S C A N D A L

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The introduction of Shiro Matsumoto to society was on the front page of every newspaper and even online. Just when people were expecting a heated drama between Kurou Matsumoto's husband and his ex, nothing like that was ever reported. Masaru, who was reading the newspaper was smiling from ear to ear and shared Shichiro the news.

"It looks like he wasn't able to use his influence, huh?" Masaru told the driver-bodyguard.

Shichiro simply nodded. "I suppose so...but he must already know that Shiro had knowledge about his past."

Something in his tone made Masaru look at him. "What's with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I feel like you're holding something back. You don't think this is good?"

"No, no...I think it's nice, that Shiro-san is willing to fight head-on," said Shichiro and thought of his next statement for a moment. "But we both know Kei isn't someone that would give up easily."

"I know that, but I'm sure Shiro-san is aware of it too. Do you think he would get back to him?"

"If I'll be honest, Shiro's rejection definitely shook that man's ego. He waited for that event to show everyone that he still had power over Kurou, and the way he tried so hard to win the crowd that night was evidence of his hopelessness. He expected to see a mortified Shiro and put the whole Matsumoto family in an embarrassing position. We both know that getting the whole family in one event doesn't happen all the time. To Kei, that was his only chance..."

"Shiro-san ruined it all."

"Precisely."

"So, why do you think it's not good?"

"Because now we have to protect Shiro-san too. Any mistake on his part could be a chance for Kei to exploit in his favor. We must not let that happen."

Masaru agreed. "I don't think Kurou-san would let anything happen to Shiro."

"I believe in that too," Shichiro approved. "But any small gap or crack is enough to let the pesky crawlers inside. Of course, we will protect them, but everything depends on their faith in each other."

"La!" Masaru was annoyed and smacked him right on the head. "Stop being so pessimistic, will you? Listening to you is enough to make me depressed!"

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The success of the event and the sudden popularity of Kurou's husband weren't received well by Shiro himself. He didn't wish for the people online to be interested in him personally and he wasn't very fond of social media. As a result, he avoided the internet and avoided the newspaper altogether. His mind was focused elsewhere.

The unusual behavior of his mother that night...

Inviting both his mother and mother-in-law to their home was the only way he could get these ladies to crack. He has a feeling that these two were hiding something from him.

And this was the story he told Kurou one fine morning while still lying in the bed. Kurou pulled himself away from Shiro's embrace and asked, "But what kind of secret do you think they're keeping? Not like they have that many..."

"You'd be surprised!" huffed Shiro, "If a woman can keep their age a secret for twenty-seven years, she can keep it forever."

Kurou thought for a moment and shrugged. Without a word, he jerked Shiro's body toward him and started kissing his very handsome, very snowy husband who was naked underneath the sheet. Shiro knew what he was after and started to protest, "You already had too many last night!"