Chapter 1434 The Truth
The wine was soon served. After pouring Aoi a glass, Solomon waited for her to speak.
“I know Ichika did some extreme stuff at your house yesterday and even ran away last night. That’s mainly what I want to talk to you about today.”
“Go ahead,” said Solomon. He took a sip of wine and nodded at her.
Aoi began to speak. “I’m wondering, Mr. Akiyama, if you remember the time when you first came to Jetroina?”
“Huh?” Solomon looked up at her abruptly, surprised by the question.
A gloomy look came into his eyes, revealing his reluctance in discussing the subject.
“What about it?”
“I’m sorry for bringing this up, but I was hoping you would recall the time when you’d just entered your adoptive father’s house. Do you remember a little girl who made you do certain things? That little girl was, in fact, Ichika.”
For her daughter’s sake, the woman no longer wanted to be tormented by the secret and decided to spit the truth.
As she expected, the moment she finished speaking, the man immediately jerked up his head, staring at her with his face frozen in shock.
Aoi’s heart sank when she saw his reaction.
“Yes, that’s the truth. Throughout these years, Ichika’s always kept a close eye on you and feels sorry for what she’d done to you back then. That was why, back when your adoptive father came to our house with the marriage proposal, my eldest daughter said no when she saw that he was representing you, but Ichika stood out for you.”
She had decided to spill the whole truth now, sparing no details, including this one.
She really hoped to plead on her daughter’s behalf. After all, the girl was only eight back then. How could such a little girl have known any better?
Back then, Ichika was brought there by her parents. Hidden behind the curtains, she became impatient after a long time waiting and could not wait to go home.
When she realized the banquet was not ending simply because the guests could not stop fussing over the teenage boy, she was struck with the thought of how she usually dismissed the servants at home. Thus, she scolded the teenage boy and made him wash her feet while kneeling before her, just like a servant.
After that, she was brought home. Only after her parents reprimanded her did she understand what a grave mistake she had made.
Aoi’s eyes were slightly reddened. “I know how insulting that incident was to you at the time, and I know I have no right to plead for forgiveness on Ichika’s behalf. But if you could forgive her, I-I would be very grateful!”
With that, she bowed her head apologetically.
However, Solomon remained motionless.
He was, at that moment, utterly stunned by the truth that Aoi had just revealed to him. He could not quite wrap his head around the fact that the little girl hidden behind those curtains back then and the woman he had married was one and the same.
In fact, he was a little furious.
He remembered when Yancy had just relocated him to Jetroina against his will. Back then, he had never wanted to become Yamada’s adoptive son at all.
After enjoying ten blissful years with the Wands, the last thing he wanted was to go back to the days where he had to be subservient to others at all times.
Despite that, he was still forced to kneel for ages at the Tsurka residence that day. Toward the end of the day, he even had to wash a child’s feet and bow to the child as well.
For a long time after that, those scenes had remained in his heart like an untouchable thorn, festering and breeding hatred.
Aoi waited for his response with her head bowed, but he gave her none.
For almost five minutes, he merely sat there with a terrifying expression on his face, completely silent and still.
Suddenly, Aoi’s eyes dulled as she finally understood what his reaction meant.
Not wanting to disturb him any further, she got up and politely excused herself.
Resigned to the fact that the situation was simply beyond salvation, she returned to the temple.
Just as she expected, Ichika, who had proclaimed she would devote herself to prayer, had been anxiously waiting for her return the whole time.
She turned toward Aoi eagerly. However, upon seeing her returning alone, she immediately caught on.
Lowering her gaze in disappointment, she turned away from her mother just as a single teardrop fell from her eyes and trickled down her cheek.
“Ichika…” Aoi’s heart ached at the sight of her.
Sitting down beside her, Aoi could only try to comfort the girl as best as she could. “Perhaps he has a hard time accepting the truth right now. Give him some time. I’m sure he’ll come in another two days.”
“It’s all right, Mom,” replied Ichika, forcing a smile through her tears. “I did something wrong. It’s only right that I stay here and repent. You can go home now.”
With that said, she picked up the scripture in front of her and began reading it.
Aoi watched her speechlessly, full of sadness and regret at the way things had turned out.
However, since there was nothing else she could do, she eventually left and headed home.
For the following two days, just like Ichika predicted, only silence ensued in the temple. No one came to visit her, nor did she receive a single phone call or text.
