President Nasi this time. I hope that after the divorce, you can start a new life and stop."

Internally, Kanda was counting down. He was waiting for Ren to lose his temper and scream just like he always did. As long as Ren made a scene, that massive settlement might be retracted, or he might even be kicked out with nothing. [music]

But Ren only raised his eyes to scan with a bored glance before lowering his head to sign the papers at lightning speed. "So annoying. Even though I'm the scapegoat, I'm getting a clean break and a huge payout. I won't waste my energy arguing with the real culprit."

Haruka took the agreement he tossed over, her hand freezing midair. "What scapegoat? What real culprit?" Before she could process the mysterious voice, more thoughts crashed into her mind.

"President Naz, it's time to sign." Candace's voice had a trace of urgency now. Even his usually polished tone was slightly off key.

Haruka looked up. For the first time, she felt that this college classmate and trusted adviser had overstepped, recalling the phrase "real culprit." A chill spread through her. Could it be?

Kanda almost desperately pushed the pen toward her. He knew Haruka too well. [music] Cold on the surface, but soft-hearted toward family. Their previous divorce attempts had failed because of Ren's crying and threatening tactics. Now that Ren had finally signed, Kanda couldn't let it fall apart at the finish line.

"He's getting impatient. Looks like he has a guilty conscience. He's terrified that his hard work is going to waste." Haruka's eyes sharpened. She suddenly turned her wrist and pressed the signature pen firmly onto the desk. The sudden movement startled both Ren and Canda.

She raised her eyes, her gaze heavy and dark. She caught the look of anticipation on Ren's face before he could hide it. "I'll ask you one last time," Haruka said, her voice steady but commanding. "Did you really do it?" If what she was hearing was true, this wasn't just a simple frame-up. It was a threat to the entire corporation.

Kandanda's face stiffened, but he didn't panic. After all, Ren had no way to prove his innocence. Ren felt a bit uneasy under her oppressive stare. "Why ask now? Don't tell me she's backing out of the 200 million. Surely, she doesn't regret the divorce. Just sign the paper and talk later."

Haruka felt a tightness in her chest, but she kept her eyes locked on him, demanding an answer. Ren's eyes wandered as he grumbled internally. "Of course, it wasn't me. But everyone is blind. Enedored the office later that night, but the staff ignored him. When the security breach happened, they didn't even check the cameras. They just threw me to the wolves. That's what you call a subconscious blind spot."

Haruka was stunned. Because witnesses and evidence had pointed to Ren, she had followed the consensus without a deep investigation. She was about to speak when Ren said coldly, "I have nothing to say. Just sign it."

Haruka's face darkened. "He knows the truth, but won't say it. Does he think I won't believe him?" She stood up abruptly. Konda looked on in confusion as Haruka swept a scrutinizing gaze over him. Before he could react, Haruka stepped toward the door. As she passed the bewildered Ren, she dropped a low command. [music] "Follow me."

"For what?" Ren asked. Genuinely confused, Haruka pulled open the door and projected her voice to the assistants, "Retrieved the surveillance records from the night of the 11th. If anyone is dissatisfied, let them see clearly if he was the only one who entered the office."

"I'm being framed." "When was I dissatisfied?" "My whole face is screaming." "I agree." "Okay."

The Nani Group employees had long held a grudge against Ren, especially those in the executive office. To them, checking the cameras was like calling them liars. But under Haruka's order, the footage was quickly projected onto the main screen. In the fast-forwarded footage, Ren appeared, stayed for 30 minutes, and then left with a grim face. The staff mocked him, thinking he was just desperately refusing to admit his guilt. Only Kanda had sweat forming [music] on his brow.

When his own figure appeared on the screen, his pupils shrank. He stole a nervous glance at Haruka. Several assistants who had sworn Ren was the only one were stunned, while others remained oblivious. The recording [music] stopped.

Heruka's face was like ice. "So, he was the only one, was he?" she asked coldly. A senior assistant replied, "President, is there a problem?" "That's just Candacean. He's your right hand." The others nodded in agreement. "Wow, they have eyes, but they don't use them, do they?" Haruka's expression worsened.

Then, a clear female voice spoke from the back. "Strictly speaking, two people entered. Besides Mr. Sato, there was Secretary Conda." It was a new assistant. She had been out on an errand when the initial accusations were made. The others realized the oversight, but laughed it off. "Condesan is always in the office. How is that the same? You're new. Condan is the president's confidant. [music] Are you suggesting he's a traitor?"

Haruka let out a cold snort, and the room fell silent. Ren almost laughed. "When they find out the truth, their faces are going to be legendary." He looked curiously at Kanda, who was so unconditionally trusted. Kanda had crisp styled hair and a perfectly tailored suit. He looked every bit the elite professional. But his expression was becoming strained.

"No wonder they have double standards. They treat me like a saint and me like a dog because that's exactly how Haruka treats us." Haruka felt a stab of guilt. It was true.

"Does Secretary Konda have an explanation?" Cond regained his composure. "Does the president doubt me? I did enter, but you know, I go in every night to prepare the meeting materials for the next day, which makes it the perfect time to strike. Premeditated. [music] Brilliant. Then again, they work every night. Haruka is a total workaholic capitalist. I'll buy her a book on labor rights after the divorce."

Heruka ignored the jab about her management style. "Everyone who entered must be investigated. No one is an exception." Cond looked shocked. After 10 years, she was treating him the same as Ren. Did he mean nothing more than that troublemaker?

As the tension rose, a sneer came from the doorway. Ren turned to see who it was. A group walked in led by Director Tanaka of the board, whose receding hairline was particularly noticeable. He was accompanied by a young woman, his daughter Akari, a spoiled girl who clearly only worked there to pass the time. Akari walked straight to Kanda and pointed at Haruka.

"Harukasan, have you lost it? The board agreed to this divorce. Why are you checking cameras and doubting Teo? You're acting crazy." Director Tanaka feigned a sigh. "Now, Akari, show some respect." He turned to Haruka with a fake smile. "President, it's good to be thorough, but surely this is just because Mr. Satau refuses to admit his guilt."

Akari glared at Ren. "You pathetic man trying to drag Teo down with you!" Before she could finish her insult, Haruka stepped forward and stood in front of Ren, blocking Akari's path. "Where did this brat come from? Did someone leave the gate open?"

Haruka was momentarily stunned by Ren's mental commentary, but more information was surfacing. She realized Director Tanaka had been plotting against her for a long time. If Akari wasn't so [music] incompetent, he would have replaced Haruka with his daughter already. Even more shocking, Akari had been obsessed with Ren for years. She sent him messages every night, brought him gifts from overseas, and even stalked him. It was bizarre. Director Tanaka had originally tried to poach Kanda to his side, but ended up losing his daughter to the man instead. Now he was here to support them, likely thinking Akari was successfully making a power play.

Haruka glanced at the smug director Tanaka. The director, thinking he had the upper hand, held his head high. "Harukasan!" Akari shouted. "You're bullying Teo for this man? Don't forget, only Ren met with the vice president of our rival firm. We have photos."

Haruka turned to Ren. "Why did you meet him?" Ren blinked. "Things were getting complicated. Haruka is actually trying to be fair. It's admirable, but I just want my divorce." He looked into Haruka's eyes. She was stunningly beautiful. When she focused on him like this, it was almost overwhelming. "Her face is a masterpiece. Too bad she's so serious. Without the 200 million on the line, Haruka's face could be quite distracting." But her piercing stare made Ren's mouth move on its own. "My agent arranged the meeting."

Ren wanted to crawl into a hole. "Why did I say that? Did I just fall for her? Beauty trap." Akari laughed. "Your agent? What a pathetic excuse. Why would your agent book a job with a rival company?" Ren's studio was technically under the Nasi group umbrella. Akari immediately had someone call his agent, Mr. Ido. When the call connected and the situation was explained, Itto shouted, "What? I never did that. I'm just a small agent. I can't take the fall for this." He sounded terrified. The staff took this as final proof of Ren's guilt. Kanda's lips curled into a tiny smile. Akari smirked at Ren. "Next time, pick a lie that isn't so easy to debunk, you idiot."

Ren was genuinely annoyed now. He hadn't realized his own agent was part of the setup. Haruka was about to order an investigation into Itto when she heard Ren's thoughts again. "I wonder how much Kanda paid him to screw me over. Wait, can I see the truth if I think about it? Wait, my reputation was sold for a 1,000 yen bribe. Are you kidding me? I must have missed a few zeros."

Haruka was baffled. "Only 1,000 yen?" "Yeah, only 1,000 yen. Unbelievable. Ah, I see." Ren's internal voice was marveling now. Haruka was losing her patience with his internal rambling, but she finally heard the key. "Agent Itto is Kanda's cousin. They're family. Of course, they'd work together. [music] Kanda planted him next to me ages ago. They even pretended to be strangers. Clever."

Haruka was shaken. Kanda had been planning this for a long time. The assistant asked if they should hang up on Ido. Haruka took the phone. "Since the story's conflict, I'm ordering a full audit. If Mr. Ido can't provide proof, we will investigate every single one of his family and personal connections." The room went silent. "Wow, Haruka actually hit the mark." "Good for her." No one noticed Candace's momentary panic or the gasp on the phone.

"What are you doing?" Akari demanded. Haruka remained calm. "The police don't just take one person's word. 'Ren's circle is small, but the agents isn't. President, I have no connection to the rivals.' Itto pleaded over the phone. 'Maybe not now, but once we find your link to Teoonda, it will look very different. The fact that you hid your family relationship makes this suspicious. We're done.'" She hung up. Her gaze shifted back to Kanda. Kanda flinched and stepped back. Akari stood in front of him. "You're just protecting Ren. Teo hasn't met anyone from that company. He was home or here."

Kanda studied himself. "If the president doesn't trust me, I'll accept any search." He was confident he hadn't left a trail on his own devices, and Nikkari's words seemed to confirm his alibi. As Heruka pondered, Ren's thoughts returned. "He's so confident [music] because he was smart. The email was sent on the 12th. Even if they scrub his laptop, they won't find a thing because he used Akari's computer. She lets him into her office whenever he wants, and her password is his birthday. If the rival company talks, the trail leads straight to Akari, not him."

Haruka's face went cold. She looked at Kanda and Akari, but he made one mistake. He was too arrogant about his status here. Haruka waited, listening for the flaw. But Ren stopped thinking about it. [music] "I can't say it anyway. Even if the agent is found out, Akari might stay safe. Let's just end this drama and get the divorce over with."

Haruka hummed. "Technical department, check Akari's devices." Honda turned pale, his expression that of a betrayed lover. Akari was outraged. "This is an insult!" But under Haruka's cold gaze, she couldn't continue. "If we find nothing, I will apologize," Haruka said. "But we are checking."

The news had spread and senior management was gathered. Kanda was a top-tier talent. The idea of him being a spy was unthinkable to them. "Everyone thinks she can't function without Kanda. Poor Ren, the useless husband. But look [music] at them. They're all just here for the gossip. Look at those eyes shining. The battle between the husband and the right hand. People probably have bets going. I didn't think I'd be the star of the show today. The clown is me." Ren glared at Haruka. She ignored him, but her ears were ringing from his constant mental commentary. Was Ren always this way? she wondered.

The results for Kanda's devices were clean. Akari was smug. "See, are you going to keep protecting Ren now?" and Kanda looked like he was about to cry. "President, do you believe me now?"

Haruka looked at her phone, then at Kanda. A sense of dread filled him. The room thought it was over, but Haruka turned to the big screen. The screen showed the hallway outside Akari's office. Kanda was seen entering. The staff was confused by the sudden shift. Only Kanda's face turned white. His pupils dilated. Akari yelled, "So what? He was bringing me files."

Haruka didn't answer. She watched the screen intently. Director Tanaka's face changed as he saw the timestamp and realized [music] his daughter had left Kanda alone in the office. Kanda eventually left and Akari returned, upset that he was gone. Then a screen capture of computer activity appeared. The desktop wallpaper was a photo of Ren. The room went silent. Tanaka looked like he was going to have a stroke. "You hacked my computer!" Akari screamed. It was clear the tech team had bypassed her security to find deleted records. She had just finished when she felt Kanda sway beside her. The truth was becoming clear. The room was so quiet you could hear the heartbeats of the people inside. A recovered email showed the secret documents being sent from Akari's account. During the time Kanda was alone. Some still didn't understand. Akari stared at the screen. "You... You made this video to frame Teo and save Ren." Her father slapped her. "Shut up." Director Tanaka turned to Haruka. "My daughter was used. She's a fool, but she's not a thief." He had to save himself. "Pakeonda, how dare you use my daughter?" Tanaka was desperately trying to shift the blame entirely onto Kanda. Every eye was on Kanda. Shock, anger, and betrayal. The assistants who had vouched for him were trembling, fearing for their jobs. They realized they were likely going to be fired for their incompetence and didn't dare speak. Kanda was shaking, his breath coming in gasps.

