Hanako stepped inside after watching the car pull away.
She slipped off her slippers at the entrance, then made her way into the living room where Kitayama was already seated with his reading glasses, flipping through the evening paper.
"Hmm?" Kitayama grunted, not looking up.
"Kyouko doesn’t want to use the car."
Kitayama exhaled heavily, folding the paper halfway.
He set it on the table with a thud, his gaze drifting toward the door.
"That girl... still too humble," he muttered. "Even after all these years."
Hanako smiled faintly and sat beside him.
"She’s always been like that," she said softly. "She doesn’t like receiving too much. Not unless she really needs it."
Kitayama grumbled under his breath. "If it weren’t for her, I’d have slapped that son-in-law of mine into the next prefecture."
Hanako chuckled. "You still can, you know."
He snorted. "Hmph. Don’t tempt me."
Hanako leaned her head gently against his shoulder. "She’ll be okay, you know."
Kitayama didn’t say anything, but after a moment.
"Yes, dear?" she looked up from where she was organizing some papers.
Kitayama’s eyes remained on the folded newspaper in his hands, but his voice was low. Steady.
"Get me Junichi’s number."
Hanako blinked. "Oh...?"
Her expression shifted slightly. "Why do you need a private investigator?"
Kitayama finally looked up, his face calm, but his eyes hard.
"I want to know everything."
"How Satoshi’s been treating our daughter," he said, voice cool but laced with restrained anger. "Not what he shows. What he does. Behind closed doors."
Hanako studied her husband for a long moment, then nodded quietly.
Kitayama leaned back in his chair, brows furrowed.
"Too many things don’t sit right. A husband like that... and our Kyouko still smiled through it."
He set the paper down.
"I’ve let it go for too long."
"By the way, Hanako?" Kitayama asked, adjusting his reading glasses again.
"Yes, dear~?" she replied, placing her teacup gently on the table.
"Where’s Kenji and Keiko?"
"Keiko’s already back at their house," Hanako replied. "Kazuma had an early meeting this morning."
Kitayama nodded once, as if expecting no less. "And Kenji?"
"He’s at the "farm"," Hanako said casually. But they both knew farm meant.
"Hmph," Kitayama exhaled. "Good."
"And Hitomi?" he asked next, raising an eyebrow.
"Same as always," Hanako replied with a soft chuckle. "Handling the pharmacy."
Kitayama nodded again, pleased.
"Good," Kitayama said with a slow exhale. Then, after a moment..
"By the way, Hanako?"
"Tomorrow’s the shareholder meeting in Tokyo, right?"
Hanako nodded. "Mm. That’s correct."
"I believe we should send Kazuma," Kitayama said calmly. "Since he doesn’t know Kazuma, right?"
"Yes," Hanako replied, catching his meaning immediately. "He only knows Kenji. He’s never met Kazuma in person."
Kitayama gave a humorless chuckle. "That ungrateful shithead... the moment someone mentions a big client, he rushes like a dog chasing after money."
Hanako didn’t reply—just listened.
"I want Kazuma there. Not to say much, just observe. Quietly. I want to know how that company runs without our shadow over it."
"Understood," Hanako said smoothly.
"Should I book a first-class ticket for him?"
"No," Kitayama said with a flick of his hand. "Let him use the private jet. Quiet arrival, quiet return."
Hanako gave a small smile. "I’ll handle it."
Hanako stood to get started.
And in that quiet moment.
A powerful man had already moved his first piece.
"Keiko can join him," Kitayama said with a smirk, sipping from his tea.
Hanako raised an eyebrow, smiling softly. "Are you sure? Satoshi might recognize her. After all, she’s Kyouko’s little sister."
Kitayama chuckled under his breath. "The last time he saw Keiko, she was eight—clinging to her mother’s sleeve with missing front teeth. I doubt he’ll recognize her now."
Hanako laughed. "You might be right."
Kitayama leaned back, his tone light but deliberate. "Besides, it’s better that she goes with Kazuma anyway. That girl’s pregnant and overjealous, she probably won’t let him out of her sight more than an hour."
Hanako laughed again, this time genuinely. "Mmm... true. She’s practically glued to him since the second trimester started."
"Good," Kitayama grunted, folding his arms. "Let them go together. Quiet eyes. No attention. Just watch. Report."
Hanako nodded, her expression calm. "I’ll make the arrangements."
"Besides," Kitayama added, "Keiko and Kyouko don’t look that much alike."
Hanako nodded thoughtfully. "There’s some resemblance... but yes, they carry different airs."
"She’s sharper. Louder. Carries herself differently," Kitayama said. "And Satoshi isn’t exactly the most observant man."
Hanako smiled faintly. "You’re right. He probably wouldn’t recognize her even if she introduced herself."
"But for precaution," Kitayama added, his voice calm but firm, "tell her to wear a facemask and glasses. It’s Tokyo—no one questions that."
Hanako chuckled softly. "And if she wants extra cover..."
"She can use that wig she keeps in her collection," Kitayama finished with a smirk.
Hanako gave a small laugh, almost proud. "You remember everything."
"I only forget what I don’t care about."
Hanako rose to make the call, and as she walked away, Kitayama leaned back in his chair.
His gaze turned toward the quiet hallway.
Inside his mind, as he stared into the empty hallway, Kitayama’s expression remained unreadable.
But his thoughts burned.
If I ever find out you hurt my daughter, Satoshi...
If I ever learn just how deep your neglect runs...
I’ll crush your company.
Crush your reputation.
Crush your carefully built little empire.
With the same hands that once helped you rise.
I’ll pull everything down around you.
What it feels like to be alone.
Just like you made my daughter feel.
She gave you everything.
And you gave her silence.
Kitayama’s fingers slowly curled into a fist on the table.
My daughter... she can still find her happiness.
And if it’s not with you..
Then I’ll make damn sure she’s free to choose a life where she can smile again.