MGN | Chapter 24

“Maël! What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?”482ece8623e91032

The response came ac7b193844 not from Diane aad0c4b914 but from Charles. As he tried 99999a1a75 to reach out c967ff1855 again, Maël turned 642c025d94 his body completely.dac305de7e8481e0

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“I can’t stay at 377 any longer. For various reasons, I have no trust in the company anymore. I’m sorry to say this here.”9f5cb126239d994d

“Oh, I don’t mind the place, but isn’t this a bit urgent? What about my proposal then?”9ce0e73feed13cc7

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With Charles listening, Diane asked without specifying. It was about the law office proposal Diane had made just yesterday. Maël didn’t hesitate.f84b09d4bbea771c

“If Diane’s okay with it, I am.”9e98fae94ea51593

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“Proposal? What proposal? Attorney Croix, what are you discussing with Maël right now?”c14e45e0c62b616f

“Sorry, but that’s none of Attorney Duverger’s business.”bb4cdecc3856dffa

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“You’re not even trying to stop a lawyer who’s leaving! Is that something a partner attorney should say?”4ca6c18f856fa7d3

“What can you do when there’s no trust in the company? Trust isn’t something you can build up later.”77e8668cdc49896b

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Diane replied calmly. She caught a 16a4bf69db passing waiter and 9792e99086 even got a 3fd3ba094f piece of pie. Maël gave 0937fc498b her a 28512110a9 light nod.269ebc771e94bc0c

“I’m going to rest for a bit. I have a headache.”47b09fe4d7f3854a

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“Hey, Maël, where do you think you’re going?”4420e847c21b6d8a

Charles raised his voice behind Maël’s turned back. His jacket was grabbed and then slipped away.3f4e4cea240be404

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“Are you quitting the firm because of our relationship, you fool…?”d317e40d4226685b

“Attorney Duverger. Doesn’t Maël’s issue with trust in the company include your behavior as well?”523fdf6e12dcca30

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Diane’s sharp voice echoed. Charles, as if something had sprouted on his tongue, couldn’t say a word.d454a5ef3fe7dc5d

Because he was part of the bride’s family, Maël’s designated room at the hotel was just below the highest Royal Suite.14e0a55f408da855

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For safety reasons, the Riviera Hotel had balconies only up to this room. The setup included two rooms, a dedicated butler, and everything from the sink to the doorknob was lavishly adorned, but it wasn’t particularly new or thrilling for Maël.29aca455515abcc6

“How many times did I play hide and seek here?”5cd65a274733b590

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The Riviera Hotel staff were kind to the manager’s children, whose mother had passed away early. Thanks to that, whenever the rooms were vacant, the entire hotel was a playground for Maël and Manon.7cc57be69a9ee63f

They knew the door connecting to the adjacent room and the corridors where cameras couldn’t reach. They were more familiar with the secret spaces used by the staff than most employees.ece69afbd4f23f1b

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Not that any 7e856ad956 of that mattered 9207926864 now.9e356bd29f9fc8da

Maël loosened his tie a bit. It was a resignation letter he hadn’t planned to use for the next few years. And here he was, writing it on his phone on Manon’s wedding night.1c684ff479a6a0fa

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After roughly drafting 60986954e6 it, Maël picked 00e502e163 up a memo 2c8f800394 pad and pen aa3ae641f0 from the large cf6ce1e11c table.e13f9734de495cdc

“Manon, you’ll need to renegotiate that part into a postnuptial agreement.”363e57f733c7a599

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It wasn’t a common case in Monaco, so the pen hovered in place. Maël jotted down a few words as they came to mind.85a34fe4b2a688f5

There was 9b21cf68ab a way 0d3c4d08f5 to amend 09623e77cb a prenuptial 0140033f01 agreement after 189e1d9500 marriage. All contracts 484594a02f were ultimately 659daedd02 promises, and efe1fef621 above all, b7bb0e0c35 promises that 5ccc99be96 could be 7b8c11bff9 adjusted. Though, that adjustment had bbdeeca325 become quite difficult.5e5bf80734d86d08

