Tsubaki returned home straightaway from the teahouse. When Grandma got to know that she didn't go to Spring City as planned, she made an excuse that something happened at the bakery. The old lady accepted it.
After Grandma left for her bedroom once dinner finished, Aunt Kasumi quickly came to implore on details from Tsubaki. She knew about the incident befell on the latter.
"What actually happened?" Aunt Kasumi asked in a whisper once she brought the expecting mother inside the lounge, "First, the fire alarms went off even though there's no fire and then, you were blocked by the security of Souma?"
Although no casualties occurred, Aunt Kasumi was distracted by the unforeseen events. Hibiki had to tell her the truth when she pestered him. To avoid alerting Grandma, he recounted the event from A to Z. The only thing Hibiki omitted was the true relationship between Tsubaki and the Soumas.
"You've been worried, I'm sorry, Aunt," Tsubaki helplessly lowered her head. She felt like she couldn't face Aunt Kasumi right now.
"This isn't your fault," Aunt Kasumi sighed.
Seeing that Tsubaki didn't offer her any explanation, Aunt Kasumi thought it might not be the right time to ask. It seemed like her niece-in-law was hiding something. She had sensed it when Hibiki deliberately cut off a few things when she asked the nature of the event.
"I'm grateful that you conceal it from Grandma, Aunt. If not... I don't know how should I tell Grandma."
Tsubaki slowly lifted up her gaze. Her appearance was listless as she was thoroughly exhausted by whatever new knowledge and revelation came her way today.
"Your grandmother couldn't be stimulated by bad news, Tsubaki. The incident when we thought Ren was harmed in the helicopter accident months ago has almost weakened her. If not for her spirit that's as strong as steel, she won't be able to pass through it."
Thinking of her aunt with advanced age, Aunt Kasumi couldn't help but be careful when dealing with the matter. The family doctor had repeatedly reminded her that it was best to avoid any bad news agitating the old lady again.
"...I understood," Tsubaki once again lowered her eyes in remorse.
Even though Grandma was fine, Tsubaki still felt guilty. The old lady had a special place in her heart. Grandma wholeheartedly accepted her as her granddaughter-in-law despite their differences in status.
Aunt Kasumi didn't plan to drag the subject as Tsubaki was clearly unwilling to tell her the truth. She lifted up a hand and gently patted Tsubaki's back. With a smile, she said, "You must have been tired. Go upstairs to rest. If Ren knew you're feeling down like this, once he returns, he would nag at me incessantly."
Her words managed to cheer Tsubaki up even for a bit. After bidding good night, Tsubaki headed to her bedroom. Aunt Kasumi watched her disappeared at the turn of the hallway with a worried smile.
As a lady from a noble family, Aunt Kasumi was already accustomed to the dirty secrets of some of the people in high society. By how Souma's team of bodyguards came to force Tsubaki to follow them, it was acceptable if there were some hidden secrets that only the parties involved knew.
"Hurm... I hope nothing bad happens again," Aunt Kasumi let out a deep sigh.
The wedding was coming as well as a baby of her nephew and niece-in-law. Both of them had gone through so much in their lives. She prayed for them to be blessed for the rest of their journey.
Tsubaki had a long soaked in the bathtub. It helped to relax the lingering tension in her mind. Once she was done, Tsubaki put on a nightdress and laid on the bed. She was surprised when she realized there were a few missed calls and unread messages from her husband.
"...I forgot that I silenced my phone," Tsubaki murmured faintly.
Her eyes darted on the clock. Seeing that it was only a little over nine o'clock, Tsubaki quickly returned the call. She wasn't sure if Ren was still meeting with his partners. Even so, she still made the call.
In two rings, the call was connected.
"Sweetheart?" Ren's voice drifted into her ears, "Where were you? Were you bathing?"
"En, yes," Tsubaki propped on one elbow and comfortably sat while leaning against the headboard, "Are you busy, darling? Could we speak?"
"I've just arrived at the hotel. I want to speak to you too."
Both of them tacitly understood the matter they wanted to talk about was the same.
From her husband's end, Tsubaki heard the sound of fabric rustling. It seemed like Ren might be taking off his coat or shirt after a tiresome day of work. The incident that was orchestrated by Mr. Souma added to her husband's exhaustion.
