Chapter 31: He's Abusive:
Satoru groaned, his body curling slightly as he clutched his aching groin. His fingers dug into the fabric of his pants, his breathing ragged as he struggled to push himself up. The sharp, throbbing pain radiating from his lower abdomen made him grind his teeth, but even through the agony, his piercing blue eyes never left you.
"You little—" he hissed, voice strained, pausing as he exhaled sharply. His knees wobbled slightly as he shifted his weight, one hand bracing against the floor while the other remained protectively over his wounded pride.
You took another step back, your heart hammering against your ribs. You could see it in his face—the storm brewing behind his gaze, the way his jaw clenched with barely contained rage.
For a moment, it seemed like he wouldn't be able to stand, but then—slowly, deliberately—he straightened, rolling his shoulders back despite the pain. His usual arrogant confidence was momentarily cracked, but that only made him more terrifying. The quiet, seething fury in his eyes sent a shiver down your spine.
Satoru inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stand tall. "You've got some nerve," he muttered, his voice laced with something dark—something dangerous. His fingers twitched at his sides as he took a slow step toward you.
Your throat bobbed as you gulped, heart pounding in terror. Without thinking, you spun on your heel, bolting toward the open door.
But before you could take a full step, a brutal grip seized your wrist.
Pain shot up your arm as Satoru's fingers tightened like a vice, yanking you back so hard that you crashed against his chest. His breath was hot against your face, laced with fury.
"You disobedient bitch," he growled, his voice low and venomous. "You will repay for this."
Before you could react, his palm struck your cheek with a sharp crack. The force sent you stumbling back, your feet struggling for balance as you staggered five steps away, your skin stinging from the impact.
Your legs trembled, barely able to keep you upright as you clutched your burning cheek. The stinging pain spread through your skin, the red imprint of his hand searing into you. Tears welled up, spilling over as fear and pain tangled in your chest.
But then—his expression shifted. The anger disappeared as if it had never been there, replaced by something eerily casual, almost indifferent. He tilted his head slightly, lips curling into a small, amused smile.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his tone light, as if nothing had happened. Then, with a quiet chuckle, he looked away. "You really think I'm that cruel enough to seriously hurt you?" His voice carried a teasing lilt, as though the slap just moments ago was nothing more than a joke.
When he glanced back at you, his amusement faded slightly as he noticed your silent tears still falling. He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Tch. Whatever. I'll let you go for now," he muttered, turning toward the door. "But you owe me for what you did."
Without another word, he walked out, leaving you alone.
The moment he was gone, your legs gave out. You sank to the floor, staring blankly at the ground, your mind swimming with emotions too heavy to process. A lump formed in your throat as your fingers curled weakly against the cold floor.
"Mom… I miss you," you whispered, voice barely above a breath, your heart aching in a way no pain could ever match.
Your fingers curled into the fabric of your clothes as bitter thoughts flooded your mind. How weak you were—how pathetic—to have silently accepted this arranged marriage without a fight. You never spoke up, never protested, even when you had every reason to.
You had been a witness to his betrayal. You saw it with your own eyes—Satoru and Utahime, tangled in something far too intimate to be mistaken. And yet, you said nothing. You let it happen.
How foolish you were to believe, even for a second, that he might change. That maybe, just maybe, he would love you. That he would choose you over her.
But hope was a cruel thing. And you were its greatest fool.
Later, in the quiet of his study, Satoru leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly tapping his pen against his lips. His sharp eyes flickered with thought as a memory surfaced.
"Ah… right," he murmured to himself. "In two days, there's that business gala…" His gaze drifted to the window, lost in contemplation. "Family, friends… their parents will all be there."
A slow smirk played on his lips as he twirled the pen between his fingers. "Tch. What a hassle."
Satoru's eyes widened as the memory of the slap hit him. Panic surged through him as he realized what he had done. Without wasting another second, he rushed up the stairs, his footsteps heavy and quick.