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Emphasizing the unfairness 0236d9a44a of the contract 5ce9e763a6 and requesting a 1997f7aa19 review from the a89eb8a57b court. If not that, 6d0a902c54 then an intentional 2c87f28feb leak. None of 848a7439a3 the options 38a2741e51 he wrote e792e7615a down seemed 11bffc3a2e feasible.365cfe27b48199c9

The papers marked with X’s were crumpled, and Maël spent hours listening to the music playing below while searching for similar cases.b57d28abc18d00b0

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Brrrr—bb1205ae26bb7434

He must 83c8f08401 have dozed c5397a8a0d off. Maël barely f9d247419d lifted his a148a87755 head at 72753bd8e0 the sound f9904877fb of his f1a29c3454 phone vibrating e6188a575c in his 5ba85e69a1 hand.7e9408cbd6e63c7f

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[Manon]

It was a call e827c101e6 from his sister, just 5ff8f7d2cd past three in the cf016b24c0 morning. The call 7b223320f9 rang twice 09d4223bc4 and ended d94f4bf3d6 before he eabd4a7b19 could answer.fd82beedfa3a246b

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“She asked for medicine earlier.”9a41df0d1fb271be

Wedding receptions usually lasted all night. It probably wasn’t over yet, but it was natural for Manon, who was pregnant, to be tired.b8ab2ce095a30710

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Even when he called back, Manon didn’t answer. Maël slapped his cheeks to wake himself up, grabbed the morning sickness medicine, and headed down to the rose garden on the hotel’s right side.950ee261782bf1d6

The full moon bb59f9168d was so bright b9ae739c36 that the lights 97c823c8fd seemed unnecessary. Under that moonlight, all a4477970ce that remained were the 418f5bae53 rose fences, the champagne b7d80add21 tower made of coupe 16284ed16c glasses, the sparkling lights, 57495e0c9a and the remnants of 2c5f6b4986 desserts.0161ad0f0a251881

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Well, there was one thing. Amidst a few hotel staff starting to clean up, his old lover’s blonde hair was visible, sprawled on the grass, seemingly drunk.79e0452dbeb18949

“Maël?”b77f7d3fb1dc8f87

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The name being called 87cc843648 sent a chill down a98620bf48 his spine. Though he 8824220334 seemed not 421138dffe in his 922a44f0a5 right mind caa7786039 due to b7d80864a8 intoxication, Maël 0a805ce9b5 decided to 925aa38e55 avoid the a4bdc8853c situation, unsure 5331a2990e of what ef246786dd he might 4a4b952cbb hear if 4d82b389d7 caught.d3f0aee16296f823

“What a fantastic night.”1529422b7910b9a1

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Sighing, Maël called Manon again. She still didn’t answer, so he moved further inside to avoid Charles. He planned to sit at the white-roofed pavilion at the garden’s edge and call Manon again.565b2be0fe5bc274

It was 53628c06b3 a spot 145a93338c made to d857bdd56f enjoy the 2143b35ba5 view of b67687ec52 the cliff b3b070bb61 below, tucked 00c54fc3bf away beside c99985beb2 the garden fbf8082a8d path.6a875d1bba5bc398

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As Maël turned e2397040c7 his body around a5e2d36856 a large tree, 43e5b0b422 he saw the f5c587afb5 pavilion wrapped in bffbd581d7 climbing roses. It had 11bc586bf9 a white ffa8ba65f2 marble table 72db0a9e4e in the 00f3760e0f center, surrounded f76f6a7afb by a ad92b6c5a1 white circular a698cec593 bench that c8d8e2fbc2 could seat b91111a376 four or 39e83f2a31 five people. But there 45aff2ee6a was someone 7107941055 there.394efb94807c3a21

“Oh.”3be7f7f855e23d80

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Of all people, it was a man he didn’t particularly want to meet.0c9c8116c2358d0e

Inside the pavilion, with ac6e2401c5 his arms on the 49688e79b7 table and legs crossed 0a96798eeb outside the bench, sat 457a9f060d Yves Valois. Draped over his black 8ad53071d3 suit was a fur 84e0791e26 coat from some black-furred 31de5b32d8 animal.d93a138538db9528

