Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Mafia ❯ Volume Sixteen, Chapter Sixty-One: Letting Him Go ( Chapter 61 )

Valentina was willing to let Mikhael go to have his life. Akiko should have been happy. But it just didn't feel right.

So she went out to change that.

The women met in the school garden. Akiko looked at her phone. She went over what she wanted to say in her head. She was going to talk to two people today. Akiko shifted in place. This needed to be done.

She looked up when she heard footsteps.

“You're here.”

Valentina stood inches away. Akiko stood up.

“No,” the mob princess said with her hand up. “Sit.” Akiko said nothing as she sat down.

“Thank you,” Valentina said. Akiko braced herself.

“We need to talk.”

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Akiko waited in an on-campus caf�. She looked at her phone. She hoped she could get through. It would be a lie to say that she didn't have doubts and second thoughts. She talked herself into thinking this was the right thing. The girl needed to do this. Akiko took a breath.

“I have to do this.”

“Have to do what?”

The girl whipped around. Mikhael walked up to her table. Her heart jumped in her chest. It felt like she hadn't seen him in forever. Still, she could not back down. This had to be done.

“Akiko-chan? Akiko, what's wrong?” Mikhael asked.

“Mikhael, we need to talk,” she said. His face dropped.

“Oh…”

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The couple sat across from each other. There was no love in this meeting. Akiko didn't wait.

“How do you feel about your wife?” she asked. Mikhael looked confused.

“Huh?” he asked.

“How do you feel about your wife? Be honest.”

“I… I don't know. She's okay, I guess…”

“Mikhael.”

“What?”

“Be honest.”

“I am.” He saw the look on her face. Don't lie to me. He gulped.

“I don't know. I'm not lying.”

“Do you love her?”

Mikhael froze. He pressed his lips together. Akiko sighed. She took him by the hand.

“We can't go on like this,” she said.

“What? What are you saying?” he asked. Akiko pressed her lips together.

“I'm letting you go. We had a good run.”

“No…”

“I'm so sorry.”

“Did she put you up to this?”

Akiko shook her head. “We did talk.”

“I knew it!”

“I called her to talk, okay?”

“You what?”

Akiko sighed. “I called her to talk. This was not easy for me. I made this choice on my own. I've seen the way she talks about you.”

“Huh? Belittling and insults?”

Akiko shook her head. “I think she loves you.”

“Huh?!”

“I can see that you don't know what you want. You'll only know the answer if I let go.” She let go of his hand.

“I wish you luck.” Akiko stood up and bowed.

“Goodbye,” she said. The girl turned and walked away. Mikhael was left sitting alone at the table. He sat, blinking. He wouldn't get time to wonder what happened. For there would be a final war coming to sweep him up into a final confrontation and the dam breaking down, exposing the truth.

Letting Him Go