MGN | Chapter 13

A wrinkled hand briefly touched Maël’s jacket and then withdrew.be8e21826070673d

“Lawyer Montmatier.”47b599b65240701c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Oh, hello, e8d94d7285 Lawyer Bernardi.”402f707b7a369ebe

“What brings you 687ff3e83d to invite me 1e1ba0b11a for a meal 18945b1f6d at a place 6152977d09 like this? Getting a b03cd80680 reservation at bdb88029e9 Le Louis cfa289f710 couldn’t have 97f5589ca8 been easy.”1a403c141c28e901

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maël looked at the 45bf0810e5 lawyer, who resembled an fc9cc46005 old owl. While swallowing his efaa1464fd surprise, Thierry Bernardi, 7b6efd19c8 the advisor to 9131200703 the Monaco Grand 93a2b3e7f9 Palace and President 2236f4d14a of the Monaco 6b44e84a33 Bar Association, confidently cc46062aa7 entered Le Louis b70a685779 through the white 8e3c0be2a1 arched tunnel and 0be8f602a4 spoke to the 9fbb088ea1 reservation manager.9f414188b5add62e

“There should 86a279cdb6 be a 7872b0c7cb reservation under 9b31a0e974 Maël Montmatier.”e2763ef947a745d8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I didn’t…”ecb87a9ecd8ed2a7

All he had received ab6d84b582 was a note telling 9b272cd6b6 him to come here. But there was no 9565a74b5b time to be flustered.6a36b40ed54d627b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ve confirmed your f334538c0b reservation for 7:30. Please follow me.”5630ea0a3e42d050

The reservation manager, as d61151086a if expecting them, briskly 01a45f8038 walked and opened the 66c283e02d golden door of Le ae1e3c3d4c Louis restaurant.2dc1163b6400e690

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The restaurant was lavishly a5330ecfce adorned in gold everywhere e925f06d2b the eye could see. The ceiling 930e103ee0 was domed 7278e3367e in the d3283305e0 center, with e2f05a53aa a Rococo-style ca37b61354 blue painting 44f211a34a inside. As Maël passed by b44dc1b63d the tables, spaced far 6456b2cb34 enough apart to prevent 4ed045f463 overhearing conversations, he tried 8afe483525 to gauge the intent.6bab9eeceaa677f9

“There must be e28dcdc108 a reason.”e846c13d7bfc3c46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The day f03c58598d he received 9eb88c0f60 the photos, 01690dba0d he found 6001a85cd4 himself at ff6a3fcf20 an expensive aa91aa29ab dining table f44e8e6a54 with someone 51fcb1402b wrestling over d51360e16b Philippe and c57e670efc Manon’s agreement.66c2e85983193b42

The new 21d312070c executive director b1b2bb8e0a of the 61cfff6aa6 Riviera Hotel 3804bd90e2 seemed to 724ee8e0d3 be in b746ebaf51 a hurry.4cf24f9159560f00

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Shall we order 41854a367e a course? How about a simple 2cae95bf6e wine pairing?”82d834534d9e00db

“Yes, as you wish.”e4a28891f4cdb5f7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The numbers 342f603b0f next to 7a68abd818 the dishes 3a85efd766 were astonishing. But this wasn’t f24999c9a8 a place to 53a2bbd72c worry about what 1d1959928e went into his 07f75ae99a mouth. As Maël fd9bdaf3d9 agreed readily, 2d3fb223ec Bernardi chuckled ef06c54b7a heartily.8f81d479076e2b86

“I never thought e651a1e024 I’d receive such 689f52c89e hospitality from Lawyer c61f4f4c39 Montmatier.”c0cac831a2e3ed65

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Maël simply smiled.70e0f29d1a5c981b

Wine and appetizers were 83a18c1588 served, and trivial conversations e4f136e2e0 ensued. Topics like the health 595aca63a3 of a lawyer they c220624d5f both knew and the 047bc89e6e courthouse bathrooms, unusable for 038eba58ff two weeks due to 8f65e95040 prolonged plumbing work.830713d644b9bcf5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As Maël 51f80ef3d3 hesitated, Bernardi 5d6907d7cc lightly asked 54888380ee first.394b2aa44df656b2

