A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 147: Silent Deceptions ( 147 )

Chapter 147: Silent Deceptions ( 147 )

In a quiet corner of the lounge, after the formalities ended, Satomi leaned in toward her father, her voice just a breath above a whisper.

"Papa~" she said softly.

Satoshi gave her a smirk, whispering back, "Good girl~"

"With this," he murmured, "our company... our success... it’ll all be secured."

"Yes~" Satomi breathed.

Satoshi’s voice dropped lower. "Just make sure Haruki doesn’t go sniffing around other women."

Satomi gave a small, amused smile. "I will. But knowing how busy we’ll be... I’m sure Mom can keep an eye on him."

Satoshi nodded slowly. "Yes. Your husband respects her."

"No, Papa~" Satomi whispered with a hint of a smirk.

"It’s more like... he’s scared of her. He wouldn’t even dare to flirt if Mom’s in the same house."

"Hmm... perfect."

Satomi leaned back slightly, crossing her legs elegantly.

"She’ll be our eyes, won’t she?"

"Yes. If Haruki even thinks of stepping out—"

"We’ll make sure Mom scolds him."

"Exactly."

"Yes~" Satomi echoed, her tone sweet.

But behind their smiles, there was no love.

Only calculation.

Satoshi leaned a little closer, his voice barely audible beneath the soft hum of the lounge.

"Now... I’m hungry," he murmured.

Satomi’s lashes fluttered slightly as her lips curled in a slow, practiced smile.

She kept her posture elegant, her tone light—but her heart was racing.

"Naughty Papa~" she purred back in a whisper.

Her voice sweet, teasing.

"When this ends," she whispered, her fingers gently tracing the stem of her wine glass,

"we can slip away... and have our time. Just us."

Satoshi didn’t look at her, but the corner of his mouth lifted.

"Mmm... I like that."

Satomi’s eyes gleamed under the soft lights.

"You’ve been patient all day~" she whispered, her voice lower now, velvety and intimate.

"You deserve a little... indulgence."

"And you’ll spoil me?"

"Always~" she breathed.

Their glasses clinked softly.

"Cheers, Papa~"

"Cheers~"

Then, like nothing had happened, they returned to their composed expressions.

Keiko leaned in close to her husband, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes glancing politely at the other guests.

"Darling~ We’ve finished here. Our baby won’t be too comfortable if we stay much longer..."

Her hand gently brushed her lower stomach—barely rounded, just beginning to show.

Kazuma smiled, lowering his voice playfully.

"Uuuu~ my smelly melly waifu~" he teased, voice soft with affection.

"Just wait a bit, okay?"

Keiko gave a tiny pout, eyes gleaming.

"Mm... but... I want to eat that little sweet pudding over there~"

Kazuma chuckled, brushing his thumb gently along her wrist under the table.

"Okay~ okay~ you win. You always win."

She beamed at him.

"Of course. I’m pregnant~" she whispered proudly.

"Right, right," he said, already rising from his seat.

She leaned in once more, her voice lower now.

"Looks like what Father told us is true. He didn’t even recognize me... his own wife’s little sister."

Kazuma smirked softly, eyes never leaving her.

"Well, to be fair... Father did say the last time he saw you was when you were eight."

Keiko narrowed her eyes at him.

"Still... That’s no excuse."

"You were missing your front teeth," he added casually, sipping his tea.

"And, according to your father, you were still snotty."

Her mouth dropped slightly in offense.

"I was not snotty!"

Kazuma grinned.

"Mm-hmm. Snotty, loud, and proud of your missing teeth. A little tornado in pigtails."

Keiko gave his shoulder a gentle slap under the table, but her smile returned.

"You’re the worst."

"I’m also not wrong."

She rolled her eyes, but leaned against him slightly, her voice softening again.

"But of course he didn’t know me. I go by your family name now. He wouldn’t have connected it."

Kazuma nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful now.

"And he never cared to ask. That says enough."

Keiko leaned her head gently against Kazuma’s shoulder, her voice quiet.

"Yes... I think we should go now."

Kazuma glanced down at her with a faint smile.

"Do you want to stay at the hotel tonight?"

He meant the one owned by the Takahashi Group—high-end, discreet, always ready for family members.

Keiko shook her head slowly.

"Can we just go back to Okinawa?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? You’re not too tired?"

She looked up at him, her hand lightly resting on her stomach.

"Mm... no. I just want to rest at home. It’s more peaceful there."

Kazuma smiled again, reaching to brush a stray hair from her cheek.

"Alright. After this, we’ll meet Satoshi, offer our formal thanks, and excuse ourselves."

Keiko nodded, her voice soft.

"Mm... mkay."

"Kazuma?"

"Hmm?"

"You love me?"

Her voice was playful, but there was a quiet sincerity beneath it.

Kazuma smiled, turning his head just slightly to meet her gaze.

"Of course I do. I’ve been following you since school days, remember?"

Keiko let out a soft laugh.

"Mmhmm... you always followed me around and did whatever I asked. You were like my loyal puppy."

"Still am," he said proudly.

"Only now, I’m your loyal husband."

She leaned into him with a smile, eyes gleaming.

"I still remember... they used to call us something, didn’t they?"

Kazuma chuckled.

"Yeah... ’Komachi and Narihira.’"

He glanced sideways.

"The dramatic ones in our class always said we were fated like those old poets—beautiful but doomed."

Keiko giggled softly.

"Well, we’re still here."

"And very much not doomed," he added, resting his hand lightly over hers.

She whispered, "I’m glad it’s you."

"Always will be."

Keiko leaned closer to Kazuma with a pout.

"I’m bored now, Kazuma~"

Kazuma sighed with a faint chuckle.

"Okay, okay... we’re leaving. Jeez~"

"Tehe~" she grinned playfully.

The two rose from their seats, adjusting their coats with graceful ease. With calm, unhurried steps, they walked over to where Satoshi and Satomi remained seated.

Kazuma gave a polite bow, his tone courteous but firm.

"Mister Harusawa, thank you again for your time today. I’ll have to excuse us now—my wife isn’t feeling her best, and we’d prefer to return early."

Satoshi stood, offering his hand.

"Of course, of course. I appreciate you both coming all the way here. Please send my regards to your chairman."

He shook Kazuma’s hand firmly, then gestured beside him.

"Ah, and this is my daughter—Satomi."

Satomi stood and gave a small, formal nod, her smile practiced.

Keiko returned the gesture with equal politeness.

"Pleasure to meet you."

Her smile was flawless.

Her voice was light.

Outside the building, the wind was calm, and the sky carried the soft gold of late afternoon.

Kazuma opened the car door, holding it with quiet grace.

"Careful, love," he said gently.

Keiko smiled and stepped into the back seat, settling into the plush interior.

Kazuma followed after her, closing the door behind them.

As he adjusted his seat, he leaned forward slightly and addressed the driver.

"We’re going back to Okinawa. Take us to the airport."

The driver nodded without hesitation.

"Yes, sir."

The car began to move smoothly through the city traffic.

Keiko waited a moment, then leaned her head on Kazuma’s shoulder with a soft smile, her voice light and teasing.

"Those two really didn’t recognize us at all~ Hehe~"

Kazuma smirked faintly, resting his hand over hers.

"Which means Father’s plan worked."

Keiko’s smile grew.

"Mm~ we came, we talked, and they never even knew who they were smiling at."

"Just the way it was supposed to be," Kazuma replied.

His tone was calm—but there was a flicker of cold sharpness in his eyes.

They sat together, side by side, warm and quiet—

As the car drove them away from the web of manipulation.

Back to Okinawa.

Back to peace.

( End Of Chapter )