America: My Time

Chapter 885 I'm exhausted

Chapter 855 I'm exhausted
If it weren't for John's presence, and without the attention of so many important figures in Japan, would Ken-on need to care about Akina Nakamori's thoughts, or be so tolerant? No, Ken-on is no longer the same person she was at the beginning, completely dependent on Akina Nakamori for her development. Ken-on has undergone tremendous changes, but now she has someone behind her, so she has no choice but to be tolerant.

Ken-on remained silent, still waiting. Perhaps the pressure was mounting, and the family's attitude grew increasingly hostile. However, they did not expect that even so, they would not receive any compromise from Ken-on or Akina Nakamori. Instead, they received a lawsuit, and Ken-on filed a direct lawsuit against them.

Yes, Akina Nakamori finally made a decision. After thinking everything through, she stopped being silent and stopped avoiding the situation. Instead, she bravely faced everything. Although she would be under tremendous pressure, this was the best solution. Being exploited by her family time and time again and having to bear responsibilities that were not hers had exhausted Akina Nakamori.

They were already facing huge loan repayments, and now they are facing a massive claim from Yanyin, which is adding insult to injury. All of this is their own doing. Yanyin's repeated concessions and warnings failed to calm them down or teach them to know when to back down. Now, this lawsuit has left them completely stunned.

What to do? The arrogant Nakamori Akio immediately wilted, and the trouble fell on Chieko again. It has to be said that this guy is not a real man. He retreats and runs away when faced with problems, refusing to take any responsibility. He only curses Nakamori Akina as an ingrate and an unfilial daughter, without ever thinking about what he has done. Some people are not fit to be parents, and Nakamori Akio is one of them.

"Akina, you've lost weight, and I'm sorry you've suffered so much!" When Chieko saw Akina at Ken-On's office, she couldn't help but sigh, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes. She didn't want things to be this way, but her family's situation forced her to do so. Just as everyone thought, she had to take care of her whole family, and under these circumstances, she could only sacrifice the kind-hearted Nakamori Akina.

“Mother, I’m fine. I’m sorry to have troubled you. I’m really tired. I don’t want to continue to bear this pressure or face all these accusations!” Nakamori Akina understood her mother’s suffering. Both her children were her flesh and blood, but now she had to sacrifice herself. However, the repeated hurt had exhausted her heart. She wanted to rest and have her own life instead of being constantly entangled by her family and living in pain. So this time, she decided to bravely face everything.

Chieko's heart trembled at the simple word "tired." As a mother, how could she not know the torment that Nakamori Akina had suffered? She had always compromised in the past, for the sake of her family. Even Akina's suicide attempt had not shocked her as much as she did now. She could hear the despair in Nakamori Akina's voice, the despair for her family. They had pushed Nakamori Akina to this point, to this state, step by step.

"Akina, it's all my fault, it's all my fault." At this moment, Chieko's voice was trembling, the despair in her voice filled with fear and unease. But it was too late to say these things now. If only she could stand by Akina's side, stand up for Akina, and stop that family from being so greedy and ignorant, things wouldn't have come to this.

“Mother, I can’t meet the family’s demands. Their constant demands have turned them into a bottomless pit. There’s only so much I can do. Everything will remain the same as before. I will continue to send you living expenses. There’s really nothing else I can do! If Father and the others don’t understand, it’s no use no matter how much I do. You should know that!”

Hearing Akina's words, Chieko understood perfectly well that her family was a bottomless pit, constantly draining Akina's lifeblood. It was time for it to end, or it would never stop. The fact that Akina continued to provide for the family was already a rare act of kindness, even at this point, which only added to Chieko's anguish.

Whose fault is all this? It's hers. If only she could have stopped her family's ignorance, stupidity, and greed, things wouldn't be like this today. Now it's time for them to pay the price. At this moment, Chieko also realized that without learning a lesson, her family would never know when to stop. Perhaps this time, they should be brought to their senses. They can no longer rely on Akina to leech off them all. The whole family clinging to Nakamori Akina, sucking her blood, and thinking it's their right—that won't work.

"I understand. We'll do everything according to your plan. I support you!"

