Author's point of view... Leo was now completely familiar with their plans. They were actually going to burn the entire place along with him. And he can never let them win. He had many incomplete missions that he had to complete in his life. How could he die, just like that...! “Come on, Leo,” he whispered through gritted teeth. “Just a little more…” With a final, desperate lunge, Leo reached the window. He grabbed hold of the bars, pulling himself up until he was level with the small opening. It was narrow, but just wide enough for him to squeeze through if he could remove the bars. The scene looked familiar. Just like in the past. He scoffed. Why the hell he always end up in situations like this? Leo fumbled at the bars, trying to find a weak spot, but his hands were slick with sweat, and he could feel his strength fading fast. The door behind him creaked open, and he heard the voices grow louder, more urgent. “He’s trying to escape!” "Damn it...! They found me...!" L
Author's point of view... Leo's mind spun. Hundred billion dollars? That was more money than he could ever imagine. And his powers—having them back, even if only partially, would make him nearly unstoppable. The logical choice seemed obvious. Yet, something inside him hesitated. There was a catch, and his gut told him that the system wouldn’t offer such an option lightly. With a furrowed brow and a deep breath, Leo asked, "Can I know what is in store for me if I choose Reward B?" While announcing the reward, the system had already treated all his wounds. Relieved of the pain, Leo could now think clearly. The system paused, a silence that seemed to stretch for an eternity before the response came, this time softer, almost reverent. {Your real identity. Your family name.} Leo’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. His family name. The very thing he had longed for his entire life. As an orphan, he had grown up with nothing but questions, all questions about
Author's point of view... Getting out of the village, Leo hurried towards the city. He had been trying to reach out to Daniel and Jessica all this while, but none answered his calls. He couldn't help but feel uneasy about this. "Something might have happened there..." The moment he stepped out of the train, he hired a taxi to his restaurant. In the meantime, Leo also tried to call James, and soon James received his call. But before Leo could talk, he heard a sharp and painful cry followed by some commotion in the background. "Hello, James..." Leo called out desperately but James didn't respond. Soon after, the call got disconnected. When he reached the restaurant, he saw that something was not right. His heart pounded as he took in the scene outside the restaurant. A mass of people had gathered, shouting insults and throwing punches at James and Hannah, that young girl. "What the hell is happening...!!" He ran towards it. Hannah’s face was bruised, her clothes torn
Author's point of view... Leo stood there, phone pressed to his ear, as Jessica’s frantic voice echoed through the silence. He had shown the screen to Daniel, and even though Daniel didn't know anything about their relationship, he gestured to Leo not to answer it. However, Leo had something else in his mind. He wanted to hear her voice as if through that, he wanted to test the woman he loved. The weight of everything he’d just learned, that name, Jessica's name at the top of the complaint list, the accusations, the betrayal, hung heavily in the air between them. He felt like laughing in anger. Maybe he would get crazy if he didn't talk to her right now and there. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the swirl of emotions coursing through him. Confusion, anger, disbelief, how could this all be happening? Was that really her, who was behind all this? What does she have now to tell him?? “Leo, are you there? Please, say something!” Jessica’s voice cracked, sounding almost
Author's point of view... This was his first time visiting this place yet these people acted as if they knew he was a criminal or something. As he was here already, Leo decided to follow suit. There was no point in fighting back now. He’d known what was coming the moment he agreed to meet Jessica here. And he needs to act along to unveil the person, the one behind it. Once and for all. Inside the mansion, the sneers and contemptuous glares from the other family members made his skin crawl. They all stood there, gathered as though awaiting his execution, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. Thomas, Margaret, and almost all the peers were here. But what astonished Leo the most was a man standing with an imposing aura, Dave. They were all there, faces twisted in disgust and anger. Just as the guards dragged Leo inside, someone almost lunged at him. “You bloody scoundrel...!! How dare you cheat us?!” Margaret was the first to lunge at him, her fingers curling around
Author's point of view...Leo’s heart clenched. He had come here to confront them, to demand answers. But now, he couldn't wait any longer. With a grunt, Leo pushed himself up from the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His voice, hoarse but determined, cut through the violence. “Enough!” Leo shouted, his voice carrying an authority that made the room fall silent. “If you want to blame someone, blame me. But Jessica has nothing to do with this. She was trying to help Mrs Connard. So if you want to finish this, let’s finish it. But leave her out of it.” The room stilled, tension thick in the air as the family members exchanged glances. Jessica, still on the floor, looked up at Leo, her eyes filled with gratitude and sorrow. And for the first time since he walked into the mansion, Leo felt a sense of clarity. He knew what he had to do. As Dave’s men raised their fists, ready to strike Leo, Jessica’s heart raced. She thought Leo was already wounded and vul
