Sayaka looked at Akira with hurt in her eyes. Like with Daiki's unconditional love, she also believed that Akira should have complete maternal attachment. Despite their differences, she was the genuine biological mother. It was unimaginable that Akira would shun her.
With that in mind, Sayaka decided to solve the problem with Akira first. As long as her daughter was willing to welcome her back, Daiki would not oppose their reconciliation.
"Akira, I know I have wronged you. I am sorry, and I will continue making it up to you." She said with humility. "I know you do not truly wish for your parents to divorce. Wouldn't it be better if we could all be one happy family again?"
Akira looked at Sayaka with deep and clear eyes.
"What do you want?" Akira asked.
"What do you mean?" Sayaka asked. "I missed my family. I want for us to be together again."
Akira laughed. "But we are still a family even though you and Dad are not together anymore. We cannot deny our blood ties."
Sayaka was frustrated by the answer, but she knew that showing her temper was probably not going to get her what she wanted. Furthermore, it seemed like her daughter had become even more stubborn in the last few months.
She turned to Daiki. "Dear, isn't it better if we could be together again? Our children need a good and safe environment to return to. It is not healthy for them not to have two parents to depend on in the future."
She believed she understood Daiki more than she knew Akira. If she could not make her daughter accept her, she believed she still had some emotional power over her husband.
"Are you dying?" Daiki asked coldly.
"What?" Sayaka was thrown off by the question.
"If you are not dying, why are you talking like that? The children will have two parents as long as we are alive. It is your responsibility as a mother to care for your children. This matter has nothing to do with being my wife. Regardless of where you are, you can choose to be a good mother." Daiki responded.
"Dear…" Sayaka started again.
"Stop calling me so intimately. Do not think that you can manipulate me with a few sweet words. From the moment you chose to break our marriage vows, you lost the right to take advantage of me. You and I do not have a chance in hell to get back together." The words were firm.
"I have been a little preoccupied in the past few months, so I have not had a moment to deal with you. Now that Akira is back, my heart is at rest. So, tomorrow we will get a divorce, one way or the other. If you do not sign the agreement, I will be taking this matter to court." Daiki added.
Sayaka panicked at the cold treatment. "No, I refuse. I won't get divorced. How can you be cruel to leave me just because of one mistake? Did you even ever love me?"
Daiki laughed. "You can take it as if I never loved you because the person I loved would never have done something so cruel to me. And do not act so wronged. You and I know very well whether it was one mistake."
Sayaka's heart palpitated. "What do you mean?"
"Why are you asking? Do you think I am not aware of everything you did during our marriage? I do not have to go into the details right now. But if you do not sign, the whole world will know about your shameless affair among other things." Daiki did not compromise.
Sayaka turned to Akira. "Akira, please talk to your father. It is not right to leave things like this."
Akira's eyes twinkled brightly as she watched the drama. She felt like her views about shamelessness were renewed. She could already see that her mother just did not want to lose the pampering her father gave her.
But how could things go back after her cheating?
"Dad, can I give you a piece of advice?" Akira said.
Daiki felt a little tense. He was worried that Akira would advise him to get back together with his mother. He did not have such plans because he could never forget about her mistakes. In addition to her infidelity, she concealed the identity of Akira's kidnapper.
On the other hand, Sayaka felt a little complacent. Ultimately, a girl would side with her mother. She would not let her be humiliated. And for Akira who did not receive familial love, she would not be willing to lose the warm home before her.
"If you decide to go to court, choose Uncle Taiki as your lawyer. Even though he is a little awkward, he is a doctorate lawyer, and he is well-versed in all laws. I am sure he can get you compensation or spousal maintenance since you are the wronged party." Akira said.
Daiki was speechless for a while before he burst out laughing. As for Sayaka, she lost all colour on her face.
"I do have a master's degree in local family law," Taiki added with a nod in his usual deadpan way.
After finishing his laugh, Daiki called Maria.
"Please get someone to see this woman out. I am afraid she will cause you some trouble." He said with a disdainful gesture at Sayaka.
Maria looked at Sayaka and pushed her glasses up her nose.
"Right away." She paused. "I will get some security guards."
"I am not leaving," Sayaka shouted. "This is my house too. You do not have the right to chase me away."
"Stop. I order you to stop what you are doing." Sayaka stood and tried to approach Maria with an intent to grab the tablet from her.
"Sayaka, spare yourself some dignity," Daiki said coldly. "Do not behave like a shrew. If you have any common sense left, leave in peace."
"No, I refuse. You are my husband." She turned to Maria with an ugly expression. "Do you think I don't know what is on the minds of b*tches like you?"
Maria stopped typing and looked at the crazy Sayaka. "Enlighten me."
"Stop acting before me. I know behind your proper suit and the glasses, you are a sl*t. You have been eyeing my husband all along, haven't you? You have always wanted us to divorce so that you can take my place in the house." Sayaka shouted.
"Respect yourself, and calm down," Maria said calmly.
Unfortunately, nothing was more inflammatory to an angry person like being told to calm down. Sayaka leapt at Maria to attack her with clawed hands. Her sense of reason was gone as she pictured Daiki and Maria rolling in the master bedroom.
With swift moves, Maria stepped aside. She held her tablet in one hand while she used the other to push Sayaka. She kicked the knees of the older woman and brought her down to her knees. Within a few moments, Sayaka was on the ground with Maria's foot on her back.
The process took a few seconds and left the people in the room speechless. When Akira recovered, she clapped lightly in appreciation.
"Lunch will be served in five minutes," Maria said, pushing her glasses up her nose.