Hearing the harsh words from her father, Kanako felt uncomfortable. More so when she saw the expression on Tsubaki's face changed slightly as she lowered her eyes. She quickly tugged her father's sleeve, silently warning him from speaking ill towards her new friend.
"Do you want to defend this woman?" President Esumi looked at his daughter in displeasure. He focused his gaze back to Tsubaki. "I'm sorry, Miss Hanada. It's just that as a father, I don't think my daughter could even be compared to you. You're far from her."
Tsubaki blinked slowly before staring back at the older man before her. His words from earlier hurt her, like the words uttered from the arrogant heiress. While she could keep her calm when facing the woman, but to hear the constant words of belittling her in her first appearance with Ren, it wasn't easy.
But she wasn't one to admit defeat.
"President Esumi," Tsubaki softly called out to the man. Her lips curled out in a cold smile. "In every father's eyes, their daughters are the best. But for you to suddenly come to me and say such words, am I too lowly in your eyes?"
"Tsubaki, don't mind him. I'm sorry for what he said," said Kanako once she saw the gentle smile turned cold. She grabbed the man's wrist and held it tightly. She added quietly, "Father, let's leave."
"Do you want to just go?" President Esumi freed himself from her daughter's hand. "I'm just saying things, I don't think you should take it to heart as what I've said is true."
Tsubaki sighed inwardly. She's having a headache already. Kanako was such a sweetheart but on the other hand, her father seemed like a prideful man who shouldn't be crossed.
While the three of them were still standing facing each other, Ren had made his way to them. He had guessed the old man approached his wife to stir some troubles. The old man was furious when he didn't accept the suggestion to marry his daughter and had been constantly getting in his way. When President Esumi heard the rumor of him married another woman, he was adamant to know who she was.
Once he got to them, he immediately put his hand around Tsubaki's shoulder. Tsubaki was startled when he suddenly appeared. As she was staring at him, he said, "President Esumi, I saw that you're meeting my dear wife for the first time."
President Esumi smirked. "Yes, I'm just wanting to see your wife who came from God knows where."
This older man didn't even feel ashamed to start a verbal war with Ren. Ren cursed him inwardly, so tempted to throw this man out of the hall.
President Esumi was known for his clear displeasure towards anyone who belonged in a class lower than him. He didn't know to treat them with respect, even his employees tended to leave once they had had it enough of his mistreatments. But his wife and his daughter didn't follow his arrogant behavior, made the people in high society thought of how they could get married.
"You don't have a say in my marriage, President Esumi," Ren replied coldly. The temperature around him dropped as he fought the thoughts of wanting to strangle this man from his mind. "And I don't welcome you to see my wife if you have another word of insults to say to her."
"President Fuse..."
"Father, let's just leave," Kanako stubbornly pulled her father to turn around, leaving the scene. "You're sure loved making a fuss over something. Let's just go."
"Kanako!"
Kanako didn't hear him and swiftly pulled him to follow her. She didn't forget to face Tsubaki once more, silently apologizing for her father's rude actions. Tsubaki slowly nodded, wanting her to know it wasn't her fault. President Esumi reluctantly left the hall under her daughter's pressure.
Once they left, the guests quickly averted their eyes from the couple and blindly making a conversation among them. They had seen how President Fuse's mood turned sour because of the unfavorable situation.
"Love, I'm sorry for leaving you alone earlier," Ren said lowly as he pulled her even closer to him, ignoring the eyes who would curiously sneak a glance to them.
Tsubaki shook her head, it wasn't her husband's fault. "No worries. If you're always worrying about me, aren't you afraid you'd turn bald because of the stress?" She said jokingly, trying to ease the tension.
Ren chuckled, a smile graced his handsome face. "I'm confident you'd still be charmed by me even after I turned bald."
Tsubaki could no longer hold back her laugh. The uneasy feeling she felt when she had to deal with President Esumi vanished once she laughed. Her face became much more radiant as she continued to laugh.
It was a funny thing to imagine Ren without his jet black hair.
The cold aura emanated from the man dissipated as he saw his wife freely laughed. He raised his hand, lovingly adjusted the sapphire hairpins on her bun. Once he was done, he leaned down and kissed her forehead lovingly.
He didn't mind showing them that this lady's status in his heart was unshakeable, rooting deeply in the core of his heart.
While the couple was immersed in their own world, sturdy footsteps approaching them slowly.
"Ah, I think my eyes are quite hurt because of your display of affections."
Hearing the words, Ren raised his head from Tsubaki's face to see the owner of the gruff voice. Once he saw who was it, a gleam of animosity flickered in his eyes, as if he was watching an enemy. But it disappeared in a second.
"Oh, Mr. Souma. I'm sorry for not greeting you earlier," said Ren politely.
A tall man in a black striped suit was standing in front of them. He held a glass of wine in his left hand. Although he appeared to be in his fifties, one could tell he was such a looker in his younger days.
"I've just come. I heard you're married so I approach you to congratulate you. I didn't expect I could see the day where the cold and aloof President Fuse could be affectionate with a lady," the older man said.
Ren smiled. He extended his hand for a handshake. Mr. Souma accepted it. The smile in his face was met with Ren's cold gaze.