"President Haruka, I didn't." "Agent Itto is your cousin. [music] You planned this together. Am I right?" Haruka's final words crushed him. The room erupted in chaos.

"How did she find out?" Ren's brain was lagging. "How did she pull this off? Did she know about the cousin? How did she know to check Akari?" Tanaka was equally stunned that his own daughter was the key.

Heruka glanced at the dazed Ren. She couldn't say the clues came from his thoughts. "Once you were a suspect, we checked every solo movement and every device you had access to. You didn't delete the hallway footage. That was your flaw." She spoke as if she had conducted a cold, logical interrogation. Kanda had assumed Heruka trusted him too much to ever look that closely at his movements. He slumped to the ground, realized she had treated him with no special favor.

Akari was devastated. "You did this? Why?" Akari grabbed his arm, crying. Director Tanaka pulled her back. "Why else? He was jealous. He wanted to get rid of Ren and take his place." Akari was stunned. "You... You love Haruka?" "No." Tanaka sighed. Everyone else had seen Kanda's obsession but her. Ren internally agreed. "Akari is really blind. She loved him but didn't realize he wanted her boss." He saw Haruka's face flush. "Wait, even she didn't know he liked her? Is she a total block of wood?" Haruka's face turned an even deeper shade of pink. "Wait, isn't this about a rival company? Kanda likes her. That's impossible. I didn't have selfish motives."

Kanda suddenly screamed. "I did it for Ichigo!" The room went dead silent at the mention of the name Ichigo. Haruka's expression shifted. [music] "What?" "Ichigo is coming back to Japan," Kanda shouted. Haruka's eyes flickered toward Ren. "Ichigo... Haruka's white moonlight. The first love who dumped her years ago. The perfect match. But what does Ichigo have to do with him?" And Haruka asked coldly, "Ichigo and I are best friends. He only left because he had to. I didn't want you to waste your life with Ren. I knew you wouldn't leave him, so I decided to be the villain to give you a chance to be with Ichigo again." Kanda bowed his head, acting like a martyr. "Ichigo was indeed Ichigo's friend. That was why Haruka had trusted him so much in the first place. Haruka had assumed Kanda wanted the best for her since he had witnessed her past relationship, making her trust him implicitly." Management whispered. "No one really believed him. Kenda's obsession was too [music] obvious. But the hidden motive was finally out. The bigger news was the first love returning. [music] Everyone looked at Haruka. Then it ran. A total mess."

Haruka cut him off. "No reason justifies betraying the company and framing an innocent man. Her voice was final." "And that reason is 90% fake." Ren's thoughts were wandering. "Why would he lie about that?" Haruka was curious now too. "Kanda kept poking me to make me act out, trying to make Haruka hate me. But since Ichigo is coming back, Kanda knew he couldn't win against the first love. He wanted to get me out of the way and marry Haruka before Ichigo arrived. He got desperate and sloppy. Now he's using Ichigo as a shield, hoping Haruka will be soft on him because of their past. But if she knew it was just his own greed, he'd be finished. Even Haruka won't believe this." Haruka realized Ren was right. Every time he had a conflict with Ren, Kanda had played the victim. She felt a wave of guilt and a wave of disgust for Kanda. She decided to end it. "Call the police." Kanda collapsed. "Haruka, I did it for you." "Tell it to the police." Her coldness made everyone shiver. Kanda screamed at Ren as he was dragged away. "When Ichigo gets back, she'll dump you. Why are you so heartless to me after 10 years?" Haruka glanced at him one last time. "Because you are not my husband." The words pierced like a sword.

After the arrests, they [music] went to the police station for statements. Akari tried to take the blame for him, but the evidence against Kanda was too strong. Director Tanaka fainted from the stress. Ren's final meeting with Haruka involved more threats about Ichigo. Ren just thought, "I hope so. Hurry up, Ichigo."

Ren had only been in this body for 3 days. He was a transmigrator who had died in his previous life due to a clerical error by a grim reaper. He had inherited the memories of the original Ren, a rich kid who had lost his parents and became unstable. The original Ren had tricked Haruka into marriage by drugging her and staging a scene to force her family's hand. Haruka hated him and he eventually died of a heart attack in his room, which is when the new Ren took over. The new Ren looked identical to the original, but didn't want to be a miserable husband. He just wanted luxury. He figured he'd just divorce her, take a settlement, and live a life of comfort. But the Grim Reaper had told him he couldn't initiate the divorce. It had to be Haruka's idea. To help him out, the Reaper gave him a gossip system that let him see everyone's secrets. He had thought life would be fine, he'd be rich, and Haruka was never home. The framing had seemed like a perfect opportunity for a divorce.

As they left the police station that night, Haruka led him to the car, ready to head home. The car was terrifyingly quiet. I leaned dejectedly against the window, my forehead cooling against the glass. "It was all my fault. I failed to act hysterical enough. If I had only made her loathe me more, I might be holding that 200 million settlement right now. That was a number I wouldn't have even dreamed of winning in the lottery in my past life."

Haruka didn't hear my sigh, but she heard 200 million looping like a broken record in my mind. She gripped the steering wheel slightly tighter. She thought to herself, "Is he really that desperate for money? Does he think our marriage is just a transaction he failed to cash out on?"

Not long after, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I jumped slightly, pulled it out, and flipped it open with a look of pure boredom. My jaw nearly hit my chest. A banking notification flashed. 5 million deposited. I stared at the zeros until they blurred. I mechanically turned my head to look at her, my neck stiff. "Did you send this to the wrong person?" I whispered, half hoping she hadn't.

Haruka was already watching me. As our eyes met, her long eyelashes cast a faint, elegant shadow over her eyes. Her expression looked surprisingly sincere, a rare softness breaking through her usual CEO eyes. She took [music] a breath. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice steady and solemn. "I wrongly accused you earlier about the office incident. This is an apology." She felt genuinely guilty, but had no clue how to make it up to me. "Honestly, we aren't close at all. We're basically strangers with a shared tax return. She didn't know my hobbies, my favorite foods, or my interests. All she knew was that I kept obsessing over money in my head, so she just sent cash."

On the outside, I maintained a front of being heartbroken and apathetic, staring out the window with a hollow gaze. But inside, my mind was a fireworks display. "5 million just for being framed once. Haruka, you're the most generous villain ever. I wondered if there was a daily transfer limit for such a high amount. For someone who just lost 200 million, 5 million shouldn't matter, right?" Wrong. I thought, "Haruka, you're a pretty good sport. Feel free to frame me a few more times. I'm totally open to being a professional scapegoat for this price."

Haruka's lip twitched almost imperceptibly. She hadn't expected my internal monologue to be so wildly theatrical compared to my silent exterior. She realized in that moment that she had never actually seen the real me. "People are truly like icebergs with all the fun stuff hidden underwater." She watched as I fought to keep the corners of my mouth down. My effort to stay gloomy, nearly failing under the weight of 5 million yen. My eyes grew wide and round, sparkling with a life she'd never seen before. It gave my handsome features a newfound vibrant energy. The neon lights of the city skipped across my skin as we drove, making my high nose bridge and thick black hair looked like something out of a movie. Although Haruka didn't love me, she had to admit I was stunning. She just never noticed because I always looked like the world owed me money. "How can a person change so much in a single afternoon?" [music]

She steered her thoughts toward the supernatural, unable to find a logical answer. She realized I seemed to know the whys and hows of things I shouldn't even have access to. It was as if I was reading the script of her life. Perhaps because of this precognition, I had become detached and pre-spirited. That was the only way she could wrap her head around it. Thinking back to the office, she couldn't resist. "Why didn't you argue more for yourself? You just let them drag you away."

I saw an opening to fan the flames of her guilt. "What's the point? You've wanted a divorce for ages. This was just a convenient excuse for everyone. Whether the accusations were true or false didn't really matter to you, did it?" I added, playing the victim with professional-grade skill.

Haruka frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Truth always matters, and I never intended to use a lie just to get a divorce. Though the marriage started under ridiculous circumstances, she wasn't the type of person to just toss someone under the bus for convenience." I was genuinely surprised by her integrity. "I thought to myself, 'Wow, my dear ex-wife to be, you're actually a surprisingly good person.'"

Haruka's face turned slightly green at the term. "We aren't divorced yet. Don't call me that. Does he really think it's a done deal?" Before she could voice her protest, my heart gave her the reason why I was so certain of our impending split. "But forced relationships are never sweet," I thought. "Besides, your [music] white moonlight first love is coming back to the country any day now. I'm just doing you a favor by clearing out early. Even your secretary mentioned there were hidden difficulties back then. Classic reunion trope. I don't want to be the background character who gets crushed in the middle of your grand romance. I'm saving us both the drama."

Haruka's breath hitched. That person was ancient history to her. She had moved on years ago. She wasn't the type to cheat or linger. She felt a surge of indignation. She wanted to yell that she wasn't interested in her ex, but she couldn't admit she was hearing my thoughts. Feeling stubborn and a bit petty, she spoke up. "Don't overthink [music] things. As long as you live your life properly, we won't divorce. You'll eventually learn that I'm not the kind of person you've made me out to be in your head," she finished, her voice tight. [music]

I glanced at her and gave a dismissive, "Oh," which was the verbal equivalent of a shrug. Inside, I was laughing. "Yeah, right. The moment you see him at the airport, you're going to forget you ever said that. I'll be waiting with the divorce papers."

Haruka took a deep breath, trying to steady her heart. "Am I really that untrustworthy? Do I really look like I'd abandon my husband for a ghost?" "Wait, no," I thought, correcting myself. "It's actually better if she believes her own lies for now. It makes the goodbye easier. The more firm she is today, the more [music] well-behaved I'll be. Then when the guilt hits her later, the settlement money will just keep growing. I really am a financial genius. I should start a class on how to profit from your own divorce."

Aruka was so frustrated. She felt like she was losing hair. "Is he staying just for the money or is he actually seeing someone else?" She told herself to stay calm. She was the one who had wronged me today. She couldn't start accusing me of things just because I was being annoying. "But beautiful girls," she thought, catching a stray thought of mine. "Does he really think there are women out there better looking than me?"

Haruka glanced at herself in the rearview mirror. She was a top-tier beauty, and she knew it. The competition would have to be legendary. She clenched her fists as the car slowed. She couldn't tell if I was genuinely done with her or just protecting myself from being hurt again. "He probably doesn't actually want to leave," she reasoned, trying to soothe her bruised ego. "Nobody wants to leave a life this comfortable."

The car pulled into the massive estate, the tires crunching on the gravel. I noticed an unfamiliar car parked in the garage. We had guests. As soon as the front doors opened, a voice drifted from the living room, sounding practiced and sweet. "This is the child my husband and I are planning to adopt. Her name is Tamachan. Isn't she precious?"

Haruka's posture shifted instantly. She knew that voice. It was her older brother, Kenji, and his wife, Risa. Before I could even process the word adoption, Haruka had doubled her walking speed, heading straight for the source of the sound. "Oh boy, more drama," I thought, my eyes lighting up. "The elite circles are like a non-stop soap opera. I can't look away. I'm starting to hesitate about the divorce. If I leave, I'm leaving the front row of the gossip theater." I scrambled to keep up with her.

We burst into the living room and the strange, thick atmosphere was instantly broken. Every head in the room snapped toward us. The butler, ever professional, stepped forward to take our coats. "Welcome home, Master Ren. Mistress Haruka." Haruka's mother stood up nervously. She walked over, searching our faces for any sign of a fight or a permanent rift. >> [music] >> Haruka's father stayed seated, maintaining his head of the house dignity, but his eyes were darting between us with clear anxiety. This morning, when I was taken away, Haruka's mother had been frantic. Haruka had shut her down, telling her not to get involved. The parents had spent the afternoon thinking I had truly committed a crime and that their daughter's marriage was finally over. Their biggest fear was our divorce. They hadn't even wanted Kenji's family over today, but Kenji had called, sounding desperate. He had arrived sounding like he'd been bullied, only to drop an adoption bombshell the moment he sat down.

