I N N O C E N C E (Shu Sakamaki)

Chapter 46 (the end part 1)

Suddenly, the day of the banquet came around. That long awaited banquet that Manami had been dreading and Reo had coerced her into coming to. Fortunately her father had decided to hold off naming the heir to his fortune, and instead, decided to make this somewhat of an extravagant baby shower - for networking and business of course.

Manami had previously asked Shu to help her perform, to which he agreed. But she was pretty sure that was off the table after the stunt she pulled this morning. Something that her father failed to mention, is that he had invited the Sakamaki head himself along with his oldest sons - Shu, Reiji and Ayato. And oh boy, was she not looking forward to seeing them today. And for some reason, she is finding out about it right now, standing in the middle of the luxurious hall as Karlheinz approaches her.

"It's nice to see you, Manami."

"The feeling is not mutual." She scoffs, and looks away.

"That is not a kind way to treat a man whose house you have been living in for the past months." He chuckles, extending a hand forward with a bow.

"Chivalry doesn't suit you." She reluctantly gave him hers, letting him plant a kiss on the back of her hand. Thankfully she was wearing gloves. "Gosh, you are so repulsive. No wonder mother left you."

"Those are some harsh words." He furrowed his eyebrows, feigning sadness but she knew it was an act. "I have heard you have left my humble abode."

"Yes I am." She nodded, wiping her hand on her dress, which only seemed to amuse the man more. 

"Do my sons know about this-"

"No, and they are not going to." She stated, glaring at him threateningly.

"I am good at keeping secrets." He winked, placing a finger against his lips.

"Trust me, I know that all too well..." She gave him a dry laugh as he scurried away past her and into the crowd. "Not even a goodbye... Wow."

She had not yet spotted the brothers and preferred not to, after all, she had left early in the morning without a single word. She had asked Laito and Subaru to help her with moving her packed belongings out of the house without anyone's knowledge, after all, her birthday was tomorrow, which meant she will be leaving in a matter of some mere hours after this event was over. It was much earlier than she expected, but who wouldn't want to celebrate their birthday in London of all places?

She could not face the rest of the brothers, or rather, she was scared of their reaction. Would they ask her to stay? Or would they attempt to kill her even? Despite all these months together and how close they have all become, they were still unpredictable in many ways to her...

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"So you are really leaving... tch." Subaru muttered under his breath. "Running away again."

"This decision was not up to me, Subaru..." She retorted, looking at him in irritation. "Plus I gave you both my social media. If you really want to talk to me, you can easily contact me. See?"

She wiggled her phone at the two vampires and then dropped them into her purse. It was still early daytime, so the rest of the house was still asleep.

"Are you sure you do not want to say goodbye to everyone else, little dame?" Laito sulked, but this time, it did not seem so much of an act like before.

"Nope." She shrugged. "I don't even know what I would say to them. Trust me, it's better this way..."

"Okay." He sighed, as a black car pulled up in front of the manor. "Little dame."