Chapter 327

Chapter 327
Kenji calmly walked toward Ice, wrapping an arm around his waist.

"This must be Tar. My baby spoke briefly about you. Nice to meet you, cousin-in-law." Kenji nodded at Tar in a polite manner.

Tar's handsome face was stuck between a smile and a grimace. He could not stop looking at the way Ice comfortably fell into Kenji's side like he really loved the man.

"Don't be rude, Tar," Mrs. Arisaka nudged a silent Tar.

Tar cleared his throat and forced a smile on his face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Takumi. It's really an honour to have you as an in-law." He bowed his head.

Kenji nodded once, his hand tightening possessively on Ice's waist as he felt him stiffen briefly beside him.

"Mother... husband? Ice married a man?" Momo murmured. "I don't believe it. Ice is joking–ah!" She gasped loudly as Kenji suddenly tilted Ice's chin and pressed a gentle, brief kiss on his lips.

"Do you believe us now?" Kenji asked calmly, his thumb still caressing Ice's bottom lip.

For a moment, Ice was shocked. He let himself stay that way with his face tilted up, his lips still tingling from that brief kiss and the way Kenji had his thumb rubbing across his bottom lip. He almost let out a sound that would have his mother fainting if he hadn't pulled himself together and gently moved his face away to fix a sly look at Tar.

For now, he would play along with Kenji just to make Tar believe them. When they left, he would have to remind Kenji that he should never kiss him without consent. He could see the way his mother was looking away from them, which meant she wasn't in support of them but only allowed it because Kenji was their saviour.

Tar chuckled, "I never doubted, Mr. Takumi. Congratulations, dear cousin. I only thought the marriage would be grand, right, Momo?" He glanced at the saddened girl.

Momo sighed, "I don't know, Tar. I'm just here to see how Otousan is doing." She replied, her usual bubbly voice dampened.

"Please, let us not keep you, Mr. Takumi. Thank you for visiting us in the hospital. I hope soon you will get to meet Ice's father in a conscious state." Mrs. Arisaka said, gently pulling Momo out of the way.

Kenji nodded, lacing his fingers with Ice's. "Then, we shall take our leave, Mother. I wish Father a quick recovery."

"I will bring more groceries, Mom. You don't have to stress yourself driving back and forth–"

"Don't worry, dear cousin. I will help Aunt with the groceries. Enjoy your honeymoon." Tar smiled.

"How thoughtful of you, Tar," Ice smiled, glanced back at his father before tugging Kenji forward.

"See you soon, Mother," Ice kissed his mother's cheek before leading Kenji out of the hospital room.

They hadn't made it far when they heard hurrying footsteps behind them.

"Ice, wait!" Momo called after them, huffing and puffing from the slight run.

Kenji smirked and paused. He had a feeling the pink, bubbly girl wasn't letting this go that easily.

Ice gritted his teeth and paused, waiting for her to catch up.

"Um, I need to speak to you," she inhaled loudly, placing a hand on Ice's shoulder as she caught her breath.

"I'm listening," Ice said.

"In private," she gestured toward Kenji.

Ice arched his brows. "Come on, Momo, he's my husband. He's family." He stated.

Momo sighed, "Fine. Then, I shall ride down with you guys. I'm going to the store downstairs anyways." She shrugged, hooking an arm around Ice's and pulling him forward, away from Kenji.

Kenji watched them leave and wondered who Momo really was. She acted like a sister, but a sister would not be this jealous of a brother. Perhaps an ex, or a possessive childhood friend turned crush.

He wasn't bothered. He was already married to Ice. Whatever he had with Momo or any other person would be put on pause until after one year.

He followed them into the elevator, standing right next to Ice.

"You haven't introduced us, babe. Who is the cute angel?" Kenji asked.

Ice sighed, untangling himself from Momo. "This is Momoka Shinozaki, my diaper friend. Momo, you've already met Mr. Takumi, my husband." He almost rolled his eyes at his words.

"Pleasure to meet you, Momoka," he bowed his head politely.

"Same here," was all she replied.

The elevator soon opened and she waved cutely at Ice. "See you soon, Ice," she said and walked away.

Without waiting for Kenji, Ice walked out of the elevator, leaving Kenji behind.

In the car, Ice was quiet, looking like he had a ton to say. Kenji got in beside him, typing something on his phone.

"We won't be going to my parents today. They–"

"You had no right to kiss me without my consent," Ice suddenly cut him off, clenching his fists.

Kenji paused, staring at Ice for a few seconds. "I was selling our act." He replied quietly.

Ice scoffed, "Cheek, Kenji, cheek. You could have kissed my cheek. Did you see my mother's face? She was disappointed. What did you even tell her, huh?" He asked angrily, frowning.

Kenji slowly nodded. "You don't understand the contract, do you? We are both required to do anything possible to convince people that we are so in love. If I hadn't kissed you, Tar would never believe us. Also, I told your mother the truth. She'll get her straight son back by the end of our contract." He explained, starting the car.

Ice gritted his teeth. "Just, don't ever do that without warning. I did not like it." He muttered, pressing his back against the chair.

Kenji nodded and drove off. "We won't be seeing my parents today. They are out of the country for three days." He informed, adjusting his tie.

"Then let me out here. My activity with you for the day is over." Ice demanded.

Kenji smirked. "Let you out? So you'll run back to your bike gang? Is there a boyfriend waiting for you?" He asked slowly.

Ice scoffed, "Are you restricting me from dating too?"

Kenji hesitated. The contract did state that their private lives were separate. "I am not, as long as it stays secret until our end. I can't have a scandal of my partner cheating. Not good for business." He stated.