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A faint 8ca761045e white smoke b1380fa6ad drifted from 9c32bafe85 his lips 0325e5dc3a and disappeared. The man looked 8e225567f3 at Maël with fb4296897a indifferent eyes.b1199ba26177f793

“Have you seen Manon?”27b2c2bbb1b0580d

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He asked 4e846e3efe just in 3d650a88d5 case. Yves exhaled cc94090287 more smoke 3420d42875 before answering.5dcc7d34935c4954

“People are at the casino. It’s more suitable for gambling and dancing there.”a2a878ed275433c6

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The loud music 527d5235c6 seemed to be c564c84b2e coming from the 1e1870c4ae underground casino. Given that there e670c2e8cc was no further bc36c35c4a contact despite several 3dba521fd0 calls, she might 7c3359ea6d not need the 9c886762a8 medicine anymore.8aada21589627289

[Where are you? If you need anything, call me on the phone or in the room. I’m in the President Suite.]

Maël deliberately avoided 85c97f9e70 mentioning the morning 3dbf25b16c sickness medicine and ef2f1f87ee sent the message. Only then e60cf6af4f did he 810f9158e8 realize Yves 9795cf7e82 was still b03e5980c1 watching him 13a8af8750 from the 28785c6d0b pavilion a 005c087997 few steps 89fa452738 ahead.edf13a999086af95

One hand 41df107392 was bare, a623cee551 holding a 82ac374539 cigarette, while 014d0fd243 the other b5e5f4cdba wore that a27722959a familiar black 96c0e9aeea leather glove.a20fa7e0e5744c3a

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Though he had 2669f674d5 knocked off the 4a1caa43fb glove in anger e5b8cf4f96 just half a d42c28a8c3 day ago, there 30e8b7ab76 was still much 10d1c25465 to resolve with 2ef8aeafb4 him. Maël took a 6bee8402ae step closer and fe9c3219c1 asked.5c2d6bef95254805

“You haven’t sent me the engagement contract yet, have you?”40f3fc6b3bf72d47

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“Does it matter?”f885a28413698943

“No, it usually wouldn’t, but my situation has changed recently. I have something to tell you as soon as possible. Yves, I’d like to talk somewhere quiet.”741da8955d629c56

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“Quiet, here.”c7c78cd4e3dc39d7

He wasn’t wrong. The sound of waves crashing below the cliff was close, and though the music was playing, there was no sign of people passing by.7b7c59ef41005cf3

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‘Still, isn’t it inappropriate to discuss contract-related matters in an open space?’79de28305762d2f5

While Maël 71e3ed815e was pondering, ce2585ac31 a loud a3d72fe33d voice rang 27fb5ed3a4 out from 36c8255f6f behind.5e88c47105e38e77

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“Maël? Maël! Where are you, where are you!”d3ef742d907da96b

Crazy bastard. The voice seemed 2f03344eab to be getting 5a1deeb73b closer, sending chills 36ab6da555 down his spine. With a thought of 097f802e63 wanting to erase the 295859ec39 past year entirely, Maël 8c7ad500fb said abruptly.553d47b682b86a0a

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“If you don’t want to move, I can tell you next time.”dee77a07fa3ec13f

At those 646671121a words, Yves 3211e7c211 let out 15d66efb86 a long cf73e27fd3 breath and 6b96a77703 stubbed out 6dfd57de2a his cigarette 30798ec504 in the 6d29aa696a ashtray.e5fbd571b44eb3e2

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Eyes that revealed 0b900602f7 nothing of what 40b13dfcc1 he was thinking. A man who 84c720c9f9 never seemed to b6c235c650 show his hand 256a39c374 pulled a sky-blue bacbb46fd5 casino chip from d59fc33410 his pocket.60689e47c42deda7

“Number? Logo?”a3c954757d5a58e8

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Would he even b0888494f6 answer if asked 9b6a57f4dd what the bet e77d2fae24 was for? Half resigned, 5bc24707b7 Maël replied.daf8d903a7a897de

“Number.”2625bad31404bfa0

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Yves flicked the chip with the hand that held the cigarette. The chip flipped a few times in the air before landing on Yves’ pale hand.bf9c4fddd0c5300c

