Lenka's POVWhat did this man do to end up looking so battered?Did he get into a fight with another mafia?That question kept circling in my mind as I examined his face closely.Aside from the bleeding wound on his forehead, I could see a cut on the corner of his lips and a bruise forming on his cheek. I wasn’t sure about the rest of his body, but his clothes looked messy—though not dusty—and were stained with traces of blood.I frowned, another thought creeping into my mind as I noticed he was alone.Didn’t he have plenty of subordinates? Why was he personally involved in whatever happened instead of sending them?I had seen Michael like this before, though only from a distance. The only ones capable of doing this to him were rival mafias, not ordinary people.A rival mafia?My gaze darted around our surroundings in a rush before I instinctively grabbed his hand."Come inside."We stepped into the house, and I quickly shut the door behind us. Leading him to the sofa—right beside whe
Lenka’s POVEven though I had already treated that man and politely asked him to leave, he still shamelessly remained in my house, playing with Felix, who clearly liked him.My son looked happy. They had been playing chess seriously for several minutes, and the game ended with Michael’s victory.That man didn’t hold back at all, but that only made Felix even more curious about him.He asked about the strategies Michael used, how he could think of solutions so quickly, and whether he had ever played chess professionally before.Michael seemed to enjoy all the questions my son threw at him, answering them effortlessly.I let out a sigh.I didn’t like the fact that this man was still in my house, but at the same time, I didn’t want to dampen my son’s enthusiasm about him, especially since they were talking about something he loved.My son rarely got this excited when discussing things like this. Chess. Jonas and I could play with him, but we couldn’t teach him anything new, while his fri
Michael's POVI was already in front of the café, with Diego, who had come to pick me up earlier when I was outside Lenka's house.He hadn't said a word during the ride, but just as I was about to step out and see that woman, he stopped me in my tracks.His voice was firm."Sir, you should have told me right away about what happened to you. I am your right-hand man."I glanced at my reflection in the side mirror, seeing the bandages and the thin layer of ointment near my lips—the ones Lenka had applied when treating me. The wound wasn’t even that serious.I shrugged. "It's just a small injury."He kept staring at me, looking irritated."But, Sir, before I picked you up, you acted as if your injury was severe. Like it was something critical that needed immediate attention."I listened as he began recounting everything I had done to him in the past thirty minutes.How he had to rush over to pick me up even though he was in the middle of a meeting with the subordinates, nearly breaking t
Lenka’s POVI looked toward the table that was usually occupied by someone. Staring in silence, not fully aware of it myself.I always noticed that man’s gaze from the same table.Day after day, repeatedly, until it became a habit. Feeling his eyes follow me every time I served customers, made coffee, or prepared orders to go.That gaze was always there—until today.Only a day had passed since I last saw him."Miss Lenka, why have you been looking over there for so long?"I turned my head, seeing Tina suddenly asking me that. It caught me off guard. "Huh? What do you mean?"She observed me for a moment before pointing in the direction I had been staring at."You’ve been looking over there since the customers started arriving. One of the guests sitting at that spot eventually moved because they felt uncomfortable."I frowned, unsure. "Really? I wasn’t even aware…."I had been looking there without much thought. No, I was thinking about something—but that only made me feel more unsettle
Lenka's POVI had already put Felix to sleep, keeping him company by reading one of the new books he had just bought and acting out parts of the story with my voice and hand gestures.He seemed to enjoy it, laughing and mimicking my voice, until, without realizing it, he had fallen asleep midway through the book. His breathing was steady, and his eyes were tightly shut.It wasn’t like him to fall asleep before reaching the end of a story. Maybe I had made him work too hard while helping clean up the café.He had been so enthusiastic about helping that he became the life of our little gathering.I gently stroked his hair, watching his face for a moment before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. Pulling the blanket up to his shoulders, I patted him lightly.“Sleep well, Felix.”I stepped out of his room, intending to head to mine and rest, but Jonas was still awake.He was in the living room, sipping wine, and when he saw me, he raised his glass. “Want a drink?”I nodded, walking towar
Anonymous’s POVI walked into the dimly lit space, where the lighting was sparse. A secret place.This place gave me a sense of calm.There wasn’t much furniture—just a single chair, a table, and a set of tools placed deliberately beside it, serving as storage for anything I might need.I pulled the chair closer and sat down.My gaze shifted to the wall nearby. There, several photographs were arranged meticulously, each accompanied by brief pieces of information.All the lines connected in some way, though some stood apart. If counted, I had erased and redrawn many lines over time, removed and replaced countless photos. Yet, one photo had remained on this wall for years.A man who had disrupted my enjoyment. He appeared at a critical moment and nearly drove me to frustration.George.His name suited him perfectly. As a man devoted to justice and prone to meddling, the death he received was well deserved.I had restored my plans to their original course with his demise and erased every
