Ito Nanako softly opened the door, left her slippers outside, and stepped in barefoot.


    Upon seeing Ito Nanako dressed like a fairy, Ito Yuhiko couldn’t contain his pride. “Nanako,” he eximed, “your father eagerly anticipates the day you get married. You’ll be even more stunning then, and I fear all of Japan will be in awe of you!”


    Ito Nanako smiled back and replied, “Father, I never thought about getting married anytime soon.”


    “Oh…” Ito Yuhiko responded, his voice filled with emotion. “Are you still unable to put Charlie in your heart?”


    Ito Nanako didn’t shy away from the truth. “To be honest, Father, it’s not that I can’t let Charlie go; it’s just that no one else can take his ce. Even if I did let him go, there wouldn’t be another.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Ito Yuhiko paused, a look of concern on his face. “Nanako, Charlie is a good person, but you have no idea how long you might have to wait for him. The prime years for a woman are just a decade, from twenty to thirty. At twenty-three, if I miss this golden period, I fear I’ll regret it for life!”


    Ito Nanako smiled reassuringly. “Not at all! The golden period for a woman is here, regardless of whether I marry or not. Even if I don’t tie the knot during this time, I’ll still make sure my life is wonderful. You don’t need to worry about me, Father.”


    She continued, “If you truly care, Father, then you wouldn’t want me to marry someone I don’t love during my best years, only to force a smile in front of others while crying inside.”


    Ito Yuhiko nodded solemnly. “You’re right! Above all, I wish for you to live a happy life each day.”


    Ito Nanako smiled knowingly and nced at the patterned hakama hanging on the wall. “Father, not having a partner in life can feel like a disability. But as long as you adjust your mindset, you can still create a beautiful life. It’s like losing your legs; if your attitude is right, you can still make your life amazing.”


    As she spoke, she added, “Your patterned hakama is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Even if you lose your legs, I believe you’d still look great in it. I envision taking a photo with you once the pattern is applied to the hakama, and I’ll have the Japanese media, who have been following the Ito family, share it.”


    “Share it?” Ito Yuhiko instinctively protested. “No! Absolutely not! I refuse to let the media publish my image in a wheelchair, not even a half-length photo!”<fn3f7b> Checktest chapters at FindN0vel</fn3f7b>


    Ito Nanako smiled earnestly. “Don’t forget, Father, you are the renowned Takehiko Ito. Countless young people in Japan see you as an idol. Many are aware of your birthday today and have even started an online celebration for you. They’re eager to see your inspiring presence after the amputation; you can’t disappoint them now!”


    Continuing, Ito Nanako sighed and coaxed him, “Think about it: if they don’t see yourtest photos today, they might assume you’re in a state of decline. Imagine if they create an online entry titled ‘Constion for Ito Takehiko’—won’t that make you feel ufortable?”


    Hearing this, Ito Yuhiko said decisively, “Have someone bring my prosthesis! I’m going to stand and take the photo!”


    Ito Nanako secretly smiled and quickly replied, “Just wait a moment; I’ll have someone prepare it.”


    She rushed out of the room without dy.


    Ito Yuhiko had always been hesitant about using prosthetics, especially since he underwent a high-level amputation near the thigh, making it challenging to control even the best prosthetic devices. The experience often left him dissatisfied.


    If the calf were amputated, the part above the knee could still apply force, allowing for normal walking or even running with a prosthesis. However, with the amputation close to the base of the leg, Ito Yuhiko found that he could barely take two steps, and the difort was intense. When seated, he couldn’t sit fully, leading to pain and numbness within ten minutes.


    As a result, he often preferred his wheelchair over wearing a prosthesis.


    However, after being encouraged by Ito Nanako, he felt a renewed sense of hope and determination regarding the prosthetics.


    Ito Nanako quickly stepped out of the room and called for the housekeeper to assist her father in changing clothes and fitting the prosthesis.


    Just as she finished giving her orders, a servant hurried over with a mobile phone, saying, “Miss, your phone!”


    Ito Nanako nodded, took the phone, and her face lit up with joy as she saw three familiar letters on the screen: Charlie.