When Akina Nakamori heard her mother Chieko's words, she cried like a child, both sad and happy. At least her mother still loved her, which made her feel the warmth of family love once again. But this time, she could never go back to that home. Her decision was destined to separate her from her family. "Don't cry. You did the right thing. Only in this way can they become independent. If they can't even be independent, how can they survive? You can't support them forever. Compromise all the time, there's no way out!" Chieko, who had figured everything out, also realized how foolish her previous decision was. Hoping that a group of greedy and ignorant people would wake up from their dream was simply unrealistic. Only by letting them experience pain firsthand could they truly wake up. Perhaps this would scatter the family and send them to different places, but it was the best decision.

When children are young, it is a blessing for them to gather around their parents. But when children grow up, get married, and start their own families, it becomes an endless source of pain for them to gather around their parents again. This is especially true for families like the Nakamori family. It was only because Chieko understood everything that she said those words, realizing that her previous compromises and concessions were all wrong.

“Mother, the breach of contract by Kenon won’t be too difficult for you. At most, it will just be a symbolic punishment and a guarantee. But the loans will have to be repaid by Father and the others!” If the Nakamori Akio family were to bear the breach of contract penalty for Kenon, it would be beyond their means. It would ruin their lives and leave them with debts for the rest of their lives.

In fact, Chieko had already figured all this out before coming to Ken-on. As long as Ken-on still needed Nakamori Akina and wanted to maintain that relationship, she wouldn't be too harsh. At most, she would only give her a symbolic punishment. However, she would no longer be able to get the family loan from Ken-on or Nakamori Akina. Fortunately, she has now come to her senses.

“You don’t need to worry about things at home. With this pressure, they have to work hard. Otherwise, how can they survive if they keep relying on you? It’s just that you’ll have to suffer the inconvenience of not being able to go home!” Chieko also understood how difficult Akina’s situation was after making this decision, but from the current situation, it was the best choice.

Once Akina made her stance clear and Chieko bowed her head again, Ken-on only symbolically imposed a small punishment, and then made the whole family make a guarantee again. This time, it was the whole family, not just Chieko or Akio Nakamori alone.

When Chieko presented Kenon's demands and the guarantee, the whole family was stunned and shocked by the terms. Nakamori Akio even cursed, "Unfilial daughter! How could she treat us like this?"

"An unfilial daughter? You're saying Mingcai is an unfilial daughter? Hasn't she done enough for you? How much money have you taken from her? Have you ever thought about where your car and house would have come from without Mingcai? Where did you get those loans? And how did you get that internet cafe? Doesn't it make people's hearts sink when you say such things?"

When Chieko finally unleashed her pent-up anger, the whole family was shocked. No one had expected their usually mild-mannered mother to be so furious and enraged over this matter. Anyone with a modicum of sense knew whose fault it was, but they were simply unwilling to admit it.

"Ken-on has made it very clear: either the whole family signs a guarantee, or we'll go straight to legal action. It's your choice. This is the limit of what I can do. I can't do any more. And don't try to take advantage of Akina anymore. Ken-on is already furious this time. If you don't want to be targeted, you'd better sign the guarantee. You should wake up from your dreams and stop trying to take advantage of Akina. She has sacrificed enough for this family over the years. She doesn't owe you anything. This situation is entirely her own doing. If you had listened to my advice and not been so greedy, none of this would have happened."

Faced with the guarantee in front of them, the family fell silent, at a loss for what to do after Chieko's words. They were unsure whether Kenon was really going to show them no mercy and force them to sign the guarantee.

Although they were all deeply reluctant, the cold expression on Chieko's face told them there was no room for negotiation. They either had to sign the guarantee or pursue legal action, which would come at a much higher price—a huge penalty for breach of contract that their entire family couldn't afford. After all, the family had taken too much money from Ken-On; this penalty could bankrupt them and leave them with no chance of recovery. Therefore, they had no other choice but to comply and sign the guarantee. Only in this way could they alleviate the pressure and have the courage to continue facing life. In truth, none of them had the courage to commit suicide; if they did, they wouldn't be in this situation.

(End of this chapter)