I followed the memories of the original me and gave a cold, arrogant nod to the room. I played the part of the entitled son-in-law perfectly. Haruka didn't bring up the office drama yet. She was a professional. She greeted her brother's family first with a polite, cool nod. I scanned the room like a detective. On the long sofa sat an old man with a face like a sour lemon. Risa's father. Next to him was a small girl, maybe eight or nine. She was clutching a rag doll so hard her knuckles were white, looking terrified of the room. Beside the girl sat Risa, Kenji's wife. She had a slender face and a smile that looked like it was painted on a porcelain doll. Next to Risa was Kenji. He looked gentle but exhausted, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as he looked at us. Haruka's parents were clearly itching to ask us about the scandal, but the adoption issue was currently taking up the air in the room.

Then a croaky, judgmental voice broke the silence. It was Risa's father looking at us with undisguised contempt. [music] "So, did the second daughter's couple finally get divorced? I heard the rumors. Why are they coming back together if it's over?" The room went silent. You could have heard a pin drop on the marble floor. The awkwardness was suffocating. Kenji tried to intervene. "Father-in-law, please, let's not talk about that now." But his voice was weak, lacking any real authority. Rhysa said nothing. [music] She just sat there looking like she was watching a movie that bored her, letting her father insult her hosts.

Haruka's brow furrowed. She maintained her composure, but her voice was icy. "We aren't divorced. We are home because this is our home." Haruka's [music] parents exhaled in unison. It was like they'd been holding their breath for 6 hours. Finally, a win for the Nanise family. Rhysa's father looked unconvinced. "The whole upper circle is talking about it. They say Ren made a massive mistake at the company."

Haruka was about to defend me. But I decided I'd had enough of the lemon-faced old man. I spoke up before she could. "When exactly did the Kubo family join the upper circles?" I asked, [music] my voice dripping with mock curiosity. "I didn't get the memo." I knew the Kubo family was just a middle-class family that struck gold when Risa married into the Nazi fortune. [music] They were hangers-on.

Reys's father turned a deep shade of purple. "How dare you? You have no respect for your elders." I waved my hand dismissively. "It's just a question. Why are you so sensitive? If you're upper circle, you should be used to direct talk." "I am insulting you, old man," I added internally. "You're like a stray dog that found a fancy collar and now thinks it's a purebred."

Haruka heard my internal stray dog comment and had to look away to hide a smile. She decided to let me handle this. Since he was the one being rude in her house, she wasn't going to play the obedient wife and silence her husband. "Ren is right," Haruka said, surprising everyone. "Let's sit down and talk like adults."

I sat down and caught the look on Haruka's parents faces. They looked like they were watching a ghost come to life. They were completely bewildered by my sudden backbone. I was usually [music] the one who sat in the corner and sulked, but then their expressions shifted. They realized they were hearing my voice, but my mouth wasn't moving. Haruka gave them a tiny sharp nod, confirming that yes, they were indeed hearing the heart of the matter. The parents realized that while I was being arrogant, I was actually defending the family's dignity against the Kubos. "He's protecting us," the mother thought, her eyes filling with a strange kind of warmth. She suddenly felt very protective of me.

Reese's father was still fuming. "This is exactly what I mean. No upbringing, no manners, a disgrace to the Nana name." That was the wrong thing to say. The Nana's parents bristled. I had grown up under their roof. An insult to my manners was an insult [music] to them. I didn't give them a chance to speak. "Upbringing is a two-way street," I said, leaning back and crossing my legs. "No one ever taught me how to interact with the lower classes without looking condescending. My apologies if it shows." "Oh, you're cultured," I thought. "Weren't you the one trying to get Haruka to dump me so you could marry her off to your nephew for a bigger cut?"

The Nas parents were shocked. They hadn't known Reese's father had been so bold behind their backs. My sudden outburst had completely flipped the power dynamic in the room. Even Risa looked a little less bored. But the most shocking thing was that the Naness parents were now fully on my side. They were done with the Kubos. "Arrogance. You want my daughter to divorce him just for your nephew?" Haruka's father thought, his eyes hardening. "Not on my watch."

Kenji finally found his voice. "Ren, please, let's just focus on the news. Tamachan is right here." "Brother," Haruka interrupted, her voice sharp. "We'll talk about the Tadada news in a moment, but let's be clear about who is welcome here." Kenji looked at his sister, confused. He didn't know about the psychic connection. He just thought his sister had finally lost her mind. Riso was finally showing cracks in her porcelain mask. The "lower class" comment had hit its mark perfectly. Her father glared at Kenji, silently, demanding that he fix this. He hated that his son-in-law was so powerless. Kenji gave a pathetic, forced smile to his father-in-law. "Ren is just stressed. He's young. He doesn't mean it."

I almost laughed out loud. "Young? I'm 24, Kenji, not 10. And I mean every single word." Haruka's mother decided to put an end to the bickering. "Enough. Ren, you must be hungry. Have you eaten since this morning?" Her voice was so tender. "I actually felt a little bit of a chill. She's being so nice. Wait, is she trying to bribe me with food?" The mother saw my internal bribe comment and chuckled softly. She realized I was just a hungry, defensive kid. "I haven't eaten," I admitted, my stomach choosing that exact moment to growl loudly.

Haruka's mother turned to the staff immediately. "Prepare Master Ren's favorite meal. Three dishes and a soup right now." She took my hand. "And Haruka, you too. You shouldn't have kept him working so late without a meal." Haruka's jaw dropped. "I haven't eaten either, Mom. Why is he the only one getting the special treatment?" The mother waved her off. "Just bring a plate for the daughter, too," she said to the butler, not even looking back. I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing. Haruka looked like she'd been demoted to second-tier child in her own home.

Haruka's father pushed a plate of fruit toward me. "Eat some of this while you wait, Ren. It's fresh." I thanked him. "Her dad is such a gentleman. This family is actually pretty great when they aren't being manipulated." The father's chest puffed out slightly. He liked being called a gentleman, even if it was only in my head. Kenji watched this weird display of affection with total confusion. He felt attention from his wife's side, but his parents seemed happy.

Haruka turned her attention back to the little girl. "So, why the sudden adoption, Risa? You're still young." Risa smoothed her skirt. "Her name is Tamachan. We found her through a local agency. We felt it was time." "Wait," Haruka's father interrupted. "You're 30. Since when did you decide you couldn't have your own?" Risa's father jumped in. "It's been 9 years since the stillbirth. The doctor said it's unlikely. We can't wait forever." Risa's eyes welled up with tears on cue. It was a perfectly timed performance. "So dramatic," I thought as I chewed on a grape. "Is she dying or is the Kubo line just desperate for a Nana?" The Nas family winced at my toxic inner commentary. I was being brutal, but I wasn't wrong.

Haruka tapped my arm. "Don't fill up on fruit. And Rhysa, why an 8-year-old? [music] Usually people want babies." I put the grape down. "Boom. Point to Haruka." [music] She found the logic hole. Haruka's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, there really is something wrong here?" Her parents leaned in. They hadn't thought about the age. Kenji was looking at me, his eyes wide and pleading.

"What is it about this specific child?" Haruka asked, her voice turning into her interrogation tone. Rhysa's father stammered. "She's she's nine. She has a similar look to Risa. We thought it was fate." He was lying. I could feel the truth through my system, like a bad smell. I looked at the girl. She was looking at the floor, looking like she wanted to disappear. She knew she was a secret. "Fate," I thought. "She's Risa's biological daughter. She's trying to pass off her illegitimate child as an adoption to get her into the family tree." The thought echoed through the room like a bomb. Haruka's parents nearly fell off their chairs. Kenji was the most devastated. He had known, but he'd been forced into silence by Risa's family. [music] "They're treating Kenji like a fool," I thought. "Does your family have a throne to inherit? Why are you accepting this?"

Every Nasi eye turned to Kenji. He looked like a man standing on the edge of a cliff. His defenses were gone. He looked like he was about to break down in front of everyone. Haruka was fuming. She realized the drama I'd mentioned wasn't just gossip. It was a betrayal. The Kubos were still oblivious, wondering why everyone was looking at them like they were monsters. "Who are the real parents?" Haruka asked, her voice like a knife. "I'll run a DNA test today. If she's a Nanise, I want proof." Risa and her father went pale. The fate excuse was dead. Their silence was the loudest admission of guilt in the world. "The child is mine," Risa finally said, her voice trembling, but defiant. She knew she couldn't hide it from Haruka.

Haruka's father slammed the table so hard the fruit plate [music] jumped. "You lied to us for a decade." The butler hurried over, but then hesitated, not knowing if he should bring water or a lawyer. Risa tried to play the victim. "I have a clear conscience. This child is from before I even met Kenji. [music] We only just found out she existed." Her father added, lying through his teeth. "We thought she was lost." Haruka's father was purple now. "So, you want my son to raise another man's child? Because you just found out." "They're young. They can be a family. Once the papers are signed, it doesn't matter," Kuba yelled back. Haruka's father was shaking. He realized his son had been being blackmailed by this secret for years. He decided then and there. "The Nasi family does not accept this. Not now, not ever."

I was back to eating my dinner, which had finally arrived. I was enjoying the show far too much. Haruka looked at me, then back at her brother. She realized she needed to finish this. "Risa," she said, "why Kenji? If she's your daughter, why didn't you just say so years ago?" Risa turned on Kenji. "You didn't object when we talked about it. Are you going to let them talk to me like this? He's been under your thumb for 10 years." The mother shouted. "No more." Kenji looked at the girl, Tamachan. She was innocent, but she was a symbol of everything wrong with his life. He thought of the man Risa actually loved. Ichawa. This was his child. Rhysa's father tried one last play. "She's a human being. You can't just throw her away."

"Enough," Haruka's mother [music] screamed. "Kenji, tell them. Tell them you want a divorce." The word divorce hung in the air like a ghost. Kenji looked terrified of it. "What is he waiting for? [music] I thought. If he stays, he's just a placeholder for the guy Risa actually wants." The family heard my roar. They realized Kenji was still trapped in his own guilt. Haruka spoke for him. "It's over. I'm calling the lawyers. We'll handle the adoption of the child elsewhere, but not into this family." Kenji [music] whispered. "But she's not a bad person. She just... she's been hurt." I nearly choked. "Hurt? She used you as a backup plan because her first choice didn't have money." The Nanas stared at Kenji with pity. He was too gentle for his own good. I dug into the history. "She married him because she failed her medical boards and needed his name to get into a private hospital. It was all a deal." The family was horrified. They'd thought it was a love match. "And that messy night, she was totally sober. She just knew Kenji liked her and used it to trap him." Kenji looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He remembered that night. He'd always thought he was the one who made a mistake. Risa saw his face change. She knew the secret was out. Her father tried to grab Kenji. "You can't do this. We're family." "Family doesn't lie for 10 years," Haruka's father roared, standing up and towering over the old man. I finished my soup. "Checkmate. This soap opera is finally getting a good ending."

Haruka smiled at me. A real, genuine smile. She was proud of her family for finally waking up. "Risa," Haruka said, her voice calm. "We'll tell the world the Nanes couldn't handle the child. Your reputation will [music] be fine." "But you're leaving." Kubo tried one last threat. "If you do this, I'll tell everyone about Ren's scandal." I laughed. "Go ahead. Haruka already knows it was a lie. We're better than you think." Risa looked at me with pure hatred. She realized the useless son-in-law was the one who had destroyed her life. "Kenji?" she asked, her voice small, trying to manipulate him one last time. Kenji didn't look at her. He looked at his parents. "I want to be done," he said.

The Kubos were defeated. They realized the Nas bank account was officially closed to them. "You'll regret this!" Reese's father shouted as the butler began to usher them toward the door. I leaned back, satisfied. "I really should get a raise for this. 5 million was a bargain." Haruka's mother came over and patted my shoulder. "You did good, Ren. You really did." I blushed. I just wanted to eat my dinner in peace.

Honestly, Haruka looked at me, her eyes full of a new kind of curiosity. "You're not who I thought you were." "None of us are," I replied, finally smiling back at her. The Kubos were gone. The house was quiet. And for the first time, the melon field was finally harvested.