He burst into the room, the door swinging open so fast it startled you. Your eyes shot up, meeting his frantic expression as he crossed the room toward you.
Before you could react, he grabbed your face, his fingers tightening around your jaw.
"Ah, shit…" he muttered, his eyes flicking over your cheek, now reddened and swollen. He began to rub at the mark, his thumb pressing into the tender skin where he'd slapped you.
The pressure only made the pain worse, and you cried out in agony. "Stop!" you screamed, pushing against him with all your strength. The sting was unbearable, and you shoved him back, gasping for breath as you stumbled away from him.
Satoru's eyes flared with fury as he staggered back from your shove, his voice rising in anger.
"Hey! How dare you push me away like that? Do you not know who's in control here?!" His tone was sharp, full of disbelief at your audacity.
You clutched your cheek, the pain still searing as you shouted back, "You rubbed my cheek and made the pain worse!"
He sneered, his patience thinning. "Doesn't matter," he retorted, voice biting. "Do whatever you need to get rid of that ugly red mark. You think that's some kind of beauty mark?" He grimaced as if the sight of it disgusted him. "It's disgusting."
You felt a surge of anger, the sting of his words cutting deeper than the physical pain. The tears welled up again, your chest tight with frustration. You shouted, your voice trembling with hurt, "Ugly and disgusting?! But you did this to me!"
Satoru's expression hardened, his eyes cold. "Shut up, it was your fault," he snapped. "There's a business gala in two days. My family and friends will be there. Your mother too, so at least cover that thing with makeup if it doesn't go away."
"A business gala in two days…" You gaped at him, disbelief and frustration filling your voice. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?! You ruined my face too!"
Satoru's gaze darkened, his patience thinning. "Enough," he growled, cutting you off. "Stop complaining and barking like dog with rabies. You should've checked your phone."
"My phone!" You couldn't hold back the frustration anymore. "Don't you know it's broken? You didn't even let me go to get it fixed!"
Satoru raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. "Ah, now I know why I've gotten so many missed calls from your mom. Hundreds of them, in fact," he said, his voice dripping with mockery as he watched your face flicker with concern.
"My mom? Over a hundred missed calls?!" Panic surged through you as you rushed to your feet. "Let me talk to her!" You quickly moved toward him, desperation in your steps, but Satoru casually pushed you away, his touch surprisingly gentle yet firm.
"Nah. My phone, my privacy."
"But it's my mom! I just need to call her!" You insisted, your voice rising in frustration.
He glared at you, his patience wearing thin. "I said no!" he snapped, his finger jabbing the air in your direction. "Why can't you woman obey for once?!"
You crossed your arms, the bitter words escaping before you could stop them. "Talking about obedience while cheating on me?"
Satoru's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them. "Zip it," he growled. "You're my wife, and you live off my support, so behave."
Without another word, he turned, walking toward the door. As he reached the threshold, he glanced back over his shoulder. "You still need to make it up for kicking my balls."
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving you standing there, heart racing, the weight of everything pressing down on you.
As Satoru's footsteps faded down the hall, you stood there, seething with fury. The anger bubbled up inside you, but you swallowed it down, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing your scream. "Screw you, Satoru," you muttered under your breath, the words tasting bitter on your tongue.
Your mind raced, thinking about the business gala he had mentioned. Maybe Utahime would be there too. The thought made your stomach twist. If she was, then this could be your chance—your chance to confront her about everything.
She was the one at the heart of this mess, the one who had wormed her way into your life and taken what was supposed to be yours. The idea of speaking to her, of finally standing up for yourself, brought a glimmer of determination. You needed answers. You needed to know why she thought she could destroy everything you had.
The gala could be your opportunity, and you weren't going to waste it.
You gently shook your head and let out a soft sigh, speaking to yourself in a quiet, reflective tone. "I really need to figure out how to make it up to Satoru for kicking his balls... For now, though, I'll focus on other things later." You let the thought linger in your mind, the weight of your actions settling on your shoulders.
💌 Satoru's friends visit
Next chapter‼️👇