Sky Garden – Rooftop Lounge, 8:06 PM
The rooftop air was cool, touched by the drifting scent of citrus blossoms from the decorative trees surrounding the Sky Garden Lounge. Aoi moved toward the exit, her heels tapping softly against the wood-panel flooring. Naruse followed, calm but calculated.
"Still walking away, huh?""I told you, this was a mistake," Aoi said, not turning back.
But Naruse’s voice took a darker tone.
"You know, Aoi... people don’t say no to . They just don’t."
She finally stopped, her fingers tightening around her small handbag. Her breath drew short—but steady.
"I’m not people. I’m Ren’s wife."
"And yet he’s not here. Again," Naruse said, taking another step. "He hides his projects, disappears at odd hours, and leaves you to commute in crowded trains. Maybe you think you’re in love—but I know what real power looks like. You deserve to be admired every second of your life."
Aoi turned, fury now flickering in her gaze.
"Admiration isn’t ownership. And flattery isn’t love."
But Naruse was closer now. Too close. One more step, and he reached for her wrist.
"Don’t pretend. If he’s not giving you the life you want—"
Suddenly, a flash of silver sparked from the necklace around Aoi’s throat. A faint chi echoed into the air, like a tuning fork struck by unseen force.
Aoi blinked. The crystal on her necklace pulsed with a faint electric blue light. Her skin tingled, then ward—not painfully, but as if an invisible shield passed through her entire body.
"Huh—what the—" Naruse flinched backward.
From beneath Aoi’s jacket sleeve, microscopic filants unfurled across her skin, forming a thin, translucent layer of reactive armor. Her heels subtly locked, anchoring her in place. The necklace spoke next in a neutral female tone:
"HUSBAND PROTOCOL ACTIVATED. DEFENSE LEVEL 3 ENGAGED. DO NOT TOUCH HER."
A pulse of kinetic force rippled outward in a silent wave. Naruse stumbled back, crashing into a table. His glass shattered beside him.
Aoi stared, stunned for only a heartbeat—but quickly composed herself. She looked down at the softly glowing necklace.
"Ren... you really did it..."
anwhile – Ren’s Lab
Lucia’s interface flared with alerts. Her voice ca through the speakers in a crisp whisper.
"Protocol success. No physical harm to target. Emotional state: stabilized. Confirm?"
Ren was already grabbing his coat.
"Confirm and deploy the alert beacon. If he tries again, level 4 kicks in."
Lucia responded coolly:
"Understood, Husband."
Sky Garden
Naruse sat on the floor, dazed and breathing heavily. Aoi walked up to him, her tone cold and controlled.
"Next ti you try sothing like that, Naruse—this necklace won’t just warn you. It’ll record. And it’ll expose everything."
She turned on her heel and walked toward the elevator, unshaken, the reactive armor receding invisibly under her skin.
Naruse didn’t answer. But the glare in his eyes said it all.
This wasn’t over.
Not yet.
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