Chapter 53 – The Man Behind the Mask

“Leonel isn’t my parents’ biological son.”

Thud.

Jeslyn froze.

In that moment, it was as if her entire body was pulled into a silent vortex. The soft music, clinking silverware, and hushed conversations in the restaurant faded into nothing. All that remained was the echo of one sentence.

"Leonel isn’t my parents’ biological son."

Slowly, Jeslyn turned around. Her expression was full of shock, though she tried to stay composed, even as her chest pounded.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked sharply.

Jefran took a sip of the remaining wine, as if needing courage before speaking. “Leonel isn’t our parents’ blood. He’s the son of my father’s eldest brother. He was raised by our parents since he was young. Yes, he grew up in the same house, carries the same family name… but legally, he isn’t part of the main line of inheritance.”

Jeslyn narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying it. “And you think that matters now? Why are you telling me this, Jefran? To make me feel unworthy of loving him? Or to plant doubt?”

“I’m telling you because you need to know who he really is,” Jefran said, his voice darker now. “He’s always been an outsider, even as a child. Distant, secretive. He hides a lot. Do you even know what kind of business he’s in now—aside from helping in the company?”

Jeslyn said nothing. Her eyes were wary, her silence sharp.

“Leonel isn’t just some ‘creative entrepreneur’ like he tells people. He has another life. A darker side you haven’t seen. And I’m worried... you’re just a part of his plan,” Jefran said.

Jeslyn frowned. “Are you jealous, Jef? Because I chose him over you? Is that what this is about? Now you want to ruin him in my eyes?”

Jefran stood, his gaze serious. “This isn’t about me, Jeslyn. It’s about you. Your safety. I know he seems calm, attentive, even ideal. But I’ve seen with my own eyes who he really is behind the scenes.”

“Proof?” Jeslyn asked coldly. “Do you have proof?”

Jefran clenched his jaw. He didn’t answer right away. “You want proof? Fine. I’ll send it to you tonight. But once you’ve seen everything, I want something in return—go through with the engagement, Jeslyn.”

Jeslyn stared at him in stunned silence. “What do you really want from this engagement, Jefran?”

“The company,” he said plainly, with a cold determination.

“The company?” Jeslyn echoed, confused.

“Leonel has control of our family’s business now—the one my father built for years. And I want it back. By marrying you and gaining your family’s support, I can become the CEO. I just want what’s rightfully mine,” he declared. “And I’ll help you break free from Leonel, a man who isn’t good for you. I’ll protect you… until you find someone who truly loves you.”

“A man who isn’t me,” he added, his voice softening, though his eyes still burned with ambition. “I know you can’t love me, Jes. But we can help each other. You get your freedom. I get the company.”

Jeslyn stood still, his words hitting her like a slap. The mix of honesty, manipulation, and ambition in Jefran made her feel disgusted and deeply disappointed. She no longer saw him as her fiancé or childhood friend—but as a man who would sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals.

“So this is all about power?” she asked quietly.

“It’s about balance,” Jefran replied without hesitation. “You want to live free from a marriage you hate. I want the power that should’ve been mine. We can help each other.”

Jeslyn shook her head slowly, her gaze piercing. “And you think tearing Leonel down will make you look more worthy?”

“He’s no saint, Jeslyn. You’re just falling for the mask he wears,” Jefran shot back. “Do you really think he loves you? Do you even know where he gets his money and connections? None of it is clean. I have the data. You’ll see for yourself.”

Jeslyn stood up slowly, her face now void of emotion. Only cold resolve remained in her eyes.

“You’ll send me the proof?” she asked calmly.

Jefran nodded. “I’ll send it tonight.”

“Fine.” Jeslyn turned to leave but looked back once more. “If what you say is true... I’ll make the right decision. But if you’re lying—if this is just a power play—you’ll lose more than just a company, Jefran.”

Jefran didn’t reply. His face was tight, as if even he wasn’t sure he’d win.

Jeslyn walked away, leaving the shadow of their past behind. What remained now wasn’t love, or even pain—but a dangerous game that had only just begun. Her heart, her trust, her entire life... was now at stake.

But one thing was certain—she would no longer be anyone’s pawn.

That night, Jeslyn sat at the edge of her bed, her breathing heavy. The room was dim, lit only by the pale glow of her phone. Her hands trembled as she opened the message Jefran had just sent—a large video file.

“Here’s the proof I promised. Watch it to the end. Then we’ll talk.” – Jefran

Heart pounding, Jeslyn hit play.

The video began with a dimly lit warehouse. It appeared to be surveillance footage, taken from a high corner. Leonel stood tall in the center, dressed entirely in black. Around him were four men with hardened appearances—and one man, bloodied and beaten, tied to a metal chair.

“Boss,” one of the men said. “This is the guy who leaked our shipping route yesterday.”

Jeslyn swallowed hard. That word—Boss—hit her like ice.

Then came Leonel’s voice. Cold. Emotionless. A far cry from the gentleness he usually showed her.

“You thought you could play both sides in my territory? Traitor.”

Leonel punched the man in the face. Over and over. The bound man writhed in pain, blood dripping from his mouth. Leonel didn’t flinch. No mercy. It was fast. Brutal. Then one of his men handed him a file—some kind of shipping report, full of codes and numbers.

“The shipment failed. That means billions in losses. You know the consequences,” Leonel said, then kicked the chair over with a loud crash.

Jeslyn covered her mouth, horrified. She wanted to look away—but the video continued.

From the shadows, a woman appeared. Beautiful. Elegant. Her long hair flowed over a red dress that hugged her slim figure. She walked straight to Leonel and wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing her cheek against his back with clear intimacy.

“That’s enough, darling,” the woman cooed sweetly. “Let them clean up the rest. You promised me tonight, remember?”

Leonel didn’t respond. He stared down at the bleeding man, then turned and wrapped his arm around the woman, walking away from the camera with her.

The video ended.

Jeslyn sat in stunned silence. Her heart thundered. Her mind swirled with disbelief. The shock struck her like relentless waves.

Who is that woman...?

Jeslyn bit her lip. A sharp pain bloomed in her chest—a mixture of jealousy, fear, and betrayal.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from Jefran.

“Still think he’s the good guy, Jes? What makes him any different from me? At least I’m not running a criminal operation.”

Jeslyn stared at the screen for a long time. She remembered the strange man who used to follow her—the one who was later found dead. She had suspected Leonel was behind it... but she’d brushed it off, choosing instead to open her heart to him.

Now, she wasn't sure of anything.

She slowly closed the screen and set her phone in her lap. Her hands still trembled, her chest felt crushed under the weight of this new truth.

What had she just watched?

And... who was Leonel, really?

Tears slid down her cheeks. Not just from heartbreak—but from overwhelming disappointment. She remembered how Leonel had once held her close and whispered:

"I’ll protect you."

But now she had to ask—protect her from the world, or from himself?

"Don’t be afraid of anything. Do whatever you want and say whatever you need to say. I’ll be right behind you."

The memory echoed in her mind. But now it sounded like a hollow promise. The words of a man she might never have truly known.

Jeslyn stood and walked to the mirror. She stared at her own reflection—tired, messy, broken. Her eyes were red from crying, but deep within them... a small fire reignited.

"I don’t know anything about Leonel."

She couldn’t yet decide whether the video was real or staged. But one thing was clear: she would no longer let herself be manipulated—by Jefran, or Leonel.

***