Haruka's mother spoke with a voice like sharpened flint. "The eldest son of the Nanise family will never struggle to find a wife. Even if every other family has ulterior motives, then he simply won't marry. The Nana's family can afford to support him forever." Haruka's father nodded firmly. "If Kenji wants children, we can adopt orphans. My son's happiness is the only priority here."

I chimed in with a new perspective, my internal voice buzzing. "Besides, is infertility ever just one person's fault? Maybe Reese's genes simply weren't a match for Kenji." This line of thought actually sparked a flicker of hope in the Nana's parents. Even Kenji, lost in his grief, found his thoughts drifting toward a different future. "Maybe," he thought, "if I were with someone else, I could actually have a family of my own."

"Wait," I realized, searching the hidden data in my mind. "I can help him. The doctor said he had [music] difficulty, but it was never a 0% chance." The family's hope rose and fell like a tide. They remembered the medical reports. 9 years of nothing. [music] The odds were abysmal. But then I shouted internally, startled by a realization. "No wonder..."

They never had kids. The responsibility is 50/50, and Risa was never there. In 9 years, she was only home a few days a month. The number of times they were actually together can be counted on one hand. Even a miracle needs more than that.

If she had gotten pregnant under those conditions, Kenji would have had to worry about being cheated on anyway. This was a heavy blow. The Nanesses stared at Kenji, their eyes wide. Kenji turned beat red, unable to look his parents in the eye. Intimate details were hard for him to discuss. And because he always blamed his own body, he had never considered how Risa's absence played a role.

The Nasi parents were livid. Risa had the nerve to blame Kenji when she hadn't even put in the effort. The divorce was no longer a suggestion. It was a necessity. My mind wandered further. If she wasn't at home and wasn't with Kenji, where was she? Busy at the hospital as a director every single night.

The NA's family felt a cold dread settling in their stomachs. They knew I was on to something big. I didn't buy Risa's cold and elegant persona for a second. My gossip instincts were screaming. Did she have a secret toy boy on the side? Holy. Holy crap. It's worse than I thought. Much worse.

The family held their breath. Even Kenji's mind went blank, his heart skipping beats as he waited for the final reveal. The 18th floor of the luxury apartments next to the hospital, I thought. For 9 years, Rhysa and her ex Ichawa have been living there as a married couple.

Kenji swayed on his feet, his vision tunneling into blackness. He nearly collapsed on the spot. Haruka's father caught him, his face twisted in a mask of suppressed rage. Her mother's neck of veins stood out. She looked like a lioness ready to kill. A small gesture passed from the mother to the butler. He nodded and vanished into the shadows of the hallway. Heruka, the ice queen, was already tapping furiously on her phone, sending out a series of high-level commands. The Kubos, meanwhile, were still oblivious to the nuclear bomb that had just gone off in the room.

Risa, seeing the Nanes overreacting, tried to use her usual pressure on Kenji. "Are you really going to make a scene over a little adoption? Since when did you become so small-minded?"

Kenji slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a despair so deep it made Risa flinch. He realized the ultimate irony. He thought Rhysa had married him as a second choice to take responsibility for a child. But in reality, she had never left the first choice. Why didn't she just leave him? Why drag him through 9 years of guilt and shame?

"If you can't stand the girl, we won't adopt her," Rhysa said, trying to generously back down. "I'll send her back tomorrow." Seeing her act like she was doing him a favor made Kenji want to vomit. The illusion of the brilliant senior he admired in college was dead and rotting. I was equally disgusted. I knew the family had heard the truth, but the Kubos didn't know the Nazis were psychic. I had to nudge the confrontation forward.

"Sending her back?" I asked aloud, my voice mocking. "You said her father's whereabouts were unknown. You seem to know an awful lot about where she's going. Maybe you've been in touch with Ichiawa this whole time. Maybe we should check that apartment near the hospital."

Risa's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Her voice wavered for the first time. "You're you're making things up. My father was right about your lack of upbringing."

Heruka's voice cut through the air like an ice shard. "My husband's upbringing isn't the issue here, Risa. Your residence is." I let out a sharp laugh and shook my finger at Risa. Then I pointed directly at the silent little girl, Tomachan. "Look at your daughter's face before you lie again," I said. "Children aren't as good at acting as their mothers."

My guess hit the bullseye. Tomachan looked terrified. Haruka's father stepped in to assist. "Little one," he said softly. "Tell us, have you seen your mother at home with another father before?"

Tamachan finally broke. She grabbed Rhysa's sleeve, sobbing. "Mama, let's just go home. I don't want to be here." Risa gasped and in a moment of panic, violently shook her arm, accidentally slapping the child across the face. Tomachan fell from the sofa, a bright red handprint blooming on her pale cheek. The room erupted in shock.

I jumped up and pulled the girl toward me. I hadn't meant for the kid to get hurt. She was wailing now, her heart broken. Kenji's heart softened. Seeing me at a loss, he took the girl into his own arms, patting her back. This only made her cry harder. "This uncle is so nice," she sobbed. "But Mama and Papa told me I had to lie so I could come into the light. I knew it was wrong."

The room went dead silent. Rysa's father looked at his daughter in horror. "Rea, did you really?" Reese's face was unrecognizable. She tried one last desperate lie. "She's lying. She's been brainwashed to frame me. Kenji, you believe me, right?"

Tamachan looked at her mother with disbelief. The woman was a stranger to her now. Without my gossip power, the nanes might have been swayed by her performance. But now she was just a clown in a tragedy. She thought she had no traces left. She thought Ichawa was safely being moved out of the country tomorrow. She was wrong.

Kenji suddenly stood up. He grabbed the leftover fruit plate from the table and smashed it over Reese's head. Ceramic shattered and fruit flew everywhere. Reys's father and the child screamed in terror. Risa sat there, blood trickling from a small cut on her forehead covered in juice. She looked up at her gentle husband in shock. "You, you hit me. I never did anything to hurt you."

Kenji screamed, his voice cracking. "But you and Iawa treated me like a dog. You have no heart." Risa realized she couldn't control him anymore. "You have no proof," she screeched. Hera tossed her phone onto the table. A video call was active. "Let me go. Who are you people?" A man's voice yelled from the screen. It was Ichiaawa pinned to a chair in a familiar-looking living room.

"Papa, Tamachan," cried out, recognizing the man on the screen. "We found her documents there. Photos, clothes, a life shared. It's all here." The person on the other end reported. Risa froze. She was trapped.

Suddenly, a riding crop whistled through the air, leaving a red welt across Rhysa's face. She screamed, falling back. It was Haruka's mother. The butler had brought her the crop, and she was using it with the fury of a betrayed matriarch. "You used my son," the mother yelled, the crop snapping again. "You brought a bastard into my house." Risa's father tried to intervene, but the butler held him fast. Tamachan threw herself in front of her mother, begging them to stop. The mother stopped, her chest heaving. She wouldn't hit a child.

"Divorce," Kenji whispered, his voice like tearing paper. "I want to divorce now." Haruka spoke into the phone. "Collect everything. We're filing for a full lawsuit. She leaves with nothing." Risa broke down. "You can't do this. I gave you a name. I gave you a life."

"Did I ask for it?" Kenji laughed, a sound devoid of joy. "Our family was powerful. You would have been nothing without us." Risa shouted, her true colors finally showing. "You're a parasite," Kenji said, standing tall. "You and your white moonlight are both leeches living off my family's blood."

Ichawa yelled through the phone. "You stole her from me first. You're the one who slept with her." "I was a fool," Kenji replied. "But you? You're a coward who let another man pay for your daughter's life. She only stayed with you for the money." Ichawa screamed. "She loves me."

I sighed internally. Risa really is a pro. She even convinced this idiot that she was a victim of the nanes. "She stayed for her career," Kenji said, finally seeing the truth. "She chose the money over you every single day for 9 years." Reys's face contorted. That was the one truth she hated the most: that she was greedy, not sacrificial.

"Since you all think we're oppressors," Haruka said, "We'll show you what that actually looks like." After the divorce, Rhysa's father finally realized the gravity of the situation. He tried to grab Kenji's hand, crying for mercy. "Please," "She was just confused." Kenji threw his hand off. He was done.

Risa was forced to her knees by her father. "Apologize! Save the family!" he hissed at her. "I'm sorry," Risa sobbed, her voice fake as ever. "I was just I was jealous. I do care about you, Kenji." Ichawa heard this and started screaming on the phone. He realized he'd been played, too.

"Disgusting," I muttered under my breath. Heruka looked at Risa with pure loathing. "You have no choice. The evidence is final." Risa saw the look in Kenji's eyes. It was over.

Suddenly, Ichiawa yelled, "Rissa, what about the baby? What about our son?" "Shut up," Rhysa screamed at the phone. "Do you want to die?" Wait, baby. The room spun. Risa was pregnant again. The NA family looked like they'd swallowed something rotten. Another heir to worry about. Rhysa realized it was truly over. She grabbed her father and Tamachan and stood up. "I agree to the divorce. Just leave the others alone." She turned and walked out, her gait steadying as she planned her next move.

"Is she leaving that easily?" I wondered. "She's usually more of a death grip type." Tama Chan looked back one last time at Kenji. Their eyes met. Rhysa yanked the girl's arm, her eyes full of venom. "You'll pay for this," she thought, a twisted smile forming on her lips.

I sighed. At least the trash is out. Haruka looked at me, her eyes soft. "I feel bad for the kid," she thought. "She's a good sprout from a bad tree. But why use the kid like a weapon?" I wondered. "To inherit the nasi shares." "Of course," Haruka answered in her head. "If Kenji was infertile, Tamachan was the only way for Risa to get the money."

Suddenly, I bolted toward the door. My internal scream nearly knocked the Nanoses over. I grabbed Tomchan's arm and delivered a massive kick to Rea's back. Rysa and her father tumbled onto the marble floor with a sickening thud. Tomachan was pulled back into Haraca's arms. My mind was a thunderstorm of rage. System, you messed up. This isn't just a hidden daughter. The data was wrong. Tamachan isn't Ichawa's. Risa hid the birth for 9 years. Tamachan is Kenji's biological daughter.

The revelation hit the room like a lightning strike. Every head turned to the 9-year-old girl. "Impossible," Kenji whispered. "My child? She didn't die?" Tamachan didn't understand. She just saw her mother on the floor. Harukoka gripped the girl's shoulders. She looked at the face. It was a mirror of her own at that age. Resa struggled to her feet, her face covered in blood. "You, you beast," she screamed at me, but she saw Haruka holding the girl. She saw the death in Haruka's eyes and froze.

"I knew it," I said, my voice shaking with adrenaline. "She looks too much like a nana. Ichawa doesn't look like her at all." Rhysa was speechless. The game was truly over. I looked at Haruka, hoping she'd believe me. "She's his. I know it." "I believe you," Haruka said, her voice steady. I was stunned. She didn't even hesitate.

"We're doing the test now," Haruka commanded. Rhysa tried to claim it was Ichawa's, but her voice was a whisper. She was hollow. Kenji walked over and knelt before Tamachan. He was crying so hard he couldn't speak. He touched her face with trembling fingers. The blood connection was screaming at him. He fainted from the sheer shock. Heruka's mother grabbed the girl sobbing. "My granddaughter, you're really mine."

The family rushed to the hospital. Ishikawa was dragged along in handcuffs. The results came back within hours, 99.9%. Tamachan was an anas. Kenji woke up and held his daughter so tight she started to cry, too. Tamachan looked at Ichiaawa. "Are you not my papa? You're a mistake." Ichiawa yelled, his mask fully gone. "I should have killed you back then." "That was the end of Tamachan's love for him." She buried her face in Kenji's chest.

I was exhausted. The gossip had become too real. I learned that Risa had told Ichawa the child was payment for her marriage. They were both insane. They had planned to use Tamachan to take the family's wealth for their real son. Haruka's father delivered a flurry of slaps to Ichawa's face. "You'll never see the light of day again." "We have a son. You can't touch us," Ichiawa whimpered. "We won't touch the kid," Haruka said. "But you, you're going to prison for kidnapping and fraud."

