Chapter 29 Ultimatum

Chapter 29 Ultimatum
"You're coming back to Kyoto with me too, right?"

"No!"

"Why?"

"I'm not going back there again!"

"What? Are you kidding me?"

"I'm not joking anymore, Hana, I mean, Hinata! This is our last meeting. After this, I ask you to pretend you don't know me when you see me. Do you understand?"

"But why? Why don't you go back there?"

"I have no business being there. This is my place; my business, my home, and most of my subordinates are here. I have no reason to go back there!"

"What about me? Didn't you say you wanted to be with me?"

"I just wanted to see you again, and I've met you. We've spent some time together, and I think that's enough. I'm not what you want, am I? And I can't stay with someone who doesn't truly want me." Leo touched my face for a moment before finally turning away and saying goodbye.

I couldn't take it so easily; his whole body was trembling, refusing to be left like this.

"Then I'll stay here!"

"What?"

"If you don't come back, I won't come back either!"

"Don't be stupid, you can't stay here!"

"Why not? You want to bring your girlfriend to live with you?"

"That's none of your business!"

"None of my business? Oh my gosh, you're absolutely right; it's none of my business, right? Besides, who am I to ask who you're bringing into your own home? Okay, you're right! I better go and—"

Before I could finish, Leo pushed me onto the bed, hugged me roughly, and kissed me aggressively on the lips.

I felt a strange shiver run through my body. The scent of Leo's perfume filled my senses.

Leo squeezed my breasts, leaving me half naked, and licked my skin. Leo unzipped his jeans and pulled out his penis, forcing me to squeeze it until his erection deepened. For some reason, the argument made us want to make love even more, and it felt incredibly confusing.

"Oh fuck—" I couldn't hold back my moan, I was so into Leo's thrusts. I realized that I was actually liking everything about this man more and more.

I hoped Leo's gaze would return to its previous state, gentle and sincere. But instead, he stared coldly at me, as if I were nothing more than a sexual object.

"Leo? Why? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"How do you want me to see you?"

I couldn't answer. The intimidation Leo displayed was far more terrifying than anything I'd ever felt before. In a short time, I missed Leo terribly.

I tried to hug Leo tightly, kissing him, hoping he would look at me the same way again. But he didn't budge; he seemed so determined.

After the heated session, Leo simply got up without the usual kiss or warm smile. He put his jeans back on and walked out to the balcony, smoking his favorite cigarette.

He didn't say anything, and I, still lying on the bed, was speechless. I couldn't believe it, as painful memories of the past resurfaced.

"What do you expect from me? Do you expect me to believe you weren't involved? You want to ruin my life, don't you? You deliberately wanted me expelled from campus because of those videos, didn't you...? You bastard, you damned whore...!"

"I'm innocent! I didn't do it! I wasn't the one who spread those videos!"

"This bastard, you think you can fool me, huh? If you don't confess! I'll kill you...!"

My tears flowed freely as the fear and trauma came back to haunt me, like a recurring nightmare. My cries, my screams, as if no one could hear me. The pain of being accused of something I never did.

I sobbed softly, the past so tightly bound, it seemed impossible to let go. That man, the man from my past who had ruined my life, humiliated me to the point where everyone cursed me out loud. I could see him in Leo for a moment.

"What are you doing? Let's go!" Leo's voice made me flinch. I hid my tear-stained face with my hands.

I lifted my head slowly and headed for the bathroom. Leo pulled my hand away when he realized I was crying.

"Why are you crying?"

"Why do you care? Didn't you say this would be our last meeting?"

"Because this is our last meeting, that's why I don't want to see you cry."

"Are you really not coming back?"

"Why would I come back? Who do I want to meet there?"

"What if I miss you?"

"You'll miss me?"

"Yes," I said simply. Leo chuckled, not expecting me to say something so sweet to him.

"If you beg, maybe I'll consider it!"

"Do you really want to see me beg you?"

"Yes! I want to see you beg and plead like I did when I asked you to let me stay at your house!"

"I won't do anything like that!"

"Then I won't come back either! Whatever happens, don't ever try to contact me, do you understand?"

"Do you really not want to care about me anymore?"

"I'm just trying to stop caring about you. Besides, without me, you'd be fine. Because, from the start, you didn't need me. Like you said, we're just two strangers accidentally connected by the one person we call mom. Besides, it's enough for me to make sure you're okay. After that, whatever happens to you is no longer my responsibility.

It's more than enough to make you happy."