Her eyes lowered to her cup again, the steam long faded.
Who will Father send...?
She knew well—her father didn’t enjoy attending events like this.
Not out of pride, but preference.
He never liked public showings.
Kenji?
Her little brother ca to mind.
But no... Satoshi had t him before. That might draw too much attention.
Maybe... Keiko and Kazuma?
That seed more likely.
Keiko had always been calm in public settings. Kazuma even more so.
They could attend without stirring anything.
Kyouko exhaled quietly.
Well... it doesn’t really matter.
As long as she could be there.
As long as she could step into that room.
And as long as she could stay close to Haruki—
That’s good enough.
She didn’t need a spotlight.
She didn’t need her na announced.
Just the quiet space near him.
Just his warmth beside her.
Just one night, walking freely in the sa place, even if no one knew the truth.
That would be enough.
Haruki quietly enjoyed his breakfast, unbothered, taking his ti with each bite.
Across the table, Satomi and Satoshi were already moving with their usual urgency.
"As usual, Mom, we’ll be late," Satomi said casually, stepping away from the table.
"Alright," Kyouko replied with a gentle smile as she stood.
She moved with her usual calm toward the front, smoothing her sleeves as she walked.
By the genkan, Satomi hurriedly stepped into her heels, Satoshi lacing his polished shoes with practiced speed.
Neither of them said goodbye.
Kyouko watched them quietly, hands folded in front of her.
Once the door opened, she turned and pressed the small silver button on the wall, opening the gate at the end of the driveway.
She stood in the entryway, her silhouette graceful against the soft morning light.
Satomi and Satoshi stepped into the car, doors slamming in sequence, engine starting with a sharp growl.
They didn’t look back.
Kyouko didn’t wave.
She simply stood there, watching their car pull away.
And as the vehicle disappeared past the edge of the property, she slowly reached again and pressed the button once more.
The gates closed.
Kyouko shut the front door gently.
She turned.
And rushed.
Her steps quick, light, excited.
She reached the dining table where Haruki still sat finishing his tea—and without hesitation, wrapped her arms tightly around him from behind.
"Haruki~!" she whispered joyfully against his back, her cheek pressing to his shoulder.
"We’re going to the event~"
Haruki smiled, but didn’t turn his head.
"Hmmph. When I invited you, you refused."
Kyouko giggled and swayed gently as she hugged him tighter.
"But~ that ti I couldn’t go," she said sweetly. "I didn’t have a reason to attend, rember?"
Haruki finally turned his head just enough to glance at her.
She was smiling—genuinely, softly.
A kind of smile she never wore around anyone else.
He looked at her for a mont longer... then sighed, pretending to stay annoyed.
"You still owe ."
"I’ll repay you," she whispered close to his ear."At the venue, or... later~"
He chuckled under his breath.
"...I’ll hold you to that."
"What do you think I should wear?" Kyouko asked as she kissed his cheek gently from behind.
Haruki tilted his head slightly, smiling.
"As long as it’s not too revealing."
Kyouko let out a soft, teasing breath.
"Mou~"
She circled around the table to face him, her arms loosely still around his neck as she leaned in with a pout.
"You really don’t want anyone looking at your girl, huh?"
Haruki t her eyes, his expression calm.
"I don’t."
Not a hint of joking in his voice.
Kyouko’s heart gave a quiet flutter.
The way he said it—calm, quiet, but completely serious—made her feel warm all over.
She leaned in again, her nose brushing against his.
"Then I’ll wear sothing soft. Elegant. But only you’ll know what’s underneath."
Haruki’s lips curved.
"That’s more dangerous."
Kyouko smiled.
"Maybe..." Kyouko whispered, her fingers playing lightly with the edge of his collar, "we should go shopping for my dress?"
Her voice was soft.
A little hopeful.
"You can pick what I wear," she added, her smile shy but sincere. "Just for you."
Haruki looked up at her, their eyes eting.
And he felt it—that quiet sweetness she only showed to him.
So soft.
So loving.
So unlike the cool, invisible woman she was to everyone else.
"Oh... I like that," he said, his voice low, warm.
She leaned down.
He rose up slightly.
Their lips t—gently at first.
But it deepened.
Slow.
Romantic.
Full of everything they couldn’t say out loud.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling.
Kyouko smiled against him, her voice a soft whisper.
"Let’s make it our little secret, okay?"
"Kyouko..."
"Hmm?" she answered softly, still close.
Haruki leaned in again, one hand lifting to her chest—cupping her breast softly through the fabric as his lips found hers.
The kiss was deeper.
Longer.
Full of quiet need.
Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips lting into his, her body relaxing into the touch she’d missed.
When he finally pulled back, their foreheads still touched, and his voice ca in a low whisper.
"I love you."
Kyouko opened her eyes—soft, glassy, full of affection.
"Mm... I love you too, Haruki~" she whispered back, smiling gently.
She was happy.
Here, back in this house filled with silence and pretending, she still had this.
Him.
They couldn’t sleep side by side like they did in Okinawa.
Couldn’t hold each other through the night.
Couldn’t fall asleep tangled together with the ocean breeze at the window.
But here...
If Haruki wanted her—
She would give herself.
Gladly.
She’d bend over in the kitchen if he pulled her close.
Lay back in the guest room if he needed her.
Spread herself open in silence, without a sound, and let him devour her body—again and again—until his hunger was sated.
Because this was hers, too.
Her secret.
Her love.
Her happiness.
Haruki looked at her.
At Kyouko.
Her cheeks still faintly pink from his kiss. Her eyes so soft. Her smile—tired, warm, and ant only for him.
She was stunning.
More beautiful than Satomi ever was.
More graceful.
More feminine.
More sensual.
She looked younger now than Satomi did.
Her skin, her voice, the curve of her waist... even the way she walked barefoot across the floor with quiet steps—it made his chest ache.
And more than that...
She cared.
She rembered how he liked his coffee.
She listened when he spoke.
She touched him like he mattered.
Satomi never did any of that.
Kyouko cooked like soone who poured love into everything she touched.
She smiled like soone who finally knew what it ant to be wanted.
She gave herself to him—heart, body, and soul.
And Haruki... he wanted one thing.
Really wanted it.
He wanted to see her carry his child.
To see her gently rest a hand over her stomach.
To whisper, "Our baby~."
To wake up beside her and know that their love had beco sothing permanent. Sothing no one could undo.
But...
How?
How could that happen... when she still carried the Harusawa na?
When—on paper—she was still his father-in-law’s wife?
When the world still believed she belonged to a man who had never truly seen her?
Inside his mind, Haruki felt the shift.
He needed to plan sothing.
He couldn’t keep living like this—
Touching her only in secret.
Hiding what they were.
Pretending, every day, that he wasn’t already hers.
If Satomi wanted a divorce...
So be it.
He would sign the papers without hesitation.
Even if it ant losing half his savings.
He didn’t care.
Because none of that mattered.
Money could be rebuilt.
Status could be earned back.
But Kyouko...
She was the one thing he couldn’t replace.
The one thing he wouldn’t give up.
As long as I have her.
That was all he wanted now.
Just her.
Not borrowed monts.
Not secret nights.
But all of her.
And he was willing to burn everything else to make that happen.
( End Of Chapter )
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