Lenka’s POV"So, Felix? Do you like the new toy that Mommy got for you?"I looked at my son, who was pouting yet still clutching the toy we had just bought.He had been staring at it for quite some time earlier, which was why I decided to buy it for him. But now, he was saying something completely different—expressing his discontent with my actions.I had teased him a little."Mom, I’m not a little kid." He looked at me, lips sticking out in protest.I tapped his nose gently, giving him a small pinch while smiling."But don’t you like being a little kid? Mommy loves seeing Felix having fun with his toys."Felix looked at me, hesitation flickering in his eyes. "Really, Mom?"I nodded, running my fingers through his soft hair."Of course! Isn’t that why I always get you toys, even when you don’t ask for them?"He seemed to ponder my words for a moment before finally nodding, his cheerful smile returning.I had already enrolled Felix in a school in our city, not too far from home. In abo
MichaelMy eyes widened, and my mouth felt frozen. I couldn’t say anything after hearing her words.Lenka watched me in silence. Then, as if deciding something, she turned to leave when she saw me standing there speechless.I immediately reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her."Wait. What… what did you just say to me, Lenka?"She frowned and pulled her hand away—easily, because I let her. But she didn’t refuse to answer.She let out a deep breath."I said thank you. For helping me. Not just once, but twice now—you saved me and Felix when we needed it."She looked tense, but I could tell her words were genuine.After how she had treated me whenever we met at her coffee shop recently, after our last conversation… this was the first time she had been this kind to me.No anger. No sharp remarks. Just a simple statement. But it meant everything to me.I pressed my lips together, shaking my head as I looked at her."You don’t have to thank me. I’ve made too many mistakes when it com
LenkaIt’s been a long time since I’ve been here. In fact, I’ve only been here once before. I experienced so much fear, a deep trauma. And when I arrived at my father’s grave, I remembered that brutal murder.Jonas was the one who did it, if only I had realized it back then. He wore a mask and quickly stabbed my father, stepping on him, and everything I remember could make my head spin and make me want to vomit. Now, it’s a bit better; I haven’t felt that way in a while. In reality, it may be because Jonas is dead—my vengeance was fulfilled.But maybe this isn’t just about vengeance. The fate that tangled between us was truly unpleasant and intriguing, causing terrifying things to happen.I took a deep breath. I felt relieved because now I could be in front of my father’s grave, holding the gravestone, as if I was speaking directly to him.“Dad, forgive me for only coming here now.” I paused for a moment. I felt that Dad would definitely understand my actions. “Dad, this is my son, yo
Lenka"Are you going to keep watching those ducks, Felix?"We sat under a tree, with a large lake in front of us and a line of ducks swimming. The sight was calming without us even realizing it.We had been watching them for a long time, and I didn’t think of it as an issue at all. It’s just that maybe Felix wanted to do something else. He had brought a book to read peacefully, and there were many guards around us.Michael seemed to be talking to Diego, while on the left, preparations were being made for something we could enjoy later."They’re doing the things they like. It must be fun for them, floating on the water." Felix spoke without shifting his focus. His hands remained on the book."Do you want to go on a boat?" I asked him.We could do that, and Michael would definitely go with us. Going on a boat together sounded fun; we hadn’t done it together before.Felix looked at me and gently shook his head. "No, Mom. I’m hungry."His attitude was so innocent and endearing. Just then,
LenkaIt was a heavy burden, knowing that he had gone through so much pain. The truth was, Felix was still just a child — he should never have had to experience anything like this.The calmness he showed wasn't something to be happy about. He didn’t want to do anything.The specialists said he was dealing with trauma.On that bloody day, he had learned too much — far too much for someone so young to bear. He found out that his father was a mafia boss, and that the man he trusted was a killer. He had witnessed death itself.Terrifying things had taken root inside his mind, growing into a constant terror."What should we do?" Michael’s soft voice was full of concern as he wrapped his arm around me.Both of us turned to the doctor standing before us."Young Master Felix needs support from the people around him," the doctor said. "This healing process could take a long time, and your support is crucial."I already knew that... But every time I saw Felix's empty, lifeless expression, it to
