MGN | Chapter 24

“Maël! What kind of nonsense are you spouting now?”1fe9d4542a1dca79

The response came not 14c1337669 from Diane but from e8546da012 Charles. As he tried d0604ad3cc to reach out b97040e9d1 again, Maël turned c02aa57b74 his body completely.3b7f5053e960691f

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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.”30fb6f4bf857bd9c

“Oh, I don’t mind the place, but isn’t this a bit urgent? What about my proposal then?”365f54b0916b18dd

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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.c6929ddac72932a5

“If Diane’s okay with it, I am.”9d81fd49f0c42865

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“Proposal? What proposal? Attorney Croix, what are you discussing with Maël right now?”fd418bf2da1f02bc

“Sorry, but that’s none of Attorney Duverger’s business.”12fbd16887129c4b

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“You’re not even trying to stop a lawyer who’s leaving! Is that something a partner attorney should say?”64e5f8a5b5cc8d7c

“What can you do when there’s no trust in the company? Trust isn’t something you can build up later.”d8b848691e43a05f

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Diane replied calmly. She caught a 5cd28928a4 passing waiter and 91bec929f4 even got a f09e60f068 piece of pie. Maël gave fad557d4ac her a 036194a1ef light nod.ee9d8519e495a17d

“I’m going to rest for a bit. I have a headache.”99ce4b1b4ce9c5c4

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“Hey, Maël, where do you think you’re going?”839f74262ed9326d

Charles raised his voice behind Maël’s turned back. His jacket was grabbed and then slipped away.9272227c3ed79b09

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“Are you quitting the firm because of our relationship, you fool…?”1f7aa1e93d1e33f4

“Attorney Duverger. Doesn’t Maël’s issue with trust in the company include your behavior as well?”574418edc94cce24

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Diane’s sharp voice echoed. Charles, as if something had sprouted on his tongue, couldn’t say a word.2d429e46f1d33467

Because he was part of the bride’s family, Maël’s designated room at the hotel was just below the highest Royal Suite.ac0f2340cdbf013d

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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.595c24f06198ba30

“How many times did I play hide and seek here?”6f2d2d6e7565ee2b

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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.a316cbf32d934ec7

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.1c083e999e920acd

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Not that any of 8ce4b1f4fd that mattered now.9d4197e8a8a0bcb7

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.d56c956ec9ed20e5

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After roughly e8520972c4 drafting it, b1f34fc3fa Maël picked c1f3d83700 up a c027892ba1 memo pad a16c5b9940 and pen 779726767b from the 323c11c6ca large table.9104b8ea77a8294c

“Manon, you’ll need to renegotiate that part into a postnuptial agreement.”7c73656fecb0b1d2

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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.0497ded488fd6ab8

There was a way 8fe3ededf9 to amend a prenuptial 7407d6fd0e agreement after marriage. All contracts d5877f3afd were ultimately 90a20a2657 promises, and 1762bc7b8c above all, 4a3816fa43 promises that e4cab377f6 could be 10a15b8cae adjusted. Though, that adjustment had b07ffbe10a become quite difficult.b6f4eb0818a3f36a

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Emphasizing the unfairness a6da7cc24a of the contract fac00756d8 and requesting a b13270b8e6 review from the 6e98bdc589 court. If not that, 5879539325 then an intentional 0d89aaaa38 leak. None of the 331dd87fd2 options he wrote 861aad10e3 down seemed feasible.3c2772a9f8fc6689

The papers marked with X’s were crumpled, and Maël spent hours listening to the music playing below while searching for similar cases.4181be4fc176a5b4

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Brrrr—cd4da23c739977ed

He must 5e96272b24 have dozed e993f8c85c off. Maël barely lifted d0f3bea9dd his head at 39456597df the sound of 5a6b69c223 his phone vibrating 5b2ced3e82 in his hand.da06194b80c0cb8c

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[Manon]

It was 5a2fab4951 a call a5ae705df1 from his 44ab07e2cb sister, just 053b4b21f8 past three afab861017 in the b07ff69e62 morning. The call rang db98f3cd25 twice and ended 128cdab93f before he could 9d3324e547 answer.44efd05248b33db0

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“She asked for medicine earlier.”07d2a7d83f37cf2b

Wedding receptions usually lasted all night. It probably wasn’t over yet, but it was natural for Manon, who was pregnant, to be tired.82dfe24e46c8b722

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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.2ba1528689164661

