Utahime froze for a moment, her mind racing as she tried to come up with an excuse. Finally, she blurted out, "It's actually Todo!"
Satoru raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear on his face. Then his expression shifted back to anger as he shouted, "You've been drinking wine with Todo!?"
Her eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed a deep red. She shook her hands frantically. "No—Not that! He came over just to give me cake!"
Satoru stared at her, unconvinced. He let out a deep sigh, leaning back on the couch. His eyes flicked to the wine-stained mess on the couch before meeting her gaze again, his voice calm but sharp. "Then why are there two wine glasses hidden?"
Utahime swallowed hard, her blush deepening as she avoided Satoru's gaze. Finally, she muttered, "I told you I was crazy, Satoru."
Satoru let out a sharp scoff, leaning forward slightly as he glared at her. "Excuses," he said, his tone dripping with disbelief. His eyes stayed fixed on her, waiting for a better explanation.
Utahime hesitated for a moment, then walked over to Satoru, her steps tentative. She sat down next to him, closing the distance as her hands gently caressed his arm and shoulder. Her touch was soft, soothing, as she leaned in, her voice low and sweet.
"Babe, you have to believe me," she murmured, her fingers tracing small, calming circles on his shoulder.
Satoru glanced at her, his expression still stern, but his posture slightly less tense.
"You know I never lie to you, my dear," she continued, her voice taking on a pleading tone as she leaned closer, her face inches from his.
Satoru let out a small "tch," but his gaze wavered slightly as she pressed on.
"I have only you in my life," she whispered, her lips near his ear now. "You're the only one I care about. Please, don't doubt me."
Her words, soft and intimate, hung in the air as she maintained her tender grip on his arm, waiting to see if his anger would melt under her touch.
Satoru closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned back against the couch. "Fine. I'll believe you," he said, his voice quieter, though still tinged with a hint of doubt.
Utahime's eyes lit up instantly, a bright smile spreading across her face as she threw her arms around him, clinging to him happily. "Thank you, babe! I knew you'd trust me!" she said, her tone cheerful and filled with relief.
Satoru opened his eyes, now focused on her as she nestled against him. His sharp gaze softened, a flicker of affection replacing the earlier suspicion. He couldn't help but think about how utterly adorable she could get when she was like this. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched her.
"You're lucky you're cute," he muttered under his breath, his eyes warm as they lingered on her.
As Utahime clung to Satoru, her bright smile slowly faded, though she kept up the act. In her mind, a darker thought crept in, one she couldn't suppress. If he's already this jealous and angry just from noticing a man's scent on my couch... how would he react if he ever found out that I actually did cheat on him?
The idea sent a shiver down her spine, but another thought followed, one she couldn't shake. Maybe he should feel the pain of his wife, she mused silently, her gaze momentarily distant. Not just for cheating on her, but for being toxic with me.
For treating me like an object made to satisfy him.
Her fingers tightened slightly on his arm, her smile returning as she forced herself to act normal. But in the back of her mind, the seed of resentment remained, growing just a little more with every passing second.
Meanwhile, in Satoru's mind, he mulled over the situation, his initial suspicion gradually fading. Pretty sure nothing suspicious happened between these two. After all, Todo's been her friend since kindergarten.
A small smile tugged at his lips, and a quiet chuckle escaped him as a thought rushed in. He wouldn't even be able to hide in here. Wouldn't fit anywhere with all that meat in him.
The mental image of Todo awkwardly trying to cram his massive frame into Utahime's tiny bathroom or behind the couch made Satoru's shoulders shake with suppressed laughter, his mood lightening considerably.
Utahime felt Satoru's chuckle vibrate through his chest as she leaned against him. Looking up at him, she couldn't help but think how easy it is for her to handle him.
His smile, his softened mood—she knew just how to calm him, how to ease his suspicion. With a few words, a light touch, and his pride would bend. It was almost too simple.
She traced her fingers along his arm, a small smile playing on her lips as she let out a soft laugh, hiding the quiet resentment beneath her calm exterior.
