CHAPTER 15

A Honeymoon in Switzerland

The crisp mountain air of Switzerland felt different now—quieter, heavier—as the last days of their honeymoon slipped through their fingers. Toshiro and Harumi stood on the balcony of their chalet in Zermatt, looking out at the snow-covered peaks bathed in the soft golden hues of sunset.

Harumi leaned against the railing, the cold wind making her long, dark hair dance around her shoulders. She took a slow sip of the hot chocolate in her hands, savoring the moment. "I can't believe it's been a month already," she murmured.

Toshiro, standing beside her, slid an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. "Time moves differently when you're happy," he said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

She smiled, tilting her head to look at him. "Are you happy, Toshiro?"

He didn't hesitate. "With you? Always."

Their professions, their responsibilities—none of it had been a burden to them. They weren't people who longed for an escape from their work. Harumi loved the challenge, the thrill of building something with her own hands, of managing deals and keeping the company in perfect rhythm. Toshiro loved his work just as much—not just because it gave him purpose, but because he was working for his brother, the man who had saved him when he was a lost, orphaned child.

No, he didn't resent his double life.

He embraced it.

Harumi turned to face him fully, her fingers tracing small patterns against the fabric of his sweater. "What are you thinking about?"

Toshiro studied her for a moment. There were things she still didn't know. The man he worked for—the one he served as both a corporate assistant and a trusted right hand—wasn't just the company's Chief Business Officer. He was the shadow behind powerful deals, the silent force controlling a network hidden beneath Kyoto's polished façade.

But most importantly, he was Toshiro's brother.

Toshiro would protect him. Always.

Harumi didn't know the full truth yet. But he wasn't afraid of her finding out—because she was like him. She thrived in power, in control, in the rush of making decisions that could change everything. One day, she would understand.

But for now, she was here, in his arms, their world untouched by the weight of what waited for them in Kyoto.

That night, their last in Switzerland, was slow and filled with unspoken promises.

Harumi sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in one of Toshiro's white dress shirts, her bare legs crossed as she sipped her wine. The fireplace cast a golden glow over her skin, and Toshiro, leaning against the doorframe, took a moment to simply look at her.

She caught his gaze and smirked. "You're staring."

"I can't help it." He pushed off the door and walked toward her, standing between her legs. She tilted her head up as he traced his fingers along her jaw, down the column of her throat.

"I want to remember this," she murmured, setting the wine glass aside. "The way you look at me when we have nowhere else to be."

Toshiro exhaled, his fingers slipping beneath the fabric of the shirt she wore. "I'll always look at you this way, no matter where we are."

She shivered as his lips brushed against her ear. "Prove it."

And so he did—slowly, reverently, until all that existed was the warmth of their bodies and the quiet sighs of pleasure between them.

The next morning, they stood at the airport, waiting to board their flight back to Kyoto.

Harumi scrolled through her phone, checking emails, already easing back into her world. Toshiro watched her with a small smile before glancing at his own phone. A single message from his brother awaited him.

"It's time."

Toshiro smirked, slipping his phone back into his pocket.

Yes, it was time. Time to return to the world they both thrived in. Time to step back into the lives they had built.

Switzerland had been a dream.

But Kyoto was home.

The moment Harumi stepped through the threshold of the house, warmth enveloped her. Kyoto had always carried a sense of nostalgia, but this time, it felt different—deeper, more profound. The familiar faces surrounding her made it real.

They were all there, waiting. Toshiro stood by her side, his presence steady as ever. Ayumi offered a small nod of acknowledgment. Fujikawa, the head of the household, stood with quiet authority, observing her with a calm yet unreadable gaze. Beside him was Osamu, his younger brother, who carried the weight of responsibility with effortless ease. He was the second-in-command here, though his presence was nearly as commanding as Fujikawa's. Euchi, much like Toshiro and Tetsuo, remained reserved, his expression unreadable.

And then there was Michi—the youngest, the only bright, unfiltered light in this solemn family. His grin was infectious, his excitement barely contained as he bounced on the balls of his feet.

"You're finally home," Michi said, beaming.

Home. The word settled into her bones like a whisper of something long lost but never forgotten.

The house itself was nothing extravagant. It was large, yes, but unassuming. Simple yet vast. As she was led through the hallways, she took in the spaces—seven, maybe eight rooms occupied by the family members, and another five to seven reserved for guests. Though the structure was grand, the atmosphere was inviting, as though it had been designed not just for living but for belonging.

By the time the house tour ended, she felt something unexpected—ease. The kind she hadn't felt in a long time.

Then came the truth.

Ayuma's voice was steady as he spoke, his expression unreadable. "I should tell you something." A pause. "I lead a Yakuza gang."

The words fell between them like a weight, yet the room didn't shift with discomfort. There was no fear in the air, no uncertainty. Instead, the family simply looked at her, waiting.

"We aren't doing anything wrong," someone said, their voice firm but not defensive.

Harumi's gaze flickered to Toshiro. His expression was unreadable at first, but then it softened. He took a slow step closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"When the time comes," he murmured, "we'll explain everything."

She should have been afraid. She should have felt uncertain. But as she looked around at the faces surrounding her, she felt something else entirely.

Safety.

No matter what secrets lay ahead, she was home.

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