"...heart."
"..."
"Sweetheart, wake up."
"... En?"
Tsubaki opened her eyes, even in her dazed state she still able to recognize the smiling face in front of her. She blinked a few times as she rubbed her eyes, trying to keep her sleepiness at bay.
"Darling... you're back? Welcome home."
Tsubaki propped up on her elbows, wanting to sit up when she noticed a soft throw blanket slipped dow from her shoulders. She remembered that she didn't pull any blanket with her before.
Ren immediately stretched out his hands, helping her to get up. His smile didn't leave his face. "I'm home, sweetheart. I saw you sleeping here. I didn't wake you up before since I haven't cooked anything for you."
It was at this moment Tsubaki's nose caught the delicious smell coming from the outside of the sunroom. She looked at the wall clock. She was slightly startled when she realized it had reached 7:50 PM.
"I didn't realize when did I sleep," Tsubaki smiled sheepishly. "I was enjoying the sunset. The view was so beautiful today."
Ren's lips tugged up into a soft smile. His slender fingers went through her long hair as he helped to tidy her tousled hair due to her sleeping. "I hope I could enjoy it with you. But, it's alright as long as you loved it. Come, let's have dinner. You must be hungry right now."
"En."
Her husband was still dressed in his office attire. He must had head straight to the kitchen after covering her with the throw blanket right after he got home. Tsubaki couldn't help but love him more and more.
Aiya~ I'm really spoiled by him!
Both of them had a quiet dinner. When Ren was taking a bath in the bathroom, Tsubaki was fiddling with her phone on the bed. Her late nap kept her awake even though she was usually tired at this time. Her eyes flickered with anticipation when she realized there was a reply from Kanako.
Sweet Scent of the Dew: You're already back? I thought you'd spend more time with President Fuse. Is he controlling himself in these few months? ☆⌒(≧▽° ) Afraid to endanger you and my godchild?
Blush quickly crept on her cheeks. Tsubaki pursed her lips as she read the message.
What did this girl thinking?
Camellia of the Spring: A maiden like you shouldn't think of that matter! (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ Back to our main topic, when could we meet?
Sweet Scent of the Dew: I'm busy tomorrow, are you free the next day? I want your almond tiramisu cake! ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡
Camellia of the Spring: Alright~ I'll reserve some for you
By seeing these texts, it seemed like there was nothing wrong with Kanako but Tsubaki didn't buy it. It was easy to deceive one's emotions if it didn't involve talking to each other or meeting face to face. She wondered how would Kanako display herself when they met in two days.
"You're so focused, sweetheart? What are you looking at?"
"Ha?"
Tsubaki snapped out of her daze. She felt something soft landing on the crook of her neck and his strong arms hugging her from behind. His masculine scent invaded her senses, it was different from her favorite strawberry shower wash. Since he had just stepped out from the shower, she could still feel the dampness of his skin where it touched hers.
"I'm texting Kanako," Tsubaki turned around as Ren retracted his lips from her neck. Their eyes met. "We would meet the day after tomorrow."
Ren nodded in understanding. He stood up from the bed and went to the bedside table placed on the other side of the bed. He reached out for his phone. His brows shot up once he scanned a new message displayed on the screen.
"Aunt Kasumi said Grandma wants us back tomorrow," Ren plopped down his tall body on the soft mattress, the bed sunk under his weight. He extended his free hand and grabbed Tsubaki's waist before he pulled her toward him. Both of them laid on their back. "I won't be free until the evening so you should go first."
Tsubaki took a peek at his phone screen. The chat bubbles between Ren and Aunt Kasumi appeared in her line of sight. Aunt Kasumi mentioned about checking the guest list and finalizing their choice of wedding gifts. In an instant, her eyes lit up.
"You look so happy," Ren grinned, he was affected with her sweet smile. He rolled on his side, facing her. One of his hands was still placed around her waist. "Because of our wedding?"
