"I understand. You can go and take care of your tasks," Yukinoshita Haruno said lightly to the maid.
The maid bowed politely and turned away.
As they watch the maid leaving, Yukinoshita Haruno took Akira Fujimiya by the hand and walked with him deeper into the villa/House.
The living room was lavishly decorated:
Beautiful painting adorned the walls — exquisite oil paintings, serene landscape scrolls, and framed calligraphy written by renowned masters.
"Some of the calligraphy and paintings came from overseas auctions. They are collections of my father's family," Yukinoshita Haruno explained softly.
"Are any of them especially valuable?" Akira asked with curiosity.
"There used to be one that was extremely rare. But my father donated it to the museum in Tokyo," Haruno replied calmly.
"So, the Yukinoshita family must have important connections in the art world?" Akira understood immediately.
Yukinoshita Haruno nodded.
Indeed, due to that precious piece, the Yukinoshita family still maintained strong ties with the cultural departments and influential art collectors.
The two walked upstairs together and arrived in front of the study door.
knock-knock-
Haruno knocked gently.
"Come in," a mature woman's voice called from inside.
Haruno pushed the door open.
Akira stepped into the elegant room and immediately noticed the woman inside.
A graceful woman dressed in a refined purple kimono stood before a large wooden desk, brush in hand, writing in elegant strokes. Her long, sleek black hair was tied loosely, and her every move carried noble refinement.
She lifted her head and looked at the two of them.
When her eyes landed on Akira, there was a moment of mild surprise.
Clearly — she recognized him.
Akira did not say anything immediately.
Instead, he calmly observed the piece of calligraphy before her.
Noticing this, Mrs. Yukinoshita finished the last few characters, placed her brush down with composure, and faced him.
{T/N: I used Madam Yukinoshita before because other people used Mrs. Yukinoshita for Haruno too but it doesn't required now}
"Fujimiya-kun, what do you think of my calligraphy?" she asked with a graceful smile.
"Your calligraphy has form, but it lacks the spirit," Akira said bluntly after only a brief look.
"Oh?" She exclaim calmly, still smiling, she was not offended by his blunt comment. Rather, she seemed intrigued by it. "Why do you say that?"
"You're imitating someone else. Truly great calligraphy cannot be replicated," Akira answered calmly.
"I did indeed reference a calligrapher's style. How did you figure that out?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
"It's hanging in the living room downstairs. The brushwork is identical to what you've written," Akira said, reminding her.
Mrs. Yukinoshita paused for a few seconds, then softly chuckled as she remembered the piece in question.
It was true—
"Fujimiya-kun, you have excellent observation skills."
"Thank you for the praise," Akira replied, bowing politely.
"Haruno, could you please make some tea? Use the same tea leaves I reserve for honored guests," Mrs. Yukinoshita instructed.
"Yes," Yukinoshita Haruno replied, giving Akira a subtle, reassuring look before quietly leaving the study.
"Please have a seat," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, smiling again.
Akira sat down on an intricately carved chair, clearly very expensive and made from rare hardwood.
"I love classical culture very much. This study is modeled after a traditional Japanese scholar's room. The furniture is crafted from precious wood, and the shelves display genuine antique books." Mrs. Yukinoshita spoke in a slow, cultured tone as she elegantly took her seat.
{T/N: Bragging?}
Akira listened attentively and respectfully, never interrupting her introduction.
After a while, she stopped speaking.
Then she gazed directly at him.
"Fujimiya-kun, I have been observing you quite closely. And to be honest, I have a high opinion of you."
"Thank you," Akira responded without unnecessary humility.
He accepted the compliment calmly, almost naturally.
"I have no objection to the relationship you have with Yukino. However," her tone sharpened slightly, "...your relationship with Haruno seems unusually close. I want to hear your explanation."
"Haruno and I are friends and close collaborators," Akira stated calmly.
"'Close collaborators'?" Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned slightly.
"Haruno knows my business plan well. She is entrusted with managing most of my funds. We trust each other completely," Akira replied, meeting her gaze.
"And what about Yukino?" she asked.
"I will marry Yukino," Akira answered straightforwardly and seriously.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression turn cold at once.
"Fujimiya-kun… you work closely with Haruno, yet you intend to marry Yukino? Are you trying to seize the Yukinoshita family's fortune?" Her voice turned cold and threatening.
"I have no interest in the Yukinoshita family's wealth. I only care about them," Akira said, shaking his head.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's face darkened instantly.
Not interested in their wealth… but interested in both daughters?
It was, without question, the most outrageous thing she had ever heard.
"Mrs. Yukinoshita, please don't be angry. The reason I dare speak this truth is because… I know your secret — and I have evidence." Akira's tone remained firm and calm.
"What did you just say?" Mrs. Yukinoshita stood up sharply, disbelief and tension rising in her eyes.
"It was around six in the evening. The hotel was elegantly decorated. You were wearing a purple kimono. The woman you met — likely your secretary — wore glasses and a gray business suit. You ordered her to—"
{T/N: To do what???? Hey talk you little sh**}
"Enough!" Mrs. Yukinoshita snapped, her hands clenching tightly.
