Madam Kitaoji remained in silence even after five minutes had passed. Tsubaki didn't avert her gaze from the older woman's eyes filled with fear. She knew she shouldn't expect much. A woman like Madam Kitaoji was a trash in society.
"It seems like you do not have any intention to speak to me," Tsubaki carefully uterred each word, wanting to suppress Madam Kitaoji with the heavy atmosphere around them. "I should go back. If you have anything, just speak to my lawyer."
"No... No!" Madam Kitaoji started speaking in distress once she saw Tsubaki getting ready to leave. She quickly stood up, looking at the young lady's disinterested face. "I do want to speak to you."
"Then, speak."
"I..." Madam Kitaoji stuttered. She was obviously in a state of breaking down. As if she was afraid Tsubaki would leave if she didn't speak sooner, she yelled out her request. "Please! Let me go!"
Tsubaki raised her eyebrows. She did expect this woman to ask her of that. She smiled. "On what basis I should let you go?"
"It was a mistake! I know I shouldn't do it but please, let me go! I won't do it ever again!" Madam Kitaoji pleaded. She clasped both of her hands and looked at Tsubaki with teary eyes. She was a proud woman. She won't lower herself and beg if not because she hate losing her freedom. Plus, a prison was not a place for a socialite like her.
Tsubaki's lips twitched. How shameless was this woman to ask for forgiveness in an insincere way. She clearly didn't feel remorseful even after committing a crime. She just wanted forgiveness in order to escape prison.
"Why should I let you go?" Tsubaki threw back a question. Her eyes shot daggers to Madam Kitaoji as she continued speaking, "How could you say it was a mistake when the two men have already confessed about your intention to kill me? They even provided evidence. And I don't believe that you won't repeat it again if someone inferior than you causing annoyance to you. You aren't sincere, Madam Kitaoji."
Madam Kitaoji was baffled, she didn't expect to be tore apart so soon. This dainty woman wouldn't give her even a little face! Her tears stopped in instant. Anger arose in her heart. She was a rich madam! How could this vixen speak to her like that?
Tsubaki noticed the change in Madam Kitaoji's eyes. She smirked. "You was mad because your son got caught even though he was the one who committing crime. Instead of meeting me, the victim, to apologise, you even wanted to use another crime to cover it up. If I let you go, you might harm another person if things don't go your way so I refuse."
Tsubaki knew she could just ignore Madam Kitaoji's request to see her but she wanted to see in person how evil a human's heart could be. This was the face of a human who was capable to instruct others to kill. She looked ordinary like any other person but her heart had rotten to the core.
"I hope you'd feel remorse and sincerely want to repent for your actions but I think that's not the case. You said you were regretting your actions because you don't want to be imprisoned, it's not because of your humanity. I have nothing else to say now. I'll let my lawyers speak to you."
Tsubaki stood up and rearranged her skirt. Without sparing Madam Kitaoji another glance, she turned around to leave the room.
"You witch!"
Bang!
The loud sound made Tsubaki turned back. Madam Kitaoji banged the glass wall in fury. She was totally enraged. Her face contorted hideously. She repeatedly banging the wall, causing the guards to restrain her.
"Who are you to look down on me? You are just lucky to be picked by a phoenix! Do you think he would stay with you forever? I'd have the final laugh the day he abandons you!"
Tsubaki wasn't affected with Madam Kitaoji's anger. Instead, she calmly looked at her distorted face and smiled, "You'll never see the day."
Having said that, Tsubaki turned around facing the door. She was startled when she saw Ren's tall figure was right before her. His face looked extremely cold, anger was boiling beneath the cold surface. His eyes fixated on Madam Kitaoji who had lost the will to scream when she caught the sight of his dark face.
"President... Fuse..." She stammered in shock.
Ren could feel his veins bulging. He was extremely angry. How could this woman continue speaking ill even in this situation? Did she really have a death wish? He could grant it sooner!
"You..."
The moment he wanted to speak, a soft hand holding his wrist. Ren averted his eyes from Madam Kitaoji. He saw Tsubaki's face looking up to her. She was smiling yet he could clearly see the sadness she tried to disguise.
Tsubaki shook her head slowly. "Let's go home."
Ren didn't object. He wrapped his hand protectively around his wife's waist and led her outside. He didn't look at Madam Kitaoji anymore. The older woman regained her senses when the two figures stepping out of the room.
"No! I'm sorry! Please forgive me! Please let me go!" She yelled and tried to escape from the guards restraint but she failed when the guards pulled her from the table.
Both Tsubaki and Ren were in silence once they got into the car. Tsubaki leaned against the seat and threw her gaze outside. Ren didn't force her to speak, he knew her mind was in a mess right now. He silently instructed Hibiki to drive home before pulling up the car partition.
"Ren..."
Ren turned his head, looking at his wife's side profile. Tsubaki was still looking outside the window. Rain had fallen from the sky. Instead of calming her like usual, she looked gloomy. Maybe this was one of the days she couldn't enjoy the rain.
"Yes, love?" Ren spoke. He reached out a hand, interlocking their fingers together.
"How could a person be like that?" She asked in a slow voice. "I didn't expect... to meet someone like her in my life."
"She chose to be like that. No one led her that way."
Tsubaki nodded. Madam Kitaoji was doomed because she insisted to face the world in her immoral ethics. If she wanted to blame someone, she could only blame herself. Or the Devil who lured her into the darkness. Her self-created Devil.