"Yes!" Tsubaki smiled happily. She looked up to meet his eyes filled with delight, her laughter bubbling up in her throat. "I can't wait for our wedding."
"Me too," Ren said in earnest. He leaned down to peck softly on her lips. Even to this day, his kisses would send butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "I can't wait to see you in a wedding dress, walking down the aisle to me."
"Even when my tummy is round like a ball?"
Tsubaki tried to stifle her laugh yet it failed. Sometimes she would envision herself with a protruding belly while wearing her wedding dress. The image was so funny she would end up laughing at herself. Grandma said her tummy might already be visible by the time of the wedding.
Ren shook his head as he laughed helplessly. "You'd still be the most beautiful bride in my eyes. I bet our child would happy if he saw he was included during our wedding."
"Alright~ Of course, I'd be the most beautiful bride," Tsubaki placed her palms on Ren's cheeks, she pretended to give him a warning as her delicate eyebrows knitted together, her gaze was stern. "Because you're not allowed to look at another woman!"
"They don't exist in my eyes," Ren replied with a straight face.
"Aa~ hahaha!" Tsubaki felt her fingers and toes curled up because of his smooth sweet talk.
This man was simply an Adonis!
The husband and wife spent their time before went to sleep cuddling and bickering light-heartedly as if there was no bad premonition lurking around them. In the end, Tsubaki slept peacefully as she enjoyed her husband's rough palm stroking her head.
She forgot for a moment that her life might change once she met Kanako the day after tomorrow.
Or even when she went to the old house.
Tsubaki rejected Ren's offer to drive her personally to the old house the next morning. The distance between the Fuse Manor and Fuse Corporation was quite large. He had to make a detour if he insisted on sending her by himself. In the end, Ren relented under his wife's unflinching gaze. Hibiki was the one who sent her.
"Hibiki."
"Yes, Madam," Hibiki immediately replied to his Madam although he was startled to be called out all of a sudden.
By this time, they had yet to reach the old house but Tsubaki had been quiet since the beginning of their ride. That was why he was surprised. Especially when he looked at his young Madam's expression through the rearview mirror.
Somehow, a bad feeling crept in his heart.
"Is my uncle still in Toshiro's lab?" Tsubaki asked, her voice was low yet her eyes appeared indifferent.
Erk!
His suspicions were correct!
"About that..."
Hibiki broke into a cold sweat as he wasn't sure how should he reply. He didn't want to be slaughtered by his wife-slave boss if his Master thought he had deliberately made the lady boss sad! He could feel his fingers that were clasping on the steering wheel tremble slightly, his eyes darted left and right as he racked his brain.
What should I answer?!
"Pff!"
Hibiki was once again shocked. He couldn't help but stuttering when he wanted to ask, "Ma... Madam?"
Is anything funny ah?
Tsubaki giggled, she covered her mouth, trying to stop herself from laughing. "You don't have to look so afraid. Ren wouldn't do anything to you. Just answer me honestly."
Hibiki "..." Madam's guess was spot on! He was indeed afraid of her husband, his Boss!
"Well... yes, Mr. Yagi is still in Master Toshiro's lab," Hibiki decided to just bite the bullet and told her the truth. "His condition is getting better and even though he would occasionally make a ruckus to be let go, he's not as aggressive as before."
Tsubaki narrowed her eyes slightly. In her memories, there was no time the older man acted as a good relative to her and Satsuki especially after the death of their parents. The huge sum of money he gave to her once she woke up after the accident did nothing to ease the ill feelings in her heart.
She was so tempted to meet him and ask, how could he involve himself in a plot that could ruin her? Despite him already knew that she wasn't related to him by blood, they were still practically a family!
How could he?
Tsubaki let out a sigh, she threw out her gaze through the car windows.
"Make sure he couldn't escape," She said after a period of silence. Her usually bright and soft voice turned cold, sending a shiver down Hibiki's spine. "One day, I want to meet him."
