Days went by yet Tsubaki hadn't made a decision regarding Saito Hajime's suggestion. Ren didn't push her, he was just patiently waiting for her to weigh everything into consideration. When it was needed, he would offer her a piece of advice.
She was even daydreaming while she was sitting at the backseat of the car in her ride to the old house. Kaede was the one who drove the low-key black luxury car.
Even to this day, the more she thought of it the more she felt like her first impression of Mrs. Souma wasn't unfounded. Moreover, when she recalled her conversation with Granny Sumiko's last night. She shared her confusion and waited if the old lady had any advice for her.
"It's true that I've said the young miss was completely smitten with Young Master Souma but she actually hadn't done anything harmful to Second Young Miss."
Her gentle voice filled with tenderness to Tsubaki resounded clearly at the end of the line, calming her tensed nerves. This kind old lady had really made her felt like she had a grandmother of her own.
"She might be a bit prideful during her maiden years, especially after Second Young Miss fell from the top but if you thought she might have been taking care of your sister from the shadows before, it might be her way to redeem herself."
"What was to redeem if they were just love rivals with each other?"
Granny Sumiko paused a moment to think. When she spoke again, it intrigued Tsubaki's curiosity.
"Maybe, just maybe, there's something that only she knows."
And, another guess made its way into her mind.
But, as soon as the guess popped up, she quickly shook her head denying the possibility.
No! No! That's too much. This is not a drama!
Tsubaki pinched her temple, she felt a headache was coming. Her body was so sluggish right now. She just wanted to go home and rest but Grandma had asked both her and Ren to the old house for dinner. Since her husband was still at work, she went ahead of him.
The car stopped before a red light. Tsubaki raised up her chin and looked outside the car window. Her eyes were attracted by a bright display of a newly opened hot pot restaurant. It was operated for 24 hours. She blinked twice before she felt her mouth watered suddenly.
It had been a while since the last time I have a hot pot.
The sun had yet to set when Tsubaki arrived at the old house. She scanned her surroundings from the car windows and unexpectedly she saw an unfamiliar luxury car parked in the yard. She had never seen the car before.
Did Grandma has a visitor?
"Madam, welcome back," Old Yuuzo graciously greeted her with a smile once Tsubaki stepped inside the old house. He instructed one of the maids to go to the kitchen and bring out the soup that had been customary to Tsubaki to drink whenever she returned to the old house.
"I'm back, Old Yuuzo," Tsubaki smiled softly to him and the maid. She looked around before asking, "I saw a car outside. Is someone visiting?"
"Yes. Old Madam Fuse is attending to the guest right now but she asked me to bring you to the living room once you have arrived," Old Yuuzo spread one of his hands, pointing to the living room with his palm. "Let's be on our way, Madam."
"Alright." Tsubaki didn't refuse. It was better for her to greet the guest anyway.
Grandma had reduced her frequency of inviting the shareholders for dinner after what happened with Mr. Sagara and since then, the visitors to the old house decreased. Only Toshiro's grandparents would always occasionally come for a visit, easing the old lady's loneliness.
From the hallway, Tsubaki could hear two voices sounded after one another. It seemed like Grandma was in a good mood while conversing with the guest. Tsubaki's lips curled up into a soft smile. Her footsteps were light as she was approaching the living room. Somehow, she felt so excited to see Grandma.
"Grandma, I'm here."
Tsubaki gently greeted the old lady. She brought both of her hands to her lower abdomen, preparing to give Grandma and the guest a respectful bow. But, before she could do that her body stiffened once she saw the face of the guest.
It was a face she knew all too well.
Mrs. Souma?!
What is she doing here?
"Tsubaki! You're finally here! Grandma has been waiting for you!"
Grandma was as delighted as ever once she saw the appearance of her beloved granddaughter-in-law. She didn't even notice the anxiety flashed in the young lady's eyes and how Tsubaki tried to calm her trembling hands without being too obvious.
