Lunch was a quiet affair because of the argument that had taken place earlier. Akira did not mind a quiet time while eating. She preferred it.

The main dish was steak with mushroom bordelaise.

The food was not bad. After all, the Yamazaki family had two professional chefs. However, to a world-class chef like Akira, the taste was quite ordinary. The steak was a bit overcooked, and the texture of the porcini mushroom was a little poor.

Kazuo looked at her cold sister as she cut her steak with comfortable and practised moves. He had been about to offer to cut for her the steak as a peace offering.

He did not know much about people from average households, but he had heard that they were not familiar with the intricacies of fine dining. However, looking at Akira, she looked like she had the finest etiquette.

Chiharu also observed Akira with seemingly casual interest before turning back to her meal. She was surprised by the level of comfort displayed by Akira at the table. Also, a little jealousy arose in her because she did not have the same ease with etiquette.

She always had to work hard to show an aura of grace when doing normal things. She wondered if it had something to do with the genetic component.

Akira lifted her glass of red wine and took a sip.

The other people at the table paused a bit. Everyone was drinking wine because it paired well with steak, but for Akira, the glass of red wine had been placed for presentation purposes.

Though she had long passed the legal age for drinking, they did not think that she would be interested in wine. After all, it was an acquired taste.

Akira liked the dryness of the cabernet sauvignon. At the very least, it washed away the excessively buttery taste of the bordelaise. She took another sip before placing the glass on the table.

"Would you like some juice, Akira? It can be difficult to get used to the taste of red wine." Sayaka offered with a smile.

She had overlooked a lot of issues when she had ordered the meal prepared. Hanae had suggested a fancy steak lunch because it would make Akira feel more special and appreciated instead of cooking a common meal.

However, they did not consider if Akira would get used to the taste. Of course, these thoughts were based on the assumption that Akira was living a destitute life where she was eating nothing but plain noodles.

"It's alright." Akira cut another piece of steak and chewed on it before taking another sip of wine. Even though the food was subpar, she was hungry.

Sayaka wanted to tell Akira not to push herself, but Daiki touched her hand and shook his head.

When the meal was completed, the group moved back to the living room. After a while, Kazuo and Chiharu decided to go back to the office. Before they left, they faced Akira.

"Akira, we are sorry for misunderstanding you and jumping to a bad conclusion," Kazuo spoke in a somewhat sheepish manner.

He felt guilty for assuming bad things about his sister.

"We have also talked to Hanae. She will come to apologise to you later." Chiharu added.

Akira nodded. She did not see the point of saying anything else to them. In any case, they were strangers.

The couple was a little displeased by the cold attitude because they felt that they were giving Akira an olive branch, and she was not appreciating it.

For Kazuo, he felt like his cute sister had changed from her adorable self.

However, he did not consider that she had been four years old at the time he remembered while he had been ten years old. He had not seen her for eighteen years. How could he expect her to still be a senseless child?

On the other hand, Chiharu felt that Akira was putting up the front of a cold princess who had returned to her kingdom, even though she had dubious origins. She had probably only returned because she had heard of the good conditions in Mountain Ridge.

Moreover, she did not display any hint of friendliness. A normal person would have shown a hint of politeness after the cordial apology and tried to be a little closer to them.

As for what Chiharu would do if Akira was friendly, only she knew.

In the end, only Daiki, Sayaka and Seiji remained in the living room.

"Akira, I am sorry for speaking carelessly earlier," Sayaka said. "I am a little too anxious, so I keep making mistakes."

Akira felt tired with the apologies, and she decided to approach the core matter directly.

"You do not need to feel guilty towards me, and you don't have to do anything to appease me." Her voice remained cool. "Life happens as it does. I have my life, and I like it. I do not have any grudge against you or your family."

Sayaka opened her mouth to say something, but Akira lifted her hand and indicated for her to stop or wait.

"I have chosen to be here, but I don't have to be," Akira added this cruel and cold truth. "I hope we can get along for the period that I will be here."

The words were so official and clear that no one knew how to respond for a while. Akira felt that it was necessary to be clear from the beginning. If she did not, she was certain that little incidents would keep occurring.

"We will make sure that you are comfortable." Her father responded with a smile.

Daiki was quite angry at what had occurred earlier, so he felt that Akira's attitude was justified. She had been treated so poorly as soon as she stepped into the house. It was a surprise she had not turned around and left.

Sayaka felt a little uncomfortable because she felt like she had been given an ultimatum. Perhaps, in her heart, she had gotten used to Hanae who used sweet words or threw small tantrums. She felt Akira could be a little more girlish.

However, she did not say anything.