“What?”Château felt her mind freeze instantly. She needed a moment to process Leonard’s words. Once she fully understood, her eyes widened. “Sleep together?” she repeated, her voice a mix of disbelief and accusation.“Yes.”“In the same bed?”“Yes,” Leonard replied, carefully observing Château’s expression. Was she really that opposed to the idea of sharing a bed with him? “We’re just sleeping. What are you imagining?”Château turned away, pressing her small hands over her mouth. Her heart was screaming, but instead of silencing it, she muffled her lips. No matter how loud her heart’s voice was, Leonard wouldn’t be able to hear it.“How can you say something like that so casually?” she asked, spinning back to face him.Leonard, his stormy gray eyes calm yet firm, sighed audibly. “Because that’s all it is, Château—just sleep,” he explained, hoping to curb her overreaction. “Besides, you must be tired after spending the entire day at the city park.”Leonard had a point. Château was exh
Leonard awoke to a bright morning. The sunlight streamed through the large glass wall separating his bedroom from the balcony, illuminating the space with a warm glow. Though his eyes remained closed, the brightness was impossible to ignore, gently pulling him from his slumber. He inhaled deeply, as if his lungs were tasting fresh air for the first time in ages. His body felt lighter than the night before, a sign that proper care had brought improvement.Turning his head to the other side of the bed, Leonard’s senses sharpened. The spot that had been occupied by the sweet presence of a young woman last night was now cold and empty. Without hesitation, he got out of bed, moving through the apartment with measured urgency. He searched everywhere—bathroom, living area, kitchen—but found no sign of her.As he returned to the living room, the sound of the apartment door opening caught his attention. Standing there was Chateau, carrying bags filled with groceries. She froze momentarily, sta
"Your fridge is stocked only with alcohol, yet your kitchen is fully equipped. Why is that?" Chateau asked, shifting the conversation. Leonard glanced at her, realizing for the first time how talkative she could be after spending more time together.It didn’t bother him, though. While Leonard generally disliked constant noise, Chateau’s voice was an exception. He found it oddly pleasant and always responded to her chatter, no matter the topic."Odette brought the cookware. She loves cooking, just like you," Leonard replied, causing Chateau to falter. Once again, Odette came up. She wasn’t sure if she was to blame for choosing the wrong topic or if Leonard intentionally mentioned Odette to provoke her. But knowing him, Chateau doubted it was deliberate."Seems like you’re very close to Odette," she said, focusing on stirring her pot, omitting the formal tone she usually used."I wouldn’t say we’re that close," Leonard replied evenly."Not close? Yet you made her your personal doctor."
There was one thing Sophie Vignier could never miss each day—a thing she cherished deeply, something that made her heart race just at the thought of it.“Louis...!”Yes, that thing was seeing Louis, someone she held dear, the only person who made her feel truly valued. Sophie quickened her pace, rushing to embrace Louis with unrestrained joy. Louis' sharp nose savoring the intoxicating scent of Sophie. As she pulled away, they shared a tender kiss, a testament to their love.“You seem happy, Sophie. Did you accomplish your goal?” Louis asked once their lips parted. Sophie nodded enthusiastically, confirming his assumption.“You even came this early—were you that eager to tell me?”“No,” Sophie replied, resting her head on Louis’s broad chest and hugging him tighter. “I missed you, Louis. We didn’t see each other at all yesterday,” she murmured in a soft, affectionate tone.Louis raised an eyebrow before giving her a sweet smile, his hand gently stroking her hair. He understood her wel
Sophie recoiled, startled. Louis's sudden outburst left her speechless, perhaps even stripped of her courage. His rage was palpable, and Sophie instantly regretted her actions."Do you expect me to apologize and promise never to do it again?" Louis seethed as he pushed Sophie lightly. Though she only stumbled back a few steps, the fury in his piercing gaze was unmistakable. "You dare forbid me from doing what I want?"Sophie knew all too well that once Louis lost his temper, calming him down would be nearly impossible. As always, she found herself unable to extinguish the fire of his wrath and instead became its outlet, culminating in a sharp slap across her face.The force sent Sophie sprawling against the sofa. Her cheek burned, her ears rang, and tears welled up in her eyes before falling freely. But Louis wasn’t done. Without hesitation, he hurled a glass vase, missing her head by inches. The vase shattered, sending jagged shards flying, one of which sliced a deep gash into Sophie
Leonard was no longer in Marseille. As he had stated earlier, he truly departed for his birthplace two days ago. That day, Chateau had been dropped off directly after Leonard finished preparing. Once he saw her home, he headed straight to the airport. And as promised, he took Odette with him.“He’s surprisingly obedient. I was only joking when I said she could be his mother,” Chateau muttered, combing through her hair. She laughed softly, amused by Leonard Hugues doing something she hadn’t imagined him capable of—obeying her suggestion to bring a doctor along.Moments later, Chateau sighed heavily. Propping her chin on her hand, she leaned closer to her reflection in her vanity mirror. Though two days had passed, her thoughts often drifted back to Leonard and the business he had in Paris.Surely, he might have had tasks or work to handle there. Yet, knowing Paris was the place where his troubles began, Chateau suspected Leonard had gone there to settle a score. The thought of this lef