"Darling?" Tsubaki's heart ached as she longed for him. With one hand tenderly caressing the bump on her stomach, she bit her lower lip in regret.
"Yes, sweetheart," From his tone, Tsubaki could picture him smiling as gently as ever to her.
Although she felt comforted by his voice, it still couldn't shake off the nauseating feeling that was gnawing her insides. Tsubaki drew her lips into a tight line. She didn't realize her grip on her baby bump became a bit firmer.
"...I felt sick when I met Mr. Souma earlier."
It was the same feeling she had for her maternal uncle, Yagi Takashi.
No. It was worse than that.
While Yagi Takashi was a greedy person, with his foolish nature, he wasn't one to be able to scheme against someone. But, Souma Hisato was in a different league.
That man was crafty. His soul was probably deeply rotten inside. The way his mind worked was something Yagi Takashi could never do.
"Would you like to talk about that in detail?" Ren's response came after a long stretch of silence.
For his wife to utter such a word, Ren could say Tsubaki was thoroughly disgusted by Mr. Souma.
It wasn't like Ren had never put Souma Hisato in the picture, but, the evidence was too shallow. He didn't expect the man would personally seek his wife out during his absence.
"...Yes," Tsubaki replied weakly.
It felt sickening but, Tsubaki still had to confront it. She reluctantly recalled the time when she met Mr. Souma. One by one, he easily answered her questions as if he was a generous man who wanted nothing as compensation.
It was not something a man of his character would do.
Until now, Tsubaki couldn't define what was his real objective.
Tsubaki began to recount the story. She started by affirming that Mr. Souma was the one who tried to kidnap Hinata before his action was blocked by his sister-in-law. It was still suspicious why that man easily conferred to Mrs. Souma but, Tsubaki didn't dwell on the subject.
When the time was right, the truth would come out.
Tsubaki then spoke about Mr. Souma's intention to bring Hinata into the Souma household as his adopted daughter. It was clear that he wanted to catch his brother off guard.
"...Then, he said while he helped Mr. Sagara to track you down, he came across me."
That was one of the things revealed by Mr. Souma.
When Mr. Sagara was searching for Ren five years ago, Mr. Souma offered the crooked man his help as he planned to reap benefits from Mr. Sagara. The unexpected happened. Not only Ren's whereabouts were found, but Mr. Souma also found someone who resembled Hinata a lot.
To call it a coincidence thus passing it off was not something a man like him would do.
Besides, the truth of his words were still yet to be confirmed.
"But, it was clear that Mr. Sagara didn't know about him wanting to get me," Tsubaki added tiredly. She pressed the space between her brows as her nerves once again got tensed, "He took the opportunity once you were captured by Mr. Sagara's men. Once they have successfully separated us, he wanted to abduct me next, but..."
A wave of dizziness suddenly hit Tsubaki. Her words were left hanging. The throbbing of her head made Tsubaki let out a faint sound of a groan.
"...Sweetheart? What happens?" Ren urgently asked once he heard his wife whimpered in pain, "Are your hurt somewhere?"
"...No, it's just... My head aches a bit," Tsubaki plopped down on the bed. The feeling of the soft pillow under her head didn't help to alleviate the pain.
"Go to sleep, en? You are tired," Ren gently persuaded her, "We could continue it tomorrow."
Tsubaki shook her head. Her eyes were staring into a distance, passing the closed windows of the bedroom. A sense of uneasiness crept up from the depth of her heart as she thought back of what Mr. Souma disclosed to her and the bits she knew about the accident five years ago.
"...Darling?"
Tsubaki closed her eyes. In the darkness, the image of a gruesome car accident that she had dreamed of before slowly appearing in her mind.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
Tsubaki curved up her lips into a smile. She had always loved listening to him calling her like that.
So soft and filled with his love.
"Until now... I couldn't exactly think what would make me forget about you five years ago. Usually, a person conceals a memory because they have seen something terrifying. I've forgotten about you. What if..."
From the end of the line, Tsubaki faintly heard him sucked in a sharp breath.
"Sweetheart, don't think about it," Ren pleaded in a hurtful tone. He was more afraid of her recalling the painful memory rather than thinking of his own being.
Despite that, she continued.
"...I've seen something terrifying and it's related to you. So, that's why I couldn't recall you."
Her words fell into the silence of the night.