Prologue
She had never expected this. Never even thought that she could be so lucky. She was just Kana Ienaga, a normal 20-year old college student with a normal family, normal friends and a normal life. Until, he entered it.
Rikuo Nura – everyone knew him. The most eligible bachelor of Hokkaido, no, scratch that, Japan, grandson of Rihyon Nura, the head of Nura and Sons, one of the most famous and successful pharmaceutical companies in the whole world. Rikuo Nura had everything; wealth, fame, charisma, looks, intelligence and a great physique. He was also a professional fencer and had brought home many international trophies in the art.
Both of them were radically different. She was a normal, plain-looking girl with a happy home. There was nothing special about her, maybe except her high IQ. He was handsome and almost perfect, with everything in life. They were even more different than chalk-and-cheese.
So what was it that had caused him to take such a strong interest in her? Strong enough to marry her?
She had first seen the white-haired bachelor when he'd accompanied his grandfather, Rihyon Nura, to their college for a lecture. The whole college was in frenzy, not because of Rihyon but because of his devilishly handsome grandson. The girls had already planned and re-planned their shoes, dresses, make-up, hairstyles and any other thing they could use to grab the 24-year old bachelor's attention.
Kana too had decided to dress up for the occasion though it was nothing fancy. She wore faded, light blue, skinny jeans, a sleeveless pink top that was flared at the bottom, a pink choker for an accessory and red stilettos. Her usually down, hip-long brown was tied in an untidy bun and she had minimal make-up on. But still out of all the college beauties, the one he'd noticed was her.
Their first meeting followed by a couple of more accidental meetings and one date had given way to marriage.
But Kana was young and vulnerable; she'd been absolutely smitten to the young Nura. So when he'd proposed with a diamond ring – a normal proposal, not those down-on-one-knee movie ones – she'd been on seventh heaven and accepted right away.
Her parents hadn't objected. They were a bit anxious though, after all who wouldn't be for their one and only child? But Rikuo's gentle behavior and charisma had won them over too and they too accepted.
So the marriage took place in a grand way – they were the Nuras after all – and was attended by many celebrities, politicians, socialites and all other wealthy people. The media was in frenzy. The heir to an extremely wealthy family marrying a young, college girl? Yeah, right. But it didn't bother Kana. She was happy. Very happy, to say the least.
Two months passed. Rikuo was a caring yet distant husband. After all, they knew each other since roughly two months. Kana had thought he would get used to her and they'd have a happy marriage like the ones she saw in those romance movies.
But no. That wasn't the case at all. With time, Rikuo grew more and more distant while Kana could just watch, as he began slipping through her fingers. But then, he was never hers to begin with.
So Rikuo started coming home late, spending more time at his work. There were nights when he didn't come at all and Kana had only her pillows for comfort on their large, white bed. He started ignoring her, staying polite but distant. Soon, their relationship was nothing more than of strangers. Kana never questioned him though. She'd always been like that. Shy and timid and unable to stand up for herself.
One day, tired of everything, she decided to return to her parents. She would've been gone too, if not for that phone call.
The phone call which told her about Rikuo's dark secret. The phone call due to which she had sleepless nights.
The phone call which destroyed her life.