That Woman Would Return Soon

They spent their time in the library until it was time for lunch. Kyoya brought his work to the library. While Shouko was reading all the books she had written, he took the opportunity to accompany her.

She was now sitting opposite him. He was the one who changed his spot from earlier, choosing to sit quite far from her. Kyoya thought back of the hug they shared the other day. He knew it was a bit too rush but at that time, he couldn't think of any other way to comfort her.

And then there was the head pat.

He was quite shocked when she was the one who initiated it. But, he didn't mind.

Even so, he planned to restrain himself from now on. He didn't want to make her feel in a rush to accept him back. She was still clueless about their marriage. It wasn't a good idea to always do intimate gestures with her.

Let's take it slow. Bit by bit, he believed he could win her heart back.

Shouko didn't even aware of what had been bothering this man. If she knew, she would surely be grateful.

Her dependence on him was purely due to instinct.

There was still no love in her heart. Besides trust and the feeling of security toward him, she didn't feel anything else. Yet.

The tea had gone cold and the snacks had been left into two or three pieces. Shouko was so engrossed in her reading until she didn't realize the man sitting before her had been watching her for a full five minutes.

The corners of his lips lifted up.

Kyoya glanced at the wristwatch adorned his left wrist. He saved and closed all of the important documents, backed them in the cloud and shut the laptop down.

"Shouko."

"...En?"

Kyoya let out a low laugh seeing her surprised face. "It's near lunch. Let's eat first and then you could continue reading them."

"Ah!" Shouko turned her head around left and right before she found the wall clock hung on the wall. "It's 12:45? I didn't even realize..."

Kyoya stood up, walked around the coffee table and stopped beside the couch where Shouko sat. He extended his hands, planning to help her. "Since you're better, let's have lunch in the lounge overlooking the garden. You haven't been there, right?"

"Yes..."

Kyoya smiled when Shouko reached out to hold onto him. The feeling of her soft hands touching his own elevated his mood. He carefully pulled her up.

"The garden is beautiful, especially in autumn. You'd love looking at it."

Kyoya asked for the lunch to be served in the lounge. While he helped Shouko to walk downstairs, the helpers were on their feet with the dishes on their hands. Soon, a table inside the lounge was occupied with various kinds of dishes. One of the maids opened the French doors of the lounge, allowing the cool breeze to freshen the air inside.

"Waaa~"

Shouko's entire countenance brightened, her eyes were sparkling with delight once she looked at the garden outside the lounge.

It was so beautiful!

There was a ginkgo trail at one side, their leaves had yet to turn into gold as the autumn hadn't yet reached its peak but she could already imagine how exquisite it would look like.

Even the flower beds were blossoming with colorful autumn flowers!

"You love it?" Kyoya tilted his head, his dark eyes were peering into her twinkling ones. With her by his side, he didn't have the time to entertain the darkness within him.

It was really a good idea to not go to the company today.

"Yes!" Shouko nodded her head in excitement. "I've seen the garden from the balcony upstairs but seeing it again from a short distance makes it seems like another experience. I've never seen a garden as beautiful as this one."

Kyoya smiled knowingly. Of course, this garden couldn't be compared to any other gardens. Everyone in the high society knew the garden of Rosy Mansion owned by the First Young Master of Kashino household was the best within the circle.

He personally designed it, all the flowers and equipment were handpicked by him and even the team that he hired for the garden reconstruction was the best among the best worldwide, all for his beloved wife.

The once gloomy and deserted garden was transformed to Garden of Eden within a week.

But, right now the said person didn't know about it.

"Once you've completely healed, I'll bring you to take a stroll," Kyoya extended an invitation to Shouko naturally. He cast a glance toward the beautiful garden. "You loved spending your time in the garden too, finding inspiration for your books."

Shouko easily believed his words. This beautiful place would certainly provide her with countless inspirations. She had already anticipated the day she could spend her time here.

As they were eating lunch, a thought popped inside her mind.

"Kyoya, you said my editor remains the same," Shouko raised up her eyes, staring directly at him. "Was she informed of my condition?"

Editor Minagawa was the first person who was willing to take in an inexperienced writer like her. She couldn't tell how much had changed but right now, she was unsure how she should begin her work with all this confusion.

"I've told her, don't worry," Kyoya raised his hand, gesturing for the maids to bring out the herbal soup prepared for Shouko. "You should just take it slow, recuperating here. I know you might feel bored but please endure it for this time."

Kyoya had been reminding her to take it easy, he was really a considerate person in her opinion.

"Alright," Shouko smiled, ready to agree with him.

After lunch, Kyoya excused himself to his study, citing he needed to attend to a work matter. Shouko gave him a smile, reassuring him that she would continue enjoying her time in the library. After sending her to the library, Kyoya walked toward his study upstairs.

Shouko walked slowly toward her working table. She sat on the chair, her smile turned brighter. Right now, her entire being was filled with excitement as she tried to recall the sweet feeling she had while working on her dream here.

She must have spent a lot of time writing in this table, right?

Shouko opened the laptop, wanting to see what was stored inside. She was stunned to see the wallpaper displayed in front of her. It was a photo of her and Kyoya.

It seemed like they were having a picnic. The photo was taken from a high angle, showing Kyoya was sleeping peacefully on her lap while she was reading a book under a small tree. One of his hands was wrapped around her waist, he was sleeping while facing her.

The photo carried a sense of intimacy that she couldn't describe.

A sense of helplessness enveloped her heart. Right now, she was torn in between indebted and guilt.

She felt indebted because at her lowest moment, he was there to pull her out from the abyss.