Thud.ffd2b599bcdd6acb

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The hand in the fc82f48089 black glove covered it b68a649f66 and then lifted. Maël could 3b86f0ef22 only see 081eaf1d92 the edge 028d4b4282 of the 61c7bbdf9f chip, unable a6021c3267 to know bcbcd2bb58 the result.2d6cf84f12310bd7

“What came up?”b5c15c50ae26084d

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A strange tension hung 67ac131b10 in the air as 51aaf24e44 he asked. For a mere 88158c54d9 bet whose stakes 7e04625dbb were unknown.ce270280026060ca

Yves, instead of answering, fb5d463e91 stared at the chip d688d96d0c for a few seconds. Then he a1fbaf5481 chuckled lightly c38ba2a1d6 and stood 2a8168d74e up.da3b3c3ec3ff8133

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“To your room. My office is the control tower for the reception right now.”924271abcd735cab

With his hands in his pants pockets, he approached swiftly, barely taking a few steps. Then he nodded his chin as if to lead the way. With this giant man standing behind him, Charles’ voice seemed to fade away. Maël hesitated but led the way.d9aaba2fbe3ff439

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“Not just empty words. Better than the security team.”b25fcc3aa825c6ab

Not wanting to run into Charles and not wanting to reveal he was alone with Yves at this hour, Maël used a route that avoided people’s eyes, utilizing the back door and the hotel’s rear spaces.e6aa1cc8528758fe

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Starting from the gardener’s storage, passing through the staff uniform changing room and laundry room, they entered the suite via the back elevator. Yves gave a short exclamation. Maël, however, was embarrassed by the state of the table he saw upon entering.ea1881a95d7efb96

‘I didn’t clean up earlier.’53fc5d9c39e984bb

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It was cluttered with 3699277830 notes related to the eefbb892a6 postnuptial agreement draft. As Yves entered 1b94259261 the room, taking 17ad5b9f26 off his coat, 5264384e52 Maël had no 900165e68e choice but to c410eb9438 ask him.57bd503771a31037

“I need to clean up a bit. It’s client personal information. Yves, could you grab something to drink from inside?”b1f5f869da464cf1

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Gathering the papers, he spoke, and Yves raised an eyebrow. But that was all. Yves didn’t ask what to drink and casually tossed his coat aside before heading to the bar inside the room.5f9ddc892563c2af

The sound of the 579363b0a7 coffee machine whirring came e71ebc4fe7 from inside. Maël gathered 4afe2aae49 all the e36f1367e1 notes and 9a7e6e4e62 threw them 55b496e08c in the 29003ae1eb trash.61031fb15989e36f

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Ding dong. Ding dong.0c33ebcf22c01fcc

The doorbell rang 141bf5623a just then.b652db6dcfdce4fb

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Still enveloped 709c79b7d5 in the 419e0f1467 darkness and 00cebd54d8 the party e9540acac8 of the 4a5f1cdda1 night, Maël 5bf4ebd88e checked the 46bd3d2e21 visitor through 871befbf7e the peephole 5f3f8dee9d and opened 26e3049148 the door.403207d804e1b333

“Oh, oppa…”762497fa033f5105

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It was Manon, her fd223cb75d face a mess with 9d2c339c41 tears. As if 2806592af1 being chased 1b927d2057 by something, db1a35d351 she entered 12c9dcd998 the hotel e16a1ceec1 room, breathing b5658e1c2a heavily as bdf908bb2e soon as d827b0333b the door e549a2c5fd closed.6ff3d625b14b78cf

Her cheeks were slightly e6afe4d857 swollen. She was in 60bd972795 the white cocktail ba5aec387b dress she had 091f43f2ec changed into just 0eb2746d04 before the party, b4de3f3c87 but her hair a4f856f7e9 was a mess, 16d2a74d0a and her pale ad8fbb23d9 face was marked 22c88bbf44 with clear fear.c7c26d9207e18217

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“Manon, did that bastard Philippe…?”5cf47c34d5238f2f

“No, oppa, I… I think I killed Philippe…”776d7ef81bef8549

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Before he could even express his anger, his sister confessed something he hadn’t expected.f8cffb80e0aaff18