The mother renamed the girl you. She was coming home. Back at the estate, Ua fell asleep from exhaustion. Kenji didn't leave her side. The parents watched their granddaughter sleep, their hearts finally at peace. "Where's Ren?" the father asked. "Resting?" Haruka replied. The parents looked at her. "We can really hear him, can't we?" Haruka explained everything. "It seems only we can hear it, and only when he's close. We owe him everything," Kenji said from the doorway. "He saved us. He's changed," the father noted. "He used to be so quiet. Now he's like he was when he was a kid. He's a good man," the mother said. "Haruka, treat him well. Don't let your marriage end up like mine," Kenji added softly.

Haruka looked away. "I'll I'll give him more money." The three relatives sighed. "Money isn't everything, Haruka." "But he likes money," Haruka argued. "He was so happy when I sent the 5 million." She realized she sounded defensive. "I'll help him invest it. He doesn't know how to handle that much." She went to my room but stopped at the door when she heard my internal cheering. "I'm rich. I was rolling on the bed. The parents and Kenji all sent me money, too. 10 million total. I can retire. I can finally find those beautiful spicy girls with the tiny wastes."

Heruka's face twitched. She knocked on the door. I opened it and saw her standing there looking like a goddess in the hallway light. "Wow, she's so pretty," I thought, my heart racing. "Is she here to give me more money?" "Give me your money," she said. "I'll invest it for you. It'll be safer." She walked away before I could answer. I was left standing there confused. I had always been a salary man. Having 10 million was terrifying. I needed an expert. I decided to take her up on the offer. I went to her room and knocked. No answer. Is she ignoring me? I wondered. Wait, can she hear me? The family was watching from the end of the hall. Their doors cracked open. They were rooting for us. Just as I was about to leave, the door swung open. A cloud of steam and the scent of expensive soap hit me. Hora was in a bathrobe, her hair damp. She looked incredible. The ice queen was replaced by a woman whose skin was flushed from the heat. "Holy," I thought, my eyes widening. "Look at that curve. Those shoulders. I'm going to faint."

Haruka felt her ears turn hot. She stood a little taller, not closing the robe as much as she should have. She knew what I was thinking. "See," she thought. "I'm better than any spicy girl." The family in the hallway was vibrating with excitement. Is it happening? "I was in the shower," she said, her voice a little breathless. "I I thought about the investment," I stammered. "Come in," she said, stepping aside. I walked in, trying not to stare at her legs. The room smelled like her. She sat on the edge of the bed and started drying her hair. "How much do you have exactly?" "10 million," I said. "But I want to keep some for the Spicy Girls Fund." Heruka's hand slipped. "There will be no spicy girl fund. Everything goes into the account." I frowned. "Hey, it's my money." "I'm your wife," she said, looking up at me. "I'm protecting your future." She's so bossy. But she's so pretty when she's bossy, I thought.

Haruka's heart thudded. She realized she liked being bossy if it meant I stayed. "Why did you help us today?" she asked, her voice turning soft. "I just I hate seeing people get played," I said. "And Kenji deserved better." Haruka stood up and walked toward me. She was so close. I could see the water droplets on her neck. Is she going to kiss me? My mind screamed. Wait, am I supposed to kiss her? Haruka reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. "You're a weird man, Ren," she whispered. "I'm not Ren. I'm a transmigrated salary man." I wanted to yell. Heroka froze. "Transmigrated salary man?" She didn't know what the words meant, but they sounded important. "Are you okay?" I asked, seeing her look confused. "I'm fine," she said, pulling back. "Just don't leave yet." I sat on the chair, feeling the heat of the room. This was not what I expected when I woke up today. I guess I'm staying in the melon field for a while longer, I thought. Haruka smiled. She liked the sound of that. We talked about the market for an hour. She was a genius, truly. I realized I was lucky to have her, even if she was a villainous CEO. The family eventually went to bed, disappointed that no fireworks had happened. But for us, something had shifted. The air wasn't icy anymore. "Good night, Haruka," I said as I stood up to leave. "Good night, Ren," she replied. As I closed the door, I thought she's definitely better looking than the spicy girls. Haruka laughed out loud in her room. I went to my bed and fell asleep instantly, dreaming of millions and a CEO who smelled like flowers. The Nanas family was finally a family, and I was finally home.

"It's nothing." "You did well," Kaiito said, feigning composure while struggling to avert his gaze from the beautiful sight before him. The corner of Haruka's mouth twitched slightly. She seemed to have made up her mind about something. The members of the Kujo family couldn't help but hold their breath and prick up their ears. Kaido spoke up. "Hm, I have 10 million here. Help me invest it." Haruka nodded. Kao continued, though he couldn't help but ask a question. "But I need to know," Kaio said. "How can you guarantee that I won't lose money?" "All investments have risks. If there's a loss, it's on me. I will ensure your principal is safe," Haruka replied. Faced with this sudden windfall, Kao was momentarily at a loss. But Heruka spoke directly. "Thank you for helping the family out so much again this time," Haruka said. "Consider this my thank you gift." Hearing her say that, Kato accepted it calmly. He had indeed been a big help, so there was no need to be overly humble. "Then I'll transfer it to you later. Let's just invest 9 million instead." Just as Heruka was about to look confused, she heard the voice in Kaido's heart. "Keep 1 million on hand for emergencies." "Can I choose the kind of investment that gives monthly dividends?" Kao spoke again. "That way, there's a fixed income every month and I can just lie flat with peace of mind." Haruka frowned slightly. "If you need money, you can just use the credit card." "I know that, but I just want to experience the joy of a monthly harvest, can't I?" Kaiito smiled. "Yeah, right. That card is in your name, and your favorite trick is to freeze cards to teach people a lesson. I don't want to end up penniless if I offend you one day." This reaction, revealing Kaido's lack of security, caused Haruka's eyes to flicker slightly. "Fine, I understand," she paused. "The final payment for your last job should arrive tomorrow, Kaio. It's about a million, so let's just make the total investment 10 million." "What? Really?" Kato was genuinely shocked. Uruka nodded her head. "But I need to know," "How can you guarantee that I won't lose money?" Kaiito repeated. "All investments have risks. If there's a loss, it's on me. I will ensure your principal is safe," Haruka assured him. Faced with his sudden stroke of luck, Kaido felt a bit overwhelmed. But Haruka spoke plainly. "Thank you for helping the family out so much this time. Let this be my gift to you." Hearing this, Kaiito accepted it. Since he had helped, there was no point in being shy. "I'll transfer it to you later. Let's stick with 9 million." Haruka was about to look puzzled when she heard Kaio's inner thoughts again. "Keep a million for a rainy day. Can I get a monthly dividend plan?" Kaido said, "That way there's a steady income so I can just relax." Haruka frowned. "You can just swipe the card if you need cash." "I know. I just want the monthly joy of seeing the crops come in." Kaio laughed. "Fat chance. The card is in your name, and you love freezing cards as punishment. I'm not risking being broke because I stepped on your toes." This display of insecurity made Heruka's gaze soften. "All right, I get it." She hesitated. "Your final pay from the last gig hits tomorrow. It's roughly a million, so we'll just set the investment at 10 million." "No way, for real?" Kaido was stunned. "I thought I only had scattered ad revenue. Why is the fee so high? My memory is a bit blurry. Did the original owner of this body misremember?" "It's higher this time," Haruka said, lying without changing her expression. Kaiito believed her completely, his heart filled with an irrepressible joy. The three eavesdroppers exchange glances, a wave of pity rising in their hearts. This child has so many worries because he lacks security. We must give him more red envelopes in the future to make him feel at ease. Haruka suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Sensing some hidden trouble, she spoke to Kao. "If you have extra money later, you can keep giving it to me for continuous investment." "Haruka. Oh, Haruka, you really are perfect. Except for the fact that you can't give me a proper married life." The eavesdropping trio whispered among themselves, "If only they could be intimate just once." The tips of Heruka's ears began to burn, and her helpless gaze had nowhere to land. The trio was still silently rooting for them. "Since she can hear Ko, maybe this is the chance to break the ice." "Come to think of it, does a top tier woman like her actually have a man?" "I definitely don't have one," Ko thought. "Haruka, did you accidentally reveal something again?" The trio looked on, caught between laughter and tears. Back when that incident happened, they hadn't been certain it was true. It was just that too many people knew, so Haruka had no choice but to take responsibility. Kaido's mind was reeling. "Really? What's up with the trio? Why are they so excited? I have a bad feeling about this. Is Haruka actually still a virgin?" The trio was stunned. "What? A virgin? Our daughter has dated, been married, and moved through high society, and it turns out she's still a 28-year-old virgin." Her Ruka's eyes wandered, and her face flushed uncontrollably. She could only try to hide it by acting stern. "What is so funny?" This is too much. Kaido was laughing hysterically on the inside, and he could barely keep a straight face. His features were practically twisting. Haruka's sharp gaze swept toward the room at the end of the hallway. She thought she heard a few muffled snickers. The trio quickly backed away from the crack in the door. Eavesdropping is wrong. They thought this is family privacy. Even though they accidentally heard it, they couldn't resist wanting to go back and see what happened next. Ka watched as Haruka, amidst his inner laughter, suddenly grabbed him and pulled him into the room. The trio's eyes lit up. There's hope. They squeezed toward the door, but it had already closed, making it impossible to hear Kaio's thoughts anymore. At that moment, Kaio's inner voice stopped, replaced only by a startled heartbeat as he stared blankly at the woman who had suddenly pulled him inside.

Finally, free of those annoying laughs, Haruka regained a sliver of her composure. She gave Kaio a slightly reproachful look and quickly made up an excuse to write the entrustment agreement for you. Although he found it a bit strange, Kaido was satisfied with her efficiency in finalizing the investment. Haruka, however, was far from satisfied. Though she had stopped him from leaking more secrets, she couldn't stop the voices of others whispering in her ears. She was powerless to stop it and could only speed up the paperwork with red ears. For someone in Haruka's circle, being a pure maiden until now is unbelievable, even if she's upright. Was her first love that pure? Could she be incapable? No way with a body like that. With a thud. The printed agreement was slammed onto the table, interrupting Kaio's wandering thoughts. Kaiito picked up the agreement and studied it carefully, failing to notice that Haruka's face had turned iron blue. He went back to his room happily and slept until the sun was high. He was woken by the notification of the arrival of the funds, exactly 1 million. Heading downstairs, Kaio saw Haruka's father, Ichiro, and her brother, Kenji, chatting with Little Hana. They all looked up when he heard him. "You're awake," Ichiro said with a warm smile. Kaido felt a bit embarrassed. The original owner of the body rarely slept in. He was just tired from the day before. Ichiro and Kenji's expressions were complicated. They had hoped for a different reason for him being late. But at breakfast, when Ichiro carefully hinted about supplements, Haruka had shut him down immediately. So Kaiito's oversleeping had nothing to do with her. Seeing their expressions, Kaido muttered to himself, "Sleeping in really is undisiplined." Ichiro snapped out of it and laughed. "You can sleep as long as you want. Rest if you're tired. Young people have different schedules than us." Kenji chimed in with a smile. "I used to sleep in late at home, too." Little Hana looked at Kenji curiously. Her father had been by her bedside the moment she woke up this morning. Kenji felt a bit shy under his daughter's gaze and added softly, "Not anymore, though." Kao could feel their kindness in these words of comfort. Once Kato was downstairs, Ichiro had the housekeeper prepare a light meal for him. "Lunch is coming soon. Today, the old lady and Haruka aren't coming back, so it's just us with Hana." Haruka rarely came home for lunch anyway, and with the aftermath of the Secretary Jang incident, the mother was personally heading out to handle the Rayuzaki family matter. Kaiito sat down on the sofa. Hana greeted him politely, though her eyes still held a trace of unease. It was clear she wasn't fully adjusted to her new family yet. Even with a smile, she was tense. After all, she had been away for 9 years. Ichiro and Kenji also noticed Hana's restraint, but didn't know how to bridge the gap better. They could only protect her carefully and approach slowly. Their resentment toward Ryoko and Shoda deepened as they thought of the what-ifs. The atmosphere became a bit heavy. Kaiito's gaze shifted as he remembered that Hana liked dolls and Legos. Except for dolls, she had only ever played with the others in stores. Shoda always said they were too expensive, not because he couldn't afford them, but because he didn't want to spend a scent on her. Ichiro and Kenji's faces stiffened. They had asked Hana what she liked, and she only mentioned dolls. She was likely used to being good and didn't dare ask for expensive things. They felt even more heartbroken. Before Kaio could find an excuse to speak, Ichiro and Kenji worked together using Heruka and the third daughter, Nami, as an excuse. They talked about how the Kujo children all loved Legos and models. "We have so many in the storehouse. Does Hana know how to play?" "I like them," Hana replied immediately. Not just because she truly liked them, but because this commonality with the Kujo family gave her a sense of belonging. Ichiro and Kenji weren't lying. There were many in the storehouse, but they wanted to compensate Hana Tfold for the 9 years she lost. They not only let her pick freely, but also ordered several batches of new releases to be delivered. When the mother and Haruka returned that evening, the butler led them to a large room on the first floor where a massive Lego set was spread out. Ichiro, Kenji, Kaio, and Hana were sitting on the floor playing happily together. The site warmed the hearts of the two busy women. After dinner, the mother and Haruka joined the game.

