All Chapters of THE MAFIA'S PRISONER: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Leonard remained silent for a long time, his lips pressed tightly together as though sealed shut. In truth, they were—by the weight of Chateau’s words.The girl with her golden-blonde hair continued to gaze at Leonard, and he did the same. Neither seemed aware of how much time had passed as they exchanged a prolonged, unreadable look.Chateau was the first to snap out of it. She couldn’t understand why they had been locked in eye contact for so long. Since her statement, Leonard hadn’t uttered a single word.She knew Leonard wasn’t one to talk much, but couldn’t he have said something in response? Even a low murmur would have sufficed, just to make her feel like her words hadn’t been so strange they didn’t deserve acknowledgment. Embarrassment and discomfort swirled within her.But her feelings didn’t last long as a new thought crossed her mind. Perhaps Leonard’s silence wasn’t because of her words but because his thoughts had wandered elsewhere. “No—Leonard, you’re not thinking somet

Without realizing it, Chateau had spent an entire day with Leonard—something she never expected. Now they were at a restaurant, ready to enjoy dinner after a day filled with walking around and snacking on street food. Leonard insisted that she nourish her body properly; too much snacking, he claimed, wasn’t good for her."Order now," Leonard instructed as the menu was handed to them. Chateau smiled, delighted, and started browsing the options. Her heart practically skipped a beat. Everything on the menu looked delicious, and she couldn’t decide—she wanted it all.Even though she had already indulged in plenty of street food, the sight of the menu ignited her hunger anew, as if she hadn’t eaten in two days. Biting her lower lip, she recalled how, back in Rosemount, the house rules forbade her from ordering more than three main dishes."Make a decision," Leonard's voice broke her thoughts. She glanced at him from behind the menu. "Order whatever you want.""Really?""Yes. Or should I bu

Louis Chaloux. That name had lingered in Leonard’s mind for the past five years. If someone asked whether Leonard knew him, the answer would undoubtedly be: intimately.Long before today, Leonard and Louis shared a close and sweet relationship. Brothers, some would say. Though nothing legally bound them, and the label was nothing more than a convenient term. Yet, over time, Leonard began to accept it as something real—something that brought him out of the solitude he'd once embraced.Leonard liked Louis. He was the sweet, occasionally spoiled younger brother. Louis admired Leonard, the cold yet effortlessly cool elder sibling. It was a blissful bond during their childhood—a time filled with pure joy, a world untouched by the realities that awaited them.But adulthood brought complexity. Thoughts sharpened, logic took root.How...? How could it be?How could that person claim to be his brother? How could he, the heir, bow to another as if he were a mere subordinate?Louis grew up with

Three years ago, Leonard Hugues traveled to a small town in Lourmarin, a region famed for its pristine natural beauty.If one were to ask why an executive from Marseille's most notorious mafia organization ventured to such a serene and remote area, the answer would not involve retirement plans or thoughts of leaving the shadowy world that had shaped him. In fact, Leonard’s journey had nothing to do with his work."Monsieur Hugues, shouldn't we look for accommodation nearby?" his driver, Noel, inquired, his attention unwavering as he scrolled through images of the exquisite paintings Leonard had been searching for on his smartphone.Leonard replied curtly, "I have no intention of staying. That won't be necessary.""The trip from Marseille to Lourmarin is quite long, monsieur. Are you sure you don’t want to rest?""I dislike repeating myself, Noel." Leonard's tone left no room for argument, and Noel immediately dropped the subject."Understood, monsieur." He nodded, refraining from offe

Chateau opened her eyes before the sun had risen. It wasn’t because her drowsiness had faded; she could still feel the weight of her eyelids resisting. However, her body refused to stay asleep after being disturbed by the cold air.She sat at the edge of her bed, silent, trying to recall the events of the previous night. It had been an ordinary evening—she had spent time with Leonard, ending the day with dinner together. Afterward, she returned to her room and decided to sleep not long after.But one thing stood out in her memory: she distinctly remembered not wearing long-sleeved pajamas to bed. Instead, she had worn a sleeveless nightgown, which might explain why she woke up feeling cold. Chateau glanced back at her bed, eyeing the blanket she supposedly used. A faint crease formed on her brow."Did I use a blanket last night?" she wondered aloud. As far as she remembered, she hadn’t bothered to cover herself, too exhausted to even pull the blanket over her body. But if she had used