In the passenger seat of the Porsche, Kaguya's hands were tightly clenched into fists, and faint blue veins appeared on the backs of her fair, delicate hands.
She lowered her head slightly, and her smooth, waterfall-like black hair hung down from her temples, covering her fair and delicate profile and blocking her intoxicating, wine-like eyes.
Kaguya asked softly. At this moment, she had finally made up her mind, not only for herself, but also for the friends who cared about her and were waiting for her.
She could no longer keep living in a daze like this. She had to resist. She had to regain her freedom with her own hands.
Toru gently tapped the brake, slowly bringing the car to a stop by the roadside.
He turned on the hazard lights, looked at Kaguya, who was lowering her head, and asked in a low voice, "Kaguya, have you made up your mind?"
Kaguya nodded firmly and powerfully without any hesitation. "I have made up my mind, Toru-kun. I will no longer run away, nor will I choose some cowardly path. I will face the current difficulties head-on."
The education of the Shinomiya family was meant to make women obedient and turn them into tools of the family.
Although the Shinomiya family provided Kaguya with the most elite education, all the teachers who taught her were world-class scholars.
This allowed Kaguya, at a young age, to understand some finance-related matters that other girls her age would never have understood.
But at the same time, the Shinomiya family also restricted her education, such as limiting her freedom, never allowing her to go out without the family's permission, and even not teaching her basic life skills.
Hayasaka had served Kaguya for nearly ten years, but it was precisely because of Hayasaka's service that Kaguya had no independence. Without Hayasaka, Kaguya almost did not even know how to live.
And this was actually what the Shinomiya family needed. They only needed the women in the family to be knowledgeable, polite, obedient, and gentle.
As for their own ideas, the women of the Shinomiya family did not need such things.
Therefore, when the Shinomiya family and the Fujiwara family arranged a marriage back then, Kaguya agreed to the marriage almost without any thought or hesitation.
It should be known that at that time, Kaguya had not even seen what Toru looked like.
She did not know whether the other party was handsome or ugly, tall or short, a young talent or a potbellied playboy.
These were not things Kaguya needed to think about at the time. What she had to do was obey the orders given by the family.
And Toru being so outstanding was only an unexpected surprise for Kaguya. It had nothing to do with Kaguya herself. She did not obtain this marriage and a future husband who could satisfy her through her own charm.
Various thoughts floated through her mind. Kaguya carefully chose her words. She said softly, "From childhood to adulthood, the family has been very strict with me and did not allow me to do anything."
"But at school, I saw many things I had never seen at home before and met true friends."
"It's just that I didn't dare disobey the family's demands. I didn't even have the thought of resisting."
She gathered her beautiful hair and combed it back, turning her head to look at Toru, and said seriously, "I thought my life was going to end, but today, Toru-kun, you brought me out to see this fireworks display."
"You let me see Chika and Hayasaka. I suddenly feel that I should no longer let myself be swept along like this. I should make my own choices. Even if I fail in the end, I won't suddenly regret it someday in the future."
"I don't know if Hayasaka has told Toru-kun, but I have been looking forward to attending a fireworks display since I was a child. But this wish has never come true over the years."
"And today, just now, Toru-kun, you fulfilled my wish and also made me realize some things. For this, I really want to say thank you, Toru-kun. Being able to know you is probably the greatest happiness in my life."
Kaguya's cold lips curved up slightly, and her smile was soft and gentle, with a hint of tenderness and a touch of charm, and less of that cold, doll-like feeling.
At this moment, Kaguya seemed to have finally broken free from the shackles of her life and snapped the strings the Shinomiya family had tied to her.
She fell to the ground, she stumbled, but this time, she would walk and act according to her own will, instead of being controlled by the strings behind her.
Toru looked away. He looked at the windshield in front of him. At this moment, Toru thought Kaguya was truly beautiful.
As the young lady of the Shinomiya family, she should have such firm will, resolve, ability, and ambition to fight for it.
If she were like an ordinary girl, with only ordinary wishes, it would greatly reduce her charm.
At this time, Kaguya seemed to truly understand where her charm lay.
"So, please teach me, Toru-kun. How should I proceed?"
She lowered her head again. If it were not for the fact that they were in the car, Kaguya would probably have knelt directly on the ground and performed the highest form of respect, a dogeza, to Toru.
Toru had already planned for this and said almost without hesitation, "Go to Kyoto and find your father."
"Although your father is seriously ill, his mind is still clear. He is still the nominal head of the Shinomiya family."
"Actually, your father is not satisfied with your three brothers. He values you more and wants to train you to become the head of the Shinomiya family."
"It's just that your father did not expect to suddenly fall seriously ill, leaving him with no energy to pave the way for you. Especially since you have shown no ambition during your life in the Shinomiya family these years, acting purely as a puppet."
"That is why he gave up on training you and could only let Oko act recklessly."
Toru held the steering wheel with both hands and suggested to Kaguya the most suitable path for her, and the path most likely to succeed.
"If you go to Kyoto under the pretext of taking care of your seriously ill father, your brothers will definitely agree. Oko only wants to restrict your freedom, and when you are in Kyoto, he can monitor you and Old Master Shinomiya together."
"As long as you express your determination to your father and make him believe in your resolve, he will do his best to help you in the final moments of his life."
"The Shinomiya Group has not yet gone through a full leadership transition. The old people who followed him are still alive, especially since the current predicament faced by the Shinomiya family is largely related to Oko."
"The entire group has long since lost trust in Oko. At this time, as long as you come forward and show your ability, all the high-level executives of the Shinomiya Zaibatsu will turn to support you."
"Their relationship with the Shinomiya Zaibatsu is one where they rise and fall together. For them, it doesn't matter who becomes the head of the Shinomiya family. What matters is who can bring them value and protect their interests."
"Oko has harmed their interests, so this is your opportunity."
Kaguya silently listened to the advice Toru gave her. She pondered it in her heart and felt that this was indeed the path she could take, and the most suitable path for her to take control of the Shinomiya family.
(To be continued.)
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