A week later, much had been settled. Ichiro had moved with lightning speed. Divorce, police reports, and lawsuits were all handled. The Ryuzaki's private hospital went bankrupt. Ryoko was saddled with massive debt, and the family ended up on the streets. Although Ryoko's father tried to cause a scene a few times, since they were no longer in-laws, he couldn't even get through the gate. The mother would never let any Rayuzaki see Kenji or Hana again. Both Ryoko and Shoda were headed for prison. But because Riyoko was pregnant, Shoda took all the blame so she could be released. Ryoko wasn't moved. It was unclear if she was desperate for the future or felt something else. Riyoko's father took his eyes off her for a moment, and she secretly aborted the child before vanishing without a trace. When disaster strikes, everyone fends for themselves. Upon hearing the news, Shod went mad in prison, and his sentence was extended. In 10 days, the Ryuzaki name vanished from the city as if a reset button had been pressed.

Before that, the Kujo family held a homecoming banquet for Hana. While checking the guest list, Kaiito felt a bit regretful that he couldn't match the names to faces, otherwise he might have caught some tea early. These events were never short on gossip. The Kujo family members on the sofa suddenly tilted their heads. Who doesn't love gossip? Lately, they had picked up plenty of secrets around Kaio. Even the butler's secret crush on the housekeeper had been dug up. "Will Nami make it back in time?" "Wasn't she filming in the mountains without a signal?" the mother asked. The third daughter, Nami, was currently a top tier celebrity. Haruka replied, "Naami contacted me. She said she'd definitely be back as soon as she was out of the mountains. She also said she has an important announcement." The living room fell silent. Everyone's expression turned subtle. Kito looked around and activated his gossip system. "I see. Naami wants to change her fianceé. She was originally engaged to the eldest son of the Sato family, but she actually likes the younger son. Word is the eldest has a bad reputation, while the younger is praised everywhere." The Kujo family didn't seem surprised. Naami's feelings had been obvious for years. The family didn't oppose free love. They were just worried her temper would make a scene. Since they knew her plan, they decided to wait and discuss a proper solution once everyone was together. Kao sighed inwardly. Relationships are complicated. Nami was saved by the eldest Sato son as a child. Yet, she ended up liking the younger brother instead. She has no interest in her savior. The Kujo family was stunned. "What did we just hear? Wasn't it the younger Sato brother who saved Nami?"

On the day of the banquet, Haruka returned early to prepare. In the dressing room, she ran into Kaio. Kaiito looked completely different from his usual casual self at home. He wore a light blue suit with an exquisite tie. His short hair was neat with a slight wave, making him look sharp and spirited. Seeing Kaio straightening his clothes, Haruka walked up and nodded. She had just relayed their mother's instructions for them to welcome guests together when she noticed Kaiito looking at her. "You look good already. No need for more styling." Haruka looked a bit unnatural. She didn't usually like dressing up, unlike her celebrity younger sister. Hiding her slight embarrassment, she was about to say, "Let's go." Kenji walked in with Hana. Both were struck by Kaido's appearance. Kenji teased his daughter, "Look how handsome your uncle is." Hana nodded obediently. "Yes, very handsome." Feeling a bit shy from the praise, Kaio lowered his head to ask the child, "Am I more handsome, or is your daddy more handsome?" Hana's face turned red. "Daddy is the most handsome." Kenji gently patted his daughter's head. Fate was strange. The father-daughter bond had grown so quickly it felt as if they had never been apart. As for Riyoko and Shoda, perhaps they had given her so little love that Hana integrated into her new home almost immediately. "Is Hiroshi really not coming back? It's rare for him to have a photography trip." Kenji changed the subject. Hiroshi was the fourth son, a university student currently taking photos on the other side of the world. Haruka acknowledged this and led Kato toward the door to greet guests.

Soon, people began to arrive. Kaido noticed many eyes on him. Few were kind. Most were scrutinizing or even hostile. It was understandable. The Kujo group scandal had been huge. Haruka had even publicly cleared Kaio's name and punished his former manager, essentially declaring her support for her quote husband in name only. How many people thought we'd definitely divorce? Plenty of young masters were waiting to marry Heruka, the most promising heir. They wouldn't even mind a secondhand marriage. "Too bad I haven't stepped down yet. Your plans are going to fail." Haruka's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. Listening to Kaio's triumphant inner monologue, she calmly greeted the guests.

Soon, the Sato family arrived. Only three of the expected four arrived. An older couple was followed by a cold-looking young man. Unlike the other guests, he looked bored and radiated a sense of detachment. He wore a simple black suit and short hair, looking nothing like a typical wealthy heir. "Long time no see. You've become even more capable," Mr. Sato said warmly to Haruka. Mrs. Sato echoed the sentiment. Like many hotty socialites, their warmth was reserved for Heruka. They completely ignored Kaio. Kaido didn't mind. Instead, he observed them curiously. His face recognition was a great tool for gossip. He looked at the young man, their eyes met, and the young man gave a small nod. He was polite enough. "Are you Tenma or Sora?" Kato asked directly. He recognized the face, but couldn't distinguish between the twin brothers. Seemingly caught off guard by such a blunt question. Tenma was visibly startled. Mr. and Mrs. Sato also looked over in surprise. "I am Tenma," he replied calmly. "The eldest son, so the younger one didn't come." A shadow crossed Tenma's eyes. "Someone is bringing him," he said, sensing something was off in his tone. The Sato couple gave him a displeased look before smiling again as if showing off. "Sora is filming. He couldn't make it with us."

Before they could finish, a sports car drove into the inner courtyard. Only Kujo family cars were allowed inside. The door opened and a pair of long legs stepped out. The person was dressed like they were on a runway. Taking off her sunglasses, she revealed a face very similar to Heruka's, though less cold and more rebellious. Her slim figure, maintained for the camera, made her a natural clothes hanger. The Kujo jeans were truly powerful. Her arrival caused a stir among the younger guests. "It's Naami. I just finished her drama. Can I get a photo? Too bad she's taken. I heard her fianceé Tenma is here with his parents. Wait, who's in the passenger seat?" Nami elegantly moved to the passenger side and carefully helped someone out. The man looked identical to Tenma, but wore a pure white suit with a gentle expression. "Thank you, Naami San." "Careful. Let me hold you," Naomi said. With so many guests around, the sight of their intimacy caused whispers to spread through the crowd, seeing their younger son appearing unwell. The Sato couple immediately rushed forward. "Sweetheart, what happened?" "It's fine. I just twisted it a bit while filming. It's not serious. Namison is just too worried," Sora explained shily. "Oh, I told you not to overwork yourself. What if you really got hurt?" Mr. Sat started to help, but Mrs. Sato nudged him to stop. Nami seemed oblivious and kept supporting Sora. "Let's go inside. Sora shouldn't stand too long." The group moved inside with Sora at the center. Left behind, Tenma stood silently. He didn't check on his brother or look at his fianceé's intimacy. He seemed used to it. Kao watched the scene with interest. When they reached him, it was as if they only just noticed Tenma's presence. The Sato couple looked slightly awkward, and Nami frowned. Sora, whom she was supporting, suddenly winced and tried to pull away. "Brother, don't misunderstand. Namisan only picked me up because I was hurt. It's nothing else. Please don't be angry." His voice trembled as if he were terrified of Tenma. The surrounding gazes became complex. The rumors that Tenma bullied his brother seemed true. "Look how scared the poor guy was." Nanome grabbed Sora's arm and warned Tenma in a low voice, "Don't scare him. This is the Kucho house. If you bully Sora, I won't be lenient." Tenma didn't even look at her. His lips just curled into a faint, self-deprecating smile. "You don't even care that your brother is hurt. Why the cold face?" Mrs. Sato scolded. "Don't throw a tantrum at someone else's door. It's embarrassing. Everyone inside," Mr. Sato said sternly. Nami ignored Tenma and looked at Haruka, gesturing to lead them in. She didn't notice Haruka's slight disapproval.

Just then, a clear inner voice rang out. "Was I momentarily blind? I saw everything, yet I didn't see what they saw. Anger, scaring him, cold face, tantrums. They're talking about Tenma. Tenma didn't say a word to them. Didn't even look at them. That's a very convenient accusation. Kid, do you have many questions? Because I have many questions. Wait, that's what I'm thinking. But I didn't open my mouth and everything I'm saying. What's going on?" Listening to Kaido's mental roasting, Haruka saw Nanomi freeze and look over as if she'd seen a ghost. Haruka understood immediately. Before Nami could speak, Haruka said steadily, "Stay and help me welcome the guests." It wasn't a command, but it naturally drew everyone's attention. "I'll help Sora in first. He has trouble walking." Naami started. Before she could finish, Kaio's noisy inner voice erupted again. "Is this girl stupid? His parents and brother are right here. Why does she need to help him? Even as a girlfriend, this is inappropriate, let alone their current awkward status. Heruka is clearly reminding her this is unseammly. Why does her brain stop working the moment she sees her crush? I guess that outburst against Tenma was also a result of this." Nami was stunned by the mental output. Flushed with shame and anger, she turned to glare at Kaio. Kaido was confused. He thought Nami was just greeting him, though her tone seemed off. According to his memory, he and this hot-tempered third sister never got along. Nami had always idolized Haruka and held a grudge against Kaio for the marriage. Even in the same industry, she never helped him. While she never confronted him directly due to her upbringing, she never once called him brother-in-law. Nani likely hadn't expected Kaio to badmouth her like this in his head. Beside her, Sora saw Nami stop. From his angle, he couldn't see she was glaring at Kaio and assumed she was looking at Tenma. He bit his lip and pushed Nami gently. "Nanaman, go stay with my brother. I'll be fine alone." Tenma, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Harasan asked Nanaman to stay. Why involve me?" Sora gasped and looked at Tenma with red eyes, as if he'd been terribly wronged. "What kind of attitude is that? You won't be happy until you make him cry. We shouldn't have brought you." The Sat couple snapped instantly. Nani was stunned. ignoring Sora's whimpering, she looked into Tenma's cold eyes. He had just called her Haruka's sister instead of her name. A strange feeling hit her, only to be interrupted by a voice. "Oh, my temper. I don't know Tenma well, but I can't watch this. My wife only asked Naami to stay. She didn't mention Tenma. Why did Sora bring him up? I'm not being accusatory. I'm just genuinely asking because I don't understand. Sometimes sincerity is the ultimate weapon." Following Kait's inner question, the surroundings went silent. The atmosphere became subtle as people started to catch on. Exactly. If Nami is staying to welcome guests, why would Tenma stay? How did Sora turn that into Nami staying with Tenma? The Sato family felt a lump in their chests, instinctively feeling Kaido was being unkind to Sora. Before they could argue, Haruka spoke. "Is there a misunderstanding? I indeed only mentioned my sister." She gave Kaio a side eye. That wife comment sounded a bit more natural than before. Their strange rapport left. Sora flushed and speechless. He could only look at Nami with a look of helpless innocence. Naami also began to panic. Kaiito added another thought. "Besides, Tenma was just correcting your statement. How is that bullying? Are you actually feeling wronged?" Kaiito looked from Sora to the Sato parents. "Letting you scold your own son in public is making us Kujo feel very awkward. If there's a conflict, we can help mediate." Sora, who was used to things going his way, felt like he'd tripped over nothing. He was stunned. The Sato parents were speechless. How did things turn out like this? They looked at Haruka in a days. Heruka asked calmly, "Is our hospitality lacking?" The Sato family looked embarrassed. They instinctively wanted to blame Tenma again, but after what just happened? The words wouldn't come. A second later, Kao smiled broadly and spoke to Sora in a friendly tone. "You said something wrong earlier. Nami staying with Tenma. You'll be fine alone. You shouldn't say such things." The onlookers were startled. Did this mean Kaido was going to acknowledge Nami and Sora as a couple on behalf of the Kujo family? Sora also forgot the conflict, a spark of hope rising in his eyes. Kaido continued earnestly. "Your parents are standing right there. How can you not see them? And even if they weren't, your brother is here. You won't really be alone." That line, "I'll be fine alone," sounded incredibly manipulative to the observing guests. The crowd's expression shifted. Someone whispered, "Isn't that just a green tea act?" Sora panicked, tears filling his eyes. Before he could speak, Kito patted his shoulder, effectively suppressing the tearful outburst. Kaiito said warmly, "I'm glad you realize you aren't alone." Sora's face turned from red to white. "Haha, this little green tea is so low-level. His logic is full of holes. Maybe he's just used to people being brainless around him. Sorry, kid. I specialize in tasting tea." Nami watched this in a daysaze. What had just happened? Kao had caused the chaos and Haruka was closing it out just as Sora was about to cry to win back the room. Haruka simply made a polite gesture to lead them in. Ending the farce, the Sato family, filled with a nameless frustration, were led into the hall with Sora in tow. Tenma, the last to leave, gave them a look. A spark of confusion and emotion flickered in his eyes. It seemed it was the first time someone had ever spoken up for him like that. He looked a bit lost.

