S C A N D A L

Chapter Seventeen

Not wanting his father and his young wife to spend money on a hotel room, Shiro generously offered the guest room for them and had Isamu take care of everything. There was also the reason that he wanted Naoki to meet Kurou as soon as he arrived home. Left to their own device, Shiro told his cousin everything. Yoshihiro was expectedly disappointed. He told Shiro how Atsuko kept tattling outside while he conversed with his father, blaming Shiro for leaving over a mild misunderstanding. Of course, Yoshi felt the need to defend his cousin and reminded Atsuko that it wasn't a mild matter since it involved money and the way she handled the finances at home and in the business.

"Why don't you just let them loan?" Yoshi immediately said as they conversed privately in Shiro's room.

"They're in a dire situation," Shiro told him. "Kurou left me in possession of money of my own, even given me a separate black card for other expenses."

"But that money he gave for you to spend! You can't pay that bitch's bills unless your father is absolutely destitute! He hasn't tried anything yet and this is the first time he faced such circumstances and he's already looking for an easy way out."

"I'm sure this is only temporary. I won't help them all the time. Only until Otosan can find his footing again. I'll remind him to lessen the expenditures and live frugally from now on."

Yoshi shook his head. "What if it happens again? Your father married a young woman who loves spending money and loves attention. This won't be the first time and absolutely not the last!"

"I can't allow them to close the bathhouse! That business... may not mean a lot to Otosan or Okasan or even you, but it was the place that gave me the courage to live and continue with my life even after their divorce. I will go there, and spend time talking with people...old residents of Ehime loved that place, makes them feel relaxed. Remind them of the older times..."

"Okay," Yoshi exhaled loudly and thought for a moment. "Why don't you just buy the business and manage it yourself?"

"You know that's not possible."

"Of course! Because I'm sure Atsuko wouldn't give it to you and your father listens to her. How are you going to tell this to Kurou?"

Shiro met his gaze. "He didn't need to know..."

The blood drained from Yoshi's face. "You're going to keep your husband in the dark?

"We're in a contract anyway," Shiro avoided his cousin's probing stare and started browsing on his cell phone, despite not liking social media---anything just to pretend that he was doing something. "The marriage isn't real. So, he doesn't need to know everything about me."

A paused. Yoshi was still staring at him. "I thought..."

"You thought?"

"Have you looked at yourself when you're with him?"

Shiro was flustered and averted his eyes once more. "No, and I have no notion of what you're talking about."

"But you're happy when you're with him. You are yourself and not someone else. He is also very kind to you. He is so different from how the people on social media portray him. I was expecting someone worse! Like those rich gentry who would bring home their mistress!"

"Yes, but none of it is real!" Shiro argued, his whole expression filled with unease. "He was told to treat me kindly by his own father and he is doing exactly that. It's not..." he stopped and felt a lump in his throat as he admitted, "...it isn't love, Yoshi."

"But what if it is? What if he is starting to like the idea of being married to you?"

Shiro shot him a glare. "If so, then why wouldn't he tell me about Kei?"