In one of the conference rooms in the Satou building, a very serious meeting was being done.

The DBSK boys were sitting on one side of a large conference table, together with their manager, the presidents of Avex Trax and SM Entertainment, and two lawyers.

While on the other side of the table, Hikaru sat together with Mukades, two secretaries and a group of lawyers.

Everyone in the room was very tensed and somehow everyone was very serious as well. No one even dared to make an inappropriate sound.

“What? Are you out of your mind?” Micky asked Hikaru in an angry yet controlled manner.

Hikaru lightly laughed. “I’m not out of my mind. In fact, I’m one hundred percent sane. That’s why we’re all here. We need to settle everything now . . . and as fast as possible.”

“I really think that you’re crazy. Imagine you’re proposing that your sister and I enter into a marriage agreement just for the sake of saving your company’s name,” Micky said with a glitter of anger in his eyes.

Hikaru stared back at Micky with a blank expression on her face.

“Actually it’s not only to save the name of the Satou family . . . but also to save your group and your companies . . . SM and Avex. You do know that the most affected party here is the Satou name right? Your group’s name can’t even compare to one-eighth of the importance of my family name,” Hikaru said with arrogance.

“You’re really something,” Micky uttered with anger.

“Micky. . . please let’s all talk civil,” the boys’ manager reminded Micky.

“Look . . . the news already leaked out. The pictures of you and Muko have already been distributed all over Japan and even on the internet. Do you know how mad Muko’s relatives are in Europe? They are already planning to sue every newspaper and magazine that printed those pictures. Aside from that we have thousands of people working for us . . . do you know how embarrassing it is for my father to actually hear his daughter was sleeping with a guy and was even caught by the press? Do you know how humiliating this whole situation is for us? You’re a singer . . . an artist . . . your lives are always surrounded by gossips and scandals. But Muko isn’t one of you, she’s an ordinary person. She doesn’t belong in your world. I have already consulted several lawyers and this is the most logical solution that we can find,” Hikaru said with a deep sigh.

“So you’re just going to force your sister to marry me so you can save your so-called dignity?” Micky asked.

Hikaru suddenly gave Micky a sharp look. “Do you know that I can easily destroy your group? And I can certainly pull down your companies with you . . .” she said with a glitter of evilness in her eyes.

The other DBSK members were suddenly alarmed with what Hikaru said. They knew what she said was true. She certainly had all the connections, the power and the money to do whatever she wanted.

“So you’re going to blackmail me now?” Micky asked.

“Blackmail? This isn’t blackmail Micky. . . This is a very serious agreement. Now . . . what I am giving you is a choice. I know marrying Muko have some disadvantages on your group. But it will certainly do a big help in clearing out the problem in my family. So let’s make a deal . . . Marry Muko and I will do everything in my power to protect the name and popularity of your group, aside from that I will be the one taking care of all the scandals or gossips that may arise regarding your sudden marriage to each other. Your companies don’t need to worry about anything,” Hikaru said as if she was just saying an ordinary business plan.

Micky shook his head in disbelief. “Have you even considered your sister’s opinion . . . her feelings? She’s not a toy or a robot that you can just order around.”

Hikaru gave Mukades a quick glance. “She already knows my plans. And frankly she doesn’t have any choice but to follow.”

Micky looked at Mukades as well. Her head was bent down so low, but it was still obvious that she was just trying to control her tears.

“So if Micky marries your sister . . . how does it solve all our problems?” the president of SM suddenly asked.

“Well for one thing, the scandal regarding the two of them sleeping together will be given a new meaning. Readers will think . . . so they are going to be wed . . . so what’s wrong. . . And on our part . . . our relatives who saw and read those articles about them sleeping together will just forget about it since they are already married . . . And another good thing would be that the respect for both parties . . . the Satou family and the DBSK name will be restored. People will sooner or later forget about the scandal since they are already married,” Hikaru tried to explain.

“I see your point but . . . you don’t see the negative effect that it will have on the boys. Have you considered the effect of having a boy band member being married suddenly. . . do you know the impact it will have on their popularity?” the president of Avex asked.

“Yes, I have already consulted some advisers on that matter as well. The only thing that I can say is that I certainly have the means to help out in that aspect. You do know that the Satou family has many contacts in the different fields of the business industry. I can help in protecting the boys’ name and I am willing to spend . . . a large amount of money . . . just to hold out on all the negative reports that may affect them. I have already done it with the current scandal. Aren’t you even wondering that after a day after the scandal being released . . . not a single news is being mentioned now?” Hikaru said arrogantly.

The two presidents of SM and Avex nodded their heads.

“Yes, I was wondering about that as well. So it was you who stopped it? You must have such strong contacts to actually be able to have a hold on the media,” the president of Avex uttered.

The other DBSK boys sighed.

“This is really so complicated,” Xiah couldn’t help but utter.

“I suggest you make up your mind Micky. . . I don’t have the whole afternoon to discuss this . . . Let’s just decide this right now . . . Are you willing to marry Muko or not?” Hikaru asked in a raised tone.

“You’re mad! I am not marrying Muko! She doesn’t love me . . . What kind of a marriage are we supposed to have when we don’t even love each other?” Micky shouted with irritation.

Muko suddenly looked up at Micky. Somehow she was hurt by what he had said.

Micky saw the hurt look in Muko’s eyes. His anger quickly disappeared and he immediately tried to put on a more calm expression on his face.

“Look . . . Muko is a very nice girl and frankly any man would be crazy not to want to get married with her . . . but . . . there’s no love between us . . . How can you just force someone to get married with your sister without considering the effect it will have on her? Have pity on your sister Hikaru?” Micky tried to explain.