She wanted to settle accounts with the despicable man. Only by doing so, she could step out of her haunted past.
"Yes, Madam!"
Hibiki was amazed by the clarity in his Madam's voice. In these months he had got to know his Master's wife, she was a gentle and charming young lady. Even after she became the mistress of the household, her temperament remained kind even to the helpers. But, it didn't mean that she was easy to be bullied.
His Madam didn't know that her popularity among the servants soared up the night when she boldly faced the spoilt heiress during the Old Madam's birthday celebration a few months back when the heiress wanted to harm one of the helpers during the celebration. Since then, more and more people becoming fond of her.
Sigh... Master, Madam is going to enter the battlefield soon. We should prepare her armor.
Grandma and Aunt Kasumi enthusiastically welcomed Tsubaki to the old house. Grandma quickly instructed Old Yuuzo to bring out the soup that the chefs that boiled for hours from the kitchen. Tsubaki didn't have the heart to reject the old lady's kind gesture. She sat down and took her time drinking the soup.
"The wedding is only one month away! Grandma is so nervous!" Grandma clasped the hem of the silk shawl draped around her shoulders as she was jittering. "Grandma should go to the temple soon to ask for blessings."
Aunt Kasumi who sat at one side laughed, she smiled as she turned to look at the confused Tsubaki. "Aunt Mariko has been pestering me regarding the wedding. She has even fussing over the choice of the food served to the guests later. I'm afraid I'd be sucked dry of energy once the wedding is completed."
"Of course I need to fuss over everything! This is our first wedding in years!" Grandma threw Aunt Kasumi a look of disdain, inciting laughter from Aunt Kasumi and Tsubaki.
"Thank you, Grandma and Aunt Kasumi," Tsubaki smiled sweetly. Their time being together wasn't long yet both of them had always treated her like their own family. Both Grandma and Aunt Kasumi had never looked down on her humble birth. "I'm already happy with all these, you don't have to push yourself. You need to think of your health more, Grandma."
"Tsubaki..."
Hearing such nice words from her precious granddaughter-in-law, her old heart was touched.
"It's good having you, Tsubaki!" Grandma quickly hugged Tsubaki, her voice was aggrieved, "Ren didn't even show an ounce of love like you! That grandson of mine is really an ice block! It's really a blessing for him to bring you to our home."
Tsubaki and Aunt Kasumi glanced at each other before they burst out laughing.
Grandma is too cute!
The three of them had an amicable discussion regarding the wedding. Almost everything had been planned carefully. Tsubaki didn't immediately choose the wedding favors since she wanted to speak to Ren first and know his thoughts. Aunt Kasumi agreed with her decision.
After lunch, they sat again in the living room. Grandma had retreated to her bedroom, she needed to take a nap if she wanted to properly restore her energy. Aunt Kasumi passed a bundle of cards tied with a white ribbon to Tsubaki which she accepted them with a confused gaze.
"It's the RSVPs, some of the guests have replied to them," Aunt Kasumi answered the silent question that was clearly written on the young lady's face. "There's still a bundle we have yet to send out."
"RSVP?" Tsubaki's heart skipped a beat. With. stuttering voice, she quickly asked, "Usually, who... who would answer the invitation if we sent it to a household?"
Aunt Kasumi began tidying her books on the coffee table, she didn't notice the slight change in Tsubaki's expression. "The mistress of the household would be the one answering them."
"!"
Tsubaki stared at the cards in her hands, her fingers trembled slightly. She glanced at Aunt Kasumi who was writing something in her planner before she untied the ribbon holding them together. She couldn't exactly point out what was she feeling at this moment but it was clear she was dreading over something.
Mushanokouji...
Juumonji...
Nakajou...
Most of them were unfamiliar name until she spotted the one for Esumi Family. But, Tsubaki didn't stop looking into it. She was searching for another familiar name.
It wasn't until later did she find the one she was looking for.
Her fingers picked a white card among all of them. Souma Household was written at the bottom part of the card.