Once they were gone, Nami snapped out of it. "What were you two doing? Sora is so innocent. He didn't mean anything. Why make him look so bad?" To her, she and Sora were a true love, separated by a formal engagement to Tenma. Sora's occasional slips were just signs of his insecurity. "So Tenma, who did nothing, deserves to be publicly humiliated?" Kito asked curiously. "Tenma deserves it?" Naami stammered. "Doesn't he always make Sora cry?" "What's one more time?" Kaido looked at Nanami in shock, then at Haruka. "She really is your sister." Haruka, hearing Kaio's thoughts, felt a touch of anger. She was indeed the sister. She looked at Nanami with dissatisfaction. "Didn't our parents teach us to judge the act, not the person? You can have favorites, but you must still understand logic." Though in her twies, Nami still instinctively tensed up under her sister's scolding, though her eyes remained defiant. "I don't think she'll ever get it." The Kujo family really has a naive Jean. Three tears from a cot green tea can make her cry. Did we buy her acting awards? How can she not see through the performance? Nami finally couldn't hold back and opened her mouth. "Oh man, she loves that green tea so much. If she actually marries him, the Kujo house will be a constant stage. I'm not afraid, but it would be exhausting. I don't want that guy as a brother-in-law. Maybe I should find a way to get Haruka to divorce me sooner." None's words caught in her throat. She looked at her sister in shock. Why would this man who begged to marry my sister be thinking about divorce? Wait, what exactly am I hearing? Herka's mouth twitched. She coughed to interrupt Kaio's rambling. "Nanami and I will handle things here. You go inside." Kaiito nodded immediately and went inside to meet people and find more tea. Looking at Kaio's cheerful retreating back, Nami rubbed her temples and looked at Haruka with a face full of questions. Haruka didn't beat around the bush. While there were no guests, she simply revealed the truth about Kaido's heart being audible. Nami stood frozen for a long time. Should we call a therapist for the whole family? No. Wait, should we call an exorcist? Aruka's cold glare silenced her. Nami pouted curiously. "So, he really knows everything." "From what I can tell, he knows what he says he knows. Is he the greatest paparazzi in the entertainment industry?" Nami asked skeptically. Haruka's gaze shifted. "Do you plan to propose changing the engagement today?" Naami paused. "Don't worry, I won't ruin Hana's party. I told the satoss to stay until the end so our"

Families can talk privately. Haruka nodded in understanding. Nanami asked tentatively, "No one opposes it, right?"

"Are you sure you want Sora and not Tenma?" Haruka [music] asked. Nanami's mind flashed to Tenma's cold eyes, and a trace of discomfort flickered in her heart. However, she insisted. "Of course, Sora is fragile and needs protection. Tenma is jealous of his brother and treats him poorly. I don't like that."

After speaking, she noticed Haruka's expression remained unruffled. For some reason, her confidence wavered. "You have no idea how much Sora has suffered since they were kids just because of that identical twin face."

"Everyone is responsible for their own life," Haruka interrupted directly. "As long as you've decided."

Nani pursed her lips and gave a stubborn, huffy snort. She turned her head and looked through the floor-to-ceiling glass of the reception hall, spotting someone outside the bustling crowd, dressed in a black suit. Tenma leaned alone in a corner, gazing down at the wine glass in his hand, lost in thought. [music] Suddenly, he raised his eyes and looked outward. Naami instinctively withdrew her gaze. Even though the engagement was about to be canceled, her heart began to race uncontrollably. [music]

Feeling flustered and annoyed, she prefuncterly helped Haruka deal with the guests for a while before quietly slipping away. Haruka didn't stop her. Keeping her there today was mainly to inform her about Kaio's situation.

Anyway, on the other side, Tenma watched his parents constantly boasting about Sora in the crowd. He felt as if he didn't exist, his heart already numb. However, a persistent gaze sticking to him made him uncomfortable. He scanned the room, but among the shifting shadows, he couldn't pinpoint the source. He turned toward the restroom to hide for a moment.

The guest restrooms were at the end of the corridor, separated by gender. Tenma was just about to push open the door to the men's restroom. Suddenly, a forceful surge of power hit him from behind. He was slammed violently through the door. His short cry of surprise was muffled by a palm pressed firmly over his mouth, and in the next second, he was pinned against the cold tiled wall. Before him was a somewhat familiar face, the eldest daughter of a certain conglomerate. [music] They had met a few times, but never interacted. Her gaze was fierce as she reached out to tear his shirt. "Still playing hard to get. Today, I'll show you that I don't care whose fiancé you are."

The sound of his shirt tearing pierced his ears. Tenma's mind went blank. He couldn't scream and could only struggle desperately. As a strange scent pressed against his neck, his eyes reeled, and despair surged like a tide.

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open. "Damn it! Do you want to die?" In an instant, the pressure on him vanished. Tenma collapsed to the floor, trembling as he raised his head in a panic. Nanami stood there, gripping the back of the woman's neck, her face covered in frost. With a single punch, the woman was sent spinning halfway around. Nanami turned to Tenma, seeing his torn shirt exposing part of his chest. She immediately looked away. "Fix yourself up." She threw her jacket over to him and then dragged the woman out, her chest heaving with rage.

Naami's knuckles cracked as she clenched her fists, but she maintained a sliver of reason. She dragged the woman to the deserted backyard, threw her to the ground, and kicked her several times. The woman scrambled up and shrieked, "Nami Kujo, are you crazy protecting him? Aren't you hooked up with his brother? You don't even acknowledge him as your fiancé, yet here you are playing the jealous wife, catching him in the act."

Naami's face darkened. "I don't care who he is to me. This kind of thing will not happen in my house. He wasn't willing yet. You tried to use force. You don't know anything."

"That was just a little lovers' spat between us, adding some spice."

Nami froze. "What did you say?"

The woman sneered. "I'm not the one giving you a green hat. Your fiancé seduced me first and slept with me for 3 months before dumping me. Shouldn't I get an explanation?"

The light in Nami's eyes turned icy as she suddenly grabbed the woman's throat. "Say that one more time. A man you don't want shouldn't be touched by others. What kind of jealousy are you acting out here?"

Before she could finish, the butler rushed over. "Third miss, you can't lay hands on a guest. Let's talk this out calmly." The two were forcibly separated. As the butler led the woman away, he looked back. "Third miss, please go back. The guests are all here, and the second miss is looking for you."

Nami stood rooted to the spot, her mind in turmoil. Turning around, she saw Tenma standing not far away, pale and holding her jacket. As Nami prepared to walk past him with a grim face, Tenma spoke. He looked up, meeting Nami's eyes as if using all his courage. "It's Sora. It must be him again."

"Tenma," Nami interrupted him [music] sharply. Tenma froze. The moment he met Nami's gaze, it felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. A mocking smile curled onto Nami's lips. "I let the previous times go, but you actually want to blame Sora for something this absurd."

The color drained from Tenma's face, and the light in his eyes slowly died out. He wanted to say that the previous incidents weren't his doing either, but the words wouldn't come. "Sora has always felt guilty toward you because of our relationship. To respect the engagement, we haven't even officially been together."

Nami sneered. "Now I see it really wasn't worth the trouble. Tenma, I don't care if you like me or not. From the moment Sora risked his life to save me when we were kids, he was the only one in my heart. [music] So when the engagement is dissolved, the only person I will marry is Sorosato."

The last spark in Tenma's eyes vanished. The jacket in his arms slid to the ground. Even though he had known this day would come, his [music] heart felt as if it were being torn raw. "So you knew all along that I liked you."

Nami turned away, no longer looking at him. Tenma let out a soft laugh, a sound as low as a sigh. "Don't worry, it won't happen again. I agree to dissolve the engagement except for his grandmother. Everyone in this world, his parents, and the little girl who once said she would marry him and be with him forever, [music] only believed and chose Sora."

Hearing him agree, Nami felt a sudden, inexplicable tightness in her chest, but she remained stubborn. "It's good that you're willing to cooperate. I'm warning you. If you ever act against Sora again, I won't be merciful."

"He is this the start of the crematorium arc." The sudden voice interrupted Nami. She wasn't used to hearing Kaio's inner thoughts yet and instinctively looked toward the source in the hallway behind Tinma. Kaio and Haruka were standing side by side, appearing to be looking for someone. [music]

Before Nami could speak, Haruka frowned and asked, "What's going on? Didn't we agree to discuss the engagement later?" They had arrived late [music] and only heard Nami harshly breaking the engagement, unaware of what happened before. Nami pressed her lips together and ultimately didn't mention the restroom incident. It wouldn't be good for anyone's reputation. She looked away.

Haruka's gaze swept over them, noticing Tenma's damaged shirt. While not entirely indecent, it was untidy. She whispered to Kaio, "Take him upstairs to change first." Kao noticed as well and nodded, stepping forward. Seeing Tenma's haggard expression, Kao couldn't help but glare at Nami. Nanami's temper flared instantly. Just as she was about to demand an explanation, she heard Kao's inner grumbling, saying her heart only belongs to Sora because he saved her. "Should I tell this idiot she has the wrong person? The one who saved her back then was clearly Tenma, [music] not Sora. But looking at her behavior, I kind of don't want to say it. If she got it wrong, she deserves it."

Nami's breath hitched and her mind went blank for a second. Then a surge of fury at being played and having her memories tampered with rushed up. She opened her mouth to yell at Kao.

"Naami, shut up!" Haruka intervened coldly. Naami froze, looking at her sister in disbelief. Although Kaiito didn't understand why, he led the soulless Tenma [music] away.

Once they were far enough, Nami finally couldn't help but point in the direction Kato had gone. "Sister, did you hear what he... You said you wanted to marry Sora?"

Heruka interrupted calmly. "If the person who saved you back then was Tenma and not Sora, would you still make the same decision?"

Nami's eyes widened. "I was there. How could I not know who saved me? The Sato parents, Sora, and even Tenma himself never denied it. How could it be wrong?" She found it utterly absurd. The Kujo family already believed Kaiito's version. That was the truth. It was just that after so many years, it was hard to prove unless the person involved came forward.

"It's just some old stories your brother-in-law happened to find out," Heruka said, her tone still calm. "As for whether it was a mistake, you can ask clearly later. But you need to think now. What if it is a mistake?"

"What I like is Sora's innocence and kindness. Even without the life-saving favor, I would still choose him."

Heruka's expression dropped. She wasn't sure about Tenma's character, but Sora was definitely [music] no saint. Her sister's eyes were truly useless. She suddenly felt that Kato was [music] right. If she got it wrong, she deserved it.

When Tenma came out after changing his clothes, Kato wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start. Having learned about Tenma's past through his quote system, Kato felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. Kao had lost his [music] parents at a young age and thought his own life was tragic enough. But he didn't expect Tenma's life in a wealthy family with both parents to be even harder than that of an orphan.

