REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

Don't Lie To Me! Tell Me The Truth!

"Understood, sir," Kevin said, lowering the hand holding his pistol. He then announced loudly, "Mission aborted. Get back to the car!"

The officers who were surrounding Leon looked confused. But of course, they obeyed the order. They all stopped pointing their guns at Leon and began moving toward the ballroom entrance.

Seeing this, Gregory frowned. He had been annoyed that Kevin and the police he brought hadn't arrested Leon yet. And now, these cops were actually planning to leave without doing it.

"I don't know what's going on, but I'll see you around," Kevin said, giving Leon a cold look. Leon responded with a smirk. Kevin then turned around, following the officers who had already exited the ballroom.

"Wait, officer! Why are you leaving? Why aren't you arresting this criminal troublemaker? Besides, isn't it weird that he's suddenly free when he should be serving a decade-plus sentence?"

Gregory stepped forward and launched his protest. Kevin's steps stopped. He turned his body slightly and looked at Gregory.

"This is a direct order from our commander. As police officers, we are trained to obey orders," Kevin said.

Gregory gasped, not understanding what Kevin was saying. But Kevin didn't care. He continued walking, exiting the ballroom. The room quickly became noisy, filled with the hushed guesses of the guests trying to figure out what was really going on.

"I can't believe this. They just leave," Gregory muttered, placing a hand on his forehead, then looking at the other members of The Harrington family.

Like him, they were just as confused. The only person who didn't look confused was Leon.

"Let's go," Leon said, pulling Evelyn's hand and stepping forward.

Evelyn blinked as if she had just snapped out of hypnosis. She then just gave in as Leon led her toward the ballroom door.

"Hey! Where the hell do you think you are going? You can't just take my daughter away, you asshole!!" Verona screamed.

Evelyn turned to look at Verona, but Leon ignored her completely and kept pulling her toward the door.

"My wife is right. Don't you dare to take our daughter with you, or we will hunt you down and punish your mother and your sister!!" Roger shouted.

This time, Leon's steps stopped. They were almost at the threshold. Leon rotated his body ninety degrees and leveled a sharp, cold glare at his in-laws.

"If you try to harm my family, I swear I will destroy everything you own," he said loudly.

An odd silence filled the room. All eyes were on Leon and Evelyn, who stood near the doorway.

A moment later, Leon resumed his steps. The two of them exited the ballroom, disappearing from the sight of The Harrington family and the guests.

"Roger, what now? Is the engagement party canceled?" Margot asked, still squatting next to Jonathan.

Roger and Verona turned to look at her. So did Gregory. Their faces were all grim. Their eyes were no longer sparkling as they had been.

"Roger?" Margot pressed.

Hands on his hips, Roger tilted his head up and sighed deeply. "We have no choice but to postpone it for now," he said, dispiritedly.

For him, this was a profoundly humiliating moment. And he blamed Leon. The historic engagement that would have brought his ambition to cement The Harrington family with The Kerstel family closer was ruined because Leon suddenly showed up and acted out.

"Dad, we can't just sit still. We need to show that bastard who he's messing with," Gregory said, approaching Roger and Verona.

Roger looked at him angrily, speaking in a sharp tone, "Don't just pressure me to do this and that. Do you have an idea yourself?"

Gregory froze and swallowed. Then he said, "I think I can send some gangsters to Leon's family house. I bet he's taking Evelyn there."

"That's a good idea, Roger. I think we should try it," Verona said.

Roger looked at Margot. Margot nodded.

"Okay. Then we'll do that," Roger said, turning back to Gregory. "But remember, make sure they don't hurt your sister. As for that bastard Leon and his family, I don't care. You can order those gangsters to beat them to a pulp if you want."

"Okay, Dad. Got it," Gregory replied. He then pulled out his phone, calling the gangster he knew.

...

Leon and Evelyn had just exited The Vellington's main lobby. In front of the lobby, a black sedan that Dimitri used to drop Leon off was parked. Dimitri himself was no longer at The Vellington. Leon had asked him to go to his family's house, discreetly checking on his mother and sister's latest condition and situation.

Leon invited Evelyn down the steps, heading toward the black sedan. Suddenly, Evelyn stopped walking and pulled her hand back.

Leon turned and rotated his body, looking at Evelyn with a question in his eyes.

"What is it, Eve?"

"Are you really Leon?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm Leon. Your husband. Now let's go."

Leon tried to reach for Evelyn's hand, but Evelyn pulled her hand behind her back. Leon frowned.

"I'm not going anywhere," Evelyn said, looking at Leon seriously.

"What? What do you mean, Eve? That stupid engagement is definitely canceled. There's no reason for you to still be here."

Leon tried to reach for Evelyn's other hand, but it ended the same way.

"I'm not going with you until you explain to me what's really going on. Did you escape from prison?" Evelyn asked, emotionally.

Leon sighed. He forced a smile. Gently, he placed both hands on Evelyn's shoulders.

"Did I escape from prison? No, Eve. I was released because I was a good boy for five years," Leon said, widening his smile.

But Evelyn pushed Leon's hands off her shoulders, saying even more emotionally, "Don't lie to me, Leon! I'm your wife. Tell me the truth!"

Leon looked at his wife in silence. Should he tell her the truth? No way. He was determined to hide his true identity, burying deep anything related to The Nocturn, and that was for Evelyn's own safety and their agreement.

"Tell me the truth, Leon. What really happened that you could suddenly be here?" Evelyn pressed.

Leon smiled again. Then, calmly, he said,

"I'll tell you the truth... at the right moment. For now, I need you to trust me. I came back to this city to pay for the unpleasant years you went through without me. From this moment on, I'll make you happy. I promise."

Evelyn stared deep into Leon's eyes, as if trying to tear down the walls inside them.

Leon took a slightly longer breath. He was worried, concerned Evelyn truly wouldn't go with him. And if that were the case, should he force her into the car?

"Okay. I trust you... for now," Evelyn said, making Leon breathe a sigh of relief. "But you really have to explain everything to me when the time comes. Okay?"

"Sure. I'll explain everything to you, from A to Z, when the time comes," Leon said, smiling broadly.

Evelyn kept staring into Leon's eyes, but this time she looked a bit more relaxed. Leon tried to take Evelyn's hand again. This time there was no resistance from Evelyn. He then led his wife into the black sedan.

"Where are we going?" Evelyn asked after buckling her seatbelt.

"We're going to my family's house. I haven't seen Rose and Mom in a long time," he replied.

Evelyn didn't respond, just nodding.

Leon had just started the car when the phone in his pocket rang loudly. He checked it. It was a call from Dimitri.

"What?"

[Sir,there are some suspicious people gathering not far from your family’s house. It looks like they intend to force their way into the yard. Some of them are carrying baseball bats.]

Leon's face tightened. "Do you recognize them?"

[No, sir. Probably local gangsters. Should I get rid of them?]

"Just keep an eye on them for now. I'm heading there right away."

[Copy that.]

Leon put his phone back in his pocket, released the handbrake, and sped off in a hurry.

"What's wrong?" Evelyn asked.

"Rose and Mom are in danger. We need to get there fast," Leon replied.

...