REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

You’re Out of Your Damn Mind!

Evelyn staggered forward a few steps, coughing as she clutched her throat. When she turned around and lifted her face, she froze in shock. The same stunned expression spread across most of the ballroom.

“You used this fucking hand or fours to choke my wife,” Leon said, his voice cold and cutting. “You won’t be using it ever again.”

He shoved Jonathan aside like garbage. Jonathan collapsed to the floor, fell off the stage, and screamed in pain. His face turned red, tears streaming down.

“My hand… oh God… my hand!”

Leon glanced at him, not a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. This guy tried to steal his wife. He deserved worse.

“You’re out of your damn mind!” Margot barked, storming toward Jonathan and glaring daggers at Leon. “Do you even realize what the hell you just did?!”

She tried to calm the wailing Jonathan, fumbling with panic.

“You… are… fucking… insane!” Gregory growled, struggling to stand, his face twisted in pain.

“Roger, this guy is a damn criminal! Years in prison made him even worse! Do something!” Verona cried out, grabbing her husband’s arm.

Roger exhaled sharply and glared at Leon with pure hatred. He then stepped forward and pointed at Leon angrily.

“You bastard! You’ll pay for this, you hear me?!”

And Leon? He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look bothered. Instead, he turned toward his wife.

“Are you okay?” he asked her gently.

Evelyn didn’t respond right away. She looked dazed, confused. Then she slowly nodded.

“Let’s get out of here,” Leon said, gripping her hand and leading her down the stage.

“Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going?! Let her go!” Margot screamed behind them.

“Take your filthy hands off my daughter, you fucking scum!” Roger barked, stepping in front of them and staring at Leon like a mad bull. “You think you can do whatever the hell you want in front of me?!”

Leon stared at his father-in-law with cold contempt. He could’ve flattened this pudgy-faced man in an instant, but he didn’t want to hurt Evelyn further.

“Look, I’ve been holding back because you all are my wife's family. But push me any further, and I might not hold back next time,” Leon warned, his voice razor-sharp.

“You son of a bitch!”

Leon lifted his chin slightly and kept walking, guiding Evelyn, whose face was now painted with confusion and disbelief.

BANG!

“Stop! Or I’ll shoot!”

The gunshot ripped through the air, sending the ballroom into panic. Leon stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly, he turned his head.

Gregory was pointing a pistol at him, hands shaking.

“Didn’t you hear me, asshole?!” Gregory shouted. “Let go of my sister or I’ll blow your fucking head off!”

The whole room erupted into buzzing chaos.

On the floor, Jonathan kept howling in agony. Margot, panicking, finally pulled her phone from her purse and called an ambulance.

“Leon... maybe you should let go of my hand,” Evelyn whispered.

Leon shook his head. “I’m never letting go of your hand again, Eve. From this moment on, we’re together. Forever.”

He tightened his grip, eyes locked on Gregory.

“Don’t test me, Leon!” Gregory barked. His face was still contorted from the punch he took earlier.

Tension climbed. Another shot could be fired any second. And this time, someone might actually die.

“Leon…”

Evelyn was about to say more, until the sound of boots stomping filled the hall.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

A squad of police officers burst in, weapons drawn.

“EVERYONE FREEZE! NOBODY MOVE!” the lead officer shouted.

The buzzing crowd instantly quieted. Guests moved to the sides of the ballroom, clearing a path for the cops as they fanned out, scanning the room with their guns.

The lead officer locked eyes with Gregory and gave him a nod. Gregory lowered his weapon slightly and looked at Leon with a smug grin.

“You’re finished now,” he sneered. “You're going back to prison, you piece of shit.”

Leon’s cold stare moved from Gregory to the cops—especially the lead one. He recognized him.

The same crooked bastard who helped Gregory frame him five years ago.

“You! Hands in the air! Down on your knees!” the officer barked.

“What crime did I commit?” Leon asked, narrowing his eyes, then pointing at Gregory. “Shouldn’t you be arresting him? He fired a gun and endangered everyone here.”

“Bullshit!” Gregory snapped. “You’re the one who freaked everyone out!”

“Don’t listen to that trash, officer!” Margot chimed in. “He crashed our party and broke Jonathan Kerstel’s arm in front of everyone!”

The officer glanced toward the stage, then back at Leon.

“Is that true?” he demanded.

Leon didn’t answer. Evelyn, behind him, raised her hand—about to place it on his shoulder.

“I did it,” Leon said calmly. Evelyn froze mid-motion. “I broke that bastard’s arm.”

Gasps echoed around the room. All eyes were now fixed on Leon.

“Big talk, huh?” the officer said. “Were you also the one who took out the hotel security guards and those men in black suits out front?”

“I was,” Leon replied without hesitation.

Another wave of shocked murmurs. So before entering this ballroom, Leon had already taken down all the guards and Jonathan’s goons?

“Then you’re coming with us,” the officer growled. “Hands up! Down on your knees! NOW!”

Leon didn’t move.

More police aimed their weapons at him. If the order to shoot was given, would he survive the barrage?

“Let go of my daughter and do what the officer says, you poor, pathetic bastard!” Verona snapped.

“It’s over, you mangy dog,” Roger added. “Just give up and accept your fate. Hope you rot in prison this time!”

Leon heard them clearly. But he ignored their words completely. His eyes remained fixed on the lead cop—calm, defiant.

“I said hands up! On your knees!” the officer yelled again.

Leon raised his chin slightly.

“Five years ago, I let you drag me to prison. I thought the justice system would clear my name—because I was innocent. But I was wrong. That won’t happen again.”

Silence. Shock. Even the officers froze, caught off guard by Leon's boldness.

“You son of a bitch!” the cop snarled. “You dare defy law enforcement?! You asked for this!”

He motioned to the others. The cops to his left and right closed in, fingers tightening on triggers.

“Leon, what do we do now?” Evelyn clutched his shoulder, clearly panicking.

Leon didn’t answer. His mind was already calculating a way out.

At that very moment…

“Whatever it is you're about to do, officer, I suggest you stop—before you regret it.”

Everyone in the ballroom, including some of the cops, turned toward the doorway.

There stood a tall, broad-shouldered man in a black coat. In his right hand, he held a phone.

...