"Thank you, Miss Aoyama."

Ueguchi Megumi returned Aoyama Nanami's phone and bowed deeply again in gratitude.

"No need, Miss Ueguchi. Please stand up."

Aoyama Nanami helped her up.

This time, Ueguchi didn't resist.

Maybe it was because she had been kneeling for so long—when she stood up quickly, she almost lost her balance and fell over.

"Miss Aoyama, here's my business card." Once she steadied herself, Ueguchi proactively handed Aoyama Nanami her card.

"I'm a bit older than you, and I know a little more about the voice acting industry. If you ever run into trouble or need work, feel free to contact me."

Aoyama Nanami was stunned by the kindness.

"Really? I can?"

She knew very well how different life was with or without a mentor.

Ueguchi Megumi wasn't exactly a top-tier voice actress, but she was well connected—she knew all the big names and got along well with them.

"Of course. Let's keep in touch and help each other out more in the future."

Naturally, Ueguchi was willing to guide Aoyama Nanami.

She believed even the top-tier voice actors would be happy to hang out with Aoyama.

After exchanging contacts, Ueguchi found a reason to leave.

The moment she stepped out of the hospital room, her expression turned icy.

Now it was time to get rid of her useless, deadweight manager.

She got into a car and headed to the agreed location.

…

The day after Dōmoku Kai was admitted to the hospital, he was summoned by the police.

The charges were extensive: attempted rape, cheating on and abusing his wife, drunk driving, and assault.

When he arrived at court, Dōmoku Kai saw the high school girl he had slept with, as well as his wife, covered in bruises like a victim of domestic abuse.

Dōmoku Kai was dumbfounded.

He had slept with the high school girl—but it was a consensual transaction.

And as for his wife...

He had cheated, so he felt guilty. When she got pregnant, yelled at him, and even hit him, he didn't fight back.

So how could he be guilty of abuse?

In court, while he was arguing that everything was consensual, the girl tearfully asked, "What kind of girl would joke about losing her innocence?"

That one line destroyed him.

And just when he claimed he wasn't violent, a full video of him slapping Aoyama Nanami on set surfaced.

In the footage, Aoyama Nanami was bowing and apologizing over and over, while Dōmoku Kai struck her across the face.

That solidified the domestic violence narrative.

As the media reported the story, feminists—especially Japan's far more aggressive ones compared to those in other countries—stepped forward to speak out.

They didn't care whether Aoyama Nanami was really hit.

They didn't care if Dōmoku Kai's wife was really abused. The most update n0vels are published on novel[f]ire.net

They just wanted Dōmoku Kai to die.

Because he was a man.

Okay then—death sentence!

Under overwhelming public outrage and damning evidence, Dōmoku Kai was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He still wanted to appeal the sentence, but his wife's parting words—"The child's not yours. I don't love you anymore. Just let me go."—completely broke him.

Takashi watched it all unfold on his tablet.

"This woman is brutal," he couldn't help but mutter.

"The most poisonous thing in the world is a woman's heart. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

Hitomi said meaningfully as she ate breakfast, casting him a glance.

"What?" Takashi felt a chill from the way she looked at him.

"I was just thinking… should I do the same to you? Ruin your reputation and have you locked up?"

"I don't like prison play!"

"Then behave," Hitomi warned.

"What did I even do?!"

Takashi felt wronged.

"When Shijo Maki stayed outside your hospital room for so long that day, what were you two talking about?"

"She was thinking the same thing you are now. Wanted to do the same to me."

Just thinking about that day with Shijo Maki made Takashi shudder.

Ah... he really missed the first time he met that naive, easily manipulated Maki...

"The Yulong Cup is starting soon. Will you come?" Takashi changed the subject.

"I'll come if you make it to the finals," Hitomi said as she looked down at the tablet.

She had recently begun formally managing the Konoe family. It kept her extremely busy.

She was overworked during the day, and exhausted at night thanks to him—Takashi had barely seen her rest.

It made his heart ache a little.

"Is there anything I can help with?" he asked, even though he didn't know what he could offer.

"Just stay by my side and be my sweet little boy toy," Hitomi replied without looking up.

"Then never mind."

Takashi wasn't the type to sit still.

He couldn't just quietly lie around doing nothing.

"Hmph."

Hitomi snorted but didn't say anything else.

She hadn't tried to isolate Takashi or stop him from meeting those high-society girls, mainly because maintaining good relations with them benefited her too.

Take the Ryuju Group and the Konoe family for example—originally, they had no connection.

But as Takashi grew close to Momo, the two sides began trying to build ties.

Takashi acted as a bridge between the two parties.

Hitomi didn't want to admit it, but she couldn't deny—she was starting to rely on Takashi.

Not just physically or emotionally—but the Konoe family also didn't want her to leave him.

Her family was very satisfied with their son-in-law.

His womanizing didn't matter at all.

As long as he brought benefits to the family, even if he slept with a hundred women a night, they'd proudly say: "Our son-in-law has great stamina!"

I feel like he's the one controlling me now.

Realizing she was being changed by Takashi, rather than the other way around, Hitomi grew more and more irritated—

And kicked him.

Takashi looked up at her, confused.

"What are you looking at?" Hitomi glared.

"Why are you rewarding me?"

Hitomi: "..."

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