July 19th, 2026
At Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo - 12:31 AM
This was not just a wedding party—it was a monumental spectacle, the kind reserved for royalty and tycoons.
And in the center of it all stood Leo Kawasaki, beaming with pride, and Ruth Tachibana - now Ruth Kawasaki - draped in a custom white evening dress that sparkled like ice.
But while Leo laughed, Ruth only smiled.
Not warmth. Not joy, precision.
Her fake smiles were practiced, mechanical - activated only when a camera shutter clicked or when a guest's eyes met hers. Otherwise, she stood beside Leo like a porcelain doll: breathtaking, distant, unreadable.
"You two are perfect together!" a tipsy friend gushed.
"Seriously, when are we getting baby Kawasakis? I'm calling it—Maria's gonna be the soft mom, and Leo's gonna be the cool dad." One friend commented.
Leo chuckled, arm around Ruth's waist.
"We'll see. I'm hoping sooner than later." He happily said.
He winked. "Maybe twins?"
"Oh my god, imagine! Where'd you two even meet again? Was it at that Monaco gala or the Paris summit?" Another friend asked.
"Neither. Actually, it was in Singapore—two years ago. Business expo. She was standing alone at the rooftop bar, looking like a goddess. I couldn't not talk to her." Leo said brightly.
Everyone laughed and awed.
All eyes turned to Ruth.
She smiled. A tight, practiced one.
"It was… memorable." She said, her voice cold and low.
"Aww!" someone squealed. "Tell us how you fell in love."
"It was natural. We clicked. She was smart, mysterious, elegant... She challenged me. No one ever did that before." Leo spoke immediately.
Ruth sipped her wine, offering no follow-up.
Inside, her mind wasn't at the party.
It was back at the cathedral.
Back when Ian looked at her like she was a ghost.
Back when her chest clenched and her heart skipped for the first time in years.
She could still feel the air shift when he bolted out. That moment had shattered her carefully arranged world like glass underfoot.
She hadn't planned for that.
And Ruth always planned.
"Ruth, do you remember what he wore?" one woman asked.
"You should keep the dress! It's stunning." The woman added.
She nodded. "Thank you." The answer was automatic. Her mind was elsewhere.
Then the crowd parted like a tide.
And he walked in.
Lionel Kawasaki
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Silver hair, tailored black suit. Presence like a thundercloud. His cold, piercing eyes scanned the room as if sizing up a battlefield.
He walked with purpose. When Lionel moved, people made way, unspoken power trailing in his wake like a cloak.
"Father!" Leo stepped forward and embraced him. "Didn't think you'd actually show up."
"Of course I would," Lionel said. His voice was deep, calm, but somehow always on the verge of dangerous.
"A Kawasaki marriage isn't something to miss." Lionel added.
He looked at Ruth. His eyes lingered on her, not with affection, but with analysis. Evaluation.
"Ruth , you look… expensive." He said finally.
"Thank you, Mr. Kawasaki," Ruth said with a perfect bow of her head.
"Call me father now. We're family." He offered his hand.
She took it. His grip was firm. Too firm.
"Congratulations," he said, smiling. But his eyes didn't smile.
"A beautiful couple. This union will benefit the entire Kawasaki name."
"Of course it will. "We're just getting started." Leo said proudly.
Then, Lionel's eyes sharpened.
"That said…" He turned to Leo. "What was that commotion during the ceremony? A man ran out of the cathedral in a panic. Upset the guests. Interrupted the vows. Who was he?"
Leo scoffed. "Some random loser. Probably uninvited. Just a nobody causing a scene."
Ruth blinked.
There it was again.
Loser. Nobody.
The words struck her in a way she didn't expect.
Lionel's brow furrowed. "A nobody doesn't interrupt a Kawasaki wedding. Especially not mine. Do we have his name?"
"No idea. Forget him." Leo said with a shrug, sipping his drink.
"I don't forget faces. Especially not ones that disrespect the family."
Lionel turned to one of his men in black. "Find out who he is. I want to pay him a visit. See if he needs a… reminder."
The air turned tensed.
Suddenly, Ruth stepped forward.
It's not necessary."
Everyone turned.
Her voice was calm. Cool. But firm. Unflinching.
"He was a former classmate. Back from university. He was surprised to see me. That's all." She said.
Lionel raised a brow. "A former classmate?"
"Yes," she nodded. "We haven't spoken in years. It's irrelevant. He was probably overwhelmed seeing someone he once knew become a Kawasaki. There's nothing more to it." A lie.
"You sure?" Lionel asked.
She met Lionel's gaze.
And another lie.
"Leo's right. He's just a nobody. He's not worth your time.....father." She said with a fake half-smile.
But inside, her heart twisted.
That wasn't agreement.
That was protection.
Because Lionel Kawasaki didn't visit people out of curiosity.
He visited them to erase them.
Lionel's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than comfortable. Then he nodded.
"Very well. I'll let it go....
For now..."
He walked away, his entourage following behind him like shadows.
The group breathed again.
Leo looked at Ruth, grinning.
"See? Even Dad knows we're untouchable." He said.
Ruth gave him a soft smile.
Then looked at her glass.
The champagne was sweet.
But in her mouth, it tasted like ashes.