Inside a large gray apartment, Azilya was taking off her shoes, while Kuro was angrily removing his tie and also his outer shirt. Suddenly, he approached her and grabbed her wrist.
In a cold and bored tone, he said, "Do you really think that after our marriage we will be a happy or normal couple? I told you several times to back off. You wanted to hurt me, so bear the consequences."
She looked at him with innocent eyes but said nothing, remaining silent. He left her and started walking ahead, while she followed him, looking at the house overshadowed by dark colors and almost no light. He went up the stairs and entered the room, but stopped abruptly when she bumped into him.
He turned around and looked at her with surprise, raising his eyebrows, "Why are you following me?"
She lowered her head shyly and said, "We are married…"
Before she could finish, he interrupted, "Your room is downstairs. Don't think about coming upstairs again."
She nodded understandingly. As he turned to walk away, she said softly, "This is the house you brought me to on my 18th birthday, right? It's ours."
For the second time, he stopped her and said quietly, "Go to your room."
He continued walking and closed the door in her face.
Her eyes were full of disappointment, but she smiled. She went downstairs and opened the door to her room.
When she opened it, she gasped. The room was painted in dark white tones. The bed was white and pink, and on its sides was a strawberry doll. She opened the wardrobe and found it full of clothes. She smiled and stretched out on the bed with a wide smile, thinking, "He loves me but doesn't want to admit it."
Early the next morning, Kuro came down from his room wearing a formal suit. He found the table full of breakfast.
Suddenly, Azilya appeared, wearing a light blue pajama decorated with a shiny silk top. She was carrying two glasses of milk carefully in her hands.
She smiled at him and said, "Good morning, Kuro. Come eat before you go to work."
He replied coldly, "I will eat at the company."
Before leaving, he added, "When you cook, don't cook for me anymore."
She stood in front of him, holding a glass of milk after putting one on the table.
With a smile and shining eyes, she said, "You won't leave until you drink this milk."
He looked at her coldly, then simply passed by without a word.
She watched him go, pursed her lips innocently and gently, lifted her shoulders, then sighed.
She sat down to eat while talking to herself, "He will eat at work. I wonder if work food is like my cooking." Then, as she put the egg in her mouth and drank some water, she added, "Good thing he didn't eat at home. I don't know how much salt I put."
---
At the company, Kuro entered a large building with multiple floors. People were coming and going, employees carrying their bags and starting their day. Each person had a cleaning attendant tidying the place.
He walked confidently, carrying his briefcase. Everyone bowed respectfully when they saw him.
He took the elevator to the eighth floor and entered his office, followed by his secretary. She placed a tablet carefully on his desk.
"Sir, here is today's schedule," she said, handing him a file. "And this is the contract draft you will sign."
He nodded in understanding. After a few seconds, she added, "Mrs. Sora told me you would take a week off, but I updated the schedule and files to prepare for anything. And here you are."
"Good," he replied quietly, his hand resting on the desk in a strong, manly manner, his shirt sleeves rolled up.
She smiled and said, "I'll bring your meal, sir," then left the room.
Closing the door behind her, she whispered excitedly, "Finally, he praised me!"
She adjusted her clothes and posture, only to meet a woman in a short black dress with white short sleeves and black heels. Her light blonde hair, dyed from black roots, swayed as she walked.
She spoke flirtatiously, "Is Mr. Kuro in his office?"
The secretary responded calmly, "Do you have an appointment?"
Pushing her aside, the woman said provocatively, "I don't need an appointment, darling. Remember that."
The secretary tried to stop her, "Stop, you can't come in."
But she opened the door anyway, swaying her hips and saying, "Hi, Kuro."
---
At the university, Azilya entered and sat down as usual, waiting for the professor.
Suddenly, her friends sneaked in and put their bags next to her.
In shock, Azilya said, "What are you doing in my lecture?"
Misa covered her mouth, "Speak quietly! Others might hear you."
Azilya whispered, "Why did you come to my lecture?"
Carla leaned closer, whispering, "Why did you come? You should be spending the day with your husband."
