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44. Happy Birthday to Niece
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2024-12-20 06:33:41Related chapters
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 45. Ghost of Your Sin
Irenée jolted, stumbling over his words. “Leonard, I’m sorry … I didn’t mean to—”“Did you think I came here to harm you, Irenée?” Leonard asked, and her silence gave him the answer he needed. He placed a hand gently on her head. “Do not fear, as long as you believe you’ve done nothing wrong. I would never come here just to harm a future officer of the law.”Leonard extended his hand, inviting Irenée to shake it. The young woman, whose sleek black hair resembled her mother’s, hesitantly accepted the gesture. “Congratulations on your graduation, Irenée. I won’t state the obvious by telling you what you’ll undoubtedly achieve as a future law enforcer,” Leonard said, pausing briefly before offering a faint smile. “But, Irenée … I hope the justice you pursue won’t destroy those living in the shadows. Let your justice be a light for everyone, from the heavens above to the core of the earth.”“Leonard …” Irenée called his name softly, unable to continue. She didn’t know why, but the words o
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 46. Me and Mama
[Flashback – 24 years ago]Leonard pushed open the grand doors with his small hands. His thin frame, sunken eyes, and weary expression betrayed his fragile state. He dragged his feet as he walked, each step unsteady. His frail appearance would invoke pity in most people—but not in the sharp-eyed man seated at the dining table."Good morning, Leonard." The man's voice greeted him. Leonard glanced at his uncle, Frédéric Chevalier, who had just set his glass of premium milk back on the table. "Take a seat and enjoy your breakfast."Leonard never dared to raise his head when speaking to Frédéric. Whether out of fear or sheer resentment, he refused to meet the gaze of the man he held responsible for his family's downfall. Slowly, Leonard shuffled to his seat and sat down.An extravagant spread of luxurious food lay before him, but none of it stirred his appetite. His eyes scanned the table, but his hands remained still. Frédéric, noticing the boy’s hesitation, paused his own meal and studi
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 47. Family Line
[Flashback]This moment, Calestelle had completely changed. Her gaze was no longer warm or gentle. She resembled a wicked witch forcing a child she had kidnapped to drink poison. "Why won't you eat, darling? I made it just for you!""But, Mama... I'm Leonard!""YES, LEONARD! YOU'RE LEONARD...! VICTOR'S SON!"Leonard froze, shaken by her outburst. It wasn't the first time, but every time he heard it, he wished he could disappear. The warm woman who once spoke to him so softly no longer existed. In her place was a temperamental, unhinged woman who constantly forced him to comply with her wishes, no matter how much he despised them."YOU'RE VICTOR'S SON! YOU SHOULD BE LIKE HIM! WHY DO YOU REJECT THE FOOD HE LOVED SO MUCH? YOU'RE HIS CHILD, LEONARD!""MAMA, I AM LEONARD!" Leonard shouted back, repeating his earlier words.Calestelle's fury only grew. She slapped Leonard so hard he fell to the floor. "DON'T YOU DARE SHOUT AT ME!" she screamed, frustration spilling over. It didn't stop ther
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 48. Do I Love Her?
