"What were you doing just now? You arrived but didn't come in, standing outside arguing with people like that," Alex said in an annoyed tone, turning to the married wife he was still holding once the two unwelcome guests had left. He gave her shapely bottom a firm squeeze.
"I wasn't arguing," Mrs. Summer quickly explained, gesturing to the box in her hand. "The new neighbor, Mrs. Tou, just moved in next door and came to say hello and drop off a gift."
"I only spoke to her for a moment. As for that man," Mrs. Summer's voice dropped, and she showed a timid expression, like a young girl, cautiously glancing at the scoundrel who was pinching her sensitive spot. "I didn't talk to him; he was the one who approached me... Honestly, I don't like that man either."
That Gozo Kamezo had given her a very bad feeling, and Mrs. Summer strongly disliked him.
But why am I so eager to explain myself to Alex, as if I'm afraid he'll misunderstand? Mrs. Summer wriggled her butt, but instead of escaping Alex's hand, it only pressed her closer to him.
Mrs. Summer found she felt zero resistance in her heart. In fact, her chest was filled with a faint happiness. After that repulsive encounter with the fat pig man, her resistance to Alex had completely melted away.
Although Mrs. Summer had been through so much that she had no intention of causing trouble and had peacefully accepted the presence of Alex in her life... there was still her daughter. At the very least, she hoped Elara could be happy.
"Excuse me—"
Following Alex inside, the moment the door closed, Mrs. Summer smelled the aroma of cooked food, heard the sounds of playful chatter, and saw the collection of women's shoes placed together by the entrance, indicating that Alex's house was full.
And they were all girls!
"There are so many people," she noted, looking at the four or five pairs of shoes on the floor. "Alex, these girls..."
"Oh, they're all family." Alex handed her a pair of slippers.
Family? Does that mean they are all Alex's women? This boy... is openly running a harem?
"What's wrong, are you surprised I have a harem?"
"No," Mrs. Summer shook her head. She had a strong premonition about what would happen tonight. The glamorous wife bit the inside of her lip, her eyes showing a peculiar curiosity. "I'm just curious, Alex, about whether you'll suffer from over-exertion."
"Tsk, Natsumi, you're not a little girl anymore. You know my physical constitution well enough..."
As they spoke, the two approached the kitchen, seeing Chi and Makoto busy, and of course, the vibrant red-haired girl was among them. Mrs. Summer immediately spotted her daughter.
"Mom? Why are you so late? You took forever!" Elara quickly rushed over. "Huh? What's this? Is it a gift?"
"The neighbors dropped it off. A new family moved in next door, which I didn't even know about," Alex casually put the box of pastries aside. "More importantly, I was just discussing my body with Mrs. Summer."
Alex deliberately winked at the blushing married wife. "The missus here is very worried my body will be over-exerted."
Over-exertion?
Hearing this, Elara also looked concerned. She wiped her hands with a towel. "Of course we'd worry! I worry too, Alex. You do this every day... with Chi, Makoto, and the rest... you'll wear yourself out eventually."
The girl paused for a second. "Besides, when we get stronger, your expenditure will be even greater, won't it?"
"Don't worry about that. No matter how fast you girls get stronger, you won't catch up to me," Alex playfully pinched her cheek. "Looks like the lesson this afternoon wasn't enough to stop you from questioning my stamina."
"Oh, I didn't mean that... Idiot, don't say those things in front of Mom."
Although Elara had accepted being with her mother, she still felt shy.
Seeing the two of them flirting openly, and her daughter completely sidelining her own mother, Mrs. Summer's expression was quite complex. She looked at her daughter, feeling that something was deeply wrong.
Are you serious? Elara was avoiding Alex two days ago. How is she like this today... this isn't right.
"Elara, you..."
"Mom," Elara sensed her mother wanted to talk. She also had a lot to say to her mother. Her eyes darted around, and she pulled Alex's arm, pushing him toward the kitchen.
"Dinner will be ready soon, Alex, go help Chi and the others. I need to talk to Mom."
"..."
"No eavesdropping!"
With Alex gone, the mother and daughter walked past the dining table. Mrs. Summer watched as her daughter deftly tidied up the clothes and clutter on the sofa, noting the gentle demeanor of a young wife that now clung to her otherwise dutiful daughter.
Her eyes were complicated.
"Elara, how could you..."
"Mom, you want to ask about me and Alex?" Elara sat down and asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Summer sat next to her daughter, holding her hand. "I'm not scolding you, it's just... I'm a little worried. Did Alex hypnotize you again, Elara?"
Elara blinked, her eyes curving into crescent moons, and she laughed. "Mom, why would you think that? No, I wasn't."
"Then why are you and Alex—?"
"I don't know how to explain it. I guess... I just came to terms with it. Actually, I avoided him all day at school," Elara sighed. "Then I ran into Alex at the club, and some things happened."
Seeing her mother staring intently, Elara's face flushed. "No matter if Alex is a good person or a bad person, I've already... already fallen for him."
Though she had guessed the outcome, hearing her daughter say those words, Mrs. Summer looked resigned. "I figured as much and had prepared myself. Since you've fallen for him, Elara, of course, I won't stop you."
"But... calling me specially, asking me to come here... Elara, what exactly are you thinking?" Even the mature married wife felt her face heat up. "Calling your own mother to join in, Elara, how could you do that?"
"I couldn't help it! It wouldn't be fair for Mom to be lonely at home by yourself, and that bad boy Alex would never leave you alone anyway..."
Elara mumbled for a while, then lifted her head. "Besides, Mom, didn't you come right away when I called? If you didn't want to, you could have just refused over the phone, right? I think you miss Alex, too, don't you? Maybe you even enjoy the three of us together..."
Mrs. Summer was utterly floored. She wished she could stuff her daughter back into her stomach. "Elara! What kind of thing is that to say? What do you mean I enjoy...? I came here because I was worried about you! I absolutely do not mean that, that thing, and I certainly don't enjoy it."
"Really? You don't enjoy it, Mom?"
"...No, I don't!"
"Liar. You screamed so loud the last time."
"You naughty girl! That was because I was hypnotized!"
Is this really my daughter? Has Elara been corrupted by Alex?