56 He Didn't Want To Bind Her To His Selfish Desire

While his dear wife was sleeping peacefully beside him, Kyoya was still awake. He leaned against the headboard, his eyes landed on the small thing in his hands. A foolish smile spread on his face.

It was the resin he made the other day. At first, he planned to give it to her while they were strolling near the lake earlier. Regretfully, he was too immersed in their conversation until he forgot about it.

Three dried petals of a blue iris flower adorned the piece of resin. He loved the meaning this flower carried.

"Nevermind, I'd give this to her later," He whispered quietly in the middle of the night. He turned his gaze toward the sleeping lady. The light in his eyes softened like a puddle of warm water.

This short trip was much more meaningful than the ones he had with her before. After all, this was their new beginning.

As the blue iris meant, he had hope and faith that they could return to how they used to be. Maybe, the love between them would be better.

Kyoya quietly placed the resin in the topmost drawer of the bedside table. He laid beside her, he lightly placed his arms around her waist. Her sweet and soft fragrant lulled him to sleep.

The moon outside the windows continued shining its light, illuminating the two people sleeping on the bed. Time passed by on a steady rhythm until the first light of the dawn dyed the horizon red and orange.

It was time to go home.

"Sleep, you're still sleepy."

Kyoya chuckled softly toward Shouko who kept on yawning until her eyes teared up. She waved her hand, indicating she was okay but her expression said otherwise.

They were currently in the departure hall, waiting for the flight to head back to the city. It was half-past seven in the morning. Shouko was still drowsy by the time they aboard the car but she refused to sleep for a little longer as she wanted to feast her eyes with the brilliant scenery of the morning.

She especially loved the view of the morning sun sprinkling its golden light over the surface of the lake.

When they finally reached the airport, she kept nodding her head until Kyoya had no choice but to tightly hold onto her, afraid of his wife being left behind.

Kyoya reached out one hand and pulled her closer toward him. The sleepy Shouko just went along with him.

He gently put her head on his shoulder, letting her lean on him. This time, she obediently closed her heavy-lidded eyes before the faint sound of her breathing filled their close proximity.

A small and tender smile curled up on his lips.

As Kyoya was gently stroking her head, a vibration came from the inside of his pocket. He brought out his phone, an unread message notification was displayed on the screen. Grandpa's name was written as the sender. He tapped the screen, revealing the full content of the message.

Grandpa: Good morning, my dear grandson~ Well, Shouko's father requested to meet her. I haven't promised anything. What do you think?

Kyoya frowned in displeasure, he didn't expect to be met with unfavorable news so early in the morning.

Although he threatened Father Yuasa and disallowed him from meeting his wife, they were still family. As Grandpa had stressed to him before, it was inevitable for Shouko to meet her father. Although he discouraged her from visiting her maiden home, sometimes she still was needed to go back. They had even met in a few banquets.

Yet, it was already a few months since the last time Shouko met him. For that man to request meeting her during this time... he thought it was nothing but bad news.

In the end, Kyoya typed a few words before he sent the message back to Grandpa. The creases on his forehead deepened, he stared at the screen with his eyes lowered.

His message was short and concise.

I'll ask her first.

Kyoya put the phone back without waiting for the reply. His mood became sour as he thought of how he had always disliked his father-in-law.

As much as he didn't want Shouko to meet that man especially when she was vulnerable without her prior memory, Kyoya knew he shouldn't act recklessly.

He could only ask his wife's opinion first while silently hoping for her to reject the request.

No matter what was her choice, he was here to shield her against anything.

Kyoya shook his head in helplessness. He took out a small gift box from the pocket of his trench coat. The pastel yellow gift box was wrapped neatly with a white ribbon. He quietly slipped the box inside Shouko's cross-body bag, placing it in the compartment with a zip.

A secretive smile spread on his face.

He wondered when would she realize the existence of the box? Thinking about it, his mood turned better.

They boarded the flight, heading straight to the first-class cabin. A few other passengers followed them from behind. By this time, Shouko was already wide awake. She hummed softly as she looked out of the small windows.

The white floating clouds look so cute ah! She was really tempted to find a pile of soft blankets and jumped on them, imitating the clouds.

