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... 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... 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...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 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