LenkaI had forgotten about her; I was too focused on the visible enemy, thinking the most dangerous one I was facing right now was Jonas.But the figure that had just whispered near my ear was this woman. It had been such a long time since I last saw her, and it froze me for a few seconds. She was another nightmare.She was Ava.She smiled at me, and that’s when she immediately grabbed my hand, pulling me into her reach. With the knife at my throat, I could feel the coldness of it, and it was terrifying.“Ava! You slut, what are you doing!?”Jonas shouted.“Let her go, Ava!” Michael commanded.This time, both of them were not focused on their fight but on me. It was so annoying to see Jonas pretend to care about me when he was the one who wanted me dead earlier.“Because this woman destroyed my life, I think it’s better if she dies too, don’t you think?” She glanced at Michael and Jonas alternately.“I should have killed you a long time ago.” Jonas spoke. He stepped forward, but with
LenkaI always prayed and believed in Michael, trusting that he would keep his promise to me. Looking at myself in the mirror, even though my face was covered in makeup, it didn’t make me happy at all.My heart was pounding painfully. Felix entered the room and hugged me."Mom, is he a bad man?"Hearing his question, I actually didn’t want him to know about this at all. That’s why it took me a while to respond.Felix, looking at me gently, held onto my wedding dress. "Mom, you’re going to marry him.""Yes," I gently stroked his head, kissing his forehead. "Felix, stay calm and listen to them."Felix, who was silent, seemed to understand my meaning. I was sure of it because he was an insightful child. Then, before we left the room, he nodded. I became more at ease.My hope in Michael continued to grow; I wanted him to one day save me and Felix.Or, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill that man with my own hands once I made sure everything was in place. I didn’t want to lose anyone else besides
MichaelHis obsession made him incredibly captivating—I’d call it clever, or maybe just plain insane.Tini was a long journey, dealing with permits due to it being a different country. With so many people involved, he tried to make me question what actions I should take. Bringing in a large force would only make it easier for us to be attacked from another front.Have I ever mentioned the man who has the same face as Diego?I haven’t, not even Lenka knows about it—because he acted as the “cattle warden.” Living on a farm, it seemed like an incredibly peaceful life. But beneath the large barn filled with milk-producing cows, there was a hidden laboratory—for drugs and weapons.He was a warden, yes, but a cruel one.With the passage of time and the actions I took, that warden eventually left his cozy little spot and moved into the center of The Noctis' power. He became someone highly trusted today.Dalton—he was staring at me from the phone screen.“I’ll guard it well, boss.”He looked
MichaelAnother explosion and the attack were just a diversion.I’ve confirmed that it was a very well-organized distraction, and what makes me so furious with myself is that I only now realized this house has a basement or an escape route.Bastard.I told myself how stupid I was, how everything turned into a mess because this was completely unexpected. When I found out there was another way out, I punched the wall over and over again.“Damn it, how could I not know this?”This house has stood for hundreds of years. I once heard from my father that my great-great-grandfather bought it when all his businesses were flourishing. But I’ve never heard anything about an underground escape route.I followed the path and ended up in a different part of the property. My men wouldn’t even be able to spot this from where they were.“Jonas… where did he get the blueprint for this house?” My voice trembled as I spoke, clenching my fists.I’m absolutely certain that not even my family knows about t
Lenka"What nonsense are you saying?"Immediately, my body froze upon hearing his words. I looked into his eyes, which were still filled with excitement. Something bad was starting to surface, and I wanted to know it now."Lenka, I already know we are destined to be together." He lowered his gaze, but I could tell he was still smiling widely. "You and I cannot be separated, and in two days, we will be married."Chills ran down my spine, my whole body shivered hearing his words."No... I don't want to marry you, Jonas. I don't want to because you're a bastard!"He remained calm, shook his head slightly, then hugged me and quickly released me."Lenka, it's useless for you to reject this because we will be married soon." He smiled."Get out!"I pointed at the door, my chest aching so much. With sharp eyes and a face red with anger, he responded with calmness."Alright, I'll leave now. I want you to prepare yourself because you will be shocked by our marriage."The more angry I became, th
Lenka"You're completely insane, Jonas. You made yourself look like a hero, but it turns out you're the villain!"My eyes stayed locked on him—I couldn’t look away from what he’d done."You threatened me by using Felix…"My hands trembled. Two of his men moved closer and grabbed my arms. Instinctively, I shoved them off."Jonas! You truly—"My scream stopped short as I watched him put Felix to sleep using a handkerchief, covering the boy's nose with it."What are you doing!?"This time I lunged forward, grabbing his hand to take Felix from him. But Jonas held onto me tightly, restraining me with a strength I couldn’t fight. His men held me down."Lenka, this is what's best for him. Or would you rather he knows everything?"He touched my cheek with his index finger, wearing a small smile that felt like a thousand needles. Before I could curse him again, they started dragging me away."We have to leave now, my dear Lenka."We exited the room. I hoped someone would come to save us, that