A certain someone was sneakily glancing at her and the bag she put on a compartment in front of her seat. He pursed his lips tight, his brain was working hard right now.

"En, wife?" Kyoya coughed once, trying to direct her attention from the clouds to him. "Do you have a tissue in your bag?"

"Hurm?" Shouko blinked once, her eyes went to the box of tissue that sat silently beside her bag.

Did her husband not see the tissue box?

"We have tissue here." Shouko stretched out her hand, taking the tissue box and handed it to him. "Why? Do you feel discomfort anywhere?"

Kyoya stared at the tissue box in her hands. His expression went stiff before he reluctantly took it from her.

"Thanks..."

Shouko didn't think much of the man's weird facial expression. She sat properly in her seat. The seat was comfortable and the legroom was spacious. She didn't have to worry about having her limbs felt weak after this, Shouko thought happily.

Then, she began reading one of the books provided by the airline.

Kyoya inwardly facepalmed himself. If possible, he wanted her to see his gift before they reached home. What should he do next?

He kept his posture straight yet his eyes would always dart to his wife who sat beside him.

While he was silently looking at her, his eyes fell over her plump lips. Another idea struck in his mind.

"En, wife?"

Shouko tilted her head, her round eyes went to her husband. "Why?"

"En, do you have a lip balm?" Kyoya pointed at his lips. He kept his face straight as he continued, "My lips feel dry. I forgot to apply some."

"Oh, I have one," Shouko quickly took her bag. It was inevitable for lips to crack when the weather was cold and dry. In a second, she fished out a lip balm stick from her bag and gave it to Kyoya. "Here, use it. This brand is good."

Kyoya, "..."

Why can't she feel something new was added inside her bag? Didn't she feel the additional weight?

He was already close to slap his face hard.

Forget it, I should just let her discover it by herself.

They arrived in the city at noon. The chauffeur was already waiting for them. Both Kyoya and Shouko directly went home.

As Kyoya was replying to Ryota's message, he remembered what Grandpa had told him. He sighed deeply, feeling annoyed by the task.

"Shouko, Grandpa texted me this morning," He put his phone inside his pocket, his voice was low as he reluctantly spoke. "He wanted to ask you something."

"En? What is it?" Shouko retracted her eyes from the view outside the car's windows, paying Kyoya her full attention. From the way he appeared right now, she sensed something was off. "You sound upset, Kyoya. What happened?"

Kyoya chuckled softly, he shook his head. He locked his gaze with hers, trying to see her reaction once he said it. "Your father wants to meet you."

At the mention of her father, Shouko's entire body stiffened. She blinked a few times, her lips parted but no words came out. She was surprised to hear what Kyoya was saying.

Her father wanted to meet her?

"My father..."

Seeing how her face changed within a second, Kyoya felt terrible. He scooted closer to his wife, one of his hands rubbed her head. With a shallow smile on his lips, he continued in a gentler voice.

"Your father mentioned it to Grandpa," Kyoya sighed helplessly. "If you don't want to meet him, I'll tell Grandpa to reject his request. We won't force you."

Shouko lowered her eyes. She was mindlessly staring at the hem of her long jacket as she repeated his words in her mind.

Ever since she woke up without any prior memory of what happened within the span of five years ago, she had never thought of meeting her parents. If not because of Ono and Aunt Masako, she would probably have cut her ties with her maiden family.

Her father wanted to meet her. The same father who loathed her existence.

Why did he want to meet the daughter he despised? For what reason?

A cold light flashed in her eyes.

Shouko took a deep breath. The brewing storm inside her began quietened down, leaving small ripples behind its wake. She had made the decision.

"Kyoya."

Shouko lifted up her eyes. Her gaze was resolute when she firmly threw out her words.

"Let him meet me."

Kyoya opened his mouth, wanted to persuade her to withdraw her decision yet, he couldn't say anything when he saw how firm she looked right now. In the end, he smiled with tenderness in his eyes.

"Alright, I'll tell Grandpa."

He would always pave a way for her but she herself needed to walk on the path and even created a new one according to her own views.

He didn't want to bind her to his selfish desire. He wanted her to soar high up in the sky, letting her wings brought her to wherever she wished to go.

Even if she fell, he would always be there to catch her.