"Tsubaki... Sweetheart..." Ren closed his eyes for a moment. Deep regret was evident in his quiet voice. "I..."

"I know you didn't mean too..." Tsubaki intervened, her voice was m.u.f.fled over his pajamas. "But, it hurts me to see you looking lost like this."

Tsubaki pulled herself from him slightly, her eyes staring at his face. The dark eyes of his were dimmed. The brightness of his that she loved whenever he spoke to her was gone.

"You were happy this morning and when you came back, it's as if you're carrying a burden on your back," Tsubaki's voice shook as she spoke. "I know you're hiding something from me again... and I won't press you for answers if you're not ready but, darling, I don't want you to feel helpless when I'm with you."

Ren sighed heavily. He buried his head in the crook of her neck, his hands pulling her close to him.

He had made her worried again.

He was so useless.

"I feel so guilty." He spoke after a long period of silence. "I don't want to hurt you so I do not dare to tell you anything but... I hurt you in another way instead."

Tsubaki slowly caressed his back as she listened to him. She asked gently, "Could you tell me? Or do you want me to wait?"

Ren took a deep breath. He tightened his hold on her. Various possibilities came into his mind but when he recalled her words, he knew what he should do.

"I want you to know..." Ren straightened his back, his eyes fixated on hers. "Whatever I want to tell you, whatever you're thinking after this, you're still you. My wife. The love of my life. Nothing could change that."

Tsubaki silently nodded. There was a flicker of determination in her eyes.

Ren bent down to take the envelopes from the floor. He gently pulled Tsubaki to the long couch at the center of the study room. They sat side by side. Ren stared at the envelopes.

There was no going back.

"I think you already have a vague guess on why I have these envelopes from a genome inst.i.tute," said Ren as he handed her the envelopes. His hand felt scorching hot even though the envelopes had switched hands to hers. "This is an important matter and... I don't know how I should tell you."

Tsubaki looked at the envelopes before she turned her sight to his downcast face. Her heart was suddenly beating furiously as her hands slightly trembled once she held the white envelopes. The logo of the genome inst.i.tute looked intimidating.

"Do you want me to give you some s.p.a.ce?" Ren asked after he saw her being hesitant to open the envelopes.

"No." Tsubaki shook her head. "Stay, please."

Ren silently nodded. He put one of his hands around her waist. Tsubaki was still staring at the envelopes. He could sense her fear and uncertainty.

She took a deep breath. With a resolution built inside her heart, Tsubaki took out the papers from the envelopes. She quietly read the contents of both papers, the look in her eyes betrayed the calm she tried to show to him. Her hands slightly shook, crumpling the side of the papers.

"Sweetheart?"

Tsubaki lowered her head. Her lips started to quiver. Ren was anxiously trying to look at her face. When he touch her cheek, he felt the hot tears trickling down her face.

"Tsubaki?"

Tsubaki slowly looked at him. Her eyes gleaming with tears. There was so much sorrow in her eyes.

"I... have no connection with... Satsuki?" Her voice was so hoa.r.s.e, it made his heart ached.

Ren nodded. His gaze turned heavy.

"Mom... She isn't... my birth mother?" She asked again.

Ren nodded.

Without saying anything anymore, Tsubaki instantly buried her face on his chest. Her hands grabbed the pajamas clad on his body. Ren immediately wrapped his hands around her small frame. Her body was trembling, hot tears forming a wet patch on his pajamas.

Ren was just silently comforting her. He knew how this matter would shock her. Everything she had thought belonged to her was false. He couldn't possibly know how deep this revelation would scar her since he wasn't in her shoes but he would let her know, let her understand that whatever happened, he would always there for her.

When Ren thought Tsubaki would cry herself to sleep, she slowly pulled away from him. Her eyes were puffy and tears were staining her cheeks. Ren gently wiped her tears with his fingers. It was difficult for him to see her like this.

"When did you do this test?" Tsubaki's voice was still hoa.r.s.e. Her eyes landed on the slightly crumpled papers on her laps.

"The last time you fainted," answered Ren honestly. "I have my suspicions since we knew about Miss Hinata's existence. But, I delayed the tests since I didn't want to be rash."

Tsubaki nodded weakly. She read the handwritten note on the paper about her and Kouichi's relations.h.i.+p. It was Tos.h.i.+ro's handwriting. Ren asked him to add it after he explained about the DNA sequences of identical twins.

" So... Kouichi is my nephew?" Although Tsubaki was still shocked and sad about the revelation, there was a hint of wonder in her voice when she thought the young boy whom she had taken a fancy of was actually her blood related family.

"Yes," Ren brushed her bangs aside, trying to look at her face clearly. "Miss Hinata was your twin sister. Even though we still didn't know who were your parents yet."

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Tsubaki hummed. "I wonder... if Mom wasn't my birth mother... why did she take care of me? Did she... know my biological mother?"

Ren took the papers from Tsubaki's hands. He placed them on the coffee table in front of them. He brought her into his embrace again. His hand gently patted her head.

"We'll find out about it. I have asked Akas.h.i.+ to look for your uncle again. He must know something," said Ren as he hugged her.

Tsubaki agreed with him. She wasn't going to reject him from investigating again. When such an unthinkable matter came into view, she knew she couldn't turn a blind eye from it.

"I'll trust your decision." Tsubaki closed her eyes as she felt comforted with his actions. "I know you'd do the best for me. This is hard but I'm glad you're with me."

Once she was done reading the papers, she was so shocked to the core. Even when she had doubts about her birth ever since she knew about Hinata, she was unwilling to think of such a possibility. And now, the truth was shoved coldly to her face, forcing her to accept it.

She wouldn't crumble. She would remain strong.

Because whatever coming her way, he would always be by her side.