Page 44 of Daigo

"He disabused me of that notion the very first night. We never had a honeymoon. He told me in a matter-of-fact tone that he had a business to run, and I should know my place. He also told me that I was an asset. That's what he called me: an asset. I was to bear him a son, take care of the household, and be his hostess, of course, nothing more.

"He didn't require conversations or anything of the sort. He would do his duty, and I was to be aware of the fact that he was a man who had the need for other women. He assured me that he respected me enough to be discreet and that none of them would ever come into our home."

She lapsed into silence for a few minutes as Shelby tried to grapple with the anger and grief she felt for the woman.

"Mrs.-er, Yuna. I-"

"He didn't stop with me," she went on in a monotonous voice, as if she hadn't heard Shelby. "He was hard on Daigo, his only son. He wanted to make certain that he was tough enough to take over the family business when it was time."

Her dark eyes focused on Shelby. "He brought in an escort when my son was only thirteen, to teach him the art of lovemaking, of pleasing a woman. Daigo wasn't allowed to cry, wasn't allowed to fail at anything, or he would be severely punished. One day he came home with an A-minus and was sent to his bed without any supper."

Shelby felt anger curling inside her chest. "Where were you?"

Yuna jolted out of her reverie, her eyes widening.

"Pardon?"

"While he was doing this to your son, the child you spent nine months carrying, where the hell were you? As a mother, you're supposed to be fierce and protective-"

"I tried-"

"Well, obviously not hard enough." Pushing away the tray, Shelby struggled to her feet and paced to the window.

"I was afraid."

Shelby whirled around, eyes flashing. "Of a mere man? Come on, Yuna. You attacked me right from the start, made me tremble when you spoke. Where did you hide that courage while you were married to that... that awful man? Huh?"

Yuna stiffened her spine and lifted her chin. "I was frightened. He threatened to take away my son, and Daigo was the only good thing in my life. You don't know what it's like to live in constant fear that the only thing you loved could be taken away from you."

Huffing out a breath, Shelby shook her head. "I apologize. I had no right attacking you like that. But even though he's a grown man, I still hurt for him and cannot bear to think of him going through all of that." She came and sat next to Yuna. "It must have been so awful for you."

"For Daigo as well." Yuna jolted when she felt Shelby's hand on hers. "But he's so different from the man who fathered him, and you're not me. You have a sense of independence that I envy, not to mention the fact that my son adores you. I want to say thank you for making a change in his life. He's happy, and that's all that matters to me."

"He makes me happy too," Shelby told her softly. "He changed my life, and that's something I'll always appreciate." She squeezed the woman's hands. "Thanks for sharing."

Sliding her hands from under Shelby's, Yuna rose a little unsteadily. "Thank you for listening. Well-" She looked vaguely around the room. "I will leave you to finish your work and your meal."

"Will you come to supper on Sunday?" Shelby asked on impulse.

Yuna turned to stare at her in surprise. "I would very much like to."

"All right, then. See you then."

As soon as the door was closed, Shelby wandered over to the window to look out. The fresh buds were pushing up through the moist dirt, a reminder that spring was in the air. Placing her palm flat on the cool pane of glass, she stared sightlessly, not noticing the brown and gold butterfly flitting from the barely opened rosebuds. Her thoughts were on the conversation earlier.

Yuna was right. She was very fortunate. But then again, she would never have stayed in a marriage with such restrictions and such cold control. She was fierce and independent. Besides, she was not one to take crap from anyone. But her husband had gone through all that and still had the capacity to love without restrictions. Shaking her head, she went back to her desk.

*****

"I've never known you to be so quiet. You're starting to worry me."

"Hmm?"

"And distracted. Are you having an affair?" Daigo teased as he recapped the bottle of baby oil he had been rubbing her skin with.

He grinned when she slanted him a wry look. "Of course. I have to say it's a clever idea to have me only going into the store for three days. The rest of the time is occupied with Sven."

"Sven?" He lifted a brow at that.