「Father, why did you have to invite Sanae and her family?」 Taking a seat on the sofa next to her father, Mieko massaged her throbbing temple. Not even a half hour had passed since the evening of shallow charades had begun, and she was already worried for Kazuma’s well-being.

「She is Miss Iwagami to you.」 Mister Takahara grunted, keenly eyeing the pair of estranged lovers from across the room.

「After three years, she’s still taken with him, and I count that as a blessing.」

His blood boiled as Kazuma remained visibly uninterested in any of Sanae’s advances for conversation, the young woman desperately hanging at his side while Kazuma barely made eye contact.

Mieko rolled her eyes, holding back a gag at the mere suggestion of Sanae being a blessing for anyone.

「Taken with his money, more like.」 She whispered, refusing to flinch as her father shot her a warning glare.

「Enough. Not another word.」 He warned through gritted teeth before abruptly rising to greet a group of stragglers, leaving Mieko with the sickening sight of Sanae shamelessly hunting for any scruple of affection Kazuma may throw her way.

Mieko would be lying to herself if she denied the stunning presence Sanae was delivering that evening: her long, shining black hair was delicately swaddled around a golden flower barrette, wayward tresses dripping down the nape of her neck before giving way to a dark blue evening gown. Mieko sighed from her lonely seat on the sofa, praying that Kazuma would hold onto some smidgen of dignity and not fall back into the spider’s web.

Both women caught eyes for a second, challenging Mieko’s will not to march over to the person she despised the most and slap the ice-cold smirk from her done-up face.

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Near the window across the room, Sanae felt her heart skip as the man of her attentions motioned for them to enter a nearby study, wonderfully private and nostalgic of their prior shared pastime.

The nosy little brat across the way was probably tearing her hair out as the two were lost from her sight.

Serves her right.

「My apologies if I’m not exactly to your expectations this evening.」

The smooth timber of Kazuma’s voice jolted Sanae out of her ruminations. Eyeing the back of his suit as helocked the door behind them, Sanae’s cheeks turned pink as she breathed a sigh of relief.

Alone again after all this time.

Up until now, she had wondered if Mieko had already trashed her chances of winning back Kazuma, telling outlandish tales about her and her “desperation” for a wealthy match.

「Oh, not at all.」 She smiled as she accepted his hand, wiggling her hips as she took a seat on the small lounge beside Kazuma’s desk. 「As long as I get to have your attention, Mister Kamoi, I’m more than satisfied for the night.」

To her pleasure, he managed a weary chuckle while he took the space beside her.

Sanae caught his glimpse traveling from her eyes down to her lips, finally flickering over her collarbone before suddenly jumping towards the closed door.

「You never took such precautions before.」 She murmured as a giggle escaped from behind her hands. 「I thought you-」

「Sanae-」 Kazuma let out a huff, settling his gaze on the exhausting woman cozying up next to him. 「I hear that you’ve done quite a bit of matchmaking, hm?」

Taken aback by the sharp tone of his voice, Sanae decided to tread lightly for the time being.

「Yes, I have.」 She sang, eyelashes brushing against Kazuma's sleeve as she met his gaze. 「It was a terrible thing you did to me. Not a single letter, after all we’ve done together.」

She could feel his body grow stiff as she leaned her weight against him.

「Mm.」 He hummed in thought, a hand reaching to nervously scratch at his chin. 「I suppose a pretty thing like you has already found an appropriate match, yes?」

Sanae froze, eyes wide and mouth turning into a frown.

What on earth is he getting at?