DISCLAIMER: This is a creative creation of the writer. All names, personalities, organizations, settings, events, and scenarios are made up. Any resemblance to real individuals, living or dead, or to actual events is entirely coincidental.
Celeste nestled closer to Leviathan, finding comfort in his embrace as they watched movies together in the living room.
"Now that you have your powers back, does that mean we won't be seeing each other anymore? Remember our deal?" Celeste inquired, looking up at him.
Leviathan playfully pinched her, a smile tugging at his lips. "Forget about it. I'm happy when I'm with you."
"Me too. I hope it will always stay like this," Celeste murmured, resting her head against his neck.
Meanwhile, in the depths of his office, Valentino wrestled with the weight of responsibility for the family company. The once-thriving empire, built by their grandfather from the ground up, now faced uncertain times.
"I'm pissed off! How am I supposed to make this work? I'm exhausted, for God's sake," Valentino muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. "If only mother were still here, maybe it wouldn't be so difficult."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.
"I think I know just the person who could help me," Valentino remarked, reaching for his phone.
Meanwhile, Leviathan was reclining on his bed when his phone rang. "Val?" he answered.
"Leviathan, could you do me a favor?" Valentino's voice came through the phone.
Leviathan hummed in acknowledgment. "What is it?"
"The company is in grave danger. Our assets are declining rapidly. Even with months of hard work, we're not seeing enough profit," Valentino confessed, his tone heavy with defeat.
Leviathan grasped the seriousness of the situation. "Do you want me to come over?"
Valentino sounded surprised. "Can you?"
"Yes. Send me your location, and I'll head over," Leviathan confirmed.
"Okay. I've sent it. I don't have any other meetings today. Take your time," Valentino replied before ending the call.
Leviathan swiftly dressed in his signature black suit, adorned with a golden necktie that showcased his unique personality. He added a golden handkerchief to his left pocket, along with a tie clip and a wristwatch to complete his outfit. Knowing he would have a lot to read, he also donned his reading glasses.
"Matthew, did you prepare the Lamborghini?" Leviathan asked as he checked through some files.
Matthew glanced up, "Which one?"
"The black one," Leviathan replied, gathering the paperwork.
Matthew handed him the car keys and swiftly left, his departure resembling the speed of the wind. "His powers are truly back. It's overwhelming," Matthew muttered to himself, still adjusting to Leviathan's restored abilities despite their years together.
At the Devoux Corporation, Leviathan noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance, eagerly awaiting his arrival. As he lifted open the car door, his commanding presence seemed to stun everyone into silence. He adjusted his suit with a smooth motion.
An attendant approached to park his car in the VIP area, visibly shaken by Leviathan's aura.
Leviathan nodded in acknowledgment before striding confidently towards the entrance. A secretary greeted him and directed him to Valentino's office. Leviathan's imposing presence turned heads wherever he went.
The secretary knocked on Valentino's door. "Sir, your guest has arrived."
"Let him in," Valentino's voice came from inside the office.
As Leviathan entered Valentino's office, he was taken aback by the sight before him—a chaotic pile of documents scattered across the table. Unsure where to begin, Leviathan took a deep breath and composed himself.
Pointing out errors in the documents, Leviathan suggested, "Additionally, consider developing new products, services, or prototypes to capture consumer attention and restore the company's performance to its peak." He displayed his ideas on his laptop for Valentino to see.
Valentino nodded in agreement. "This could work, but someone is obstructing me from taking such actions."
"Who?" Leviathan inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Valentino hesitated before revealing, "It's my father's mistress. I've known about her for some time now, but it's only recently become a significant issue."
Leviathan's expression turned serious. "He has a mistress? I always thought he was devoted solely to his deceased wife."
Valentino's voice quivered with regret. "If only I had known sooner. We wouldn't be in this situation. I haven't even informed my other siblings or Celeste about it yet."
"Did this woman suddenly appear after your biological mother's death?" Levi pondered the possibility.
Valentino nodded solemnly. "Exactly. It wasn't a coincidence; it was more likely all planned."
"I always thought your family was perfect, but there's always a dirty secret," Levi remarked, his eyes reflecting disgust.
Valentino chuckled wearily. "I'm exhausted, Levi. I'm grateful that my sister is safe around you, somehow."
Levi crossed his arms, a determined look in his eyes. "What do you plan to do now?"
Valentino gestured towards the photo on the table. "Make that damn woman pay for what she has done to our family."
Leviathan leaned in, offering a proposition. "Want to make a deal with me, then?"
Valentino's interest was piqued. "And what might that be?"
In the graveyard, Celeste stood solemnly before the grave of the late mistress of the family, the biological mother of her siblings. It was the anniversary of her death, and Celeste had come to pay her respects.
"Greetings, madam," Celeste began softly. "Though we never had the chance to meet, I want to express my gratitude. The charitable foundation you established during your lifetime has brought immense help to countless children, myself included. I am truly grateful to have been a part of it. May you find eternal peace and happiness in the afterlife." With reverence, Celeste placed a bouquet of white flowers on the grave as a token of her appreciation.
As Celeste prepared to leave, she noticed a woman passing by the area who paused near the exact graveyard. Intrigued, Celeste lingered to observe the stranger, who appeared to be in her forties.
"Oh, Vienne, look, someone left you flowers," the woman remarked with a laugh. "Perhaps one of your children?" Her tone dripped with mockery. "How does it feel to have what was once yours stolen from you?"
Celeste gasped, stunned by the woman's callous words.
"It's a pity your story didn't have a happy ending, Vienne. Your dear husband loves me now, and soon I'll have everything that was once yours," the woman declared smugly, placing a black rose on the grave before sauntering away.
The woman walked away until her footsteps faded into silence, leaving Celeste alone with the weight of the revelation she had just heard.
"Father had a mistress?" Celeste whispered, her voice filled with disappointment and disgust. "I can't believe he could do such a thing." The sense of betrayal cut deep, and anger seeped into her tone as her eyes flashed with emotion.