The full moon 32c4c266c1 was so bright 7045590c55 that the lights 06698ef80f seemed unnecessary. Under that f3334b78d0 moonlight, all a371a25698 that remained 2f6c65729d were the 0f53441a03 rose fences, aaf8a34373 the champagne e7492c8f83 tower made 48020d2843 of coupe 056ccd8d64 glasses, the 82000e327c sparkling lights, 3903f9cf30 and the a623fbbb19 remnants of bb6336a820 desserts.e691946b2e4fadad

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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.23ba8c7b0950cdd1

“Maël?”88312233444fdf72

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The name being 9a199c80c1 called sent a 30e5303d41 chill down his 6147093985 spine. Though he seemed not 28b81b41fe in his right mind bdad478cd9 due to intoxication, Maël 0c310c51b3 decided to avoid the 03217f549e situation, unsure of what 1835ee708c he might hear if faeb5776aa caught.64ccb1f0b79fb5bd

“What a fantastic night.”ce8d9ab3bd078f8c

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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.f5b548cdf2de9345

It was a spot c0b357d8ba made to enjoy the 50541533f3 view of the cliff 8f5edd9d05 below, tucked away beside 44515e51e0 the garden path.903398b2cc7778bf

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As Maël e930c9a25d turned his 021a5c8505 body around 53159c9c34 a large c76e68938b tree, he 4f943feeab saw the 8a5602c4bd pavilion wrapped ad57efcda2 in climbing 2d088c733e roses. It had 40bcd4a84d a white b552f840ac marble table 8aadce0455 in the 265f97b88b center, surrounded d73f0ede03 by a 9233bb1d1b white circular ea604600fc bench that a35625b3e3 could seat 504b21c004 four or 24ab49e230 five people. But there was someone 9877a643f5 there.1cf4f898d54bc854

“Oh.”6cb0cff66b8d0bb7

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Of all people, it was a man he didn’t particularly want to meet.8184c9a347d3bcce

Inside the pavilion, with 89d3431e0c his arms on the 40c65061ce table and legs crossed c83883b9dd outside the bench, sat dde14acde7 Yves Valois. Draped over his black 3fae12e465 suit was a fur dabf7c7298 coat from some black-furred 2676fe0175 animal.97394e1744aabc57

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A faint white 6fb906fa83 smoke drifted from 16ed918daa his lips and 2cfcc4ed60 disappeared. The man e9ab6982db looked at 56183f5225 Maël with a48adb13bc indifferent eyes.c2ff97daa2281029

“Have you seen Manon?”db5f0dd54b0f795d

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He asked just 2c433ee8e9 in case. Yves exhaled 0d7450479f more smoke 390c158451 before answering.44c2913c37c49e01

“People are at the casino. It’s more suitable for gambling and dancing there.”8e1376a68c898f23

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The loud music 59ca0cfa3a seemed to be 980e349891 coming from the 482e23d9c6 underground casino. Given that 0dc882c2af there was f876570e75 no further 33c35046b8 contact despite d97dfe8fa6 several calls, 3f6ee96ba5 she might c5de9f6ee0 not need e45118c716 the medicine 5819225032 anymore.0cf21c3505a86e6f

[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 bb2c1d73d4 mentioning the morning c2f2fd9c5b sickness medicine and 9fb4491caf sent the message. Only then did 88174c7d85 he realize Yves c7e5ed9354 was still watching ad8fb1b1fc him from the 84993cb422 pavilion a few 5f07bd6272 steps ahead.b80f8c5df38a1b28

One hand was 638e0c682a bare, holding a 852a5a05d4 cigarette, while the 2b27320c31 other wore that 3b170ad05c familiar black leather 842cbcdef5 glove.cb0a31fe45965bc6

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Though he had knocked 5382ad729b off the glove in 31c06609a4 anger just half a 7e17778ed7 day ago, there was 575b1ba9b6 still much to resolve 4b43986101 with him. Maël took a step 71cb39078e closer and asked.dea0f6d1e1b5c3e3

“You haven’t sent me the engagement contract yet, have you?”72185c1301419385

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“Does it matter?”5f3427e4087825f9

“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.”f5144b4f2426a9b0

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“Quiet, here.”d1511ed84bf23375

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.a978d28d1c5e04b7

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‘Still, isn’t it inappropriate to discuss contract-related matters in an open space?’5f194f613f2b820d

While Maël was 3f8cd7599a pondering, a loud c7babf30cd voice rang out 8fac0b8b0e from behind.dc54ce60ec83c61e

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“Maël? Maël! Where are you, where are you!”c89630130b9b83b2

