Chapter 196 : Kiyoshi's Share

It had to be the cards, Midori mused as she was pressed against Kiyoshi's chest and wrapped in the man's loving embrace a while later. Midori gingerly put her arms around Kiyoshi.

"I will never let that happen to you," Kiyoshi whispered. "I am going to make sure that you stay safe, away from harm."

Midori lifted her head and gazed at Kiyoshi.

"Kiyoshi-san, do you remember the incident during Old Master Kinoshita's birthday party?"

"Yes, I do."

"It was all Tsukasa-san's undoing," Midori's crocodile tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. "He sought to discredit me, to destroy my reputation so that he can get to me easily. Kiyoshi-san, I... I am so scared."

Despite a secret well of disgust at her performance, Midori couldn't help but be awestruck by her own acting ability. An interesting thought flickered across her mind -- if the milk tea business went under, maybe acting wasn't such a bad alternative.