Chapter 32 ~ The Terrifying Man

“Leo…” she whispered, barely audible.

Leonel took a long breath, as if restraining the storm brewing inside him.

“I could turn the world upside down for you, Jessy. But never—ever—test the limits of my patience. Once you step into my life and I claim you… you are entirely mine. Your heart, your body, your life, Jessy.”

Jeslyn stared into his eyes—dark, intoxicating. Trapped between fear and desire, she knew the path ahead of them was not easy. But once she took that first step… there would be no way back.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Jeslyn muttered, trying to escape.

But Leonel didn’t let her.

With one gentle push, he pinned her back down onto the bed, his figure towering over her.

“I want you, Jessy...” he said firmly, his voice heavy with intent.

“Not today,” Jeslyn replied.

“Oh? Why not?”

“I don’t have... protection,” she murmured, cheeks flushing as she turned her face away.

Leonel smirked. “I don’t want to use protection,” he said slowly.

“W-what do you mean?” Jeslyn’s brows furrowed.

“I want you to carry my child.”

Degh.

Jeslyn froze. His words struck like lightning in her mind. She looked at him, stunned.

“You’re... insane,” she whispered.

Leonel didn’t smile. There was no joke in his expression. His gaze was serious, unwavering.

“I don’t joke, Jessy. You know that.”

Jeslyn turned her face away, trying to avoid the intensity in his eyes—eyes that stripped her soul bare.

“You can’t just walk into my life, hold me like this, and say things like that… as if my life belongs to you,” she said softly, her voice trembling.

“Your life does belong to me, Jessy. Whether you like it or not!”

Leonel’s voice was cold, his sharp gaze making her shiver with unease.

“I will have an heir—and only you will bear my child. Understood?”

Jeslyn looked down, her fingers gripping the blanket tightly. Her heart was pounding.

Something about Leonel was becoming more terrifying. More obsessed.

She... she was afraid now.

“W-What if I still choose Jefran?” she asked, barely above a whisper. It was half a challenge, half a plea.

Leonel inhaled deeply, his eyes staring straight ahead.

“Then I will destroy that engagement… my way.”

Jeslyn turned her head sharply, shocked by the threat that left Leonel’s lips so coldly.

“The world I grew up in knows nothing of surrender.

If you want me in your life, I’ll protect you with my last breath.

But if you reject me… I won’t promise your world will remain peaceful.”

He stood and walked toward the door.

“But I hope... you won’t make the wrong choice, Jessy,” he added, just before disappearing into the bathroom.

Jeslyn sat frozen, her heart racing erratically.

She was truly afraid now.

His eyes—those eyes looked like they could devour her whole.

***

The sound of black leather shoes echoed across the cold marble corridor. A heavy aura filled the air as Leonel entered his headquarters. Every subordinate lowered their gaze immediately, too afraid to meet his eyes.

They knew: when Leonel was this quiet, a storm was coming.

Behind him, Edric followed briskly, giving his report.

“They’re in the lower cells. We’ve done a light interrogation, but they haven’t talked yet.”

Leonel didn’t respond. His jaw tightened.

The hallway’s cold air seemed to grow sharper with each step he took toward the underground chamber.

When he reached the cell, two guards bowed deeply and opened the heavy bulletproof steel door.

The scent of dampness and dried blood lingered faintly.

Inside the cell sat two bound figures—Niki and Reno.

Their faces were bruised and battered, but their eyes still held defiance—an arrogance no traitor should have.

Leonel stepped inside. Silence.

Only the creak of the door echoed behind him.

He stared at them, eyes like blades.

“Betrayal…” he spoke in a near-whisper, calm and chilling.

“...always comes with a price.”

Reno spat on the floor and met Leonel’s gaze.

“We only did what we had to do.”

Leonel smiled faintly—but it was not a human smile.

It was a smile that made the air in the cell freeze.

He walked slowly to Reno and crouched in front of him.

“And now... I’ll do what I have to do.”

He struck Reno’s face with a brutal punch—no warning, no mercy.

Niki flinched.

“W-We were forced, Mr. Leonel! Please, we—”

“Silence.” Leonel’s voice cracked like a whip.

“You sold out my headquarters. You gave my enemies a way to reach my business.”

His gaze bore into them like a sword about to slice.

“I hate betrayal,” he spat, each word making their blood run cold.

He stood and looked at Edric.

“Seize all their financial records. Freeze every asset.

Make their families poor before we execute them.”

“Please, don’t… I have a child,” Niki begged desperately.

“I only did this because they threatened my wife and kid!”

Leonel looked at Niki with eyes colder than Arctic ice. He stepped closer. The room fell deathly silent—time itself seemed to hold its breath.

“You think you’re the only one with a family?” Leonel whispered threateningly.

“If everyone who’s threatened gives in and sells information, the world would have collapsed long ago.”

Niki looked down, his body trembling.

“I’m sorry… I was just so scared they’d hurt my son...”

Leonel tilted his head slightly, still watching him like a predator.

“Fear is part of this game, Niki.

But the moment you chose fear over loyalty…

you were already dead before you sat in this cell.”

Reno finally spoke, his voice raspy,

“If you’re going to kill us, just do it.

But leave our families out of this.”

“It’s too late,” Leonel cut him off coldly.

His towering figure dominated the room.

“I don’t let traitors go easily.”

Leonel turned to Edric without blinking.

“Evict their wives and children from their homes.”

Edric nodded. “I’ll take care of it immediately, Sir.”

Niki broke down in sobs.

“No… please don’t hurt them! Kill me, torture me—but leave them out of this!”

Leonel sneered.

“How does it feel now?”

“That’s the price of betraying me.

Your loved ones… will suffer because of you.”

His voice turned cruel.

“Isn’t it more painful to watch your family tortured and killed before your very eyes… than to suffer it yourself?”

“T-Tuan… Please have mercy... I’ll give you my life. But not my family!” Niki wept, pleading on his knees.

Leonel didn’t flinch.

He walked to the door, paused, and looked back one last time.

“Execute both of them at dawn.

Make sure they know they’re going to die.

I want them to spend tonight drowning in the same fear… they forced upon me.”

The heavy metal door creaked again—this time, like the toll of a death bell.

Leonel didn’t look back, even as their cries filled the air behind him.

He had made his decision.

And when Leonel made a decision…

not even fate could change it.

***