A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 262: Old Flames, New Fires ( 262 )

Chapter 262: Old Flames, New Fires ( 262 )

While walking back to the car in the underground parking lot...

Haruki’s footsteps echoed softly on the concrete, his bag in one hand, the faint hum of the building above humming like a distant memory.

Inside his mind.

How did I survive that marriage?

Years of silence. Of cold meals. Cold bed. Cold eyes.

A man can endure a lot, but being invisible to the woman you once swore to love? That kills something inside.

He exhaled slowly, unlocking the car.

But then... she appeared.

Kyouko.

A woman who had never been truly cherished.

Who gave so much of herself... and never received love the way she deserved.

Maybe that’s what happens... when a man who was never appreciated meets a woman who was never loved correctly.

Something rare is born.

Something unstoppable.

He smiled faintly to himself as he slid into the driver’s seat.

Not just lovers.

Not just a couple.

They were something more.

A force that wouldn’t break again.

A perfect storm of healing and desire.

My woman. My Kyouko.

He gripped the steering wheel, heart steady.

And I’ll never let anyone take her away.

Haruki glanced down, frustrated.

The growing pressure in his pants.

Shit.

All it took was thinking of her.

That smile...

That smooth, young skin.

Her soft moans echoing in his ears.

That tightness, wet, clinging, like her body was made for him.

His jaw clenched.

What the hell is wrong with me?

He’d never been like this before.

Never obsessed.

Never addicted.

It wasn’t just her beauty.

It was the way she trembled.

The way she gasped, bit her lip, dug her nails into his back, like she needed him just as badly.

Was it lust?

No. It was more.

It has to be.

His shaft twitched again at the memory of how her body tightened when she climaxed.

Damn it, Kyouko.

What did you do to me?

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling.

Was it some kind of spell?

A curse?

Or was this... just love, when it was too deep? Too far gone?

He chuckled darkly to himself.

No.

It wasn’t just love.

It was madness.

I’m going to ravish you again, Kyouko.

Harusawa Corporation.

Satomi sat at her desk, legs crossed, arms folded tightly.

Her nails tapped furiously against the polished glass table.

She hadn’t touched her tablet in fifteen minutes.

The report in front of her was blurred by her growing anger.

"And don’t worry. You’ll definitely recognize the bride."

Haruki’s words echoed inside her head like poison.

Who?

Her lips curled in a sneer.

Who the hell is this so-called bride?

Her fingers gripped her pen tightly, nearly snapping it.

"There’s no way..." she hissed under her breath, eyes narrowing.

"No damn way he found someone more beautiful than me..."

Ridiculous.

Satomi stood abruptly, walking to the full-length mirror across the office.

She looked herself over, adjusting her lipstick.

Perfect hair. Immaculate figure. Designer heels. Expensive blouse.

She pouted.

Men fall over me. Always have. Always will.

And yet that bastard turned me down?

Mocked me...

She remembered the smirk on Haruki’s face.

You can’t even beat your mother in beauty.

That line struck deep.

Too deep.

She clenched her jaw.

"No way in hell."

Her eyes glinted with cruel determination.

"I will find out who this woman is..."

"And if she’s not more beautiful than me..."

She laughed coldly.

"I’ll humiliate her. Right there. At the altar if I have to."

Just you wait, Haruki...

You dared to look down on me...

Now I’ll crush your perfect little bride.

Whoever she is.

"Honey?"

Satoshi’s voice came gently from the other side of the room.

Satomi blinked, turning toward him with a forced smile. "Hmm?"

Satoshi set down his tablet, walking over to her.

"What’s wrong?"

"Ah... nothing, Papa~" Satomi giggled sweetly, the edge in her voice quickly smoothed over. "It’s just... I met Haruki-kun at Yamashita Corporation."

"Oh?" Satoshi raised an eyebrow, amused. "You went there for that project meeting, of course you’d run into him."

Satomi sat on the edge of the desk, crossing her legs, twirling a strand of hair.

"Mm... He looked a little too happy," she muttered. "Said he’s getting married."

Satoshi blinked.

"...Married?"

"Mm-hmm." She pouted. "And when I asked who, he wouldn’t say."

Her voice darkened, bitter. "He told me I’d recognize her when I see her."

Satoshi walked behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Jealous?"

Satomi leaned back slightly into his touch, lips curling.

"Of course not!! But I won’t let some ugly bitch think she’s better than me."

"You still want him?" Satoshi asked, voice low.

"No," Satomi shook her head. "I just want to destroy whatever happiness he thinks he found."

Satoshi chuckled.

"Still my daughter..."

"And still your girl~" she smirked, eyes gleaming.

"Anyway~ I’ll find out soon."

"Let’s see how happy Haruki really is... when I crash his perfect little wedding."

Satomi stretched her arms above her head, then glanced back over her shoulder.

"I’m going to eat now, Papa~ Wanna join me?"

Satoshi flipped through a file absently, not even looking up. "Mm... I need to check this report first. You go on ahead."

"Mou~" Satomi pouted.

She walked to the door, paused, and turned, a sly grin curling on her lips.

"Oh? I just had an idea."

Satoshi glanced up, curious. "Hmm?"

"I’ll just invite every girl who was ever interested in Haruki," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Ask them one by one. See if any of them is the one he’s dating."

Satoshi frowned slightly. "Why bother?"

"Because~" Satomi cooed, "If she’s really someone I know, I’ll figure it out soon. And if not..."

She smirked wickedly.

"I’ll just ruin them all. One by one. Until that girl shows up."

Satoshi didn’t say anything for a moment.

"You really don’t like losing, do you?"

Satomi twirled her hair with a sickly-sweet smile.

"Not when it comes to my toys, Papa."

She winked and walked out.

Satoshi stared at the doorway long after she’d gone.

After Satomi left the room, silence fell.

Satoshi sat at his desk, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound.

He picked up his phone and stared at an old photo—one taken decades ago.

He and Kyouko.

She was smiling gently, her features youthful, elegant, serene.

Even now...

Even three months after the divorce...

She looked the same.

Young. Beautiful. Impossibly graceful.

Unchanging. Like time refused to touch her.

Satoshi’s thumb hovered over the screen.

And he pressed "Call."

He brought the phone to his ear.

It rang.

And then.

A soft moan.

Wet, slick sounds.

Slapping skin.

Rhythmic, unmistakable.

Then her voice. Breathless. Velvet.

"Why are you still calling... ah... me...? I... mm... said... ah... don’t... call me again~"

"I miss you," he blurted, desperate.

The slapping sounds paused for a brief second.

Then her voice returned.

Flat. Cold. Distant.

"Miss? Yeah... you missed me alright. Missed the years you ignored me. Neglected me."

A long moan followed. She didn’t even mute it.

"Let’s be clear, Satoshi," she snapped, her voice hard now. "We’re divorced. I don’t love you. I don’t even care about you."

( End Of Chapter )