Tell Me What Remains of the Secrets You Keep

Tsubaki didn't cry for too long. She even didn't cry out loud. To avoid waking up the woman who was sleeping peacefully, she tried hard to subside her cry.

"Let me wipe your face," Ren was distressed when he saw her hiccuping. He fished out a tissue from a tissue box nearby and gently wiped his wife's face.

"It seems like you really believe that she is your mother without even clarifying it again," Mr. Souma spoke from behind the couple.

This time, he toned down the playfulness he always carried with him. Without anyone noticing, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

"So, would you tell me the remaining of the secrets you keep?" Tsubaki directly looked at the man despite her eyes were still blurred by the tears.

Mr. Souma shrugged nonchalantly, "There's no use of me keeping them since you've met your mother."

Tsubaki quietly closed the door of the inner room. She took one last glance at the sleeping woman. Her eyes didn't move until she could no longer see her.

Mr. Souma gestured for them to sit on the couch. Ren fetched a glass of water for his wife. The husband sat side by side as Mr. Souma sat opposite them.

"I don't understand," Tsubaki opened her mouth after moistening her throat with the water, "You said you hate my mother. So, why do you hide her away from your brother? You've even done so for a decade."

Mr. Souma didn't immediately answer her like how he did during their time in his house the other day. His expression was serious, a far cry than how he usually behaved.

The silence was heavily oppressing the air in the room, yet, Tsubaki didn't move her gaze away from the man's forlorn expression.

"Don't you want to know what is your mother's disease?"

Tsubaki was caught off guard. She dazedly nodded her head.

Up until now, Tsubaki had yet to ask Ren about the disease that was eating away her mother's life. It was not that she didn't care. She cared too much until she couldn't bear to ask.

Since her mother was admitted to this sanatorium ten years ago...

It was enough to show that her health had kept on failing. The long decade of ten years wasn't enough to make her healthy again.

When she saw how skinny and pale her mother was, Tsubaki's heart was filled with another sense of dread.

Her mother wore a turban around her head...

"...Does she suffer from cancer?"

Tsubaki unconsciously blurted out the assumption she had kept at the back of her mind.

Mr. Souma directly affirmed her guess with a nod of his head.

Tsubaki gasped in surprise. Although it was what she had assumed, she really hoped she was mistaken.

"I'll start from the beginning," Mr. Souma lowered his gaze. He fiddled with one of his cufflinks, "Just so you aren't confused to begin asking me from where."

Tsubaki thought it was a good idea. Let him told her in chronological order. If she was the one who asked, no doubt all of her questions would be entangled in a mess.

Ren didn't disturb the two of them. His role right now was to offer comfort to his wife. It was better if she herself dealt with Mr. Souma. He would only intervene if it was necessary.

Mr. Souma leaned his back against the backrest of the couch. He tilted up his head. His eyes wandered to the ceiling above their heads. Subsequently, her mind drifted to the events of the past.

"Contrary to your belief, it wasn't me who found your mother. She herself who sought me out."

"...What?"

It was only the beginning but Mr. Souma's words had already impacted Tsubaki greatly.

As he saw how distraught the young lady was, Mr. Souma asked, "Do you want me to stop? To let them sink in?"

"No, there's no need," Tsubaki quickly refused, "Continue."

If she stopped now because she was shocked, she might do it again. Tsubaki chose to let Mr. Souma resumed his story.

She appeared calm and composed but the tight clenching of her hands betrayed her.

Mr. Souma silently applauded the young lady for her perseverance. To honor her bravery, he didn't pause any longer.

Once again, his voice echoed in the room.

"It's true that I tried looking for your mother and the child she was supposed to carry, or I should say children, since at that time I didn't know that she bore twins. I found your sister first, and, as I have told you, I used your sister to lure your mother out."

"But, I stopped when my dearest sister-in-law intervened. It's a lie if I said I didn't reattempt looking for your mother but, to my surprise, she's the one who came to me, willingly."

Tsubaki held her breath. She quietly listened to the man even though the beating of her heart sent buzzing noises to her mind.

"I found your adopted mother's records in the same hospital as your mother. From there, I tracked you down. At that time, your mother appeared, begging me to not do anything to you."

Tsubaki's eyelashes twitched as once again she was shocked.

"My mother appeared because you found me?" Tsubaki couldn't hold back this time around.

Mr. Souma assented with a nod, "Yes."

Tsubaki turned her head. She looked at her husband with a conflicted look in her eyes.

Ren pursed his lips. He understood what was warring inside her mind.

One of their assumptions was correct. Mr. Souma indeed had already known about Tsubaki's existence before Ren arrived at the village.

Then, Mr. Souma deliberately hid about him from his family for almost a year before he led Mr. Sagara to him.

But, why did he wait until almost a year had passed?

Tsubaki and Ren exchanged a look. She straightened her waist and looked back at Mr. Souma, "About my mother, how did she know regarding you finding me and why did you help her until now?"

Her questions were back to their starting line. About their assumptions, both Tsubaki and Ren chose to keep quiet first. They could ask Mr. Souma after he was done with his story.

"Didn't she sometimes sent postcards to your adopted mother? Apparently, even though it's rare, she had come to see you a few times."

Then, the day her bastard uncle saw her birth mother after the death of her adopted mother, was not the first or second time? She had come to see her even earlier before?

"At the time your mother came to me, she's already sick."

Mr. Souma's next words brought Tsubaki back to reality.

He didn't wait for Tsubaki to say anything. Mr. Souma smiled wearily, "You wonder why did I help someone that I claim I hate? Yes. I hate your mother but..."

Something melancholy flitted in his eyes.

"...The fact remains that your father is my sworn brother, even after his death."

Even though I hate her, I would disgrace our friendship if I didn't help. At the same time, I couldn't let go of my hatred.

The silence ensued by Mr. Souma created an opportunity for Tsubaki to ask.

"Why did you plan to abduct me five years ago? And you have even worked with Mr. Sagara to separate me and my husband?"

No matter how much she had thought, she couldn't understand it.

Mr. Souma looked at Tsubaki for a long time. His silent stare made her uncomfortable.

"I worked with that Sagara because I didn't want you guys to be together. Do you think, after what happened between your parents and my brother, I'd allow my friend's daughter to experience it as well?"

Tsubaki frowned.

This man... was against her marriage with Ren at that time.

She was a girl from the countryside while Ren, even though he had left his family during that time, he was still a young master from an affluent family.

They were not supposed to meet if not Fate brought them together.

Yes. It was almost the same as her mother and father's situation.

Her father was forced to join the army, leaving his mother behind while his mother fleed to free herself from being married to President Souma.

That was why this man emerged out from the shadows after long years of watching her in silence?

"But, still..." Tsubaki gripped her hands tight, "What you did isn't right. Because of you..."

That night happened.

"I'd never justify my actions," Mr. Souma declared, "But, I won't back down once I've decided on something."

Exhaustion dawdled in Tsubaki's brows. She resisted the urge to rub her temples that had begun to ache.

"Then, tell me," Tsubaki persisted, "I was supposed to be brought to the abandoned factory. Did you want to do something against me? What about the blood-drawing that my uncle mentioned?"

Mr. Souma threw his gaze toward the closed windows. His lips parted, "It's for your mother."

"My mother?"

Mr. Souma tilted his head, looking back at Tsubaki.

"I want to check if you could save your dying mother."

Tsubaki was stunned. Her heart lunged to her throat.