The Yakuza’s Mute Bride novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The silence that followed was overwhelming.

My father gave a short, mocking snort before letting out a laugh that didn’t belong in a hospital room.

“You sure about that, ‘boy”?” he sneered at Tadashi, his tone dripping with derision.

Tadashi raised an eyebrow, voice cutting through the tension like ice. “Never been more sure.”

My father’s expression faltered for a moment – as if realizing too late that Tadashi wasn’t bluffing in mock surrender.

“I don’t want to get involved in matters concerning that woman,” he said coldly.

My heart skipped a beat.

I should have been used to it by now, that word. ‘That woman.’

But hearing it directly from my father’s mouth still hurt like the first time.

SMACK.

The sound shattered the air as Tadashi slammed his hand against the table.

His voice roared, raw and furious – “SHE’S NAOMI!”

My eyes widened in shock.

He’d shouted so loud that even the air seemed to flinch.

—

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and he lifted his hands

The glass of water near him flew from his hand, shattering into glittering fragments that landed inches from my father’s shoes.

The man who was about to become my ex-father froze, startled.

He stared down at the broken glass, as if realizing the line he’d just crossed.

Click.

The door burst open – Yukito and Ota stepping in immediately, their instincts sharp.

Both wore expressions of quiet alarm; they knew how dangerous Tadashi’s anger could be when it finally slipped its leash.

“It’s time for you to leave, Mr. Hunter,” Ota said flatly.

My father merely snorted, his pride refusing to let him answer. So, without another word, he turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

And then silence.

–

A silence so deep it pressed against my chest, made my heartbeat sound too loud in my ears.

The echo of the door lingered in the air like smoke.

I could still hear faint murmurs of the guards outside…. and then nothing.

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Chapter 35

Just the slow, unsteady rhythm of my own breathing.

Tadashi didn’t move.

He stood by the window, one hand in his pocket, the other resting against the glass.

His reflection in the pale light looked almost unreal-carved from shadow and restraint.

Not a man, but the ghost of one trying desperately to stay human.

My throat burned from speaking earlier, but I forced out the words anyway. “Are you okay?”

He didn’t turn.

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His jaw tightened as he exhaled a hard, shaky breath – trying to calm himself. “Are ‘you’ okay?” he asked instead, voice low.

So he was angry… because of how my father treated me.

I gripped the blanket, fingers trembling. “I’m used to it,” I whispered.

I tried to sound strong- but the tears that slipped down my cheeks betrayed me.

Damn it!!! I quickly wiped them away, embarrassed by how small I suddenly felt,

That was when Tadashi finally turned.

In three quick steps, he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms – carefully aware of my injuries.

His embrace was gentle, cautious, the opposite of the violence still flickering in his eyes.

For a long while, neither of us spoke. We just breathed – together – steadying the storm inside each other.

When I finally pulled back, I reached for my notepad and wrote shakily: ‘Why would you say that? About… protection. About me being under you.’

He exhaled a faint sound, half sigh, half warning – and met my gaze.

–

His eyes were unreadable, but something behind them flickered: pain. “Because,” he said softly, “your father needed to understand what kind of world he just stepped into. And because you needed someone who would never let them hurt you again.”

The words sank into me like stones.

I wrote again quickly, hands trembling: ‘You can’t just decide who I belong to.

Tadashi tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Belong?” His tone was calm, but his eyes darkened. “Is that what you think I meant?”

I couldn’t answer

–

because yes,

that was exactly what it sounded like.

And the part of me still bruised from being forgotten believed it!

He groaned quietly, frustrated, and then crouched down so we were eye level. Close enough that I could smell the faint trace

of smoke and the expensive cologne clinging to his skin. “When I said you’re under my protection,” he murmured, voice low, “I wasn’t taking your freedom, Naomi. I was giving you something no one else ever did.”

My pen froze.

“What?” I whispered, barely audible.

10:45 Tue, Jan 6 •

Chapter 35

His voice softened, turned almost tender. “Safety”

Something in me cracked-quiet, invisible, but real.

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to.

But Tadashi Masayoshi didn’t make promises. He made decisions. And once he did, the world bent around them.

I quickly wrote, hands shaking: You don’t get to save me just because you can’

He gave a faint, sad smile- not mocking, not cold – just weary. “No,” he said. “I save you because I already have.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

My chest tightened; my breath came shallow.

I wrote again: You think that’s fair?

He snort. “Fair?” he repeated quietly. His gaze softened. “Nothing about you and me has ever been fair, Naomi.”

The air between us grew heavy-electric, fragile.

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He reached out slowly, hesitantly, as if touching something sacred. His fingers brushed the edge of the bandage at my neck. tracing gently along it. His thumb paused just below my jaw-his touch so light it made me shiver.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked.

I wanted to say no.

I wanted to say yes, but not where you think.

Instead, I only nodded once.

He exhaled softly, his thumb lingering for a heartbeat longer before he pulled away – as though it physically hurt him to do

“I’ll handle the police and everything,” he said after a pause, standing again. His tone shifted back to its usual calm precision

They’ll update their records by tomorrow. Your name will be cleared. Your father won’t bother you again.”

I reached out, catching his sleeve, and scribbled: That’s not the point.

He frowned slightly. “Then what is?”

You keep doing this, I wrote. Taking control when I don’t ask you to.

He didn’t deny it.

Instead, he stepped closer – until the space between us was only a breath. “I know,” he said quietly. “But every time I leave it to the world, it tries to destroy you, I don’t want that.”

His voice trembled with something I hadn’t heard before fear.

–

My heart thudded painfully. My hand shook as I wrote the next words: ‘And what happens when it’s you who hurts me?”

For a moment, he said nothing. His gaze flickered, uncertain.

“Then I’ll stop,” he said finally. “Before I do.”

But even as he said it, I could tell he didn’t quite believe himself.

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Chapter 35

The room was too quiet.

I stared down at my trembling hands and wrote one last line: ‘I don’t know what you’re turning me into.

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He leaned in close, his breath brushing my temple – his voice a whisper that shouldn’t have sounded like comfort, but somehow did. “Something untouchable.”

My pulse stuttered.

When he pulled away, I realized I’d been holding my breath.

Tadashi straightened, face once again calm and closed off. “You should rest,” he said. “I’ll be outside.”

He turned to leave – and for some reason, that hurt more than anything he’d said.

Maybe because, this time, I didn’t want him to go.

“Tadashi…” I called softly before I could stop myself. My voice cracked.

He paused by the door.

I hesitated, then wrote quickly on my notepad and held it up: ‘You said you’d take care of the paperwork. What does that truly mean?’

He read it, eyes softening almost imperceptibly.

“It means,” he said quietly, “that you’ll never have to be a Hunter again.”

And then he was gone.

The door clicked shut behind him.

The silence that followed felt heavier than before.

Outside, somewhere beyond the glass, London rain began to fall – steady, relentless.

I watched the droplets slide down the window, my chest tight.

Because for the first time in years, I wasn’t sure if I’d just been saved

—

or claimed.

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