Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 37
After arriving at the casino, Leon moved quickly, heading straight to the roulette table with 900k worth of chips in hand. His eyes scanned the wheel as he positioned himself confidently, a steady hand placing all his chips on the number 15.
"Alright, system, which number?" he muttered under his breath.
[15]
[-50 RP]
The moment he placed his chips on the table, the nearby players exchanged bewildered glances. A few muttered in disbelief, their eyes widening as they watched him commit such a bold wager.
"Is this guy crazy?" one of the players whispered, a hand going to his bald head in shock.
"Wth is this guy doing?" another muttered, leaning closer to get a better look.
Leon didn’t seem fazed by the whispers around him. He stood there, his posture relaxed, arms crossed, waiting for the wheel to spin. The murmurs of disbelief continued, but Leon remained unaffected.
The roulette wheel spun, the ball clattering around the edge as the crowd fell silent. Leon’s gaze remained fixed on the wheel, calm and unfazed by the tension building around him. The ball bounced from one pocket to another, and then, it landed on... 15. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
The room erupted in shocked gasps. People stared, some even rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Leon’s bet had paid off spectacularly.
"Holy... this guy actually did it," one of the onlookers whispered, still trying to process the outcome.
Leon stepped forward, a satisfied smile pulling at his lips. The dealer began to stack the chips, the total value of the winnings becoming more apparent with each stack that grew higher and higher. By the time the last chip was counted, Leon had just turned 900k into 31.5 million.
Without a word, Leon scooped up the chips, his mind already on the next step. He knew what needed to be done.
He walked calmly toward the cashier. At the counter, he placed the chips in front of the cashier, who looked at him with surprise.
"I’d like to cash out and have the full amount transferred directly to my bank account," Leon said, his voice steady and businesslike.
The cashier blinked, then nodded. "Certainly, sir. Please give me a moment to process this."
A few minutes later, Leon received a notification on his phone confirming the transfer. The 31.5 million had been successfully transferred to his account. He looked at his phone, nodding in satisfaction.
Leon sat in the backseat of his car, staring at his phone, waiting for the confirmation of the transfer to Laiva’s account. He muttered to himself, "Alright, let’s get this done."
He opened the messenger app, and at the top of the conversation, there was a message from an unfamiliar number. Leon frowned but quickly dismissed the thought. "So this is her number," he muttered under his breath, noticing there was no profile picture attached. He copied the account details she had sent him and proceeded with the transfer, fingers gliding across the screen.
...
Somewhere in a dimly lit room full of surveillance screens, a figure dressed in a black coat stood, watching the casino’s security feeds. He was speaking to someone beside him, his tone cold and impassive.
"There are no signs of cheating, sir," the man in black pants reported, his voice low.
The figure nodded, his face shadowed by the dim lighting. "Hmm... was it just luck?"
The man in black looked at him, awaiting further instructions. "Either way, ban this person from entering our casino," the figure said, his voice filled with finality. He turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving the screens flickering quietly in his wake.
...
At the hospital, Laiva stood at the counter, anxiously waiting for the money to arrive. Her heart pounded in her chest as she kept checking her phone, hoping for the confirmation message from Leon. She opened the messenger app, expecting to see something from him. But when she saw the message she had sent, her breath caught.
She stared at the account details she had sent, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. She scanned the number again... and then it hit her. One of the digits was wrong. One number had been swapped. Her stomach dropped as panic swept over her.
"No, no, no..." she whispered under her breath, her hands trembling. She quickly dialed Leon’s number, her fingers shaking. As the phone rang, she stared at the screen, praying he would pick up.
The phone rang again, but this time, from a distance, a phone started ringing. Laiva turned around, her heart sinking as she saw Leon walking toward her. He was waving his hand, a small smile on his face as he approached.
Laiva’s heart skipped a beat as she saw Leon walking toward her, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. Her mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. She could feel the tension building, the weight of the mistake she had made pressing down on her chest.
She quickly approached him, her voice tight with anxiety. "Leon, wait! I... I think I made a mistake."
Leon stopped, his smile faltering slightly as he looked at her. "What’s wrong?"
Laiva’s eyes were wide, filled with urgency as she took a deep breath. "I think I gave you the wrong account details. The number I sent you—it wasn’t right. I... I sent you the wrong one by accident."
Leon’s expression shifted from confusion to realization, his brow furrowing slightly. "You’re telling me... the account I transferred the money to isn’t the right one?"
She nodded, her stomach twisting with dread. "I’m so sorry, Leon. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was just so overwhelmed, and I didn’t double-check..."
Leon took a moment, his gaze softening as he processed her words. Despite the mix-up, he didn’t seem angry. Instead, there was a quiet understanding in his eyes. "It’s alright. We’ll sort it out."