Her eyes were directed to Mrs. Souma's. While she looked uncertain, the older lady remained calm and elegant. Her posture was straight, her long and slender legs were crossed over one another.
"It's been a long time, Tsubaki," Mrs. Souma smiled and nodded slightly. "I didn't expect to see you're carrying a child within a short time. Fuse Household is indeed being blessed this year."
"Yes! I was too shocked when that brat of mine told me that Tsubaki is pregnant! Ah! A blessing indeed! I got a granddaughter-in-law and soon I'd get a great-grandchild soon! Aiya! Tsubaki, come sit here quick! Don't stand there for too long!"
Grandma's words brought Tsubaki back to reality. She smiled even though it appeared stiff. Her movements felt heavy as she forced herself to walk toward the couch. Tsubaki sighed inwardly once she sat down on the couch opposite the one Grandma and Mrs. Souma sat.
"Aunt Shiori," Tsubaki had regained her lost composure. Her smile looked natural, the traces of her nervousness were nowhere to be seen. "It's really been a while. I, too, didn't expect to see you here. I didn't know you're quite close to my grandmother."
Mrs. Souma's smile deepened. She chuckled lightly as she looked at Old Madam Fuse before she refocused on Tsubaki. "Since Old Madam Fuse couldn't come to the anniversary dinner of me and my husband, I thought to pay her a visit. And, I want to see you too. Maybe we could do a bit of catching up?"
Tsubaki was baffled by the older lady's straightforwardness. She had no intention to hide anything from her nor pretend nothing had happened. Since it had turned to this, why didn't she entertain her silent request?
In the end, Tsubaki nodded with a soft smile. "It's a good idea. I think we would have a lot to talk about."
"Then, please accompany Mrs. Souma, Tsubaki," Grandma gestured for one of the maids to help her to stand up. "Grandma would head to the bedroom first. My old body couldn't stand sitting like this. I need to lay down."
"Be careful, Grandma," Tsubaki approached the old lady, she gently squeezed Grandma's wrinkly hands. "I'll wake you up once Ren arrives. Please rest well, Grandma."
Old Madam Fuse left with her personal maids after bidding goodbye to Mrs. Souma. Both Tsubaki and Mrs. Souma silently watching the old lady's retreating figure before they stared at each other.
"I wonder if what Aunt Shiori wanted to speak to me align with what I have in mind," Tsubaki said as softly as ever, she raised her chin to properly look at the older lady who was taller than her. "I hope it is."
Mrs. Souma just smiled. She didn't say a word even when Tsubaki inviting her for a stroll in the yard.
The weather was slightly cold since it was the beginning of autumn. Tsubaki was dressed warmly. Ren picked a pastel yellow dress and a white long sleeve cardigan for her this morning. She walked comfortably in her favorite flat shoes. Both of the ladies went quite far from the building of the old house.
Tsubaki slowed down her steps under a tree. She turned around, the hem of her skirt twirled slightly. She was facing Mrs. Souma who walked behind her. "Are you here because I refused Mr. Saito's suggestion the other day?"
Since it had come to this, she wouldn't be bothered to feign innocence. She needed to be forthright in this matter.
"Could you tell me how did you get involved with my mother and why did you approach my sister years ago?"
The questions came out smoothly from her small mouth. Her back was straightened, from the way Tsubaki looked right now it was like she was adorning an armor while facing her enemy. Her eyes appeared cold and stern yet she was still smiling to the older lady.
While she was inclined to believe that Mrs. Souma wasn't a bad guy in this situation, she was still on her guard.
Mrs. Souma returned the smile. Her clear eyes started dimming and a melancholy aura surrounded her before she closed her eyes for a moment. Her lips that were graced with red lipstick forming a straight line. She appeared complicated. When she opened her eyes again, Tsubaki saw deep regret in them.
"It seems that you've known almost everything."
It was an indirect confession.
Mrs. Souma's words were basically confirming all the doubts sprouting in Tsubaki's heart from the moment she suspected this older lady's involvement with her late mother. There was no room for her to escape once she made the confession.
