Chapter 625 The Four Ladies
Day Seventy…
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Mr. Hiroshi bore witness to the heartwarming reunion between Jane and Hanabi. The elderly man couldn't help but feel immense joy at seeing the two women embrace once more after such a long separation.
He had observed the deep bond that had formed between Hanabi and Jane during their childhood. Now, as adults, he held hope that the three of them, including Abigail, would forge an even stronger connection than before.
"Cough! Cough!" Mr. Hiroshi theatrically cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the four women. "Can I join you, ladies? I could use a hug from my eldest daughter too. I've missed her dearly," he added with a playful tone. His words brought an even brighter atmosphere to the room, eliciting warm smiles from the four women.
"Pa!" Jane traced her steps toward her father and gave him a warm hug.
Mr. Hiroshi tenderly patted Jane's back and gently ran his fingers through her hair. "You surprised us with your sudden return today. If I had known earlier, I would have prepared all your favorite dishes." His voice was filled with both joy and regret, his fatherly affection evident as he spoke to his daughter.
"I wanted to surprise you," Jane replied while giggling.
"Hmm, alright, you win," Mr. Hiroshi conceded with a smile. "In that case, Kazuki and I will prepare something special for all of you. You ladies can enjoy your time bonding together." He chuckled, pleased to see his daughters reunited and enjoying each other's company together with their friends, Hanabi and Cherry.
The two men allowed the ladies to have their bonding moment. Abigail immediately brought her sister and friends to her room. She was excited to inform Jane that she was going to marry Dave.
"Sis! Dave proposed to me! And I said yes!" Abigail exclaimed in an elated voice.
"I'm going to marry the love of my life! Our grandfather also met Dave. I introduced him to our Yan Family." The news of Dave's proposal filled the room with an even greater sense of joy. Abigail's face radiated happiness as she shared her exciting news with her sister. Her voice echoed with love and enthusiasm as she spoke about marrying the man she adored and introducing him to their grandfather.
"This calls for a celebration!" Cherry chimed in, clapping her hands. Cherry's enthusiastic response added to the celebratory atmosphere. Her excitement was infectious, and it was clear that she was genuinely thrilled for Abigail.
Jane nodded. "I'm so happy for you, sis. I want to see you getting married." Jane's smile was filled with warmth as she expressed her happiness for her sister.
Deep down, she held a bittersweet wish to witness Abigail's wedding before her time was up. Jane only had thirty days left. The thought of seeing her sister walk down the aisle brought a mixture of emotions, but Jane cherished the moment and was determined to make the most of the time she had left.
Amidst the joyous atmosphere, Hanabi's voice cut through with a tone of guilt and regret. She struggled to find the right words as she addressed Abigail, her eyes filled with remorse.
"I have a confession to make," Hanabi began, her voice wavering slightly. She continued, "I want to apologize to you, Abi. Dave's proposal was my idea, and because of that, he made you cry. I'm truly sorry, and I understand if you're upset with me. I deserve any punishment for what I suggested."
Hanabi bowed her head as a tangible sense of regret weighed on her. She couldn't help but blame herself for the emotional turmoil Abigail had experienced due to her ridiculous suggestion.
Jane raised an eyebrow, her confusion deepening. "What kind of proposal did he do?" She couldn't fathom how could a proposal cause emotional distress to Abigail. Cherry, too, stared at Hanabi and Abigail, her curiosity piqued.
Hanabi hesitated for a moment before replying, her gaze fixed on the floor. "He connived with the doctor and nurses, making Abigail believe that he died," she explained, her voice laced with a mix of regret and unease. It was clear that she wasn't proud of her role in the unconventional proposal.
Jane: "..."
Cherry: "..."
After hearing the unusual proposal, both Jane and Cherry couldn't help but find it utterly ridiculous. The idea of making someone believe their partner had passed away struck them as overly dramatic and unnecessary.
Jane couldn't contain her frank response. "You should have beaten him up, instead of saying yes," she said with a deadpan expression, her tone reflecting her disbelief.
Cherry vigorously nodded in agreement with Jane's sentiments, her eyes wide with shock.
Hanabi, feeling increasingly apologetic, offered another heartfelt apology. "I'm sorry," she repeated.
However, Abigail's laughter filled the room, breaking the tension. "Don't worry, Sis, I beat him up before I said yes," she said between giggles. Then she moved closer to Hanabi and gently patted her shoulder. "It's okay, Hanabi. No need to feel guilty. It's not your fault," she reassured her friend, her laughter infectious and lightening the mood.
'Hmm, I'll talk to Dave regarding this,' Jane thought to herself.
The four ladies continued their conversation. They were in high spirits after their heartwarming reunion. As they settled into Abigail's room, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and chatter. They couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and anticipation for the good news. They started planning the wedding preparations. It was a moment they had all been looking forward to, and the happiness in the room was evident.
Later on, as Jane prepared to leave, she mentioned her intention to visit Tatsumi. Upon hearing this, Hanabi immediately volunteered to accompany her. She would like to grab the opportunity to spend more time with Jane. Cherry also decided to tag along with them. Meanwhile, Abigail had to stay behind because Dave was planning to visit her shortly.
A few minutes later, the three ladies left the villa. Hanabi took the driver's seat, Jane sat beside her in the front passenger seat, and Cherry settled in the back. As they navigated through the city streets, Hanabi couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and decided to strike up a conversation with Jane. She had burning questions she needed to ask.
"Jane, Tatsumi mentioned that he went to Country R and accidentally confessed to his father that he went there because of your request. I inquired further, but he declined to share any additional details. I'm curious, why are you looking for a specific organization?" Hanabi asked, selecting her words thoughtfully. She avoided mentioning the King Stallion Mafia, as she wasn't sure if Cherry would be familiar with it. Additionally, she was intrigued by Jane's request and wanted to understand the reasons behind it.
Jane and Cherry exchanged glances with one another through the rearview mirror. They knew that Hanabi was referring to the King Stallion Mafia.
"Hanabi, since you are my friend, I'll tell you a secret. Please keep this from my father." Jane decided to reveal her other identity to Hanabi.
"I promise," Hanabi promptly responded.
"Have you ever heard of an assassin named Phantomflake? Well, that's me," Jane disclosed, her tone serious and revealing a hint of her complex past.
Screech!
The weight of Jane's revelation hit Hanabi like a ton of bricks, causing her to accidentally slam on the brakes in shock. The sudden jolt of the car brought them all to a sudden stop.
'Oh damn. Jane… is an assassin?'