At the same time, she was guilty because she was afraid she couldn't return his feelings.

These photos and the way he treated her had emphasized countless times that she was a treasure in his heart yet she couldn't understand.

Although fuzzy, she could not understand why did at the exact moment of their first meeting, her memory was gone.

Did something happen that made her unconsciously seal his existence in her life?

"Forget it," Shouko heaved a sigh. Her head hurt thinking of it. "I should just see how my new life unfold."

In the study.

Kyoya had just finished a video conference with a part of the higher-ups in the company. Once all of them left the meeting room, Assistant Kuroda and the vice-president came forward to speak with him.

"The development of the land in S city would begin next week. The mayor has contacted me for the ribbon-cutting event. Are you sure you do not want to go?" the vice-president, Kashino Ryota reported to Kyoya. This man who was younger than him was his cousin from his second uncle.

"Make sure everything is perfect," Kyoya tapped his index finger on the smooth surface of the big mahogany table. He silently rejecting the offer. "Once it's done, you can claim your vacation from me."

"Really?" Ryota smiled like a fool, he was enticed with the prospect of vacation coming from this ice block statue of his cousin. "So, I could go anywhere I like?"

"Up to you," Kyoya answered lazily. "You've worked hard to acquire the land. Go for a week's vacation and return to oversee the project."

"Alright, Big Boss!" Ryota felt like dancing right on the spot. His face was beaming with excitement.

Assistant Kuroda who was watching from the side swore he could see a tail wagging behind the vice-president. He eyed him with disdain while sighing internally, foreshadowing the increase of his workload once the VP went for vacation.

"Kuroda."

"Yes, sir!" Assistant Kuroda snapped out of his thought. He immediately refocused his attention toward the man on the screen.

"How about the matter the other day? I expect to see the list by tonight."

"I've compiled all of them and will send them to you soon," Assistant Kuroda answered without breaking a cold sweat. Even though his big boss was in another part of the city, he could still feel the creeping cold breeze coming from the screen.

"Be quick. We need to conclude it before winter," Kyoya frowned but he didn't voice out his dissatisfaction. After all, this was one of his personal endeavors. If not for his assistant's efforts, he couldn't be sure how the matter would be started.

"You mean... that thing? You've started it?" Ryota carefully voiced out his curiosity. He understood why did his cousin want to finish it before winter. No one needed to ask for clarification.

It was for that day.

Kyoya pursed his lips, he appeared indifferent to the question but away from their sight, his hands were clenching into fists. As the air turned heavy, a sudden ringing interrupted his thought. He glanced at the phone that was lying on the table.

"Who it is?" Ryota noticed that it was his cousin's personal phone. If it was ringing at this moment, it could only mean it was someone that he personally knew too since only the selected few that could have access to Kyoya's personal number.

"It's Grandpa," Kyoya swiped the Accept button, he looked at Ryota and Assistant Kuroda for the last time. "Call me if it's necessary."

"Alright," Ryota nodded.

Within a second, the giant screen before him switched to black.

"I wonder why did the old man call him," Ryota muttered under his breath. Well, knowing his grandfather, maybe he was just bored and decided to interrupt his cousin.

Assistant Kuroda began rearranging the documents in his file. Ryota peeked at one of them.

"Hurm... once winter comes, it would already be one year, huh?"

Assistant Kuroda glanced at the vice-president. He could only nod with a grim face.

Ryota lifted up his chin, intentionally looking at the pristine white ceiling above him as he felt his eyes turned red.

Back to Rosy Mansion.

With the phone pressed against his right ear, Kyoya stood up from the swivel chair and walked toward the windows. His dark gaze laid on the exquisite view of the garden that his little wife loved so much.

"What is it, Grandpa?" Kyoya wondered if this old man wanted to brag about something again to him.

But, when he thought his joyful voice would annoy his eardrums, this time his grandfather sounded so sullen as he greeted him.

"Kyoya, I heard you didn't go to the company today?"

"En." Kyoya pulled the white curtain back, letting the bright light of the autumn sun penetrating through the windows. He patiently waited even though he had noticed the abnormality of his grandfather's behavior.

"Well, you must be accompanying Shouko, right? That's good, she needed your companion the most at this time."

Grandpa Kashino began to prattle, earning Kyoya a curiosity. Yet, he waited until the old man finished babbling before he interjected him.

"You sound upset, Grandpa."

Kyoya might be indifferent to most people but he could never treat his grandfather with the same nonchalance. This old man was his savior. Since almost three decades ago, he had sworn his filial piety to this old man.

"Oh, well... I've just heard that..." Grandpa Kashino trailed off, unsure of how to disclose the news to his beloved grandson. Saying it could throw him into a rage but if he didn't say it, he couldn't imagine what would happen later.

"Well, I heard that that woman would be coming back to the country soon."

Kyoya's pupils constricted once the words fell in his ears. All of a sudden, the dormant violent beast within him went enraged, tried to break the chains that were binding him.

His breath grew heavier as each second passed. The veins throbbed under his skin. The whites in his eyes were stained with red.

"Kyoya, listen to Grandpa. Don't fall for her provocation. Don't let her return infuriate you."

Grandpa Kashino began feeling anxious once his grandson went into silence at the end of the line. He was worried he would be out of control.

"Remember that Shouko needs you to protect her. Don't let that woman ruin your life again."

But, his words fell into deaf ears as Kyoya threw his phone crossed the room. The phone was lying dead under the couch at the corner of the study.

Kyoya's shoulders slumped. His eyes were fixated on the smooth marble floor under his feet. Its coolness did nothing to subside his anger.