As Akira was leaving the restaurant, she thought of something.

Even though she had been with the Yamazaki family for a while, she had not managed to bond with any of them. She got along with her father, and she was not resistant to her second brother. But it could not be considered a relationship.

As for her mother, it was just tense and awkward.

Of course, most of the issues cropped up after Hanae's trick on that first day.

Moreover, she did not feel comfortable in the Yamazaki house.

Still, her father, mother and second brother made an effort to be closer to her despite the situation.

Perhaps it was time to respond to their efforts.

Maybe her decision was based on the guilt she felt for the part she played in Hazae embarrassing Sayaka in public. Or maybe, she did have a desire to know her real family. Regardless of the underlying trigger, she wanted to know her new family members.

After all, it was the reason she moved to Mountain Ridge.

With these thoughts, she made a call. After a single dial tone, the call was picked.

"Boss, did you decide against moving to Mountain Ridge? Why didn't you tell me? Do not worry, I will follow you wherever you are!" A passionate declaration began immediately after the connection.

Akira was silent for a moment because she did not know how to follow the speech.

"I have been in Mountain Ridge for a few days." She finally said.

"Why didn't you call me? Are you dumping me? Have you found someone else?" The other person asked in horror.

Akira lifted her hand and massaged her forehead. Perhaps she should have called the other one of her Three Musketeers. This one was too troublesome. She always acted like a jealous lover if she so much as failed to pick her call.

But on second thought, the other one would trouble her because she had not confirmed the date for the grand opening of the restaurant. She did not have concrete plans, and her mood was not stable enough for such a serious discussion.

"Enough, enough. Can you get someone to prepare ingredients for hotpot at the restaurant?" She asked.

"Eh?" The other person was shocked. "Are we venturing into the hotpot market?"

"I want to make a meal for my parents. Stop wasting time. Everything must be ready in an hour."

Akira hung up directly.

However, after the end of the call, she discovered a major issue. She did not know the directions to the restaurant. But it would lower her powerful boss image if she called back Hina.

"Akira!" Her mother called out.

Akira looked to the side and realised she had almost passed by her mother while distracted.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

Sayaka looked at her daughter with concern. She was worried that she was not feeling well.

"How are you feeling? Was the food too spicy for your stomach? Should we just go home and call the doctor?" She asked without taking a breath.

"No, it's not like that." Akira smiled a little. "I met Chef Vikram and wanted to thank him for helping us out."

Sayaka felt touched by her daughter's thoughtfulness.

And then, a deep sense of shame hit her.

Since her daughter had come to the house, she had wanted to form a good relationship with her.

However, a part of her rejected Akira because she was not raised by herself in the Yamazaki family. She had an underlying assumption that Akira would be a crude and uncouth girl because of being raised within a poor background.

Therefore, she had low expectations towards the heart and mind of the biological daughter she did not know.

Even when Hanae had framed her, she had thought that only a petty girl who had been raised to fight and struggle for everything would be so small-minded.

But after everything that had happened, she realised that she was the one who was being petty and small-minded.

What right did she have to judge Akira?

Her prejudice against her daughter had probably caused her pain.

She felt ashamed as a mother.

Her eyes teared up and she suddenly pulled Akira into her arms.

"Akira, I am sorry. I am really sorry for everything." She sniffed a little. "Can you forgive mom?"

Akira felt it strange to be held like that. The last time she had been held like this, she had probably been eight years old. It was the last time she had seen her other mother.

She tried to remain still as she was hugged before gently pushing the other person away. Sayaka thought that Akira was rejecting her apology, but her next words made her feel relieved.

"It's alright. We do not know each other well, so, naturally, problems will arise." Akira said.

"Even if that's the case, I should have trusted you. I had no basis for my prejudiced and careless words and actions." Sayaka felt more ashamed at the easy acceptance.

Akira smiled a little.

"You are a person who tries to make everyone comfortable and happy. But the real world does not work that way. Most of the time, one person's happiness is another's sadness. And if you give in to people too much, they will start thinking it is their right to be happy, even at your expense." Her soft voice enhanced the profoundness of the words.

Sayaka felt like she was instantly enlightened.

She was always a peacemaker and would give in to make her family members happy, even when she did not think it was the right thing. She thought it was important to keep people around her satisfied.

Now, she realised that she was the one who had created the monsters around her.

If she had not indulged Hanae constantly, she would not have become a brat without conscience. As for her sister, she never even asked for anything politely from her anymore. She just acted like she deserved everything Sayaka had.

If she did not give in to Kaoru, her sister would make her out to be the bad guy.

As for the branch families in the Yamazaki family, the drama never ended, and she always became the sacrificial lamb.

Sayaka's eyes became firm. "You are right. I should be a firm-footed person."

Akira did not know what Sayaka was thinking, but she nodded.

As they left Saffron Garden, Akira remembered her plan. "Let's invite dad and second brother for hotpot."

Sayaka wanted to ask about her eldest son, but she remembered Akira's words, her first son's behaviour and her new decision.

"Alright." She agreed without further thought.