A/N: Please don't ask me why this is a really short chapter. I am depressed of the outcome because I feel that I have dragged the situation for too long. huhu But I promise that the next few chapters will be interesting.
Thank you to uvr-B1u5H'd, cheng, lu and Property of Eriol for reviewing and encouraging me. I would not know what to do without you. Like, seriously.
Act 27, Winter
So Okaasama had started to make a move, the former heiress thought sullenly after having read yesterday's newspaper.
It was relatively bold of Sonomi Daidōji to make a public announcement two days ago while her daughter had not even been under her care for months now. The calculating matriarch was either pressured to do so or she had another plan in mind to lure Tomoyo out of her hiding. The former heiress decided that it must be both. Sonomi had told her the straightforward truth about the real condition of Daidōji Corporation then. The company was indeed heading to a dismal collapse, and to achieve the mutual venture, her mother was selling her to a mogul's son, who had an unpleasant reputation of abusing his spouse. She would be the third wife if she were to be wed to Nanami Ichigo.
Tomoyo sank behind the receiving desk, shaking in fear and shrinking emotionally at the memory of violence in her own family. She was remorseful she couldn't give up her freedom for the company that her own father had built but the countless bruises and invective that she received from her mother every time she was displeased of her drove her to want a life where she was acknowledge as a person and not as a mere tool for business. She never had much confidence in herself then. It seemed that Sonomi made sure she stayed insecure.
"What are you doing there, Aya-san?" Her superior called out behind her, startling her.
The dark-haired library assistant straightened up before fixing another practiced smile to the manager.
"I was looking for my pen," she lied without so much difficulty.
What am I going to do now?
"It's right beside the newspaper," the old man pointed out helpfully.
The pen was tragically sitting beside the picture of one grinning Daidōji Sonomi.
Tomoyo hadn't shown any apparent indication of knowing her mother's suspicious statement so the bespectacled young man elected to observe her disposition in the next few days.
The girl still smiled and acted naturally herself but she seemed somewhat strained than before.
She must know about the news, Eriol thought critically. Why is she keeping it all to herself?
Her frantic attempt to disguise her appearance four days after the news was unusual even for Yukito, who commented that even in the Amamiya house Tomoyo had been wearing her contacts and strange clothes. After the New Year's day had passed, Tomoyo still kept the habit and had grown more withdrawn, choosing to interact only when required.
Eriol kept on watching her when he could, and on the times when he couldn't see her, he inquired Syaoran of the development of the Aozora Group's acquisition of the textile company. It was bad enough that the bankruptcy wasn't a mere gossip. His Chinese friend probably believed he had become too obsessed with Tomoyo's situation.
Is the competition driving me mad to the point of having this unlikely displacement?
He really should focus on practicing for the preliminaries but it was difficult to concentrate on the task as of late.
The cup of Earl Grey was unfortunately abandoned again, and the Ravel piece he had been rehearsing for a month was getting old.
He hoped both of them survived the week.