“With such a 8f62f39eaa big family event a0ef6b8eb1 coming up, you 8d77809b33 must be busy, 273b54eea9 right? I was so f2dbcb6226 busy before my 5c97d98176 kid’s wedding.”1ad46a69250bf56d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maël, who had lost 0e9a487435 his appetite, was cutting 458aa9a04b the asparagus with goat a99e2cdb57 cheese sauce into small d88a98c4de pieces and put down df2f432f6a his fork. It was a case 5287ab2529 they both handled. Though he had 29fed07196 to be indirect, 14d19309ea it was the 0099c7e856 right moment to dbd710a07b bring up what 8f4e21673f needed to be 8bc5ae5726 said.fa11f2eb6ce7cf82

“Speaking of which, I 7b87dfa4b0 happened to come across edc73b005f some photos.”2b23a76ace36269b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Photos.”20aea8c791c49cf3

Bernardi was cautious. He focused c98a400334 on the 565e613036 asparagus without 4434901b74 looking at 9e5ae312d4 Maël, who 96f9a61dc1 continued undeterred.8658413b08540e45

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“They were photos of 897f7a1592 a victim of violence. The photos alone showed 7d2ed7c3bf severe physical injuries, including 1fd3e1b00b bruises and abrasions on 9df4ada653 the face, upper limbs, 37082df978 head, and neck, suspected 80d354a867 fractures.”fc7c5003a92fb6b1

“Oh dear. Such scary stories over fd291f5d30 a meal.”1a8b2b258acf3d7b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Philippe’s lawyer 33b079ef59 continued cutting f2816da50d the asparagus. Maël didn’t stop.e4a036592f40430c

“I heard they dc4282a780 received hush money. But you know, 00bd4c846f assault can be 6232492e8f investigated and prosecuted 7c96f74f23 here regardless of 29c36100ac the victim’s wishes. As a third 83cd6393a2 party, I can eae1a7905a file a complaint.”1773cd0253c216fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I wouldn’t be 5d0fcfa9fc unaware of that.”4dbe063dbcb098bc

Finally, Bernardi looked 9083f9b490 up. He rolled the glass 682f54b706 of transparent golden wine 3a3bcaed97 in his hand and ac19e33055 chuckled.b70c00e445f04ae9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“But why d6397b6ca2 stir up f8c991ac8b trouble for fc9f14c972 those living aa72e13bdd well after 364380b508 receiving money? It’s not 90e696fb64 our job a34d9f572b to poke ed40072c3f at people’s 0280697af1 wounds. As a 2f6aced49b piece of 72724c5984 advice, the a59cc12f66 first priority 4288b42409 is always da3b7827d1 the client’s 58b7730233 protection and 20cd2bed15 respect. Have you taken 69b805abcb on a client?”b4938616c2070235

“No.”4623d6644ed3b07c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then you should save 037d355b8a your time even more. They might say b01da45cb3 they don’t want 4733377fc8 to press charges. Filing a complaint 7f6efe4395 won’t get you 4414a57d3e much. It’s a meaningless endeavor. Many people feel ashamed 3608a4f87a of being beaten. How many would 63e9089df7 want to reveal afdca93d04 that publicly?”2f0147812c502317

It was a 8a2389b64b long lecture. Though it b7c9aa688f was given 545daa0413 like advice 8194e567b3 from a b75033be31 senior in 4ccd6ef841 the same b3b6496af2 field, there bb4d1ff555 was no 6c344c4505 concern for d9935caf0f the junior f8b7fe99fa mixed in.1caf8cdf2043ace2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“There are many ways 6dcd7d612f to pursue justice besides 943c6948da being a lawyer, Lawyer 29ce8ffa24 Montmatier.”53ffb44e9789c89c

“I’m embarrassed to 95d3a444bf say it wasn’t fb2c41c69c for justice that f00c812e5c I brought it 9e6631c744 up.”f0419d00ae6e3716

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Maël looked directly 9bb6476d42 at the wrinkled af2873c454 eyes. They had e2562649f6 met several bc4c5462dc times due f65ddee859 to the a0d3dd950c prenuptial agreement dba5f70e65 negotiations. Each meeting left the 3a4f51dc17 impression of a despicable fd651f9091 person. He must have 86d2abca3e known it wasn’t ce416a420e a normal prenuptial 87a8ddf24a agreement, yet he 2833c74535 parroted that it 7459168e7e was impossible from 52f383ffae the grand duke’s 03678a6bea perspective, considering various 01f70fbccb situations.53a0f6831f06ba77

