As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

[Breaking News! The Film Emperor Admitted to the Hidden Marriage!]

[Love for More Than a Decade: Who's the Beloved Wife of Ishizaki Ryuu?]

[Deceiving the Fans to Protect the Wife: Love of the Century?]

[The Fans Feel Betrayed?]

While news headlines pushed down the previous ones on the news ranking, Ryuu was still standing firm while facing the reporters. 

"Mr. Ishizaki, why didn't you deny the allegations?"

"Film Emperor Ishizaki, are you trying to ruin your own reputation?"

"By admitting to this, doesn't it mean that your fans aren't that important to you? You have betrayed their trust!"

"Teacher Ishizaki, since when did you meet your wife? What made you got married to her?"

Although they hadn't been permitted to ask questions, the reporters couldn't stay still anymore. They were so eager to hear more from the man of the hour. 

A hidden marriage to a woman whom the renowned film emperor claimed to love for more than a decade! 

Wasn't that worthy to be exclusive news for weeks? 

The excitement and greed were too apparent in their eyes, resembling a pack of hyenas eyeing their prey. 

Even so, Ryuu was still calm. 

He had been accustomed to such looks.

"I won't deny that I've been lying to my fans all these years but, at the same time, I want to be selfish and shield my wife from the murkiness of the entertainment industry."

The shutters clicked nonstop, the film rolled continuously. 

"I was just a lowly teenager when we first met, someone you would never want to associate yourself with. From the moment we met until now, she lights up my world. I want to do everything I could for her. Because of her, I mustered up my courage and entered the entertainment industry."

Whispers were exchanged between the reporters yet they still didn't avert their focus from the man who was standing on the stage. 

"My performance for my fans is initiated by her support. I have loved her for thirteen years. The darkest days of my youth brightened because of her. Until now, my love for her hasn't changed but..."

Ryuu paused. He rolled his throat and coughed once.  The rims of his eyes reddened slightly, shaking his composure for a moment. 

When Ryuu opened his mouth again, his lips curled up yet his eyes were melancholy. 

His gaze was straight into the camera. 

"I want to offer the best for her but, because of my selfishness, I've failed her in the seven years of our marriage. She could only hide in the shadows while watching me soar up to the sky. For that, I am so sorry for her."

Ryuu suddenly bent down, giving the crowd a deep bow. His action caused another stir. 

Voice shaky, he muttered. The sound was amplified by the collar mic, "I want to apologize to my fans yet I also want to apologize to my wife. I have no excuses to be made."

Ryuu straightened up. Both of his eyes were moistened.

The way he smiled resembling someone who was looking at his lover; full of affection and sorrow at the same time. 

"My wife, I'm sorry for making you lonely and doubting yourself all this time. I'd always be with you. I love you. I hope for another thirteen years and more with you."

After giving the reporters another bow, Ryuu turned around then headed backstage. He ignored all the questions that were thrown at him by the shocked groups of reporters. 

"Open the way for me," said Ryuu to the head of bodyguards. 

"Yes, sir!"

While the hall was embroiled in chaos, Ryuu swiftly changed out his suit and put on a disguise. His current attention wasn't on the huge scale of damage that he had done but, on his wife that he had wronged for so many years.

A few reporters littered around the back gate of the company building but all of them were bypassed by the low-key-looking van that brought Ryuu.

Sitting in the backseat, Ryuu opened his official social media account.

He scanned the comments left by his fans; some were mad, the others felt confused while the others emphasized that no matter what, they would still support his outstanding performance.

The reactions varied, something that had been expected.

Ryuu typed a few long paragraphs and uploaded a photo together with it. The newest post was displayed to all the fans and netizens to read.

It was a photo of their wedding rings sitting on a book, the one that he randomly captured before.

Although the photo wasn't a professional shot, it gave off a personal feeling to it.

[I'm aware that my words today would inevitably hurt the ones that have been supporting me all this time. Yet, at the same time, the desire to protect my wife is stronger.

All this time, I've been mistreating her. I won't deny her existence anymore, of how precious she is to me just to save myself.

When I first proposed to her seven years ago, she was reluctant because of my nature of work. I persuaded her and we got married in the end. 