Misa loudly asked, "What did you do last night?" causing everyone to turn and look at them, then lowered her voice, "Tell us."
Azilya grabbed their backs, "We didn't do anything! Everyone slept in separate rooms."
Her friends were shocked, "What?!"
Suddenly, the professor entered, looking angry.
"To the three of you, come to my office and wait until I finish the class."
They bowed their heads and left the class without objections.
Azilya looked at them, "You're the reason."
Misa said, "You're the reason. You told us you don't sleep in the same room with him."
Carla joked, "Even the professor's office is good to tell us what happened, right?"
---
Two hours later, the professor came out, followed by Kuro and Loran.
When Azilya saw Kuro's face, she turned away.
The professor angrily said, "This is the last time I will complain about you. Next time, I will send a report to the administration, and they will act. I have tolerated you so far, but every class you cause chaos with your irrational behavior. Kuro and Loran have been my students since their graduation. Now, in their last year for a doctorate, I have seen nothing bad from them."
Loran respectfully said, "Sorry, I promise it won't happen again."
Azilya still kept her head down, avoiding looking at him, while Kuro stood bored, not even glancing at her.
The professor continued, "I don't understand why Misa and Carla, who are in their first year of the master's program, attend the classes of Azilya, who is still in her last undergraduate year. Anyway, I hope this chaos won't repeat."
They all excused themselves and left the classroom.
Loran angrily said, "I don't understand why you attend her classes."
Misa, indifferent, said, "We were talking about Azilya's first night with Kuro."
Loran quickly shut her up and looked around to check if anyone was watching them.
---
Azilya was following Kuro from behind. He was walking quickly and entered his car without a word.
She entered too, sat beside him, and said in a childish, innocent voice, "Kuro, I'm sorry for what I did."
He didn't answer. She grabbed his wrist, but he pushed her hand away and approached her. She moved back, but the car seat stopped her. Only centimeters separated them.
In a cold tone, he said, "You will never grow up. You're not a child for me to fix your childish moves. I have work waiting for me; I don't have time for you."
Then he moved away.
She lowered her head and said childishly, "Sorry, I won't cause any trouble again."
He started the car quickly, and she closed her eyes in fear, adjusting her seat.
---
At home, they entered to find Mrs. Sora sitting around the table full of food, smiling.
"You came; I was waiting for you for lunch," she said.
Kuro, as usual cold, said, "Kuro, I don't want it," and went to his room.
Azilya came closer and put her hand on Sora's shoulder.
"I missed you and missed your food," she smiled.
Sora smiled and they sat to eat, though she kept looking upwards.
When they finished eating, Sora went to Kuro's room and knocked, then entered.
She found him working in his office.
She said angrily, "Kuro, I told you not to make the girl feel anything. Why do you ignore her? She's innocent in everything. She only loves you."
He got up and hit the desk so hard his veins bulged.
"Innocent? Innocent of what exactly? I had some doubts that she was truly innocent, but since she agreed to marry me, she is one of them."
Sora tried to calm him gently.
"Listen, Kuro, don't hurt her. Since she came to our house as a child, she was attached to you."
He interrupted angrily.
"Mom, stop defending her. Since I haven't found the truth about what happened, I will destroy her if she stands in the way of my research. Now, mom, sorry, please leave. I have work to finish."
She left as he asked.
---
At night, Azilya was sitting on her bed watching a series. She wanted to drink but found the bottle empty. She got up and went to the kitchen.
On the way, she found Kuro drunk, sitting on the couch, his legs spread apart and both hands resting on the couch's back.
When he saw her, Azilya went to him and whispered, "Kuro, get up and go to your room. Don't sleep here."
Before she could finish, he grabbed her and sat her on his lap. He covered her mouth with his hand and said, "Shhh."
He held her in his arms and stood up, heading upstairs. She gently tapped his shoulders to make him realize himself.
"Kuro, you need to put me down."
He didn't listen. They reached the room, and he placed her on the bed. She tried to get up, but he pushed her back. He lay down beside her and pulled the blanket over them.
She slept nestled between his arms.