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If my MC acts like a Mary Sue in any way or if there are any mistakes (grammar, story plot holes, etc.), TELL ME IMMEDIATELY! Thank you!

"" - speech

italics - memory

[ ] - thoughts

Disclaimer: I do not own Diamond no Ace.

Preparation for D-Day (2)

"Aunt! You said that you would keep your promise to me! We even signed a contract, didn't we?" Twenty-two year old Nami screamed. Unwilling tears sprouted from the corner of her eyes. "That's why I was out of your sight until I graduated from high school!"

"Foolish girl. The contract just says that my husband can act as the CEO with the help of your grandfather." Her aunt sneered as she threw the contract that was signed by the eleven year old Nami into the air. "It doesn't mean that he has to give up his position after your grandfather retires. Since it doesn't go against anything in the contract, realize that this company now belongs to me."

"That can't be..." Her wishes and her dreams shattered into a million pieces.

"My husband will continue to be the president and your uncle will be thrown out. Of course, your grandfather no longer holds any power, so now you'll have no one to protect you. Not that you had any in the first place."

"How dare you, Lisa!" Her uncle growled as he stood in front of Nami protectively. "I never knew you would fall so low and take advantage of your niece, especially after that tragedy! Do you truly believe that the stakeholders would accept your husband as the successor? He is friends with our enemy, the Hinata Household!"

Her aunt laughed wholeheartedly. "Nami... You care deeply about your foster family, don't you?"

"What... What about them..." She suddenly had a terrible feeling.

She tapped her chin with her finger thoughtfully. "Well since my husband is great friends with the Hinata Household, we decided to arrange a marriage between you and their second son. Isn't that wonderful?"

"And why would I even accept that?"

"If you don't, that foster father will lose his factory and his son will lose his position in society as a baseball player." Her lips widened into a smile.

"Lisa, how could you say such a horrendous thing?!" Her uncle turned towards Nami. "Nami, don't you dare accept that, we can always think of something else. I will definitely not allow them to do that to your foster family."

"It's your choice." Her aunt walked towards the door. "I'll give you 24 hours to decide. I will be waiting for a good answer, Nami."

"What do I..." Her mind turned blank. She wondered if this was all a bad dream, but she knew that she had to get a hold of herself.

"Nami, let's talk to your grandfather about this. They can't just take the company from both of us like that without reason. The stakeholders are also against your aunt and her husband. After all, her husband has been acting as the president since you were eleven, but his performance without grandfather's help has been atrocious. Because of that, none of the stakeholders want him in power." Her uncle held her hand to reassure her. "I also won't let you marry that madman. It would be disgraceful if the Tsukimukai Household married into the Hinata Household anyways."

"Grandmother likes aunt though. I doubt grandfather will be able to voice his concerns and opinions because of that." Nami's shoulders slumped, remembering how grandfather never stopped her aunt from hitting her for no reason and how grandmother looked at her as if she was lower than an amoeba.

"You know how good I am at convincing your grandmother. Do not worry, Nami. I will be sure to get their support." He pat her head just like the old days. "I'm sorry that I wasn't... No. I'm sorry that I was useless and didn't help you when you needed it the most after your parents were killed in front of you."

"It's okay... I was foolish and pushed away my family's workers when I shouldn't have. I was foolish. They were willing to help me and yet I didn't accept it." She looked at the floor in shame. "Anyways, you're right, uncle. I suppose I'll take a chance on this. Let's hurry and go see them then."

Her smile was strained but she believed in her uncle. He really was wonderful at persuading people. That's why he was the respected COO of the company. In all honesty, she felt that her uncle should have taken over as the acting CEO, but because of her stupid actions when she was eleven, that didn't end up happening.

As they spent the night at grandfather's place, her uncle talked to her grandparents all night while she slept. When she went to her uncle's room to ask him of the result of last night's discussion, no one seemed to answer, so she finally opened the door. What she found was her uncle's corpse.

[Either he hung himself or someone made it look like he hung himself.]

After everyone else saw this, she glanced at her grandfather for his reaction, but strangely, her grandfather did not bat an eyelid. There was no trace of horror or care for her uncle's death. This struck her as odd and suspicious.

[Could it be that grandfather was an accomplice with grandmother and aunt all along?]

She really hoped that was not the case, but as the day passed by and once she stood in front of her aunt, she knew that it was true. She was tricked thoroughly from the very start and there was no way out to escape from their traps.

"What is your answer, dear?"

Her eyes darkened, but her voice shakily answered. "I accept the marriage invitation."

"Good child." The voices began to fade and everything turned black.

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