Chain of Deceit

iko walked through the garden of an upscale resort by the coastline. Th

sunglasses and turned to Harumi. "It's

face held exhaustion. "I almos

owing look. "Are y

yes-to pretend everything was fine.

rm around Harumi's. "You don't have to tel

owing herself to le

the past. For a brief moment, Harumi felt safe-like she had s

walking back toward the

d. A deep wave of naus

o's voice sou

rything

ital

she stirred awake. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled her nose, a

the dim hospital room. Aiko was b

ed?" Harumi's v

ng her hand. "They ran some tests

Fainting? That

process it furthe

pped in-follow

e, he would come. He always did,

ut his presence filled the

viewed your test results." He flipped through his not

le

seemed t

caught in her

ip tighten around

wever, rema

es dar

gna

his c

his lips. "Three months?" His voice w

led with something unr

stomach

nged eve

o's

her fingers against the table. Takeshi ha

the servants whisperi

had f

e was in t

d raced. Co

t cou

sibility gn

Harumi was

s no longer Tak

iyo's place-her p

teeth, fear curl

n had already

arried Takes

lem that Mriyo migh

h and a

room. Harumi's screams echoed through the halls, her body

ng words of encouragement. "Almost t

eplaced by something unreadable. His fists were clenched as he

th

ry pierce

newborn and turned to

silence fell

gaze locking onto the tiny, f

s

yes met, something

nj

rt stared b

n aloud, yet it settled i

e broke the moment.

the grip of his fingers ar

ild...

in the dark corridors of power-another

and the Dea

amber, her hands trembling

bo

given bir

mare had

her. If Harumi gives Takeshi a son,

hat moment

threatened everything. But now, with a son

ed to let t

eded t

ded Har

he city. He was a man who lived in the shadows-ruthless,

e smirked. "I assume

cold. "I want her out of T

amused. "And what

hat he wanted-powe

ursued her, and for yea

she had n

ed slowly.

ith satisfaction. "

with cruelty. "We'll make it look

breath

esn't forgive betrayal. If he believes Haru

ted-but only

no

, Harumi's fa

adly

r, the tr

ographs of Harumi in the arms of another m

ion tur

ray

etray

ing he had ever k

ion, he stormed

efore he grabbed her by the throa

i-what

His voice was venom

idened. "What?!

hotos at her.

e picked them up. Horror

l," she whisper

s fury was b

sed hi

led the

Afte

across the

lay still, her

her, chest heavin

ty crashed

had h

as she rushed in, pushing him

called. Mon

money saved Tak

her home, Mriyo sipped her

i was

akeshi was