To be honest, she's my guardian angel, the one who kept me going when I was at my lowest time more than a decade ago. Without her, there would be no me in the present and future.

She saw past my tough and dirty facade and pulled me out of the abyss even when she herself had to battle with her own demons.

To all the people that have been watching and supporting me all this time, I am sorry. My selfishness has caused this matter to arise.

My wife is just a simple woman who's not suited to the glam and glitz of the entertainment industry. I humbly request that all the dissatisfaction be directed at me.

Once again, I apologize.

Sincerely, Ishizaki Ryuu]

From the beginning to the end, Ryuu spoke of his heartfelt desire for his secret wife. Doing so would just put more harm on his current reputation but, he didn't want to mind it now.

There were no excuses.

Yuina was more important than all the fame that elevated him to the pinnacle. 

All this time, he failed to make her felt that. Ryuu didn't want to make Yuina continued doubting herself, doubting her importance to him.

It was the right time to set everything straight.

Without Ryuu seeing them, hundreds of comments queued under the newest post made by him.

Like before, the opinions were divided.

[YOU ARE A LIAR! I regret supporting you!]

[#IshizakiRyuuGetOutOfIndustry]

[Commenter above, are you human? Sure that we're shocked but, isn't he the sweetest to disregard his reputation just to shield his wife?]

[Tsk, some of you are too harsh. Get out of this fandom! Ryuu-Ryuu doesn't need fake fans like you!]

[To marry when he's so young, he must have truly loved his wife! He's really a nation's husband ah!]

[Are you guys losers? Masochists? To still support this snake-like man?]

[Excuse me? I kind of wanna see if we would have Ryuu-Ryuu Jr. soon]

[Mrs. Ishizaki is so lucky and loved by our Ryuu-Ryuu! Thank you for inspiring him to join showbiz. My exhausted heart would be healed every time I see him acting]

The same kind of comments exploded in every news regarding the hidden marriage exposure. Anti-fans also gathered, spreading insults everywhere.

The company's PR team had to work overtime to minimize the damage while highlighting the ones that were positive.

Soon, the van reached Sakuya Residence. They were almost stopped by the reporters who were hounding the disappearing film emperor yet the bodyguards of the complex deterred their efforts.

While still be in disguise, Ryuu slipped inside the elevator and straightaway heading to the floor of his duplex. His heart was pounding hard, afraid if Yuina was discouraged by the heartless comments.

"Yuina!" 

Once Ryuu opened the door, he rushed to the living room. He saw his wife abruptly stood up from the couch. Hiro was sitting next to her.

"Ryuu! Are you okay?" 

"Brother! How's everything?"

The television nearby showed a news anchor speaking about the press conference that ended with chaos. Video snippets of Ryuu standing on the stage earlier were played on the screen behind the anchor.

"I'm good. Everything's fine, don't worry."

Ryuu brought Yuina in his arms, tightly embracing her. Bursting into tears, she encircled his waist and cried on his chest.

Hiro stood awkwardly at the side. He understood that what had happened made his sister worried so much.

"That's good... That's good," Chanted Yuina, her words were muffled by her crying.

Yuina was pressurized by fear throughout the time Ryuu appeared at the press conference. From beginning to the end, he admitted everything, no lies and excuses were made to preserve his reputation.

The words that he spoke to the camera resonated to her heart. They carried his heartfelt care and worry to her.

After some time, the couple loosened their embrace.

Ryuu wiped his wife's wet cheeks. He glanced at Hiro then his eyes fell on Yuina's face again.

"Even though I've admitted to the news, we still shouldn't lower our guard. The perpetrator might strike us again."

Ryuu sounded calm but, only he knew the fear inside his heart.

"What's that damn rat's motive? Does he simply wanna gain money by giving the news to the tabloids?"

Hiro was still mad as he thought of whoever let out the matter about his sister and brother-in-law's secret marriage.

Was he simply a paparazzi?

"We still don't know about it. The motives are still unclear."

Ryuu didn't mention that the mastermind's motive might be more sinister than just getting money.

He just hoped he was wrong.