Her Wicked CEO: How To Seduce A Hikikomori Wife? - Chapter 299

[A journalist is found hanging in his office: suicide or murder?] Adachi Kase changes the channel. There’s an old rom-com on channel 3. It’s a typical B grade drama about a girl who loves a boy in secret. The story must have been told countless times in countless manners. The ending is usually the same: either it would be a tragedy or it would be a happy ending. But these stories don’t always have a happy or tragic ending in life. They end in ennui sometimes. There are times when people get bored and simply, stop loving the other one person. There are people like him who are too used to solitude. They would rather live like this than let someone induce discomfort.  The typical awkwardness or discomfort will go away if one focuses on happiness only. The person might become a habit. That is also dangerous. Habits are part of normalcy. They are mostly overlooked and then, they are also hard to part with. For example, he can’t get over his smoking habit despite the fact that it’s slowly killing his lungs. Kinoshita Iori. The woman who grabbed his belt in the cell tower pops up in his head again. She hasn’t contacted him again. It’s not like she is a part of his habit. She used to be a part of his discomfort though. She asked questions that he couldn’t answer. He is an average salaryman who wants to live without any major issues. Besides, Tezuka Kohei is dead. The old CEO of his organization won’t live long. The organization will probably go to the CEO’s son.  Some voices will never rise again. The roots of corruption are too deep. If he tries to utter a single word, he is likely to be buried deep.  They won’t even find his bones. Bored out of his mind, he rechecks Iori’s messages. His inbox is still full of the deceased’s family members’ pictures. He wants to delete them but there’s no strength in his fingers. Apparently, smoking can’t get rid of the guilt.  He just wants to live. Why is it so hard these days? *** “It’s not a suicide.” Kinoshita Iori tells the officer, “I met him only a few hours ago. He showed no such sign. He was going to introduce me to his boyfriend.” “Do you know his boyfriend’s name?” The officer asks her with a dull voice. In his opinion, it’s suicide. The door was closed from inside. There was no struggle either. Sawano Shusui had been searching for ways to die quickly on the internet prior to the time he committed it.  Kinoshita Iori lowers her head. “I don’t know it.” “You have been working with him for a long time,” The officer states with a hint of judgment. “You also said that the fire was started by someone.” “I already told you everything.” Kinoshita Iori glares at him. “I was doing an investigation. There was an accident in the Ngage manufacturing unit. More than thirty people died there. It was a planned accident. Those people were murdered. Tezuka Kohei is also involved in this. Not just him, Nagasawa Family and Ash Corporation are also involved. It’s a massive chain of corruption. We need a thorough investigation.” The officer lets out a deep sigh. “Thanks for your cooperation. We will look into it.” And they never will. Kinoshita Iori clenches her teeth. She can’t ever let go of this. Senpai didn’t deserve to die like this. She will find out riend who works in the who Senpai’s boyfriend is. That person is a major clue. It was an AD foundation, right?  When she comes out of the police station, she finds Takeshi waiting for her. Half-expecting him to be angry for leaving without telling him, she approaches him meekly. “I am sorry.” “I understand.” He holds her hand and lets out a heavy sigh. At this home, there’s a solemn atmosphere. Nobody is talking much. Even the kids are quiet. His brother hasn’t said anything. What are they hiding? Is it about the Consortium again? He doesn’t know anymore. “I wouldn’t have stopped you if you had told me.” “I don’t want you in danger,” She mumbles softly. Her eyes avoid his questioning gaze. “Your family has gone through a lot. And I am looking into something that might bring problems to them again. So, I thought that you might dislike it.” She’s worried about him. Takeshi smiles at her. “I would be worried if you wander off without telling me. At least, tell me enough for me to know where to find you.” Iori chuckles. “How did you find me today?” “I guessed that you didn’t sleep well last night. I wanted to go to your room, but you were with your cousin.” He brushes the strands of hair away from her face. She didn’t even comb her hair. “Iori, rely on me a little.” “I rely on you a lot more than you think.” Iori exhales, “I am starving to death. Can we get breakfast? I need to head to the AD foundation later.” “Get in the car.” He rubs her head before pushing her toward the passenger seat.  *** “Hmm.” Mira Kirishima looks at the ship quietly. How long will it take to go to E Country like this? She’s too young to board on a plane without a family. The Consortium is looking for her.  Honestly, she finds that the reaction lacks some anger. How come Old Nagasawa is silent? His eldest son is dead. Is that old man so loyal to the Consortium and her bloodline that he would betray his son?  She had killed twelve tails of the Consortium. If Yuta hadn’t killed Furotani, she might have stayed longer. Furutani was good at escaping. Now, it will take some efforts to convince someone to take her along with them on the ship.  “I guess it is like that.” She takes a deep breath. “He chose her instead of me.” It was the same with the Consortium. They didn’t take the bet on her. She was lucky to finish the song. Her second life shouldn’t be wasted. She will win the Consortium and then, she will destroy it like Dionne and Christopher wanted.  She doesn’t believe that the god will ever take pity on her. It didn’t pity Dionne, Christopher, or her mother. The Ash family has been abandoned by the god long ago.  “I carry your wishes on my back.” She whispers, “Your grudges, your pain, and your sufferings are mine now. And when the Consortium is gone, I will go to the place where you are.”