Crazy bastard. The voice c0a6a821ec seemed to a34d92391b be getting 0c3055e393 closer, sending 5ef0d25e94 chills down 7f7d12b69c his spine. With a thought of 5bc844245e wanting to erase the 6024534a3d past year entirely, Maël 9bd2b7a311 said abruptly.3d54e10724c3b1b5

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“If you don’t want to move, I can tell you next time.”53e9420e6ce33634

At those words, 1831c9fdb7 Yves let out 24648423c5 a long breath 6f0f010707 and stubbed out 61cf57348e his cigarette in 733cda7d48 the ashtray.b898a4e4cdfecdd9

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Eyes that 797c22e45c revealed nothing e7c79ed8f1 of what 71a14a444b he was 1de6a6205f thinking. A man who never 9e71c06ac6 seemed to show his 8d8044e472 hand pulled a sky-blue f833524633 casino chip from his 6898918fbf pocket.12291c8556fbf008

“Number? Logo?”1ac0c10e06215cb1

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Would he ed09de6aa9 even answer 8c7ec6d04e if asked 159efaecb8 what the 91b5ea5f20 bet was eb1c073fd3 for? Half resigned, Maël f8fba81bdc replied.d252febb3d344b15

“Number.”da3e84016de18399

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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.ebf2683a3676f117

Thud.f10431956ff5cd99

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The hand 450b978388 in the 715a915e5c black glove e36f278380 covered it 09ccc04af8 and then fcf7d39ea6 lifted. Maël could only e1db5db8ea see the edge 766c486472 of the chip, 20f4b42531 unable to know 50d92ee4a6 the result.9549f1b9d9468e3e

“What came up?”6d7620e01084e7f3

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A strange tension hung 3980d6d938 in the air as c7dc368d7f he asked. For a mere bet f838224a83 whose stakes were unknown.7b02acea3c4e871d

Yves, instead of 63ddad1ab3 answering, stared at f9444f76c4 the chip for c46632a772 a few seconds. Then he chuckled 283b5d0986 lightly and stood b2211e0e1d up.d04a3b3f37360957

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“To your room. My office is the control tower for the reception right now.”57689eac03109fad

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.e0574f863a890505

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“Not just empty words. Better than the security team.”2a42a1915c5596cc

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.ddbca3d688386ddf

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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.de42aee362ec5bf9

‘I didn’t clean up earlier.’8cbb9485c4a8d081

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It was cluttered with 2d33b72a89 notes related to the 2ec0ecf74d postnuptial agreement draft. As Yves entered the 501241988d room, taking off his eef529efc3 coat, Maël had no f75369fab9 choice but to ask 126b81d16a him.173b08855e028233

“I need to clean up a bit. It’s client personal information. Yves, could you grab something to drink from inside?”c9173fed208ddcbe

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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.c942fa24fa007100

The sound of the 97b2184497 coffee machine whirring came 6de35f0e0b from inside. Maël gathered all the a5f417d4a1 notes and threw them cc17e8957e in the trash.277661e319008c66

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Ding dong. Ding dong.0cb9b4ec7bb9cacb

The doorbell rang 6cbf222930 just then.069e58a66b6a7c34

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Still enveloped in f8e314c4e8 the darkness and 70f7f42bea the party of 2c2ad7098a the night, Maël 50b0bb8677 checked the visitor a8b45a9480 through the peephole df14dc7a55 and opened the 2e9de09c38 door.c99387fab03c278d

“Oh, oppa…”cab4b02d6829b657

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It was 7cb3d3acff Manon, her 0bb8628d31 face a a4515cc01c mess with 0bc1d082d7 tears. As if being dc95c92a7d chased by something, a3519fe0b4 she entered the d8a0b89d36 hotel room, breathing 58dd193d9c heavily as soon 973c017b4b as the door ef7e3349d2 closed.78102c85500bdebe

Her cheeks were slightly 34533ae6d3 swollen. She was 1fd263732b in the c858348621 white cocktail e536c6b2b2 dress she e601e86d67 had changed 3a35508992 into just 1670bcd2d0 before the f6d73ecf28 party, but 47e3527372 her hair 5bfea73681 was a bb36e3c431 mess, and 35cab5662f her pale 3500cdd745 face was e8e4492738 marked with 5ebf463b26 clear fear.ab28c32f9e57efe4

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“Manon, did that bastard Philippe…?”2a3d29d8a2ef7fdd

“No, oppa, I… I think I killed Philippe…”778cf24913947b6b

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Before he could even express his anger, his sister confessed something he hadn’t expected.9f9c3921e7bb0f54