Author's point of view... Leo's calm demeanor was like a pain in the ass, a discomfort that he couldn't take in. Alvin’s sneer faltered, confusion flickering in his eyes. "Why the heck was he still so calm?" he thought to himself and when he couldn't take it anymore, he vented it out. “What’s so funny?” Alvin growled, his face darkening. Leo’s expression hardened but that dangerous smirk didn't slide. "You wanted to kill them all under my name...? And this was why you called us all here, isn't it?" Leo deduced and Alvin laughed out loud. "Yes...so what if you know everything...You can't do anything..." Leo locked eyes with him and unknowingly, Alvin felt a chill run down his spine. He averted his gaze. Why was he so intimidated by that trash? Wasn't he about to win in this battle? Why does he feel as if he lost all of a sudden? “So, Mr. Little brother...! You think you’re in control, don’t you?" Leo added as he slowly crossed his arms to his chest and started walking for
Author's point of view... The gun in Alvin's hand dropped as he saw Helen standing before him. Helen stepped forward, her eyes scanning the room, filled with sorrow and disappointment. “I never thought my own family would betray me,” she said, her voice soft yet firm, carrying the weight of a truth long hidden. Leo and Jessica exchanged glances before stepping forward at Helen’s call. They approached her, and she placed a gentle hand on each of them, her grip weak but meaningful. “If not for them,” Helen continued, her gaze settling on Alvin, “I would have died long ago in that accident.” Her voice cracked, but she held her composure. “Jessica, Leo, they were the only ones who stood by me. Jessica, at my request, carried out this entire plan so we could unearth the truth about the accident. And now, it’s clear… it was my own family behind it, the son I raised...” her eyes filled with tears. It was true that she wanted to find her lost son but she never treated Alvin as
Author's point of view... For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then, Helen let out a sob and rushed forward, throwing her arms around Renard. Leo stepped back, giving his parents the space they needed as they clung to each other, the years of pain and separation melting away in their embrace. Slowly hugging his girlfriend, Leo indulged in the delicacy of reunion. Leo watched them, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, and now that it was here, he felt a profound sense of peace. His family was finally whole again. Helen's eyes were still moist with tears as she held onto Renard's hand, her fingers trembling slightly from the overwhelming emotion. She couldn't believe that she was seeing her husband after nearly twenty years. After taking in the surprise slowly, she turned to Leo and Jessica, gratitude evident in her gaze, though she was still unaware of Leo's true identity. For her, they were her saviors. "Thank you both," He
Author's point of view... Though he didn't look frightening, Jessica took a step backward. Leo was busy on his phone, talking to Daniel about the case. He didn't notice anything behind him. The beggar snatched the food from her hands but then paused. Jessica wasn't brothered at all, instead, she wanted to help that beggar by lending him some more money. Then suddenly the stopped and was mumbling something to himself. "Th...thank ...y...you..." Slowly, he raised his head, and for the first time, Jessica got a good look at his face. His eyes were sunken, his skin weathered, and his hair matted with dirt, but there was something familiar about him that she couldn’t quite place. As he looked at her, a faint glimmer of recognition flickered in her eyes. Jessica was dumbfounded. Was that man...!! Was that him? “Thank you, young lady,” the man mumbled, his voice raspy with exhaustion. “Thank you so much for the food. My son is still waiting for me. He must be so hung
Author's point of view... That day, Leo felt so uncomfortable even to spend another second there, wasting time. After grabbing something to eat, Leo and Jessica arrived at the NGO with a sense of urgency, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. The place was quiet, with only a few staff members moving about. They immediately recognized Jessica as she was a volunteer there. Jessica led the way, her mind racing with memories from years ago. They were here to search through the records, hoping to find any information about the man she had encountered during a medical camp—a man she now knew was Leo's father, Renard Edward Connard, her Aunt's husband. When asked, the staff told her that those records might be destroyed as if had been so long. But Jessica insisted on checking them. They poi red towards a shabby room. The records room was tucked away in a corner of the building, a small, dusty space filled with rows of old files and boxes stacked high. Jessica hesit