Chateau had no idea where Sophie was taking her. They arrived at a bustling place, the atmosphere slightly different from what Chateau was accustomed to. Their taxi stopped near an intersection, right in front of a moderately crowded eatery."You probably haven't had breakfast yet," Sophie remarked after paying for the taxi. Chateau didn't deny it. In truth, she'd been too excited preparing for this meeting to think about eating. They entered the establishment and headed upstairs."Having a meal while enjoying the city view from the second floor is quite pleasant," Sophie said with a casual smile. Chateau followed without a word, as this was her first time at such a place."Have you been here before?" Chateau asked as they settled into their seats.Sophie nodded. "I’m a local, Chateau.""Ah..." Chateau let out an awkward laugh, feeling foolish for asking such an obvious question. "Of course, Lady Sophie."After about fifteen minutes, their food arrived. "Wow..." Chateau murmured, visi
"Lady Chateau, would you like to browse some clothes? There’s a shop here with affordable yet high-quality outfits," Sophie offered enthusiastically. Chateau naturally nodded in agreement.Sophie clasped her hand, leading her to the store she had mentioned—a modest clothing shop across the street. The shop was quite busy, likely confirming Sophie’s claim. With its classic vintage ambiance, it wasn’t extravagant like a boutique but carried a charm reminiscent of Chateau’s hometown. Stepping inside, she felt a wave of nostalgia.They wandered through the relatively small store, exploring the assortment of clothes. The activity felt refreshing, providing a pleasant distraction. Situated in a French village, the shop predominantly carried French-inspired attire, adhering to a vintage theme featuring styles from before the 2000s.“Lady Chateau, try this on,” Sophie said, interrupting her companion’s quiet admiration of another section. Sophie held up a 90s-style yellow dress, adorned with
Chateau lost her shoes at some point during her journey here. She paused briefly to catch her breath, scanning her surroundings in hopes of spotting Leonard. If the gray-eyed man with brown hair was truly Leonard, why was this chase necessary? Why hadn’t he just come to her? Why had he made her run all the way to the village center just to find him among so many people?“Leonard...”Chateau searched the crowd, desperately trying to match each face with the image burned into her memory. Tall and lean, with brown hair and a confident stride—Leonard should stand out easily. Yet, she couldn’t find him. Was he even here? Had Shawn been mistaken? Was she foolish to hope?Her heart ached with the realization that hope did not guarantee reality. She had allowed herself to believe in finding Leonard, forgetting to consider other possibilities. In that moment, she was overcome by the betrayal of her own expectations.“What was I thinking?” she muttered, ashamed. “Why did I run all the way here?
Chateau had no idea how long she had been sitting under the shade of that large tree. She stared into the distance, her thoughts drifting as she recalled the events she had forgotten since that fateful night. However, the more she remembered, the more regret and frustration bubbled within her—anger at herself for nearly forgetting who Leonard Hugues was. The truth was undeniable: Leonard was the one person she could not imagine living without, even for a second."You fool… how could you do this to Leonard?" Chateau muttered, berating herself in despair. She wiped her tears away, but no matter how much she tried, Leonard did not appear before her.Leaning back against the tree, she wept again. "Where are you, Leonard? Won’t you come back?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why won’t you return? I’m not angry about your lies. Madam Aurora said Louis is dead, but why… why won’t you come back?"She bowed her head, hiding her tear-streaked face, which must have looked dreadful from all
[Eight Months Later]"Lady Lavigne! Lady...!"A young woman with golden blonde hair turned quickly as someone called her name. Her long, wavy hair danced with the gentle breeze of the fields, like a hanging cloth swaying gracefully."Good morning, Uncle. What is it?" the young woman asked, her radiant smile warming the air around her."Good news for you, Lady! Five of our sheep gave birth today!""Oh, really? How many lambs were born?""Seventeen lambs, Lady! And all of them are healthy!"Chateau Lavigne couldn't hide her joy as she received the wonderful news on this bright morning. The sheep on her farm had given birth to healthy lambs. She could already imagine the adorable, plump lambs she was eager to see."Will you go and see them now, Lady?"Chateau naturally nodded, her excitement palpable. She hurried from the tall sunflower fields, eager to meet her new lambs."We must ensure they get their vitamins and vaccines to keep them healthy, Uncle Shawn," Chateau said, letting the o