Hikaru lightly laughed. “Love? Love is something that can be taught and learned. And besides that’s the reason why I am adding a condition in your marriage agreement which is . . . the two of you will only be married for one year. At least, in that period of time, all of the people should have forgotten all about the scandal and by that time the two of you are already free to move on with your lives. One year Micky . . . that is all we are asking. After one year . . . the two of you will make an announcement about your divorce and then that’s it. We will personally be the ones arranging the documents for your divorce. After that . . .you are free to do whatever you want with your life . . .” Hikaru said with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re talking as if you’re just proposing a business plan . . . do you know that?” Micky asked.

“I am always like this . . . so don’t be surprised. I am more concerned about the problem that Muko’s family in Europe will make. That’s why I want to settle this on my own and in the fastest way possible. If you think I am ruthless and cold with the way I am talking to you now . . . You should try meeting her relatives in Europe . . . They are certainly more brutal than me,” Hikaru said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Micky looked at Muko. As soon as Hikaru mentioned about her relatives in Europe, her expression became dim. The tears she had been trying to hold on to finally got released.

Micky felt like his heart was being crushed with the sight of Muko crying. He then drew in a deep breath. Somehow his head was spinning and everything was becoming too confusing for him.

“Tell me something . . . how can I be sure that you’re not the one who actually informed those reporters about Muko and me?” Micky asked without any hesitation.

Hikaru couldn’t help but laugh. She was totally amused with Micky’s straightforwardness. “How can I do that to my own sister? And besides this scandal has caused such a big mess. If I were to do something . . . I would always do it in the most effective and yet not so destructive way.”

Somehow Micky felt that Hikaru wasn’t telling the truth. But he couldn’t possibly divulge the prior agreement they had regarding the one about sleeping with Muko.

Hikaru looked at Micky’s expression. She knew she needed to force him some more.

“Muko, it seems you have no other way out now. He doesn’t want to marry you. Maybe we can find some other way to resolve this problem on our own. You can just stay in the hotel while I find you a new place to live in. I’ll also hire an additional set of men so to make sure that your grandmother won’t be able to find you. I don’t want to waste my time anymore here. Let’s leave,” she said with an angry tone.

As soon as Micky heard what Hikaru said . . . he suddenly felt the urge to ask.

“Wait . . . what do you mean . . . isn’t she staying in your home?’ he asked curiously.

Hikaru stared at Micky. “Unfortunately . . . no. As of now . . . she’s staying in a hotel. We’re trying to hide her from her grandmother. And that is why I want to patch up everything before her grandmother steps in. She can be very pushy and more brutal than me . . . believe me.”

Micky looked at Mukades again. Pity immediately crept inside his heart.

“Let’s go . . .” Hikaru said to Mukades.

Somehow Hikaru felt hopeless. It seems Micky wouldn’t be easily persuaded to do what she wanted him to do. Her mind was already trying to find other means to solve their problem.

Mukades and Hikaru was already at the door when it suddenly flew open. An old woman suddenly stepped into the room, together with several men.

“Hello Muko . . . “ the old woman said with a frightening smile.

Muko immediately stepped back behind Hikaru. Somehow she was too frightened to face her grandmother.

“Do you actually think that you can hide from me dear Muko? You only stay in Japan for a short time and this is what you do? You make such a big scandal that everyone in our family is already ashamed to go out of their homes,” the old woman said angrily.

Hikaru bravely stepped forward. “Please we can discuss this somewhere else.”

The old woman looked at Hikaru with disgust in her eyes. “So the adopted daughter still tries to act like a real daughter. . . So disgusting . . . Get out of my way . . . I am taking my granddaughter with me . . . back where she belongs.”

Muko tightened her hold on Hikaru’s arm. Somehow she didn’t want to go. She knew her grandmother had a bad temper and she always hits her whenever she’s angry with her. She didn’t want to be hurt anymore.

“Hikaru. . .” Muko uttered with fear.

“Just stay behind me. I won’t let her take you,” Hikaru said bravely.

The old woman laughed. “Come now . . . Muko. Let’s go . . .”

“No! She’s not coming with you,” Hikaru shouted.

Some of the men that the old woman brought along with her prevented Hikaru’s secretaries and lawyers from helping Hikaru and Muko.

While two men were already approaching Muko and Hikaru.

“Hikaru . . .” Muko uttered again with fear.

It was then a hand suddenly grabbed Muko. Micky had suddenly stepped in. He had grabbed Muko and she was now safely behind him

“Don’t worry . . . I will take care of you,” he uttered.

The old woman looked at Micky as if confused. “Aren’t you the young man that was in the photos? You’re the man that Muko slept with . . . is that right?”

Micky didn’t know how to answer the old woman’s question.

“Muko . . . let’s go . . . you have been a very bad girl . . . You need to pay for your sins. . . Come with me now. . .” the old woman shouted.

Muko was now shaking behind Micky. “Grandmother . . . please let me explain. . . . Nothing really happened between us . . . Please believe me . . .”

“Who in his right mind would believe your words after seeing those pictures? Would a decent girl spend the night with someone she doesn’t know?” the old woman said with anger.

“Grandmother, please forgive me . . . I’m sorry,” Muko uttered with tears in her eyes.

“You can’t enter the convent now . . . It would be humiliating for them to accept you now,” the old woman said. “But I am still taking you with me . . .”

“No, she stays here,” Micky suddenly uttered.

The old woman looked at Micky again with a confused look in her eyes. ”And why is she staying here? So she can sleep with you again?” the old woman asked mockingly.

“You’re not taking her. . . She stays here with me . . .” Micky uttered again. This time in a more clearer and authoritative tone.

“And who do you think you are to actually have the right to tell me what I can or cannot do to my own granddaughter?” the old woman shouted again.

“I . . . I . . . I am her . . . fiancée,” Micky bravely said.