A new chapter for all of the wonderful you :)

Haruhi rolled her eyes and turned her head away. She didn't know Yuuichi's dumb-witted wife was close enough with Ito Yuki to invite her to someone else's child's party even if that someone else was her sister-in-law. Unless, she knew something, and this was her way of getting back at her for the last week's memorable dinner. Haruhi's lips curved inwards in disgust, as she remembered this bitch's insults towards her and her father.

"If this isn't my little brother's pretty wife," she heard Akito's voice, and her stomach turned with repulsion. "You look like a goddess tonight."

She turned to face him, and the forced smile on her lips made her muscles almost hurt. "Akito-san," she drawled. "That's a tacky way to get my attention."

"It worked though," he grinned.

"Don't push your luck," she told him coldly. "I might overlook your obnoxious behavior for now, but don't assume I will let this slide."

"I can't wait to see what you will do," he whispered with sultry voice, leaning closer to her ear.

Haruhi felt his breath on her neck, but she didn't even flinch to give him the satisfaction. She was tempted to yank him by the hair to the nearest room and knock all of his miserable teeth out, so he wouldn't open his mouth around her anymore. The idea passed through her head, but she just shrugged it off, and instead, pushed her brother-in-law away.

"Your wife might feel lonely," she told him. "Go have fun with people of your breed."

He opened his mouth perhaps to protest, but his mother's voice interrupted him. "Akito-san, your father was looking for you."

Haruhi greeted Saori, and the woman smiled at her gently. Somehow she had gotten Riichi into her arms and was trying to prevent the little boy to escape. Akito cleaned his throat uncomfortably, offered his mother a short bow and walked away.

"I am so glad you came, Haruhi," she said suddenly. "I must apologize for what happened last week. I..."

"You don't need to apologize," Haruhi said politely. "It wasn't your fault Yuriko-san couldn't control her temper."

"Oh," Saori mumbled awkwardly, pulling Riichi closer to her chest. "I am still sorry. I hope that won't discourage from visiting us. I love seeing Riichi."

Kyoya's mother was a person Haruhi didn't understand well. For one, she was Ootori Yoshio's wife and all of her sons were menaces of some sorts. But then she was this gentle, quiet woman who talked so little she hardly heard her voice. Maybe, a stronger woman for a mother would have taught this morons not to get over the heads of their wives―not that Yuuichi's wife needed extra encouragement. Haruhi liked Saori regardless. She found her soft personality a fresh change and didn't feel as stressed around her, as she did around others. This woman wasn't plotting anyone's demise, while smiling at their face.

"You can always visit us, Saori-san," she said with a beaming expression on her face. "These days I am very busy, so Riichi would be happy to spend more time with a family. And he adorns you."

"Really? Can I?" the woman looked at her with hopeful eyes, and Haruhi nodded.

"Of course, Riichi will be very happy."

The party fell into its tedious routine. People approached her, complimented her, talked about irrelevant things and then left. And Haruhi soon became numb. Her dress felt heavy on her, and her feet began to tire in her shoes. She groaned annoyed and sat on the corner with the kids, who were playing on the floor for some reason. They were quiet for kids, and Haruhi found herself relaxing. This was a good opportunity to lean back and carefully scan these bastards.

She cautiously slipped her foot out of her shoe and rubbed her heel against the other. She needed a good feet massage at this point. Her eyes fell on Yuki, who was speaking with Fuyumi. They looked very cheerful from this angle. Kyoya hadn't approached her at all. He seemed to be extremely busy, speaking about something with his father and brothers.

When the night fell, the children were ushered by the maids into a special large guestroom to take a nap, while their parents decided to have drinks and talk politics and idle gossip like they liked so much. Drinks were brought, and Haruhi's failing mood improved slightly. She drunk couple of glasses and wrinkled her nose. This would do of course, but the staff Hikaru had spoiled her for timider drinks.

There were so many people in this large drawing room, and yet, she felt so lonely. She felt like if she disappeared all of a sudden, nobody would even notice her absence, and most importantly, he wouldn't notice. And that hurt more than she would like to admit. She sighed and got up. Where did she go wrong? Maybe, she should have stopped after finding the bastard that caused her mother's death. Maybe, she should have stopped after that and dedicated herself to her family, to Riichi, to Kyoya.

She knew she neglected him. She knew he had tried to reach to her, and she didn't have time for him. And what was the worst, Kyoya had no idea why, and maybe he would never know why. Maybe, it was for the better if he ended up with that Yuki girl. Haruhi took another glass from a tray of the waiter, who was passing by, and walked away from the noise.

Summer was pretty. The evening had fallen gently, and the moon was out in the sky, glancing down curiously. She sipped from the glass and dragged her feet forward towards the fountain. It was beautiful.

"Maybe I should have my bastard of a husband get one for our damn garden," she thought bitterly.

Soft footsteps grabbed her attention, and she turned back a little upset, that her quiet spot was discovered, and now she would be forced into stupid pleasantries with someone she didn't care about. Her eyes slightly widened when she realized it was Yuki. What was she doing here?

"Haruhi-san," she squeaked and lowered her head.

"Yes?"