Author's point of view... The first light of dawn crept into the room, casting a soft glow over the sleeping figure on the bed. Jessica stirred, blinking her eyes open as she adjusted to the early morning light. She stretched, feeling the cool air against her skin, and realized with a start that Leo wasn’t anywhere in the room. Panic gripped her momentarily as the memories of the previous day's events came flooding back. Leo had returned late, his mind elsewhere, burdened with a weight he couldn’t fully comprehend. He hadn’t come to the room after that. Where is he? Worried, Jessica slipped out from under the covers and rushed out of the bed to looked around. As she padded towards the terrace, she didn't find any trace of him, there either. Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped outside. Did he go somewhere?Did something happen again? Jessica recalled everything, how Leo seemed to be worried last night and she panicked at the thought of something going wrong wit
Author's point of view... Leo was puzzled. He couldn't understand what mystery this was. Should he laugh or cry? Mr. Renard Connard read the father's name again, then shifted his gaze towards the column of his mother's name, Helen Connard...! Helen was his birth mother?? He flipped over the photograph to see the faces of his parents once again, more clearly. However, just as he took it out again, the shocking resemblance took him aback. Tears filled his eyes again. "This...!!" He quickly reached for the other paper, pulling out the letter with trembling fingers. His heart pounded as he unfolded it, recognizing the worn edges of a note written in haste. As his eyes darted across the page, the truth hit him like a punch to the gut. It was a letter from his father. *Renard Edward Connard.* Leo’s knees nearly buckled as he read, the weight of the words sinking into him like an anchor. The letter explained everything—how his father had left him at the orphanage when he wa
Author's point of view...The envelope was empty...! Leo snuck his fingers into it and checked it again and again. A surge of frustration shot through him. He clenched his fist, trying to contain the anger bubbling beneath the surface. How could the system betray him like this? He had done everything and sacrificed so much, only to be left with nothing. Jessica, sensing his distress, placed a hand on his arm. “Leo? What’s wrong?” Leo pulled himself back immediately, he can't let her worry. He forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s nothing,” he lied, his voice tight. “Just... something which I didn't expect.” Jessica frowned, but she didn’t press further. She could feel the tension radiating from him and knew better than to pry. Instead, she stood by his side, offering silent support as Leo grappled with the storm of emotions inside him.Leo felt cheated, betrayed but he didn't let it show on his face. At least, he can't tell this to anyone. Controlling himself w
Author's point of view... Leo and Jessica walked side by side down the quiet street, the Connard estate fading behind them. They took a taxi back to the city. Daniel had taken care of everything about his restaurant. After giving up on all those luxuries that the system had provided him, the only thing that Leo had now was his restaurant, as the system believed that it was solely his hard work. And he deserved it. The villa he bought was under the name of Connard estates and so he had to leave it behind. Now, Leo was back in his small shabby room on the terrace of the restaurant. When they reached their restaurant, its closed doors greeted them with an eerie silence, offering a rare moment of privacy. The employees were all tired after the chaos that they had suffered, and because of this, Leo had given them all a few day's leave. Everybody needs some time for themselves, including him. As they stepped Inside, the space felt strangely peaceful, as though it, too, had b
Author's point of view... Helen stood tall, but her strength was faltering. She had just witnessed everything. The boy she raised as her son wanted to kill her. The weight of everything, the betrayal, the revelations, the heartbreak, seemed to crash down on her all at once. Her breath became shallow, her body swaying on weakened legs. Before anyone else could react, Leo rushed forward, catching her just as her body began to give way. "Ma'am, be careful...!" The moment his hands touched her, an electric jolt seemed to pass through Helen. She blinked in daze, looking up at Leo as if seeing him in a new light. His steady, concerned gaze met hers, and for a fleeting second, she thought of her son, her real son, the boy she had lost so long ago. He would be around Leo’s age now. How different things might have been had he lived. Leo gently eased her into a chair, his touch careful, almost reverent. His presence brought her a small measure of comfort, a warmth she hadn’t felt i
Author's point of view... The gun in Alvin's hand dropped as he saw Helen standing before him. Helen stepped forward, her eyes scanning the room, filled with sorrow and disappointment. “I never thought my own family would betray me,” she said, her voice soft yet firm, carrying the weight of a truth long hidden. Leo and Jessica exchanged glances before stepping forward at Helen’s call. They approached her, and she placed a gentle hand on each of them, her grip weak but meaningful. “If not for them,” Helen continued, her gaze settling on Alvin, “I would have died long ago in that accident.” Her voice cracked, but she held her composure. “Jessica, Leo, they were the only ones who stood by me. Jessica, at my request, carried out this entire plan so we could unearth the truth about the accident. And now, it’s clear… it was my own family behind it, the son I raised...” her eyes filled with tears. It was true that she wanted to find her lost son but she never treated Alvin as