CHAPTER 285: THE WEALTH WE MEASURE ( 285 )

"Follow this address," Satomi said, as she and Satoshi settled into the back seat of the taxi.

The driver took the invitation from Satomi’s hand, glanced at the address, and his brows rose a little. A small smile tugged at his lips as he started the engine.

"You two here for a wedding? The Takahashi family’s eldest daughter is getting married today, right?"

Satomi’s eyes flicked toward Satoshi. Both of them froze for a moment.

"What?" they said almost in unison.

The driver chuckled. "Ah, you didn’t know? Yes, their eldest daughter. She’s marrying a young man from Tokyo. Handsome fellow, too. Well... she’s a hot shot herself, young, beautiful, and from a very wealthy family."

Satoshi leaned forward slightly. "Takahashi... you mean the Takahashi Group?"

"That’s the one." The driver’s eyes met his briefly in the rearview mirror. "Eh? Don’t tell me you had no idea whose wedding you’re going to."

Satomi let out a short laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "No... this invitation was sent by my ex-husband."

The driver gave a knowing nod. "Then your ex must have landed himself the jackpot."

What?

No wonder Haruki once said she was more beautiful than me.

Is it because she’s rich?

And her name... Kyouko. Same as Mother’s.

...No. Mother came from an ordinary family, not from the Takahashi Group—the very group that holds shares in both my and Papa’s companies.

"Papa?" she murmured aloud.

Satoshi glanced at her. "Hmm?"

"How many people have you met from the Takahashi Group?"

He was silent for a moment, as if counting in his mind, before answering, "You already know. We’ve both met them before, Mister Kazuma and his wife, Miss Keiko. If I’m not mistaken, Keiko is believed to be the youngest daughter of the Takahashi family."

Satomi’s fingers tightened slightly on her clutch bag. So if the youngest is Keiko... then who exactly is the eldest daughter marrying today?

How...?

How could Haruki pull off marrying the Takahashi Group’s eldest daughter?

When did they even meet?

Was it after the months following our divorce?

...Or before?

Her jaw tightened, her nails biting into the soft leather of her clutch. The idea that they might have known each other while she was still his wife, bothered her pride , an irritation that wasn’t loud, but sharp, like a thorn buried under the skin.

Her mind replayed every memory she could recall, Haruki’s cold, distant tone during their final months together, the way he no longer seemed interested in touching her, the secretive look in his eyes. Could it be... that was because of her?

Grrr... Just you wait, Haruki. If she turns out to be plain, if she’s nothing but a name and a fortune, then I don’t care if she’s the eldest daughter of the Takahashi Group.

Her nails dug lightly into her palm, hidden beneath the folds of her skirt.

Grrr... Just you wait, Haruki.

If she’s not prettier than me... if she can’t measure up to what I once was to you...

She leaned back into the seat, the taxi’s hum mixing with the speed of her thoughts. Outside, Okinawa’s streets blurred with sunlight and sea breeze, but in the window reflection she saw only her own smirk, sharp, cold, and ready to strike when the moment came.

Then Satomi noticed her father’s face, eyes widening, brows knitting in recognition.

"Papa?"

Satoshi’s voice was low, almost disbelief. "No... this road is..."

Satomi turned to look out the window.

This is the road to Grandpa’s house... Is this for real?

The taxi driver’s voice cut through her thoughts. "We’ll arrive soon at the Kitayama residence."

"What!?" Both Satoshi and Satomi spoke at once, leaning forward in shock.

"Kitayama residence?" Satomi asked, her voice sharp with surprise.

"Yes~? Ah, you both didn’t know?" the driver chuckled. "Well, that’s how Mr. Kitayama is. Despite owning the Takahashi Group—the wealthiest family in Japan, he still lives in that old house of his."

"Not only that," the driver continued, his tone carrying a note of admiration, "he’s someone who doesn’t let success go to his head. Serious, yes, but if someone truly needs help, Mr. Kitayama won’t turn them away. People in the village respect him. They say if you come to him with sincerity, he’ll find a way to help, even if he doesn’t know you personally."

The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror, smiling faintly before adding, "And his son—Kenji? He’s cut from the same cloth. Lives simply, like his father. The difference is, Kenji is more easygoing. Still, the same treatment of people, no airs, no pretension, just good men."

He chuckled softly, as if recalling a memory. "I once saw Kenji stop his car to help a stranger fix a flat tire in the rain. Could’ve driven past, but he didn’t."

Satomi’s eyes widened slightly, the weight of the driver’s words sinking in. She exchanged a quick glance with Satoshi, whose expression was equally unsettled.

Inside her mind...

Wait... this means... Kyouko... her mother... was from one of Japan’s richest families? The Takahashi Group? All this time...?

Her pulse quickened. The casual image she’d carried of her mother’s side collapsed, replaced by visions of wealth, influence, and power.

She leaned back, trying to mask her growing unease, but the thought wouldn’t leave her. If this was true... then the wedding they were heading to wasn’t just any wedding. It was a union at the very peak of status and respect. And Haruki... Haruki was the groom.

This changed everything.

When the taxi finally rolled to a gentle stop in front of the imposing wooden gates, Satoshi and Satomi’s eyes widened in unison. The Kitayama residence loomed beyond,

Crisp white ribbons marked the entrance, and attendants in formal attire moved about, directing arriving guests.

Before either of them could reach for their wallets, the driver turned in his seat, a warm smile creasing his face.

"Since today is Mr. Kitayama’s daughter’s wedding," he said, his voice tinted with personal pride, "and since he’s helped me more times than I can count... you don’t need to pay the fare."

Satomi blinked in surprise. "Eh? You’re serious?"

The driver chuckled, waving a dismissive hand.

"Of course. I’ve been doing the same for everyone headed to the wedding today. It’s the least I can do for a man like him. When I was struggling years back, he didn’t just offer me help, he gave me enough to get back on my feet, no questions asked. People don’t forget kindness like that."

Satoshi sat back, silent, but the faint crease on his forehead showed there was more to think about. Satomi glanced out at the residence again, the scale of the day starting to hit her.

( End Of Chapter )