"I am really sorry," she mumbled quietly. "I know I am a terrible person, and that there is no justification for what I did, but I can't leave him."

"Well, my congratulations," she scoffed. "I wish you best of luck and hope you will do your best in your relationship with Kyoya."

The girl took a step back, and flinched when Haruhi shifted. "What did you expect to hear?" Haruhi asked. "You want my sympathy? Pity? Blessing? You think if you cry and whine, I will pat your head and say good job, Yuki-chan?"

The girl bleached and gulped loud enough for Haruhi to hear. Haruhi sighed and took a step back. "So what is it?" she asked with a sigh. "What do you want from me? Whatever it is, don't expect it."

The girl started to tremble, and Haruhi rolled her eyes. "Sorry," she said. "Go cry about being a sinning angel to someone else's ear, I don't have time for that."

She turned and left, hoping the girl got her message and wouldn't lurk around her anymore. The audacity of the rich, spoiled princess! She slept with a married man with a child and then demanded to be encouraged and sympathized with. Was she jealous? Haruhi realized that she wasn't really jealous, she was just very hurt.

She could hear the girl's tiny sobs, and part of her wondered if she should have been so harsh to the girl. She heard her talking to someone on the phone.

"Tanaka-san," Haruhi heard her say through her throaty snivels. "I am at Shido-san's mansion. Can you please come and take me home?"

Haruhi bit her lip and decided to hold back her tears. She wouldn't cry. She was better than that. She entered in and bumped into Kyoya.

"Where were you?" he asked. "I was looking for you."

"Went to breathe some fresh air," she said, trying to push past him.

"You do that very often recently. Had air become too toxic inside?"

She stumbled forward, and he caught her. "Careful," he said.

Maybe she had drunk too many glasses. How many were they? Ten? Fifteen? Maybe more, she didn't count. She wasn't drunk, but lightheaded maybe.

"The guests are leaving?" she asked, noticing that the crowd had thinned down.

"It's kind of late," Kyoya remarked, staring at his expensive wrist-watch. "Maybe we should leave too."

Haruhi nodded. "Then I will go and get Riichi," she said, moving forward.

Didn't he even notice that his shiny new girlfriend had left? Well, Kyoya sucked at being her husband, and he wasn't any better at being a boyfriend. She snorted again. She moved into the children's room and found Misaki there. She was talking to one of the guests, who also came to pry away her sleeping child from the soft bed. The woman she was talking to bid her goodbyes and walked out.

Misaki pouted suddenly, maybe not realizing she wasn't alone and sighed longingly. Akito's wife didn't have as sharp of a tongue as Yuuchi's wife did. She was more of a dreamy airhead. Misaki looked down at her, because Haruhi was a commoner, but overall was nothing more than a dumb, rich girl, who was extremely fixated on Akito.

"Oh, Haruhi-san," she said, noticing her. "It's you. I didn't even know you came today. I thought maybe with all the rumors around you wouldn't want to be here."

Rumors? What was she talking about?

"I am afraid I don't understand," Haruhi said politely.

"Oh?" she said excitedly, leaning forward. "You know, there are rumors that Kyoya-san is having an affair with Ito-sama's daughter, and she was here today. I thought they must be true, and that's why Yuriko had invited her."

The girl smiled enthusiastically, as if proud of her skills to be able to connect the two. "Shouldn't be nice to know that he is cheating on you," she said suddenly pouting.

"Oh, Misaki-san," Haruhi drawled, giving her voice a sympathetic tone. "How can you believe such rumors? They are nothing, but jealous gossip. Kyoya is an Ootori, do you think he would risk his reputation to cheat? Just think about Akito-san cheating, that's impossible, right?"

Misaki's eyes suddenly widened, and then they sparkled with excitement. "Oh, I haven't thought about it," she said thoughtfully. "You are right. It sounds like some nonsense now. Akito-san, as well as, Kyoya-san wouldn't ever cheat."

Haruhi chuckled. "Such a naive girl."

"I should go and find my husband," she said suddenly with an eager tone, as if remembering that he existed.

Haruhi sighed and picked her sleeping son into her arms. God, she was so sick of everyone. She wanted a good long holiday that would put her mind at ease and she could relax, making up for all the time she hadn't slept.

The door wasn't closed, so when she moved towards it and it opened, she moved back surprised. When Akito walked in she was startled for a moment, even though her tight face didn't show any signs of it.

"You look amused. Did something great happen tonight?" he asked, leaning against the door.

"Just having fun at the expense of your dumb wife," Haruhi laughed.

"She is right, you know," Haruhi tensed when she heard Akito's voice.

Was he there the entire time, eavesdropping on the conversation?

"About your dream husband and Yuki-chan," he clarified.

"So what?" Haruhi moved to the door.

"It doesn't bother you?" Akito asked surprised.

"Should it?" she said, turning to face him again, and Akito stared back at her shocked.

I had a busy day yesterday and had stayed in the lab all day and couldn't post the chapter. Thank you guys for leaving me such a wonderful response. You motivate me so much. I hope you like this chapter as well, and you will share your impressions from it with me. ^_^ Stay well.