A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 178: Silent Ambitions ( 178 )

Chapter 178: Silent Ambitions ( 178 )

Satoshi set his bowl down gently, then glanced across the table.

"Kyouko?"

She lifted her head softly, still holding her cup. "Hmm?"

"There’s a dinner event coming up," he said, voice calm. "A Fujiwara exclusive. Me and Satomi have been invited. It’s quite important—every major corporation will be there. I believe Yamashita Corporation was invited as well."

Kyouko’s fingers stilled briefly around her teacup.

Oh... that one.

The one Haruki told me about...

And asked me to attend with him.

She smiled gently, tilting her head slightly.

"What about it, dear?"

Satoshi didn’t answer directly.

Satomi looked up and continued, "We were thinking... maybe you could attend the event as Father’s partner."

Kyouko blinked once, then set her cup down carefully.

"Hmm... but you know I don’t feel very comfortable around large crowds," she said, her voice soft and even. "Maybe Satomi should attend with you, dear."

Satoshi let out a quiet sigh.

Then returned to his meal, signaling Satomi with a slight flick of his fingers.

"Mom, please?" Satomi said, her voice soft.

She leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed on Kyouko.

"Just this one time. It’s important—for our company."

Kyouko looked at her daughter with a gentle expression, but her mind was still turning.

Why are they pushing this so much...?

She was about to respond, when Satomi suddenly turned her attention elsewhere.

"Haruki~" she said sweetly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You’ll attend the event with me as my partner, right?"

Haruki had just picked up his teacup.

He paused.

Then looked up calmly. "Ah... sorry, Satomi. I’ll be attending as a representative of Yamashita Corporation."

Silence.

Both Satomi and Satoshi froze, eyes wide for a brief second.

They hid it quickly.

Inside Satomi’s mind, something shifted.

He’s not just invited. He’s attending officially?

As a representative?

Of Yamashita Corporation...?

She fought to keep the smirk off her face.

Meanwhile, Satoshi’s expression didn’t change—but his chopsticks paused mid-air.

He set them down without comment, his gaze dropping to his bowl, concealing whatever passed behind his eyes.

Haruki returned to his food calmly, as if the statement meant nothing at all.

But for the two across from him, it changed everything.

Because Yamashita Corporation wasn’t just a name.

It was power.

Second only to Takahashi Group.

Inside their minds, the silence stretched.

Both Satomi and Satoshi recalled, the stream of generous contracts Harusawa Corporation had landed over the past year, contracts that only happened because Satomi was married to an executive-level employee from Yamashita Corporation.

Haruki.

Yamashita’s golden boy.

The quiet one.

The composed one.

The one who never made a fuss, never demanded anything—and yet opened doors that were previously bolted shut.

And now, he was going to attend the Fujiwara exclusive dinner...

As a representative of Yamashita Corporation.

Satomi blinked once.

Then composed herself with a small smile and a sip of tea.

Well...I’ll just stay close to him during the event.

When others ask, I’ll say he’s my husband.

I’m sure every mid-size and smaller company in the room will take notice.

Some will want introductions. Some will want connections. And all of them... will see the Harusawa name right beside Yamashita’s star.

More opportunities.

More deals.

More money for her and her father’s company.

Satomi lowered her teacup gracefully, her smile polite.

Inside Satomi’s mind, another thought took shape—calm, deliberate.

I’ll follow Papa’s advice.

I’ll make sure this man doesn’t look for another woman outside.

She glanced briefly at Haruki, who was quietly eating, calm as ever.

Luckily, Mom is always around him.

And he respects her. That’s obvious.

He listens to her. Probably even trusts her more than me.

She sipped her tea again, gaze flicking casually between her parents and Haruki.

As long as Mom is looking after him,he won’t stray. He’s not the type.

No scandals. No mess. No affair.

And no risk of him falling for another woman.

She set her cup down with perfect poise.

That’s enough for now.

With Haruki attending as Yamashita’s representative, and me as his wife in name—

Harusawa Corporation will shine.

Everything else is secondary.

"So, Mom?" Satomi leaned forward slightly, her voice just a bit too cheerful. "Can you attend this event with Papa?"

Kyouko tilted her head gently. "When is this event?"

"This Sunday," Satomi replied quickly. "Three more days."

Kyouko gave her a soft smile, the kind that didn’t reveal much. "I’ll think about it."

Satomi’s voice dipped into a mock pout. "But Mom~"

Kyouko didn’t show any reaction.

"I’ll give you my answer once you both come home from work," she said, still smiling.

"Promise?" Satomi asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, yes... I will," Kyouko replied softly, turning back to her cup.

She sipped the tea slowly, eyes lowered. Calm on the outside.

But inside—her mind was still lingering on what Haruki had told her.

He invited me first.

As his partner.

And now they wanted her to go with Satoshi?

I couldn’t accept Haruki’s invitation before...

Not because she didn’t want to.

But because she had no reason to attend.

No "official" reason.

No approval.

No excuse that made sense within the structure of this family.

She couldn’t just walk into a corporate event like that—beside her son-in-law—without anyone questioning why.

But now...

They were the ones asking her to attend.

This is the chance.

If she went with them, no one would question it.

No one would stop her.

And since Haruki would already be attending—as a representative of Yamashita Corporation—then maybe...

Maybe I could stay close to him.

She smiled faintly behind her cup.

Not formally.

Not announced.

Not as his partner in title.

But...

Quietly.

Unseen by the others.

I’ll be by his side... as the woman he’s truly with.

Her heart gave a soft, dangerous flutter.

It wasn’t a plan.

It wasn’t even a decision yet.

But the thought of walking into that grand room...

Seeing him across the floor, dressed in black...

Standing tall among executives and shareholders...

And knowing she was the only one who knew how he tasted, how he moved, how he whispered her name in the dark...

Maybe... I should go.

( End Of Chapter )