79 The weekend is too far

Deep lines form between her brows. Kiyohira notices the change in her expression. He massages the space between her brows and chuckles, "A penny for your thought?"

She blinks at him dumbly before shrugging her shoulders uneasily. Kiyohira wants to prod her further, but they are not alone. He pulls the chair for her. She looks at him once and then, turns her eyes to his grandmother. Kiyohira realizes his mistake. He smiles at his grandmother respectfully.

Grandmother Kamiyama has been watching their interaction like a hawk. She hmphs in Rie's direction before sitting down on the chair. After the matriarch of the family is seated, all the other members also take a seat. 

Rie looks around and notices that Harumi's face is not visible among all the maids. Did she leave the job? She liked that girl. Among all the servants, that girl was a little better. 

"What's wrong?" He has been paying attention to her since she recovered her memories. He doesn't want to make any mistake toward her. He wants her to feel her at ease with him and his family. 

"Nothing." Rie doesn't want to ask. Her mood is still bad. Under the strong gazes of everyone, the familiar anxiety is returning in her body. It's only been a day since her memories returned. The last two years without the memories seem like a cruel joke in her pathetic life. 

Someone nudges her gently. "Eat."

Kiyohira doesn't know what her favorite dishes are. So, he prepared everything that she might like. He wants to see which one she will pick up first. Her eyes linger on the dishes with disinterest. She picks up a deep-fried chicken leg from all the dishes.

Her tastes are rather simple. 

In Rie's mind, a forgotten memory resurfaces again. She could hear the distant sound of children's laughter. Suddenly, she finds herself on the ground behind the school. The kids are laughing at her as Miwako stuffs her mouth with trash. 

The chicken leg drops on the plate. Kiyohira stares at her. Her face is ghastly pale. She must be thinking of something bad. He places his hand on her back and whispers to her ear, "Rie, I am here. You are safe."

Safe. The word makes her feel strange. She meets his eyes. She doesn't trust him. Is she capable of being normal? She doesn't know that either. 

She picks up the chicken leg again. She can overcome this weakness of hers. She doesn't want to suffer because of her own memories. 

"Chisa's father called." Grandmother Kamiyama speaks up when she's about to take a bite.

The poor chicken leg drop on the plate again.

"Oh?" Kiyohira wonders if he should feed her. But, she could mind it as she did once in the past. 

"I have broken the engagement before they could find out." Grandmother Kamiyam observes Rie's reaction. There is no change in her expression. The girl is extremely quiet. It's her grandson who is frowning darkly. She realizes that her grandson is the one who loves the girl. The girl probably doesn't feel the same as her grandson did. Then, why did this girl marry her grandson?

"Hmm..." So, they haven't found out that he and Rie have married already. Where are the snooping journalists when he needs them? Nevertheless, this is a good chance. Kiyohira suddenly grins in Rie's direction. "When do you want to have a wedding ceremony?"

She narrows her eyes on him. "Wedding ceremony?"

"Though we are married on paper, we should have a wedding ceremony." Kiyohira sounds both amused and teasing. "How about next week?"

"Brother, what about this weekend? We shouldn't delay the good things." Takeshi smiles widely. If they get married in public, the news will travel faster. A certain someone will find out even faster.

Grandmother Kamiyama is fuming. Both of her grandsons have gone mad. "Kiyohira, you won't have a wedding ceremony with that girl. Nobody must know about your marriage with her until I approve of her."

He didn't expect to hear that. Kiyohira hides the displeasure in his heart and ignores his grandmother. "Rie, is weekend good?"

It might be hectic to arrange a wedding ceremony at such a short time. But, nothing is impossible with money and power. 

"No, I don't like wearing dresses." Rie's appetite is gone since she heard the name 'Chisa'. Wedding ceremonies are tiresome. She needs to plan how to get back at that woman. Hashimoto Chisa. What she has been up to? 

Rie doesn't have time to play wife to him. His grandmother doesn't approve of her either.

"Then, wear what you like." He squeezes her hand. "The whole nation must know that I belong to you."

Didn't she want that? Kiyohira is sure that she wants Chisa to know that they are married. What other way is better than a grand wedding ceremony? 

"Kiyohira, show some respect." Grandmother Kamiyama stands up and slams her hands on the table. "If you want to have a wedding ceremony, then go ahead without my blessings. I won't attend it."

She glares at Rie once before strutting away from the table in anger. Kiyohira sighs. His grandmother is being difficult. He is sure that she will plan something since she didn't 

"Don't mind her. She will accept you soon." He strokes her head. "Eat. You didn't have breakfast this morning."

Takeshi realizes that his sister-in-law is not behaving normally. Her eyes are not the same. She has changed drastically. Then, it would have been strange if she didn't change after what happened to her when she was abducted. His brother needs to tread carefully in this relationship. One wrong step and he might lose her entirely.

However, Rie doesn't care about his grandmother's approval. She is thinking deeply. Chisa doesn't know it yet. Then, it must happen before she finds out from other sources.

"I am not hungry." She gets up with an expressionless face. "The weekend is too far. I want to have it tomorrow."

She walks out of the house after telling him of her decision.

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