Chapter 1095: The Grandmother’s Venom
I looked at the elderly woman carefully. From the venom in her words and the context, it was clear — she was Haruna and Yuko’s paternal grandmother, the mother of their late father.
The atmosphere in the store had become suffocating. Shoppers were whispering, phones were recording, and Kasumi looked like she was on the verge of breaking down.
I turned to the middle-aged man standing beside the old woman and spoke firmly but calmly, "Please take her away. This is not the place for this kind of scene."
The man’s face twisted with anger. He stepped forward aggressively. "Why the hell should I take her away?! Is this mall yours?! Who do you think you are to order us around?!"
The woman beside him (his wife) also chimed in with a sharp, mocking tone, "Exactly! This woman seduced and ruined a good man, then killed him indirectly for his property and company shares. People like her are a disgrace to society! She should be ashamed to even show her face in public!"
Yuko’s eyes burned with fury. She stepped in front of her mother protectively. "Shut up! You don’t know anything! Oka-san is not like that at all! Stop spreading these disgusting lies!"
Haruna was crying harder now, her voice breaking. "Please stop... You’re hurting Oka-san..."
I turned toward Kasumi. Her face was deathly pale, and tears were silently rolling down her cheeks. She looked completely devastated, as if every word was stabbing her in the heart. The elegant, gentle woman who had been smiling brightly just minutes ago had shattered.
I gently took her hand. "Let’s get out of here, Oka-san."
I looked back at the old woman and her family with cold eyes. "If you have any real problem or complaint, then file a court case. Don’t create a public spectacle like this. We’re leaving."
The old woman screamed after us, "Running away again?! Just like you ran away from my son! You heartless witch!"
I ignored her completely and guided Kasumi out of the store, with Yuko and Haruna following closely behind. Haruna was still sobbing quietly while Yuko tried her best to comfort her mother from the other side.
As we walked through the mall toward the parking area, Kasumi remained in a state of shock. Her steps were unsteady. She kept murmuring under her breath, almost in a trance:
Her voice was barely audible, filled with deep pain and guilt. "It wasn’t like that... I didn’t... kill him..."
Yuko’s eyes were also red. "Oka-san, please don’t listen to them. They’re just bitter and cruel people."
Haruna wiped her tears aggressively. "That old hag! How dare she say those things about Mom?! I wanted to slap her so badly!"
I kept my arm around Kasumi’s shoulder, supporting her as we reached the car. I helped her sit in the front passenger seat carefully. She still looked completely out of it, staring blankly ahead with tears continuing to fall silently.
Once everyone was inside the car, I started the engine. The mood inside was heavy. Kasumi’s hands were clenched tightly in her lap, her traditional kimono now wrinkled from the tension.
She whispered again, almost to herself, "I... I really loved him back then... Why... why do they still hate me so much...?"
The pain in her voice was heartbreaking. This elegant, strong woman who always tried to appear composed was crumbling right in front of us.
Haruna reached forward from the back seat and hugged her mother from behind. "Oka-san... please don’t cry. We love you. That’s all that matters."
Yuko nodded, tears in her own eyes. "She’s right, Mom. You did nothing wrong."
I drove silently for a moment before speaking gently, "Oka-san... you don’t have to carry this burden alone anymore. We’re here with you."
Kasumi didn’t respond. She simply leaned her head against the car window, silent tears continuing to flow down her elegant face as painful memories flooded back. The lively, graceful woman who had been smiling and laughing just hours ago had completely shut down.
The joyful family shopping trip had turned into an emotional nightmare in mere minutes.
Instead of driving home, I turned the car toward a peaceful lakeside camping site outside the city. Haruna and Yuko exchanged worried glances but didn’t question me.
They understood their mother needed to get away from everything. Kasumi remained completely unresponsive throughout the drive, staring blankly ahead like a broken doll.
After nearly an hour, we arrived at the beautiful camping ground. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the lake. I registered for a private spot, rented two tents, sleeping bags, and cooking equipment. Yuko and Haruna helped me unload everything while Kasumi stayed seated in the car.
We chose a scenic location right beside the lake. While I set up the two tents, Yuko and Haruna gathered firewood and prepared the portable stove.
Kasumi sat quietly at first, but when she saw her daughters working hard, she slowly stood up, wiped her tears, and joined them in preparing dinner.
She made juicy steaks, grilled vegetables, sausages, and even toasted some marshmallows. The familiar act of cooking seemed to ground her slightly. When the food was ready, we sat around the warm campfire.
However, Kasumi only stared at her plate, untouched.
"I don’t have any appetite..." she whispered, her voice empty.
I moved closer and sat right beside her. I cut a small, tender piece of steak, blew on it gently to cool it, and brought the fork close to her lips.
"Oka-san... open your mouth."
Kasumi shook her head slowly, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. "Jack... I really can’t eat right now. Please don’t trouble yourself."
I smiled softly and gently wiped the tears from her left cheek with my thumb. "Just one bite. For me. You’ve always taken care of us. Let me take care of you tonight."
She hesitated for a long moment, but eventually parted her lips. I carefully fed her the piece of steak. Kasumi chewed slowly, her tears still falling silently.
I wiped her right cheek this time, my touch tender. "That’s it... Good girl. Another one?"
Kasumi’s lips trembled. "Why are you being so kind to me...? After what that woman said... after everything you heard today... You should be disgusted with me..."
I cut another piece, added a bit of grilled vegetables, and brought it to her mouth. "I’m not disgusted at all. I know the kind of woman you are — strong, selfless, and loving. You protected your daughters when you had to. That’s not something to be ashamed of."
As she accepted the bite, more tears dripped down. I gently wiped them away with my fingers, stroking her cheek lovingly.
Haruna watched with misty eyes. "Oka-san... please eat more. Jack is right. We love you so much."