Louis paused, observing Leonard struggle to stand upright atop the rubble. Leonard's sharp gaze pierced through the tension, and then he smirked faintly. "Do you wish to see Sophie that badly? I'd be happy to escort you."Louis laughed bitterly, though his irritation was evident. Leonard's arrogance persisted, even as he appeared on the verge of death. Blood smeared half of Leonard's face, his once-white shirt tattered and stained with crimson. The numerous tears in his clothing revealed the extent of his injuries, and his mangled right hand clutched a broken pistol.Glancing at Louis' line of sight, Leonard acknowledged his own state, tossing aside the useless weapon. "Let's finish this," he declared, his voice steady despite his condition.Louis scoffed and extended his palm dismissively. "Finish what? You're barely standing. Why prolong your suffering? Just lay down and wait for your end. It's inevitable-""Are you scared?" Leonard interrupted calmly.The taunt struck a nerve. Loui
Leonard collapsed to the ground, but the relentless barrage of bullets forced him to crawl, enduring the searing pain, toward any form of cover he could find. He tugged at his numbed leg briefly, only to notice that Louis' bullet had carved a deep gash into his ankle."Damn it!" he muttered through gritted teeth, wincing as he tore a strip from his pants to staunch the bleeding. The journey ahead was far from over, and he couldn't afford to lose strength from such a wound.While Leonard was battered and bleeding, Louis stood unscathed, his posture calm and unyielding. If Louis had only wielded a single gun, Leonard might have had a chance to even the odds. Yet, Louis had swapped to another pistol the moment the first two ran out of ammunition, giving Leonard no opportunity to regroup.Leonard steadied his breathing as Louis began speaking."You know, this suit I'm wearing tonight-it was a gift from my lover. She gave it to me as a present. At first, I didn't like it and even considere
Leonard walked down the concrete stairs of an old, unfinished building. With weary steps and a somber expression, he kept his gaze fixed on the ground, paying careful attention to his footing until he reached his destination.Today was as he had promised-he would meet Louis, no matter where the man was. This wasn't a reunion to reminisce or rekindle; it was a meeting with a singular purpose: to kill each other.Naturally, Leonard's feelings were far from composed. He had asked Louis's biological mother for permission to kill her son. Wasn't that utterly tragic? What mother wouldn't feel torn when her child faced mortal danger, even if there was nothing she could do to stop it?"Oh, you're here, Leonard...?"Leonard's gaze shifted straight ahead, focusing on Louis, who stood with his back to him, casually smoking while leaning against a pillar in the open framework of the fourth floor. The wind blew fiercely at this height, and the night sky offered no clarity. Louis chose to smoke as
It had been more than a week since Chateau lay bedridden in the hospital, and during that time, Leonard never missed a single day of visiting her.After the accident, Chateau had suffered severe injuries. The blow to her head caused trauma that medical experts still couldn't fully diagnose, and several of her bones were fractured. They said it was astonishing she survived the critical phase at all. Considering the severity of her injuries, her survival felt like a miracle.Hearing this, Leonard could only be grateful and thank a God he had long stopped believing in. After so many years, he finally prayed again, even struggling to remember God's name. But this time, Leonard's prayers were answered: Chateau made it through the critical period. However, this didn’t mean her path ahead was smooth.Given the trauma to her cranial nerves, the medical team could only observe and wait for symptoms to manifest. In the meantime, they provided Chateau with the best intensive care possible, prepa
For Louis, his words asking Sophie to die for his sake were nothing more than a trivial joke in the midst of his drunkenness. But he didn’t know it would become a vow Sophie felt bound to fulfill.Louis could only stand with a weary gaze in front of the glass-doored room, watching as the medical staff gave up on trying to save the life of the woman lying motionless in their midst.Today, Sophie had acted recklessly. She threw herself in front of Chateau’s car, causing a crash that ended with the vehicle slamming violently into a tree. She knew Louis would have planned something like this. She knew he had it all arranged. But what Louis couldn’t understand was why Sophie had to take the place of someone he had already paid to make such a sacrifice.Louis remained silent, though inwardly he cursed Sophie’s foolishness. This was no lie. It was evident in the tightness of his clenched fists.Louis then entered the room without asking for permission. His gaze was icy, indicating that no on
Château returned to her mother’s place in a disheveled state. Perhaps it was from crying too much earlier, but nothing had changed except for her growing desire to leave. Her feelings remained the same—chaotic and disordered. Despite the harsh words she had directed at Leonard, they hadn’t managed to erase the affection she still held for him. Even now, at the moment she was truly leaving and might never return."Château…” Amelia greeted her with a warm embrace. Her anxiety only deepened upon seeing her daughter in such a distressed state.Château was no longer crying—perhaps she was too exhausted—but her hollow gaze suggested her body was merely an empty shell.“Are we leaving right away?” Château asked flatly, her voice devoid of any tone.Amelia looked at her with concern. She didn’t know what had transpired when Château met Leonard before their departure, but it must have been devastating to leave her daughter in this condition. Whatever the two had discussed, Amelia resolved to s