REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

Don’t Move or She Will Get Hurt!

A strange silence suddenly fell over the room. Everyone in the ballroom turned their eyes to the entrance.

A man stood there, built and solid, dressed in a navy slim-fit T-shirt. His sharp gaze was locked on the stage.

"Hey, isn't that Leonidas Vale?" someone blurted out.

The ballroom instantly erupted. One by one, the guests whispered in alarm, recognizing the man as Leon—the criminal who went viral six years ago for a rape case and was thrown behind bars.

"Why the hell is he here?"

"Wasn't he supposed to be in prison?"

"His sentence is over already?"

"No way. He was supposed to get over a decade."

Those were just a few of the murmurs in the crowd.

Leon ignored them. With his eyes glued to Evelyn and Jonathan, he stepped forward.

The pressure rolling off his body made the crowd instinctively part, clearing a path for him without a word.

“This is… how is this even possible…?”

Jonathan stared in disbelief. At first, he doubted the whispers around him—Leon was never this built before. But that voice… there was no mistaking it. This guy was Leon.

“Let me go!”

Evelyn used Jonathan’s distraction to shove him away, and this time she broke free.

Jonathan shot her a look of irritation, but quickly turned his focus back to Leon. He didn’t know why, but something about Leon felt dangerous.

“End this ridiculous proposal! How dare you try to marry a woman who’s already married,” Leon said loud and clear.

Jonathan instinctively stepped back. Five years ago, when the cops dragged Leon away, he was a weak wreck. But now? He looked like a beast. What the hell happened to him?

“Stop right there, you bastard!”

Gregory stepped in to block Leon’s path. Verona, Roger, and Margot joined him, their eyes filled with hate.

“Out of my way,” Leon said coldly.

No yelling, just raw pressure packed into every syllable.

“You son of a bitch! How dare you show your face and ruin this important event! You broke out of prison, didn’t you?!” Margot yelled, hands on her hips.

“This is ridiculous! Where the hell are the police? How did this piece of filth get in here?! And what about hotel security? What are they even paid for?!” Verona ranted.

“Something’s definitely wrong. We need to call the cops,” Roger added.

Leon scanned each of their faces, one by one. Ignoring Gregory’s order, he kept moving forward. The sea of guests still parting for him without resistance.

“You piece of shit! You’re seriously trying to provoke us?!”

Gregory’s eyes bulged. He slipped a hand into his pants pocket.

“Fine! I’m calling the police!”

He brought his phone to his ear, but Leon didn’t flinch. He didn’t care.

The days of bowing to the Harringtons were over. He wouldn’t take their crap anymore.

“This scumbag has lost his damn mind,” Margot muttered, starting to worry.

Verona was furious. She sneered, clenched her fists, and stepped forward. As Leon got closer, she raised her right hand.

“Trash like you doesn’t belong here!” she screamed and tried to slap him.

Whap!

To everyone’s shock, Leon caught her hand mid-air and gripped it tight.

“Ow! My hand! Let go! Hey!”

He flung her hand aside like it was nothing, sending her stumbling to the floor. Margot and the others froze, stunned.

“I do have business with you all,” Leon said coldly. “But not now.”

Dimitri’s report about his family echoed in his mind. His cold stare now burned with fury.

“Step aside, or face the consequences.”

Did they step aside? No.

Margot rushed to help Verona up. Gregory growled and rolled up his sleeves, stepping forward.

“You really are garbage, Leon. You only pick on women. All those years in prison and you’re still the same scumbag,” he spat, planting himself in Verona’s spot, his eyes practically glowing with hate.

Leon tilted his chin up slightly. Gregory was taller, bulkier, with massive fists. But Leon didn’t blink. This bastard was the one who made the false report that got him locked up. Leon would never forgive him.

“You know,” Gregory sneered, “I just called the cops. I told them that a convicted rapist is here crashing an important party. They’ll be swarming this place soon. I’ve got no problem beating the hell out of you while we wait—if you’ve got the guts.”

“You challenging me to a fight?” Leon narrowed his eyes.

Gregory smirked. He raised his massive fists and slowly clenched them right in front of Leon’s face.

“You won’t last a single min—”

Thud!

Gregory suddenly doubled over and collapsed as Leon brushed past him.

Gasps rippled through the ballroom. No one saw what just happened.

Leon kept walking, passing Verona, Margot, and Roger—none of whom dared stop him now. An eerie silence filled the room.

Seeing Gregory get dropped without even realizing how, Jonathan’s fear exploded. He took another instinctive step back, face turning pale.

Leon locked eyes with him. Jonathan broke into a cold sweat. He could call in the goons his father stationed outside, but would they make it in time? Leon might beat him to a pulp before they even showed up.

Panicked, Jonathan glanced at Evelyn. Her eyes were frozen on Leon.

An idea hit him.

He jumped behind Evelyn and clamped his right hand around the front of her neck. His other arm yanked her body tight against his.

“Don’t move or she will get hurt!” he shouted, eyes wild as he stared down Leon.

Leon stared back, fists clenched, snorting in disgust.

Gasps erupted across the room. No one expected a proposal to turn into a hostage situation.

“L-Leon…” Evelyn choked out.

Leon’s expression shifted instantly. That cold rage softened into something else—grief, pain.

“Don’t worry, Eve. I’ve got this,” he said gently, before turning back to Jonathan.

Jonathan kept his grip tight. Evelyn was already struggling to breathe.

“I said don’t move! I swear I’ll hurt her!” Jonathan screamed.

Leon squinted, then slowly shook his head.

“You really are an idiot, Jonathan.”

“Shut up, you motherfucker! I’m gonna—”

Whoosh!

CRACK!

“AAAAAARGHHHHHH!”

Suddenly, Leon was behind Jonathan, holding his right hand which was now hanging broken.

...