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Chapter 22 – Power and Protection
Bonta Tanaka froze when he realized whose hand had stopped him.
"M-Mr. Ayanokoji," he stammered, trying to regain composure. "This woman disrespected me. Please, don't stop me from teaching her a lesson."
Ayanokoji's calm eyes locked onto him.
"It looked to me like you were about to force yourself on her," he said quietly, his tone carrying more threat than any shout.
Bonta's face paled. "Mr. Ayanokoji, our families have been doing business for years! You wouldn't start a fight over a woman you made a small deal with just a week ago, would you?"
Ayanokoji didn't blink.
"You dared to disrespect my guest," he said flatly. "Because of that, every deal between your family and mine is now over."
The room fell silent.
Bonta's arrogance vanished instantly. "M-Mr. Ayanokoji, please don't do that! For a woman, I'll accept a simple apology from her and we can forget this ever happened. Please, don't cancel the deal!"
Ayanokoji's gaze didn't waver.
"I said what I said."
Bonta dropped to his knees, trembling. "Please, Mr. Ayanokoji! My family will be ruined!"
"Then you should've thought of that before touching someone under my protection," Ayanokoji replied coldly. "Now—leave this party."
Tears filled Bonta's eyes, but he stood shakily and hurried away, humiliated. The entire hall watched in stunned silence.
Ayanokoji turned slightly. "Ryuuen," he said calmly, not even looking back.
Ryuuen, who had been watching the entire scene with a smirk, stepped forward. "Yeah?"
"Destroy his company before this party ends."
Ryuuen grinned. "You got it."
Within moments, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Several businessmen discreetly took out their phones, calling their assistants, ordering them to immediately cut all ties with the Tanaka family.
Suzune, watching it all, was speechless.
Just one sentence from him… and an entire empire begins to crumble.
Ayanokoji turned to her. His expression softened slightly.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Suzune nodded quickly. "Y-Yes… thank you, Mr. Ayanokoji."
He shook his head. "No. It's my fault. I should've increased security."
Then, he extended his hand toward her. "Come inside. What are you waiting for?"
Suzune hesitated for a moment, her heart beating faster, before finally placing her hand in his. Her cheeks flushed as warmth spread through her palm.
His hand… it feels so calm. So familiar… she thought.
As they walked together into the grand ballroom, whispers followed them.
> "Did you see that? Mr. Ayanokoji never protects anyone like that."
"Could she be… his new love?"
"But I thought his first love died years ago…"
Rumors rippled through the crowd like wildfire. Meanwhile, Manabu, unaware of what had happened, was suddenly surrounded by investors eager to make deals with his company.
He blinked in confusion, whispering to himself,
"What in the world just happened…?"
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