When Jiro returned from meeting with the authorities, his expression was set like stone. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by something colder, sharper—a side of him I hadn’t seen before. I waited anxiously in the sitting room, wringing my hands together as Hibiki played with a toy on the floor nearby, blissfully unaware of the storm raging around us. Jiro entered, his eyes immediately finding mine. Without a word, he walked over, knelt in front of me, and took my hands in his. His touch, so steady and sure, was a balm to the chaos in my chest. “It’s done,” he said softly. “Botan’s been arrested. The charges against him are clear—stalking, trespassing, assault. He won’t be able to come near you or Hibiki again.” A rush of relief swept over me, but it was tangled with exhaustion. For weeks, Botan had been a shadow over my life, and now, knowing he was no longer a threat, I felt my body sag under the weight of it all. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I don’t know what
Last Updated : 2024-12-18 Read more