#3 We're Getting Divorce

"I don't know, Aunt. Truly, it's a mistake. I don't understand." Akiko whimpered and begged for forgiveness. Though she had no memory, she knew her actions were disgusting.

"I pity you! I try to understand your burden! As your mother's only family, I've tried to help! I arrived here with the expectation of reestablishing a connection after an extended period of time apart; however, you struck me in the back. You're disgusting!"

Karina kept hurling insults, and all of them were true. Akiko knew she deserved it. As a child, Akiko left her mother's homeland—Indonesia—to seek treatment for her illness in Japan, after her parents died. Akiko had only met Karina again as an adult, when she married Kenji.

Karina was the only family Akiko had left besides Kenji, but now her disgusting actions have shattered that relationship.

"You don't deserve to cry! I do!" Karina pushed Akiko's shoulders, causing her to stumble.

Fortunately, Akiko managed to lean against something to avoid falling. Hearing Karina's anger, Akiko's legs began to weaken, weighed down by the mountain of guilt that burdened her shoulders.

"Do you want me to pity those tears? Do you want me to forgive you after all that? Just keep dreaming!" Karina shouted while pulling Akiko's hands away from her face.

Akiko shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I truly don't know, Aunt. My memory is strange. I don't understand why it happened. I don't deserve forgiveness, but I also don't know."

Akiko still didn't understand why she had woken up with Kenji naked beside her. But it wasn't just being naked; Akiko knew something had happened because her lower body still felt a bit sore. Akiko wasn't naive; that disgusting act had truly occurred.

"Do you think I'm stupid?! How could you not remember doing something like that? That's the only excuse you have to defend yourself? Not remembering? How can you not remember after sleeping with your own uncle?!" Karina's harsh words pierced again.

"Impossible!" Akiko covered her ears. The reality was too cruel to hear. Akiko couldn't erase the evidence from her body or the reality of earlier times, but Karina's scorn hurt the most. It was like exposing her sins right in front of her eyes, making her even more ashamed.

"Don't you enjoy hearing it? Then how about me? I'm the one who saw you both naked! Should I stab myself in the eye to erase memories? Use your finger here."

Karina grabbed Akiko's hand, choosing her index finger and pressing it against her own eye. She demanded Akiko do it. Akiko quickly pulled her hand back, shaking her head while sobbing.

"Why not?! The actions you committed with my husband last night were even more sinister! It's worse than just stabbing my eye! You've ruined my life!"

Another shout added to Akiko's guilt. She could only shake her head and continue covering her ears, not wanting to hear the horrifying shame.

"Admit it, you're a slut! You enjoyed sleeping with your own uncle. You're not just a slut; you're insane too!" Karina stood with her hands on her hips, poking Akiko's head with her finger.

"I'll tell Yuto what kind of woman you really are! You're nothing but a disgusting woman!"

"Don't! Please, don't!" Akiko cried, grabbing Karina's arm. She immediately imagined her mother-in-law's insults.

Even when Akiko hadn't done anything, her mother-in-law had already labeled her with many negative names. How much worse would it be now? Yuto would be furious. Akiko didn't want to bear all that.

"Why not?! I'm sure your mother-in-law will be happy. Her accusations have always been true. You're indeed a cursed woman! It's proven now!" Karina shook her hand, refusing Akiko's touch.

"Don't tell them everything. I beg you!" Akiko chased after that hand, willing to beg earnestly because her future was at stake.

"Afraid? You should have thought of this before seducing someone's husband! Especially your own uncle!" Karina pushed Akiko's forehead with her finger again.

"I didn't seduce him. I don't remember what happened!" In despair, Akiko screamed the truth once more. She wanted Karina to understand what had happened, even though it was true that she had slept with her own uncle.

"You should be ashamed to even try to deny it! You're not just a cheap woman who seduces someone's husband; you've gone against nature by seducing your own uncle."

"I didn't seduce him." That scream no longer had a loud voice; Akiko could only whimper. Defeated by disgust and guilt. She is unable to deny the facts any longer.

"You're a disgrace now! Stop acting up. Leave Yuto before you become a disgusting burden to that honorable family!"

Karina no longer shouted, but Akiko's body trembled. The thought of leaving Yuto was a nightmare. That was her life. Akiko didn't know what to do. Her world would collapse. That thought made her tremble with fear.

"Stop your nonsense!" In the midst of her despair, Akiko was startled by a low shout. Kenji emerged, looking more composed.

"Stop how? You want me to be quiet after seeing my husband sleep with his niece?" Karina screamed angrily right in Kenji's face. "Do you think such a disgusting act is nonsense? You're as crazy as Akiko! At least explain to me; don't just scold me!"

Kenji didn't move despite Karina's continuous shouting. He looked at her with a flat expression, as if Karina's screams were from another world.

"We're separating now! Divorce me, and compensate me for this heartbreak." Karina demands it with a stern voice.

Kenji still didn't move, but Akiko was startled and panicked. She realized one thing—another layer of guilt added to the pile.

"Are you serious?" Kenji frowned, finding her demand ridiculous. Not the divorce, but the compensation.

"If you dare refuse, I'll tell Yuto's family what happened!" Karina threatened. She knew Kenji questioned the demand for money.

However, Akiko saw their argument differently, with horror. That threat made Akiko tremble again. Initially, she thought Kenji and Karina's separation would add to her guilt, hoping they would stay together, but not anymore.

Akiko could imagine how her mother-in-law would flay her with insults, while Yuto would be furious with her. If Karina carried out her threat, her own marriage would also crumble.

Akiko didn't want that to happen; no matter how her marriage was now, she didn't dream of separating from Yuto. Akiko loved him. Yuto was her first love. She had only ever imagined a future with Yuto.

"No..." Akiko was torn. She didn't want Kenji and Karina's marriage to end, but she also didn't want her own marriage to fall apart.

That murmur was only heard by Kenji, and then he slowly bent toward Karina's ear.

"You might be able to fool Akiko with that act, but do you think I'd be naive too? The remnants of the incense you burned are still in the closet." Kenji's whisper was very faint; only Karina heard it.

Karina, who had been very confident, pulled her head away from Kenji in shock. She didn't expect Kenji to know. Karina had hidden the incense in a safe place. It wouldn't be visible, nor would it pose a fire hazard.

But Kenji had deliberately sought it out. He didn't come out immediately because he wanted to find the source of the strange scent he had smelled the night before. The scent had gradually driven him insane. Even now, Kenji still feels a slight fog in his head.

"I don't know what your aim is, but don't expect me to grant your request!" Kenji didn't want to separate, but he didn't want Karina to get what she wanted after all the chaos. In addition, he agreed that Akiko should separate from Yuto. That man was trash.

"I won't divorce you!" Kenji shouted louder, and Akiko shrieked, realizing that decision meant her own marriage was doomed.

"I'll tell Yuto's family what you did with Akiko!" Karina shouted and turned to open the front door.