The negotiations abbc5a4590 were at 89d9907714 a standstill, 33206f0ce2 with time bc037ce00b passing. The other family a3a79b973c was only pressuring 8e6daf8c40 Manon, asking why b2e8f9dd29 she wasn’t signing 4a22432584 if it was 410d21f53a just a standard 46fe95d490 contract.982d3a036df33699

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I think d95372aa77 you can b91f649757 guess why dde5b80f65 I’m bringing b9a3b59d7d this up. Do I aa22586022 need to 2e8300389b spell it fa681341a2 out more da1042b3bf clearly?”0a3527fd6a4bcd83

“If it’s 0d0221a2cb unnecessary, there’s 7282937913 no good 923c858586 in saying 2ec97610e7 it.”c4db33a373b866b3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Blinking his 3ed0f87ed6 large owl-like 1ec7061b3c eyes, Bernardi 5a074fbebd wiped his 87fd19692c lips. Maël spoke calmly.84177c65da5b8df5

“I was shocked and 6feaf96786 disappointed by the photos, 39853a8592 but I’m not the 2886acec4f one getting married. I don’t want daaac6f815 to bring it b8ffa961e9 up. Moreover, I don’t want 19511cf275 my sister to be 6855f1d679 shocked.”fe1d8aa55561aa0b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

There was no sincerity e2dc7da480 in his words. Every word 56a33e6ccb was self-deception. He was dc5f78748f disgusted with 78dd24ee84 himself for e30f6d51aa saying such fd2e838d27 things.7822576fc39404c0

Beyond disappointment, he wanted 7a8031a03b to disrupt his sister’s 1eef74b740 wedding. He wanted to 00d39f985a reveal everything, to 6c465493fa stop the marriage 8f3d6144b2 even if it d05b9c8f0f meant doing something 86deafe9e9 illegal.e66ef1f9289e43d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

But thinking about what came next…636c4d606f72e24e

In the a65e7b6af8 end, there f4d1730e41 was only 61b8dc5136 one thing 6e5f0a11b0 Maël could dc96a2144c do for 8d3c7ec6e0 his sister, 4626a3fa83 who couldn’t 73097f6a38 give up 81ab6941e9 on the ba16bc5037 marriage.a7b1ed6d92772b90

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Please acknowledge that the d6f6c94c70 existing prenuptial agreement has 38b52934dc unreasonable parts and participate 816c124bf5 properly in the negotiations. As a lawyer, you f9741aa080 must know that the bfd63d28ce agreement is legally absurd, 1ee1a5856c so I don’t think a92b560ea5 you need to work 313aabea3a hard to persuade your 0ff0d869fe client.”84fa9bba18d785a4

To say a31d7f3525 this, he 8e14781ec9 had swallowed f2bf65b57a food without b3f0f5c6ad knowing its ec3946ba9c taste, and 965debef0c it churned 662fa8d164 in his ddc8210028 stomach.849afcd5b6070009

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The opposing 207464c650 lawyer silently 2093127a8e scrutinized Maël 04120041e9 with murky 6e3c535c53 eyes. At least in this 3e5d78e698 town, he was the 7c2a1f1e5a most influential lawyer and c349bd6699 a close confidant of b8fcb8b468 the grand duke. Maël gathered the remaining 3fa5cae9ba courage and spoke again.23bad776b40a6916

“There’s no 99b59730d9 need to aab15feec2 upset your fe3708d604 client by 96640326fc letting them d9abd983b7 know I’m f6723a58a7 aware. It was a 9f8c8147ab complete coincidence that 903322dff3 the photos came c7c69d6d6f into my hands.”2c3646047e946cb5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It must have b9c3f3e90c been Bernardi who e014583bbb handed over the 035c7d1f9f hush money. The lawyer would 46f471a47e be in trouble 6f2aa17791 once he learned 4def6cb723 the secret had 848b15233c leaked. At those 3b3ae0b9a2 words, the 74307068cb tension in 4658c8b7ac his jaw 108e925386 eased.dd3e3ecbe29646f1