"Yes, Mr. Business guru. By the way, there is no boyfriend. I don't have the energy to pour into someone else." Ice replied, glancing at Kenji's serious face.

Kenji didn't reply. He kept driving, eyes on the road.

"Where are you taking me?" Ice asked as their car headed toward a secluded estate area.

"My friend's. To talk about the president's request–"

"Ugh, great. More boring stuff. Can you just release me, or is this your way of punishing me for not submitting to you?" He gritted out.

Kenji chuckled, driving toward the tall dark gates. "Boring? That's the last thing to compare them to. You'll see." He said.

Ice snorted, "Only boring people could be friends with you. I can't stand your seriousness. You don't make jokes, you can't take one, you don't even know one when you see it." He complained.

"You don't know me," Kenji said simply, waiting for the gate to automatically open fully.

Ice was about to reply when the building in front of him took his breath away. Now this is some party-like mansion!

The massive structure rose like a shadowed monolith against the manicured hills, a sleek dark-glass fortress that screamed old-money power fused with modern menace. Its exterior was all sharp angles and floor-to-ceiling obsidian-tinted windows that reflected the world back at you like a one-way mirror—impenetrable, watchful, hiding whatever sins or secrets unfolded inside.

Matte black steel accents framed the edges, giving it the cold elegance of a mafia don's private compound rather than a mere home. Towering palm trees and dense, perfectly sculpted hedges lined the long private drive, creating natural barriers that whispered "no trespassing" even before the reinforced gates had fully opened.

Kenji's car purred forward as the estate revealed itself fully. The mansion sprawled across multiple levels, with cantilevered sections that seemed to float over the cliffside, their dark glass facades gleaming under the late afternoon sun like polished onyx. Subtle exterior lighting already flickered to life along the edges—low, amber strips that promised evening debauchery rather than simple illumination.

Ice could just make out the hints of a sprawling infinity pool in the rear, its turquoise waters shimmering behind the main structure, surrounded by wide lounging decks, cabanas draped in black and deep crimson, and what looked like an outdoor bar setup that could easily host fifty people without feeling crowded.

This wasn't a house. This was a billionaire's lair built for control, for deals sealed in back rooms, and for the kind of pool parties where powerful men laughed too loudly, women in designer bikinis draped themselves over the edges, and no one dared speak about what happened after the sun went down.

Ice's breath caught, his earlier complaints dying in his throat. "Holy shit…" he muttered, eyes wide as the car rolled to a stop near the grand entrance.

The front doors—tall, heavy slabs of dark wood inlaid with discreet metal detailing—looked like they could withstand a siege. Everything about it radiated quiet dominance: the kind of place where a mafia billionaire would host those infamous "pool parties" that started civilized and ended with private security quietly escorting out anyone who'd seen too much.

Kenji killed the engine, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he watched Ice's reaction. "Boring, you said?"

Ice blinked, clearing his throat. "It's just a house, not their personality." He said, pushing open the door.

"Come on," Kenji said, stepping out and walking around to take Ice's hand.

"I'm not holding your hands, Mr. Takumi." He said, pushing his hands into his pockets.

Kenji nodded. "Alright. Just follow." He instructed.

They walked toward the tall door and Ice could not help admiring the compound one last time.

He thought they were about to knock forever when the door suddenly opened and in front of them stood a middle-aged butler.

"Welcome, Mr. Takumi. The boss is downstairs." Butler Nicole said, smiling.

"Thank you, Nicole. I didn't realise you've arrived here too." Kenji shook the man's hand.

"Ah, I have... everyone is here," Butler Nicole affirmed.

"Good afternoon, sir." Ice greeted politely.

"This is my friend and business partner, Ice Arisaka." Kenji introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Arisaka, please come in," Butler Nicole stepped out of the way, allowing them in.

Ice frowned slightly, wondering why Kenji introduced him as a friend and business partner after he was so eager to tell everyone that they were married back at the hospital.

But as he entered the building, his thoughts were forgotten.

Ice stepped into the cool, hushed interior, and the mansion swallowed him whole.

A short, dimly lit hallway greeted them first — sleek and intimate, with walls of polished black marble veined in silver that reflected the low amber wall sconces like liquid obsidian.

The floor was dark hardwood, almost black, absorbing sound so completely that their footsteps felt muted, almost reverent. It stretched only about fifteen feet before opening dramatically, like a throat leading into the belly of the beast.

And then came the living room.

It was enormous, cavernous even — easily the size of a luxury hotel lobby, with soaring two-story ceilings and an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling dark glass that overlooked the infinity pool and the glittering city far below.

Massive sectional sofas in matte black leather arranged in a subtle U-shape around a low, monolithic stone coffee table that looked carved from a single slab of volcanic rock. Subtle gold and crimson accents — throw pillows, a few art pieces, and the glow of recessed lighting — kept it from feeling completely funerary, but the overall vibe remained dangerously seductive.

A towering abstract sculpture made of twisted black metal and glass stood near the windows, catching the light like a silent sentinel. To the far side, a fully stocked bar of dark walnut and backlit onyx gleamed invitingly, while the opposite wall featured a massive fireplace framed in the same dark marble as the hallway. The air smelled faintly of aged leather, sandalwood, and something sharper — cigar smoke and power.

Kenji moved forward confidently, clearly familiar with the layout. "This way," he murmured, guiding Ice past the living room's edge toward another discreet hallway on the right.

This one was even shorter and more private, lined with the same black marble, leading to a hidden elevator with seamless doors that blended almost invisibly into the wall.

The elevator doors slid open silently as they approached, revealing an interior of mirrored black glass and soft golden lighting.

Ice swallowed, trying not to look too impressed even as his pulse quickened. This place wasn't just rich — it felt like stepping into another world.