As you descended the stairs, the elegant fabric of your dress cascaded around you, accentuating your figure in a way that made you feel almost like yourself again. The chandelier's soft glow illuminated the living room, where Satoru and his friends were gathered, discussing plans for the business gala.
The moment you stepped into view, Shoko's sharp brown eyes landed on you. Her lips curled into a pleased smile as she stood up, walking toward you with open arms.
"Hi, girl, how have you been?" she greeted warmly before wrapping you in a soft hug.
You chuckled, returning the embrace as she pulled back slightly, giving you an approving once-over. "Wow, you look so much prettier than the last time I saw you."
A smile graced your lips as you thanked her for the compliment, but deep down, a nagging thought lingered. Was she saying the truth? Or did she feel bad for me—What if I might look worse after being confined in this house since I got married?
The thought pressed at the back of your mind, but you shoved it away, keeping your expression composed as the conversation around you carried on.
As you and Shoko pulled away from the hug, your eyes landed on Suguru. He was already looking at you, a soft, knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Hey," he greeted smoothly, his deep voice carrying an effortless warmth. "How have you been?"
You nodded, keeping your voice steady. "I'm great," you replied, offering a small smile.
But the moment his gaze lingered, something inside you shifted. Your heart began to pound—an all-too-familiar sensation you hadn't felt in a long time. A subtle heat crept up your cheeks, and before you could stop yourself, your fingers lightly brushed against your chest as if trying to steady the rapid beating.
Why am I reacting like this?
Realizing what was happening, you quickly pushed the feeling away, forcing your composure back in place. Now wasn't the time for this.
As you steadied yourself, you turned to Nanami, who was seated at the table, flipping through a fashion magazine. Catching his eye, you gave him a small wave. He glanced up, offering you a polite smile before returning to his reading.
Everyone was still chatting casually when you felt Satoru's gaze on you. When you looked his way, he was already staring, his expression unreadable—but the subtle flick of his fingers signaled something.
You weren't sure what he wanted, and frankly, you didn't care to find out. Instead of acknowledging it, you simply smiled at everyone and said, "I'll go get some tea for you guys." Without waiting for a response, you turned and headed for the kitchen.
Behind you, Satoru leaned back on the sofa, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched you disappear from sight. He glanced at his friends before looking down at the table, satisfaction gleaming in his icy blue eyes.
Just as I wanted her to be.
As you step into the kitchen, you pause for a moment, biting your nail in thought. The silence is almost suffocating, but then the young maid enters, her smile bright and eager.
"My lady, you should go sit. I'll make the tea for everyone, including you," she says warmly.
You offer her a smile, soft but firm. "No, of course not. I'd love to make it. Please, let me handle it."
The maid nods, still smiling, and steps aside to give you space as she leaves the kitchen.
Once she's gone, your smile fades, replaced by something far darker—an icy determination. You begin to prepare the tea, the motion almost mechanical, but inside, a different plan is forming. Your eyes scan the kitchen until they land on a jar of powder, seemingly innocuous. With a steady hand, you sprinkle a small amount of it into Satoru's cup. It will do what you need it to.
As the tea simmers, you feel a wave of satisfaction wash over you. Just one small action, but it's enough. You finish making the tea, your movements precise, then head back to the living room with the tray in hand. The tension you've built is almost palpable as you walk in, your smile back in place, but your eyes cold with purpose.
You carefully pick up the cups, making sure to give the one with the altered tea directly to Satoru, your smile never wavering as you place it in front of him. Then, you hand out the others to the rest of the group, before sitting down next to him, your posture poised and controlled.
Satoru glances at you, his gaze curious. "Why didn't you make some for yourself?" he asks, studying you.
You turn to him with a confident, playful smile, your voice smooth as you lean in just slightly. "Well," you say with a playful smile, "it wouldn't feel like I've had any unless you've had yours too."
Satoru's eyes widen slightly, and you catch the brief flicker of surprise in his gaze. His heart skips a beat at your words, but he quickly masks it, looking away as he takes a slow sip of the tea.
Shoko, ever the teasing one, grins and looks at you. "Oh, how romantic of you," she says, then turns to Satoru, a playful smirk crossing her face. "You're blushing~"
You chuckle, and soon the rest of the room joins in, the atmosphere light with laughter as Satoru's face reddens in embarrassment.
You sit back, a sense of confidence settling over you, the moment feeling like a quiet victory. A dark thought crosses your mind, and you can't help but wish that Satoru would soon feel the consequences of his drink.
The dark thought in your mind—you imagine Satoru sitting on the toilet, his face contorted in discomfort as his stomach churns, him crying as he was having diarrhea with his face red.
A quiet laugh escapes you, and you shake your head in excitement, a feeling of satisfaction bubbling up inside you at the mere thought. It's a petty revenge, but it brings you a sense of joy, however small.
~~~***~~~
Utahime sat on the couch, scrolling through reels. "People wouldn't like that we're together in this novel," she muttered, reading one aloud.
She glanced at the guy with white hair, who was stretching behind her. "We're together for a reason. It'll make sense later in the story," he said calmly.
Utahime's face twisted in mild disgust, wiping sweat from her brow. "Right, Inumaki... You're just my student in reality." She chuckled awkwardly, while Inumaki simply blinked, leaving the situation hilariously uncomfortable.
As Inumaki walked out to the balcony, Utahime seized the opportunity to slip into the bathroom. Her mind raced as she grabbed the pregnancy test, the weight of her plan of having Satoru's baby hanging heavy in the air. The first test had come back negative, but she wasn't ready to give up yet. With a determined sigh, she set the first test aside and prepared to take a second one, hoping for a different result this time—positive.
💌 The business party🥂
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