“I understand. Why were you 1abb4da393 trembling over such 50276a2ec7 a simple matter? I’ll try, so a0c75ff140 let’s finish our 4160124de5 meal.”10418c67b0788943

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even if there 06ca8f8759 was no other e54398c357 way, his response 6605f9e140 was surprisingly agreeable.0efdc79c2e5c1aba

The asparagus 66dfb6fd80 was cleared, 3e1dd98430 and the ad4751ed9f main course 71ad271b86 was served. A cheese cart ab3b26bf67 followed, and until 42c14b4acb the pink pepper 31fcd195ff sorbet and passion 45b3ad6a76 fruit soufflé were ae928be4c2 served, only minimal 6447f4fd29 conversation passed over e12b49dea3 the table.ec48e79e5b68cb65

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve had a good d9d0e12ed8 meal. Sorry, but d6e49b2b5d I have 831bb321c9 another appointment, d764282027 so I’ll 4397a591b3 leave first. I guess b0297b459c I’ll see 743549a6f1 you at dd46fc5919 the next a02bd6e334 negotiation.”deac4b6db476d9b7

Bernardi stood f739a3fc8f up before 553b195627 the bill c885918e83 even arrived. Though he wore a 298853e630 smiling face, he couldn’t b2d5a6203b have been in a 875cc4da23 good mood.d7acd57790d63a09

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Maël, bewildered 5e44e5434e by the 0e4e7ad672 quickly progressing 9a626d73b7 situation without 4a2fdbad92 needing to e3a4515670 show the 21b9c36982 terrible photos 027f8c10db as evidence, 1047581d80 asked for 4515a8e9a1 the bill.7f3dd494f29b4599

He was d84ecf0010 just catching 8c2007bc85 his breath 0d977597aa when—bd6ef202c1f00067

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Maël!”240d92283da3a088

The voice calling 885ae03336 him was so 934f293de0 annoyingly familiar that 6824e6b9df he looked up. It was 63ecb6dedf Charles, who 79c7eac51b had taken ad7433cfbc a seat 383f95c357 at the 286f4268ab table Bernardi 17f745dc7c left.bb42f6af3352c0f4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Was it 7f0fabc73d you who 47db4f798a called me cc918b69c8 here? I’m glad 027a9acd5b I checked 0ce9b683ff just in b103dd7c51 case.”e3dca7991fa24f5d

“…What are you talking about?”b1bed1c2af71e8c0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The person he didn’t 9404dd4f81 want to see sat e0bed680ab down and started spouting fffc803c02 nonsense. Despite not hiding f7d6326387 his displeasure, Charles 60de6fec90 burst into laughter.34b25fbcc781a851

“You told me to 3a6ae89bb9 come to Le Louis 5e856a3774 by 8:30. You left a post-it bb4f00cd53 on my car.”77ae407a3354ae56

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A post-it. Maël let out db789bd694 a frustrated breath. Trying to suppress 03c49aa078 it, he stared ad2b129b14 at the stark 9dde64dffa white tablecloth until 2d071e85d1 his eyes stung, f7d3e39c74 while Charles couldn’t 24a503b664 keep his mouth 80ab307ceb shut.7e356e2df3112e3a

“I never imagined it 6d1d8b2dda was you. Are you eating? Can you even make 9f29602d5b a reservation at a 4b472da477 place like this? I’m kind of 162edcfc32 impressed—”51de5ca5f6676aeb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“I’ve already eaten. I’m just a9e062a1b5 paying and 1b3393b18f leaving.”1181fee9a9de7c25

“What? Oh? Come on… what are you saying? That’s not funny.”1effe3557367e735

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His eye smile was f41a05c095 as smooth as ever, 710bad454b trying to pass it e8cb7c14e1 off as a joke. It was 68d8cf86b3 just like 080b4dadb3 Charles, neat 79a6c38d72 and without 5cfe77952a edges.1be604aa3e061015

“What should 44ccb55275 we eat? I heard the 893df68605 wine pairing here 84a9c1694a is good. I’ll pay a2afb926af today, so 22c91e8aa5 order whatever 2a60f22b50 you want. Let’s drink and 9c88ed7152 forget everything, okay?”643383973f349cdc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com