Meanwhile, the white-haired guy, still hidden behind the washing machine in the bathroom, simmered in frustration. The space wasn't cramped, but it was far from comfortable as he waited, tense and silent. He hadn't made a sound since Satoru arrived, carefully avoiding any movement that might give him away. The longer he stayed hidden, the more his irritation grew, but he knew better than to risk making a noise. He was stuck, waiting for the moment when he could finally slip out unnoticed.
~~~
You stormed downstairs, your anger propelling each step as you demanded that a young maid hand over her phone so you could make a call to your mother. The young maid, clearly intimidated by your fiery demeanor, hesitated for only a moment before quickly handing it over, her hands trembling slightly as she offered the device. Fear was written across her face as she realized just how deep your anger ran, and she dared not question you.
You snatched the phone from the young maid's trembling hands and stormed back upstairs, your pace quick and determined. As you reached your room, you glanced at your broken phone on the desk, frustration building up again. You dialed your mom's number, each ring feeling like an eternity as your gaze stayed fixed on the shattered screen before you.
On the other end, your mom stared at her phone, frowning at the unfamiliar number flashing on the screen. "Who could this be?" she said to herself, before answering.
As soon as the line connected, your voice tore through the silence. "Mom, get me out of this place already!" The scream echoed, raw and desperate, making her eyes widen in shock as she realized it was you.
Your mom's voice trembled with concern, "Honey, what's wrong? Is everything okay?"
But you couldn't hold it in any longer. You paced around the room, your anger flaring as you shouted back into the phone, "Okay!? Do you think everything's okay when you've sold me off to this man we barely knew!?" The words cut through the air, fueled by the pain and betrayal that had been building up for so long. Your heart raced as you gripped the phone tighter, not caring if you were making things worse.
On the other end of the line, your mom's voice wavered with confusion and worry, her brow furrowed as she tried to understand. "Sweetheart, what are you talking about? I'm sure—positive—that I did not force you into this."
You could feel your scream building up again, but you forced yourself to take a deep breath, calming yourself just enough to speak. "Mom," you said, your voice steady but laced with tension, "What was in your mind when you set me up with him?"
There was a pause before your mom's voice came back, more perplexed now. "What do you mean?"
You couldn't hold it in any longer. Your voice broke through the line, sharp and cutting. "Were you even in your right mind!?" The words rang out, almost a challenge, as the weight of your frustration pressed down on you.
"Were you sane!? Insane, right!?" you spat through the phone, your voice sharp and biting, almost as if you were bullying her now, the frustration taking over completely.
Your mom's voice grew more stern, her patience thinning. "Quiet! Do not scream at my ear."
But you couldn't stop. The words just poured out, a scream of pure agony and desperation.
Your mom snapped back, louder now, "Do you want me deaf this young, child!?"
Without hesitation, you screamed right back, "Child marriage is not okay!" The words felt like a punch, each one heavier than the last, as you poured every ounce of anger into that one simple truth.
Your mom was left speechless, her hand instinctively going to her chest in shock at how you were turning it all on her, blaming her for everything. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice softer but still tinged with hurt. "That was not my intention, but you two are mature enough for each other."
You didn't hesitate, your anger still raw. "I do not care."
There was a pause before your mom asked, a hint of confusion creeping into her tone, "Also, did you change your number?"
"No," you snapped, your frustration mounting, "I'm calling from a maid's phone. Mine broke."
She paused again, then asked cautiously, "How?"
You let out a sharp breath, barely holding back your anger. "I threw it at the wall."
Your mom took a deep breath, the weight of the situation settling over her. After a long pause, she spoke again, this time softer, her voice laced with concern. "Kid. Tell me. What happened between you two?"
Meanwhile, downstairs, the young maids huddled together in a quiet corner, speaking in hushed tones. They exchanged nervous glances, clearly unsettled by the sounds coming from upstairs.
"It's better if we stay away from her," one of them whispered, her voice trembling. "Did you hear those screams? It sounded like... like a witch."
The others nodded, fear evident in their eyes. The intensity of your outburst had shaken them. The sheer power in your voice felt threatening, making them wary of getting too close. They didn't know what exactly had set you off, but they all agreed: staying out of your way was the safest choice.
💌Forcing himself on you❓
To be continued...