NOVEL NEXT Chapter 247 Occupied
"In fact," Ross continued, a chuckle escaping his lips, "why should we leave him in the dark? Let's help him figure it out. I think it'll be fun to see his reaction."
His laugh was low and menacing, filled with anticipation for whatever chaos he was about to unleash.
Reina frowned, unease creeping into her voice.
"What are you planning, Ross?" she asked cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she watched his expression shift into one of mischief.
"You'll see," he replied cryptically, leaning back further as if to enjoy the suspense.
"But first, you both need to meet my girls again. It's about time you got properly acquainted."
That evening, Reina and Mari arrived at Ross's sprawling estate. The massive mansion loomed ahead, its grandeur casting an imposing shadow in the fading light of dusk.
As they entered, they were greeted by a group of women—Ross's harem.
The women regarded Reina and Mari with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, their expressions guarded as they listened to the newcomers' explanation.
Reina, her voice steady despite the knot of nerves in her stomach, spoke carefully.
"We'll be staying here for a little while," she began, glancing briefly at Mari for support.
"It's temporary—just until I can convince my daughter Ren to… come back home with us."
Her words were met with nods of polite acknowledgment from most of the women, though a few exchanged skeptical glances.
Only Althea remained silent, her sharp eyes studying Reina and Mari intently. She knew that Ross was keeping these lovely women as his pets and slaves for the moment.
The glint in his eyes when he introduced the two women told her everything she needed to know.
This wasn't about reconciliation or temporary arrangements. This was another one of Ross's games, and Althea knew better than to interfere.
Later that night, as the household settled into an uneasy calm, Ross retreated to his private study.
The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the soft glow of his computer screen and the faint moonlight streaming through the window.
Sitting back in his leather chair, Ross picked up his phone and dialed a number. He leaned back, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he waited for the call to connect.
A deep, formal voice answered on the other end. The line crackled faintly, the sound of distant chatter in the background. The call had reached its destination: Japan—the land of the rising sun. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire
***
Kirito Hirose was an ambitious man. His success was not solely due to his drive but also to his understanding of hard work and the importance of connections.
Highly intelligent and well above his peers, Kirito had risen to prominence through relentless effort.
His name was synonymous with success in the business world, and his presence commanded respect in every room he entered.
Kirito's life revolved around his work. Every decision, every action, was calculated to further his goals. He had only one child, a fact that suited him well given his limited time.
To Kirito, time with his daughter was secondary to his ambitions. He provided her with everything she could ever need materially but rarely spared more than a few moments to engage with her personally.
The pursuit of his dreams left little room for sentimentality.
There was always more to achieve, a never-ending pursuit that propelled him to the ranks of Tokyo's elite.
Respected by many, he basked in the spotlight, believing he had earned it through sheer determination. Publicly, he was seen as a man of principle, someone who inspired others to strive for greatness.
Privately, however, he often wrestled with an unshakable sense of emptiness—a feeling he dismissed as the price of success.
Yet, life is rarely a fantasy of unbroken success. No one escapes trials, regardless of their shape or form.
And today, Kirito's test arrived with a resounding crash. The perfectly constructed life he had built was about to face an unanticipated challenge, one he could not ignore or delegate.
Ring
Ring
Ring
The shrill sound of the phone cut through the quiet hum of his office.
Kirito picked up the receiver, slightly surprised at who was calling.
Days had passed in a blur of meetings and negotiations, and he had failed to notice someone's absence in his life. He answered the phone and said,
"Yes, Reina? Did you get Ren? Are you on your way back to Tokyo now?" Kirito said in Japanese.
His voice was calm, almost mechanical, as his eyes remained on the documents scattered across his desk.
His multitasking skills were as sharp as ever, a habit honed through years of juggling countless responsibilities.
But the next words he heard on the line froze him in place, forcing his full attention on the call.
"Kirito… something's happened," Reina's voice trembled, shattering the routine calm of his world.
There was a fragility in her tone that immediately put him on edge, as if she was struggling to hold herself together.
"Ren… I found her but… ahhhhhh…"
The sound that followed wasn't just a gasp—it was a moan, unmistakably intimate and achingly familiar.
Kirito froze. His mind registered it, but his heart refused to believe. He knew that sound too well, a sound he'd heard in the throes of their passion, a sound meant only for him. But this time, it wasn't.
"No," he whispered under his breath, as if denying it could make it untrue.
The pen in his hand slipped, leaving a dark, unsightly blot of ink on the pristine document he'd been reviewing. It didn't matter.
The world around him felt as though it had stopped, the weight of her voice suffocating every rational thought.
"Reina?" he called, his voice shaky at first before it sharpened with urgency. "Where are you? What's happening to you right now?!"
Silence.
He could hear her labored breathing on the other end, could picture her struggling to form the words.
"Ohhh… it's… nothing…" she finally murmured, her words fragmented and breathless. "I'm just… occupied right now… there's…"
***
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You are awesome! Thank you! ^_^