Gozo Kamezo's initial plan was to expose the secret to Kenji Azuma, triggering a conflict between Kenji and his wife, as well as with the young man, Alex. This would then allow him an opportunity to step in and take advantage of the chaos.
However, even Gozo Kamezo couldn't have predicted that even after Kenji learned that his wife was involved in an illicit relationship with another man, he would manage to endure it... Although Mrs. Yori hadn't been completely explicit, their conversation that morning was a clear hint of the truth.
Gozo Kamezo was not wrong.
Kenji couldn't figure out why his once loving wife, the virtuous and gentle Yori, would do such a thing. Pain, indignation, confusion... In addition to these complex emotions, there was also fear.
For some reason, Kenji felt that if he exposed everything, his wife would drift further and further away from him, eventually leaving him for good. He dreaded this, afraid that Yori would genuinely abandon him.
So, he chose to conceal it. Even though he knew everything as clearly as day, he didn't say a word, burying it deep in his heart.
"Oh? He knows about us?" Alex saw the text message on his screen, tilted his head, and pondered. "It must have been Gozo Kamezo who told him."
Alex wasn't surprised by this. Although he was involved in an adulterous affair with the married woman next door, he hadn't deliberately hidden his actions. Being discovered didn't bother him, but he found it strange that Mrs. Yori's husband would find out so quickly—it certainly wasn't the wife who had exposed it.
Thinking it over, the only possibility was Gozo Kamezo.
"Looks like he hasn't given up on the wife yet."
"So it was him," Seeing Alex's message that the disgusting man hadn't given up on her, the young married woman at home was alarmed. But thinking of the sense of security Alex gave her, and the mark he left on her body, the wife was no longer as afraid as before.
Only angry.
But on second thought, maybe Kenji knowing everything... wasn't a bad thing?
Mrs. Yori was suddenly startled. What am I thinking? Am I actually hoping my husband finds out about my secret with Alex-kun? Is it to punish him for not trusting me, or to provoke him and seize the opportunity to end the marriage?
Amidst her turmoil, she saw another message from Alex-kun.
"Wife, your husband knows about us. Did he have no reaction?"
"...No."
Mrs. Yori frowned in confusion. This was the one thing she couldn't figure out—Kenji knew his wife was cheating, yet he had zero reaction, and his attitude was the same as usual.
It's very strange...
Tsk tsk, he thought, truly the cuckold. He knows but won't confront her, choosing instead to stick his head in the sand. I'm speechless. Alex leaned back in his chair, swinging his legs, his expression nuanced.
Doesn't this just give me more room to maneuver?
Or is Kenji Azuma actually a pervert who enjoys watching his wife with others? Shaking off the thought, Alex rolled his dark eyes, a sly curve forming on his lips as he held his phone.
"Mrs. Yori, if this is too difficult for you, I can withdraw the Silver Mark from you and cut all ties. That way, your husband won't be able to catch you in adultery, because... we never crossed that final line, did we?"
"..."
The instant message showed 'Read,' but there was no reply. It was as if Mrs. Yori had fallen into a deathly silence because of this message. Alex watched the unresponsive chat, his smile growing brighter.
Although he was sitting in his school classroom and couldn't see Mrs. Yori's expression, he could imagine the young married woman's reaction because... through the Silver Mark, he could clearly sense the massive emotional turmoil.
That terrifying emotional fluctuation constantly vibrated the Silver Mark, stirring up a raging storm. Even when her secret was potentially exposed by her husband, her emotional swing wasn't this exaggerated. Instead, it was triggered by just one sentence from Alex.
This reaction made Alex unable to help but smile knowingly.
In her room, the beautiful young wife leaned against the wall and slowly slid to the floor, her face pale, her limbs weak. It was as if her heart had been excavated, leaving a huge void. Alex's words had sapped away most of her spirit.
Pain, sadness, despair...
Actually, Alex-kun was right. Breaking things off like this was reasonable. After all, compared to Alex-kun, Kenji, who she had been with for so many years, should be more important. Alex-kun was saying this for my sake...
But, but the emotions in my heart are uncontrollable! The gut-wrenching feeling kept bubbling up. The thought of Alex-kun cutting ties with her, the pain and sadness of it, made her eyes well up.
"Alex-kun, why would you say such a thing? Alex-kun... do you really want to end things with me?"
Is he truly doing this for my sake, or is he simply tired of me and looking for a way out? Mrs. Yori didn't know. The thought that he might be weary of her made her anxious and scared.
She hadn't known him for long, yet... she suddenly realized how important Alex-kun had become to her. She realized that she had already been consumed by him...
"Of course not. If you are willing to stay with me, Mrs. Yori, then even if your husband comes to confront me, I will take you away."
Suddenly seeing his follow-up message, Mrs. Yori's heart, which had been racing, finally settled. She instantly shook off her previous slump, a blush appearing on her face, replaced by a radiant smile. Her body was wrapped in a moment of utter bliss.
Mhm, Mrs. Yori had no idea she had been completely seduced and psychologically manipulated.
"But..."
Alex's chat window continued.
"Wife, if you regret this, this is your last chance. We haven't truly had sex; we haven't made love. You can still back out. Cut ties with me, go back to your peaceful life with your husband, and forget all of this..."
"Rest assured, I will help you deal with Gozo Kamezo, so he can never harass you again. You won't have any loose ends."
"..."
The young wife was stunned.
"Wouldn't that be a good outcome too?"
No, it wouldn't be good at all! The veins on the back of Mrs. Yori's hands were protruding. Her anxiety soared. Clasping her chest, she bit her lip, heartbroken. I can't go back to the way things were with Kenji anymore.
Alex-kun, do you even know that my heart has already been taken over by you? To ask if I regret it now—you are truly cunning!
Alex was indeed cunning. He was well aware of Mrs. Yori's emotional shift; the Silver Mark had betrayed her feelings. But precisely because of this, he needed her to make the choice.
Sometimes, a woman actively choosing something, as opposed to being forced into it, is an entirely different concept. When Mrs. Yori made the decision herself, it would signal her complete surrender. This would be the final nail in the coffin.
And in fact, the outcome was exactly as Alex had anticipated.
"I don't regret it, Alex-kun, I have never regretted it..." The married woman wiped the corners of her eyes. "Alex-kun, I... I can't live without you now."
Having said all this, Mrs. Yori felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart, making her feel relaxed all over. The beautiful, young wife covered the Silver Mark below, her eyes glazed over. "Alex-kun... I love you..."
Looking at the message on his phone and feeling the surge of infatuation transmitted by the Silver Mark, Alex's lips curled upwards.
Two choices were laid out before her. Alex had presented her with a perfect exit, even solving her biggest worry, yet Mrs. Yori still chose to stay with him.
At this moment, no further explanation was needed; this was practically a confession of love.
The married woman had completely succumbed.
The plan... worked.