He and Sora were twins, but because Sora was sickly at birth, the Sato couple took him abroad for treatment. Tenma didn't go with them. All their energy was focused on Sora, who was [music] frequently in critical condition. Several times they completely forgot they had another son. Although he was looked after by servants, accidents were constant. When the Sato grandfather learned his eldest grandson was being so neglected, he decided to take the child back to raise him. Thus, Tenma grew up away from his parents, and his familial bonds had long since faded. Sora, however, had been pampered and spoiled since childhood. Never having had his brother by his side, he was used to monopolizing everything. After recovering and returning to the country, he couldn't stand a double, sharing what belonged to him. Tenma's dark years began then. Since that family of three returned, Tenma had never truly smiled at home. That he hadn't succumbed to depression was a testament to his inner strength. The only thing he could do was bury himself in books.

As the two walked downstairs together, Kaiito couldn't help but ask, "Have you really decided to dissolve the engagement with Naami?" According to the gossip from the system, Tenma had only ever had eyes for Nanami since he was five. Kao couldn't understand what made that stubborn girl worth it. But this time, Tenma didn't hesitate and nodded. He had given up.

Kito pondered for a moment before saying, "That's for the best. You'll be happier once you leave the people who drain you." Tenma was slightly startled and looked at Kato with surprise. As if he hadn't expected someone to hit the nail on the head regarding his inner feelings, he was silent for a while before whispering, "It's not just Naami. My father, mother, and brother, I've completely lost [music] heart. I plan to find a right time to cut ties with the family and go my own way. In this life, I only want my own life, no longer disrupted by Sora."

"Thank you. I will," Tenma said with a faint smile.

When they walked into the banquet hall, they arrived just as the Satos were congratulating Kenji. However, the family of three seemed to have completely forgotten they had an eldest son. The Sato couple walked on either side of Sora, beaming, "Congratulations." When Nami mentioned this, "My heart just bled [music] for you. Thank goodness the heavens have eyes." Sora even prepared a special gift. The Sat couple tried their best to give Sora the spotlight, but because of the earlier rumors about the life-saving favor, the Kujo family members were somewhat uncomfortable facing them.

"Where is Tenma?" Ichiro asked suddenly. The Satito couple froze as if they had only just remembered their eldest son. "That child is so undisciplined, who knows where he ran off to?" Mrs. Sat's tone was full of annoyance, feeling that Tenma had embarrassed them. She was very unwilling for others to mention [music] this quote unfilial son.

Sora looked at Nami not far away. She had been wearing a grim expression since she came back. Sora thought he knew her well enough to know she was in a terrible mood. He suspected Tenma had been pestering her, and after a fight, Tenma didn't dare show his face. At this thought, Sora felt a surge of joy, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but twitch. However, his tone was full of worry. "Maybe I should go look for brother. He must be feeling bad. I'll go call him back." His well-behaved, sensible act made the absent Tenma seem even more willful and arrogant.

"Rurora is so sensible. Don't worry about your brother. He's always throwing fits. Your foot hasn't healed yet. Don't run around," Mr. Sato said affectionately patting Sora's head.

To their surprise, a voice came from the side. "I just took him to change his clothes." The voice of the male lead of the house drew everyone's attention. Kada was standing right next to Tenma. Tenma's low-key black suit had been replaced by a sky blue dress suit, which made his fair skin stand out. Tenma looked expressionlessly at the relatives who had just been discussing him. The scene froze for a moment. Haruka [music] then explained. "The guest's clothes got dirty by accident. I asked my husband to help him take care of it."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Ichiro asked. Haruka glanced at the three Satoss and said plainly, "I couldn't get a word in." That one sentence made the three Satos faces burn. They had been talking over each other, convicting Tenma without giving anyone else a chance to explain. Sora felt the mocking gazes from all around and wished he could vanish. Why was everything going wrong at the Kujo house? He blamed Tenma. He glared at the approaching Tenma with resentment but forced a smile. "So brother was just changing. I thought you were angry with me."

The Sato parents also blamed Tenma for the embarrassment. "Why change clothes for no reason?" But this time Tenma just stared coldly at Sora. The anger in his eyes nearly overflowing. Sora's heart tightened. Had Nami already told Tenma about the breakup? Was that why he was so mad? He could barely stop himself from grinning and gave Tenma a hidden triumphant look. If it weren't for the fact that it was someone else's banquet, Tenma probably wouldn't have held back about the restroom incident. He was certain Sora had something to do with it. Once again, he had been made the scapegoat. Tenma suppressed his rage and sat down without a word. The Satos ignored him and continued chatting with others.

Nami, who had been dazed, only snapped out of it when she saw Tenma. Her expression shifted rapidly. "Impossible. The one who saved me as a child was definitely..."

"What are the Sato parents' names?" Kao whispered to Haruka. After getting the answer, the entire Kujo family except for Hana straightened their backs. On the surface, they were still socializing, but they couldn't hide the gossiphungry glints in their eyes as they leaned toward Kaio. "What are they doing? I see. No wonder she got the savior wrong. It turns out that family of three conspired to lie together." The Kujo family had similar guesses, [music] but it didn't make sense. Why wouldn't Tenma know himself?

Nami's face changed again and again. She secretly glared at Kaido. She wanted to see how he would make this up. "If you count it up, this was the first time Sora stole something that belonged to Tenma." Nanami's face paled as Kito's voice continued.

Nanami and Tenma had been classmates. The summer camp where the accident happened was held in the same country where Sora was receiving treatment. At 10 years old, Nami had already become Tenma's fiancé by their grandmother's agreement. Naturally, she went to visit the Satos. That was the first time she met Sora, who lived in a hospital room like [music] an exquisite little prince. And it was Sora's first time seeing such a beautiful older sister. Hearing she was his brother's fiancé, he clamored to be with her.

"Jalousy makes people unrecognizable," Kao sighed. "Compared to Tenma, Sora already had all his parents, love, and company. Yet, he still wanted to steal Tenema's things. Because in Sora's eyes, if Tenma didn't exist, all those things should have been his."

Nani's breath hitched. "No, Sora isn't that kind of person. He isn't." Back then, Sora indeed threw tantrums in the hospital. Nami just thought the sick boy was pitiful and needed company. And with a face identical to Tenma's, she couldn't help but be soft-hearted. But as Kaido just said, Sora had everything. What did Tenma have back then? Just her, his fiancé. At this thought, Nami felt as if she had been hit with a club. Her head was ringing.

The activity that Nami and Tenma were supposed to attend was disrupted because Sora insisted on playing with Nami and forbade Tenma from going. Since the activity couldn't take more people, the Sato parents forced Tenma to withdraw, let Sora take his place, and asked Nami to take care of him. Nami turned white. At the time, she didn't think much of it and didn't consider Tenma's feelings, agreeing to the parents' request on the spot. She took it for granted that Tenma should and would yield to his brother. She no longer remembered Tenma's expression. Then the Kujo family had previously heard that the brother voluntarily gave the chance to his sick brother and had even praised their bond. They never expected it was the result of parents forcing the elder to be sidelined.

So if Sora was the one with Naami when the accident happened, how did Tenma become the savior? Naami couldn't figure it out either. She remembered the camp was in a dense forest. Staff were teaching them about plants. Being mischievous, she dragged Sora off to act alone, but she fell down a steep slope and was seriously injured. She only remembered Sora crying in terror on the slope. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, she saw Sora again. He found her while crying and carried her out of the hollow before meeting the rescuers. It was Sora who saved her life.

"I guess the S parents were quite helpless. Nami can't take care of anyone. Taking someone healthy like Tenma would be fine, but Sora couldn't handle the strain. After Nami's accident, Sora ran back crying and fainted from weakness. The Sato parents, waiting outside, rushed him to the hospital in a panic. They had no idea Nami was in trouble."

Naami's pupils shrank. The Sato couple was supposed to be waiting outside the camp with Tenma, but after getting their younger son, they forgot their elder son hadn't boarded and drove off. Tenma was left behind. [music] In this world, besides the Kujo, Tenma was likely the only one who truly cared about her. He saw his brother come out, but Nami was missing, so he went back in to look for her. The activity wasn't over yet, and no one realized she was gone. If Tenma hadn't gone back, she would have bled out or gone into shock.

Nanami felt a sharp pain in her chest. Even the eavesdropping Kujo family felt a surge of gratitude and looked toward Tenma, making the guests wonder if the engagement really was over. The rescue team acted once they knew she was missing. Tenma shouldn't have been involved, but he secretly followed. Because he recognized the marks Nanomy left, he found her unconscious in the hollow and carried her out. Exhausted and terrified, Tenma immediately fell into a high fever and was sent to the hospital.

Now the entire Kujo family was confused. Why did the credit go to Sora? A little girl having gone through such trauma and fever had gaps in her memory, and Nami always believed she had seen Sora. The first thing she asked for when she woke up was him. The Satos took the opportunity and spun the lie. Eventually, even Tenma believed his brother had gotten sick from saving her and thought Nami was just feverish from the shock. As for the [music] camp staff, they just assumed the girl had recovered and went back for her playmate. Everything was connected perfectly.

"How melodramatic." Nami was cold all over. The narrative was too real. It was overturning her entire memory. But she didn't want to believe all those years were a lie. Why would the Satos do that? Their relationship wasn't this bad back then. The Kujo family also couldn't understand the Satos logic. They would likely never understand that couple.

Finally, Ko finished his internal ranting and added one last piece. "So, back then, they already wanted to swap the engagement. Not just because of the younger son's selfish greed, but because they felt Tenma was healthy and could handle any marriage. While Sora was weak and needed to marry into a good family that would take care of him instead of mistreating him." The Kujo family realized the truth. After all, among wealthy families, those who didn't care about business marriages like them were [music] rare. The Satos had two sons, both destined for business alliances.

Years ago, the Sato grandmother had pestered the Kucho grandmother for years to set the engagement. The Kujo didn't usually arrange marriages early. When they heard the grandmother set Naomi for Tenma, the Sato parents were furious, feeling she was biased toward the elder. the grandmother retorted. "Since you only care about the young one, if I don't plan for the elder while I'm alive, who knows when you'll remember him."

"Well said, grandma." The Kujo sighed. The grandmother was long gone, and the Satos always wanted to change the engagement, but she had suppressed it. The Kujo had kept their word until she passed recently, making the Satos intentions obvious. They all looked at Naami. Her face was dark. It was unclear if she believed it. She was as stubborn as a mule. "What do these rants count for? Is there proof? Is everything he says true? What an imagination. Sora's story makes much more sense." She glared at Kaio, nearly losing control and wanting to scream at him, but Haruka suddenly blocked her view. Naami looked at her sister with a mix of grievance and anger.

Haruka frowned. She didn't want to deal with her foolish sister, but while listening to Kaido's thoughts, she noticed a clue that could be considered evidence. She spoke in a low voice amidst the noise. "When you were 10, you were much bigger than Hana is now, right?" Nanami's emotions were interrupted as she looked at Haruka in confusion. Heruka's gaze darkened. "Not many 10-year-old boys could carry you, a healthy Tenma or a sickly Sora. Who do you think was more likely to carry you out of that forest?"

The color drained from the Nami's face. Maybe it was potential, a miracle of life. Or maybe the faces of Tenma and Sora were just constantly shifting in her mind. Tenma once had his hand crushed by a cabinet. He was covered in cold sweat, but didn't make a sound. Sora once twisted his ankle and cried until his eyes were swollen. Tenma once moved experimental equipment alone, refusing help from girls. His lean back could carry the weight. When Sora acted, he had to carry a child, but could only manage for three seconds before calling her to complain and ask her to change the scene.

The banquet drew to a close. Someone asked the Satos to leave together for a meeting. Mr. Sato declined with a smile. "We have an appointment with the Kujo. We really can't spare the time today." The guests wished they could stay to see how the engagement ended, but the hosts wanted a private talk.

Just as everyone was reluctantly preparing to leave, a figure burst into the hall. "I heard you're breaking the engagement. Good. I'll make it clear to you, Satos, today. He's already mine, and I'll take responsibility for him." Tenma and Nami looked up at the same time. It was the same Aerys who had troubled Tenma in the restroom. Jung Ru was a notorious proflegate in high society. Useless except for her face. Rich, but a delinquent, often in trouble with the law. No scandal she caused was surprising. But today was a Kujo event and her outburst.