Leonard awoke abruptly one morning, once again shaken not by his alarm but by the recurring nightmare he so desperately wanted to end. He instinctively touched his head, checking for blood. Of course, there was none. It had only been a dream, though the pain coursing through his arms felt disturbingly real as his thin fingers pressed against his skin. He sat still for a moment, attempting to steady his labored breathing.“Leonard!”His attention snapped toward the voice. A tall, striking woman with a sultry figure strode toward him, clad in nothing but a bikini. Leonard sighed and rubbed his temple before swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.It was Odette. She threw her arms around his neck the moment she reached him. “You didn’t tell me you’d be going there!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with both enthusiasm and disappointment.Odette had been thrilled when Leonard invited her to Paris, but now that they were here, she felt abandoned. He hadn’t even bothered to inform her of
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 49. Death Anniversary
Leonard arrived at the final destination of his return to Paris: the cemetery.The burial grounds, lined with rows of crosses and headstones, were nearly empty. Only a few visitors had come to pay their respects, Leonard among them. Standing before his parents’ graves, he found the place effortlessly despite years of absence. He laid a bouquet of flowers on his father’s grave, its weathered stone showing signs of neglect. The engraved name had begun to fade, worn away by twenty years of rain and sun.“I’m surprised this grave hasn’t been replaced,” Leonard murmured, his gaze fixed on the tombstone as though addressing his father. “Did anyone keep visiting after I left?” he asked the silence.Seeing his father’s name carved into the stone stirred memories of a perfect past. Leonard recalled the man who had always been by his side, teaching him kindness and responsibility, his warm smile a perfect match for his handsome face. The recollection felt fresh, as though it had happened yester
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 50. New Heart
The door was flung open violently and slammed shut with a deafening bang. The sound reverberated through the room, a clear indication of the occupant's unstable emotions. It wasn’t unusual for him to be so easily provoked, especially by the presence of a nephew he hadn’t seen in decades. The once-sniveling child who used to cling to his legs, begging for scraps of kindness, now stood before him, transformed into a man he could hardly recognize.“Mafia...” he muttered, his tone betraying his unease. Frederick Duval gnawed at his fingernails, unable to hide the worry etched into his weathered face. He struggled to reconcile the dangerous figure before him with the boy he discarded 24 years ago. That weak, crying child had grown into someone formidable—someone who now held the power of a ruthless Lafleur executive, a criminal syndicate infamous across Marseille.Frederick couldn’t believe the irony. He might as well start preparing for his end. Begging would be futile; after all, he had
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 51. Chasing The Monster's Heart
Jacques lowered his voice, storming out and slamming the door behind him. The resounding crash startled anyone within earshot and left Frederick seething. Consumed by rage, Frederick began smashing objects in his office, his fury unchecked by the thought that his outburst might be heard by his employees outside. The room descended into chaos, and he finally collapsed into his chair, overwhelmed and unable to regain control of his emotions.One name echoed relentlessly in his mind: Leonard Hugues."Yes... isn't Jacques after Leonard's heart? All I need to do is kill him and offer his heart to Ellijah. That's all. I just need to kill Leonard," Frederick muttered, his trembling voice betraying an unsettling conviction, as if the task were child's play. Moments ago, he had deemed Leonard an opponent not to be underestimated. Yet now, his confidence soared, as though trapping Leonard would be as simple as baiting a street rat with poisoned sausage.It wasn't that his opinion of Leonard had
Last Updated : 2024-12-20THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 52. You're In Love, Just Admit It!
Four days had passed since Leonard's return to Marseille, yet Chateau hadn’t seen him even once. She spent her mornings indoors, tending to activities within the mansion after her tea. She no longer went out to meet informants—her last interaction with Sophie Vignier, one of the reliable ones, had ended with them losing contact. Chateau regretted it, wishing she could meet Sophie again and talk like old friends.Chateau’s curiosity about Leonard’s purpose for returning to his hometown remained unanswered. She had no idea where to begin her search for answers, but her longing for clarity persisted. It wasn’t out of necessity but because she genuinely wanted to know—as a woman who belonged to Leonard, she felt entitled to this. Unfortunately, there was no one she could ask.“Chateau?” a voice broke her reverie as Tethia touched her shoulder. Startled, Chateau quickly turned off the water hose she had been using to water the garden’s flowers.“If you only water this one flower, the other
Last Updated : 2024-12-22
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THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 119. Complete Me With Joy [END]
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?
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 118. His Presence
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 117. Months Later
[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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 116. In The End, This Monster Still Deserves A Life
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 115. Be Regret!
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 114. Finally Face to Face
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 113. I'll Be Back To You
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 112. Used To Be Loved
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
THE MAFIA'S PRISONER 111. Sophie's Act
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