Tsubaki's smile faltered. She bit her lower lip, both of her hands went to her baby bump, seeking comfort from her child's presence inside her.
"Why?"
All of her questions were compressed into a single 'why'. Tsubaki had a lot of questions that she wanted to ask, most of them were repetitive from the ones she asked Granny Sumiko. She just needed confirmation from Mrs. Souma who was directly involved in this matter.
"Once, I lost myself because of a man," Mrs. Souma spoke, her eyes went to the green grass under her feet. The courage Tsubaki saw earlier was slowly crumbling. "Because of my foolishness, I've nearly sacrificed the two lives in Masami's wombs. Even though at that time I didn't expect her to bear twins."
"What?" Tsubaki's voice was a whisper, drifted away by the sudden gust of wind.
Mrs. Souma smiled lightly. She looked around for a moment, searching for something. Her eyes settled on a white bench under a tree not far from them. She pointed to the bench with a raise of her chin.
"Why don't we sit first?" She suggested, her voice was as kind as usual. "You're pregnant. You shouldn't stand still like this for a long time."
Tsubaki pursed her lips. She hesitated for a bit yet she relented to Mrs. Souma's suggestion. Even without overworking herself, her limbs would always ache here and there. If she remained standing for a long time, she would need to tire Ren tonight to massage her feet.
Wordlessly, Tsubaki walked toward the bench. Mrs. Souma followed suit. She stood at the end of the bench, respecting Tsubaki by didn't carelessly sit near her in this situation.
"Hajime was right, you've suspected me way earlier from when I have expected," Mrs. Souma kept her posture straight. Her eyes darted to the small fountain that was gushing water in front of them. "But, I'm quite happy because I no longer wish to hide anything from you."
"I met Granny Sumiko, one of mother's maids. She spoke about you and President Souma," Tsubaki too was looking at the fountain. She loved seeing the sprinkles forming around them once the bright sunlight shone on the flowing water. "Please speak. I have the right to know."
Mrs. Souma nodded. She had braced herself with this possibility when she decided to come to Fuse Manor once she heard Tsubaki would come here today. Her shoulders had long been burdened with the secret she kept in her heart for more than two decades.
This was time for her to let everything go.
"My husband, at that time he was the First Young Master Souma, had been in love with your mother Masami since his early youth yet never did once Masami reciprocated his feelings," Her words came out one by one, laced with sorrow. Her eyes turned downcast, Mrs. Souma linked her hands together and placed them on her lap. "Seeing how devoted he was to her, I was filled with jealousy because, in my eyes, Masami was just from a start-up family unlike me who came from a family with a solid foundation."
Tsubaki's lips curled up into a sneer. It was the same perception that separated her birth parents because of their difference in status. Who would expect, even in the world of the riches, there were still hierarchies?
Why must even feelings being dictated by monetary value?
"One day, I got to know that Masami was in a secret relationship with Mr. Saeki, one of my husband's close subordinate at that time. Me, who was blinded by jealousy secretly tipping him about their relationship, resulting in Mr. Saeki being drafted by the army. When I thought I could finally have the man whom I loved, I was surprised because it seemed like the revelation made him more determined to marry Masami."
"It was a week before the wedding, I planted my bodyguard to follow Masami and got to know that she was pregnant. I knew it was Mr. Saeki's child. But, before I could tell Shinjiro to make him give up, I heard that he already knew and..." Mrs. Souma's shuddered. Something about her memory made him trembled in fear.
"What happened next? How did President Souma know?" Tsubaki tried to suppress her impatience. She was curious what had Mrs. Souma seen or went through that made her looked fearful. "Tell me."
"He... was convinced that the child was his and... he said if the child wasn't, he won't hesitate to force your mother going through abortion."
"What?"
Tsubaki's hands instinctively cradled her protruding belly, as if she was afraid her child would be taken away by hearing the story. Her eyes widened slightly, her eyelashes trembled.