"I don't what much — I only ask you to withdraw from controlling the Yukinoshita Group's construction division, and transfer all family assets to Haruno. That is all," Akira declared, standing up.
"Ten billion yen. Give me the evidence, and I'll pretend none of this happened," Mrs. Yukinoshita said coldly, extending her hand.
Akira shook his head, without hesitation.
"Twenty billion," she said, voice colder.
Akira shook his head again, his expression remain the same.
"Thirty billion. Don't push me too far," she growled, eyes filled with danger.
Akira remained unwavering,
"I already owe 50 billion yen. A certain young lady lent me that amount. Can you guess which young lady has that kind of capability?" Akira asked lightly.
"You… you know her?" Mrs. Yukinoshita's cold expression immediately crumbled — replaced by panic and complexity.
Akira's remain calm on the outside but inside he was not that calm—
The powerful young heiress who helped him truly possessed influence beyond imagination.
"I don't actually know her well. She simply likes my manga. So she lent me 50 billion yen as an investment," Akira explained without exaggeration.
"She is the sole heir of that family...You should not involve yourself with her," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, her voice dropping to a troubled whisper.
Her reaction revealed undeniable truth:
She could not touch Fujimiya Akira — not because of Yukinoshita influence.
And it wasn't just because that family was so powerful.
But because her brother… was the head of that family.
That girl had grown up under Mrs. Yukinoshita's care (or watched)
Even now, she regarded her as a maternal figure.
No matter what happened — Mrs. Yukinoshita could never harm Akira.
And....if she herself had begun to feel something toward him…
At that realization, Mrs. Yukinoshita froze.
Her wishes… her unspoken desires…
Akira continued calmly, unaware of her brief turmoil.
"I'm not interested in that family's power either. My goal is simple — once my business succeeds, I want a peaceful life. To occasionally help Yukino and Haruno with their company issues, spend time together, go to the beach or travel to beautiful places… that's enough for me."
Mrs. Yukinoshita stared at him, emotions turbulent beneath her refined exterior.
"You are saying this because you don't know about their power and influence" Mrs. Yukinoshita said woth a complicated expression.
"Mrs. Yukinoshita… no matter how vast wealth may be, one only has a single life. My parents died in an accident, disappearing from my world forever. For a long time, I felt life was meaningless. Until I met Yukino-chan… made friends… found something I love and a dream to pursue."
Akira's voice was firm and sincere — unwavering.
{T/N: .....son of a ***}
Silence enveloped the room.
His eyes shone with honesty — clear, without shadows of ambition.
"I do not want the Yukinoshita family's assets. I only want Haruno to be free. To prove my sincerity — I will return the evidence to you. This should be enough to let you know that I never needed the Yukinoshita wealth."
Akira took out a USB flash drive and placed it on the desk, gently pushing it toward her.
"How do I know that this is the only copy?" she asked sharply.
When—
The door clicked open.
Yukinoshita Haruno walked in, carrying a laptop.
"...Mother, I can prove it."
"Haruno…" Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes faltered.
In front of Akira, she could display anger and authority — but toward her daughter, what she felt was only guilt.
"There are only two copies of this file. One on the desktop, the other in this USB drive. Fujimiya-kun only copied it once. He did not have another chance to duplicate it." Haruno explained logically, opening the laptop in front of her mother.
Mrs. Yukinoshita opened the video, muted the audio, and watched.
A few minutes later, she closed it with trembling hands.
Haruno took out another USB drive and placed it next to the first.
"This is the recording from my room, capturing Fujimiya-kun copying the evidence exactly once before leaving." Her tone was unwavering and certain.
Mrs. Yukinoshita stared at the two USBs. The truth was indisputable.
Unless…
Unless Haruno herself had another copy.
But there was no deception in Haruno's eyes.
"Mother… the reason I allowed Fujimiya-kun to see the evidence was to test him. I wanted to know whether he could respond perfectly — and he did. Just now, outside the door, I heard your conversation. That's why I'm confident I made the right choice." Haruno looked at Akira, her eyes gently filled with warmth and affection.
"Haruno, you…" Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at her daughter — the same daughter she had raised to be controlled, turned into someone entirely different.
Someone strong.
Someone independent.
"Fujimiya-kun has done so much for me. It's my turn to act," Haruno said softly.
"I only did what must be done," Akira replied, completely unsurprised by Haruno's decisive actions.
"Mother. What I desire is simple: I want to choose my own life. I don't want you to dictate my marriage or force me to inherit a future I don't want. If you insist on arranging everything for me — I will abandon the Yukinoshita name and move into Sakurasou." Haruno declared seriously, her voice calm but resolute.
"HARUNO!, do you understand what you're saying?" Mrs. Yukinoshita was overwhelmed — anger, shock, confusion, and helplessness swirling in her expression.
How could the carefully raised young lady of the Yukinoshita family say such a thing?
"I have already spoken to Father. You can call him to confirm." Haruno bowed deeply, then extended her hand toward Akira.
Akira stepped forward, gently holding her hand.
Together — they walked out of the room.
The door closed behind them.
Mrs. Yukinoshita remained standing there alone — stunned into absolute silence.
After a long time, she finally picked up her phone… and called Yukinoshita Haruno's father.
The Man she called her Husband.....
...
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