Instead of talking more to her
Leon walked calmly towards the reception counter, his gaze focused. Laiva followed closely behind, still filled with tension. She could only watch as he approached the desk, his hand reaching for his wallet. He slid the card across the counter to the receptionist, his voice steady.
"I need you to process the payment for Jake’s treatment," he said, his tone clear. "Please make sure the full amount is transferred."
The receptionist took the card, glancing at it before nodding. She typed quickly on the computer, processing the transaction. Leon waited, arms crossed, as the sound of the keyboard echoed in the quiet room. Laiva stood a few steps behind, her heart still racing, waiting for everything to settle.
After a moment, the receptionist handed the card back to Leon with a polite smile. "The transaction has been processed. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"
Leon nodded, slipping the card back into his wallet. He paused before turning to Laiva, his voice low. "It’s done. The payment’s taken care of."
They slowly walked toward the nearby chairs, both needing a moment to catch their breath and focus.
Laiva hesitated before speaking, her voice tinged with worry. "Is it possible to reverse the money sent to the wrong account?"
Leon shook his head, his gaze distant as he considered the situation. "I don’t know if that’s possible, but I’ll try."
Laiva’s eyes dropped to the floor, guilt sweeping over her. Her fingers tapped nervously against her purse. The weight of the debt was suffocating—paying back five million was hard enough, but now she was ten million in debt.
"I’ll handle it," Leon reassured her, sensing her anxiety. He knew the pressure she was under.
"Umm... where is Emily?" he asked, changing the subject to shift her attention.
"I sent her home," Laiva replied quietly, her eyes still not meeting his.
...
The day passed quickly, with Leon diving into his work. He’d made dozens of calls, reaching out to all the dealers and suppliers he knew across the city.
Trucks filled with resources and supplies were on their way—food, materials, equipment. He made sure to order some of the best food for Elys.
His thoughts drifted back to the challenge of acquiring weapons in large quantities. Only the Defense Forces had the legal right to purchase such amounts, not someone like him. The black market seemed to be his only option, though it came with its own dangers—dangers he wasn’t sure he was fully prepared for.
As night fell, Leon stood by the window, gazing out at the sprawling city below. The skyline shimmered with lights, and the sound of distant traffic filled the air, but his mind was preoccupied with the next step he needed to take. The weight of everything ahead of him settled in.
"Let’s go... You must be hungry," Laiva’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned around to see her standing there, looking more composed than before, though there was still a trace of the earlier tension in her posture.
Leon nodded, offering a small smile. "Alright. Let’s go."
"Laiva," he said, his voice a little softer, "Is Emily coming back hospital?"
"Yeah, she’ll be here soon to look after Jake," Laiva replied.
They left the hospital, walking toward the car in companionable silence. The city was quieter at night, but Leon’s thoughts kept racing. His fingers brushed against the keys as he unlocked the car, opening the door for Laiva before settling into the driver’s seat.
"Where should we go?" he asked as the engine hummed to life.
"My house," Laiva replied, adjusting her hair as she slid into the passenger seat. The movement caught Leon’s eye—her grace was undeniable. For a split second, his gaze lingered, noticing the way her form curved as she shifted. He quickly focused back on the road, trying to suppress the growing awareness of her presence.
They drove in silence for a while, the car humming softly as they neared Laiva’s apartment. Once they arrived, Leon parked and stepped out, his mind still swirling with thoughts.
Laiva unlocked the door with a key, giving him a small smile over her shoulder. "Welcome," she said as they walked inside.
The apartment was simple but cozy, with modest furniture arranged neatly. Leon watched as Laiva hung her coat and moved toward the kitchen.
"I’ll make something for us," she said, her voice calm. "You must be hungry after everything."
Leon nodded, taking a seat and watching her work in the kitchen. He appreciated how comfortable she seemed in this space, moving with ease.
After a few moments, Laiva glanced at him. "You know, you never talk about your family," she said softly. "I don’t know anything about them."
Leon hesitated for a moment before responding. "I don’t have parents. I was an orphan."
Her expression softened with understanding. "That’s tough," she said, her voice gentle. "I can’t imagine what that was like."
Leon leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of her words. "I had to learn to depend on myself," he replied, his voice steady. "That’s how I got by."
Laiva didn’t press him further, but she met his gaze with a quiet sympathy. After a pause, Leon asked, "What about you, Laiva?"
She smiled faintly as she finished preparing the food. "Me? I’m just an old single mother," she said with a light laugh.
Leon thought for a moment, then asked softly, "Have you ever thought about finding someone else?"
Laiva shook her head, her eyes briefly meeting his. "No..." she said quietly. "I haven’t really thought about it."
Leon paused, feeling a shift in the air between them. He was suddenly more aware of her presence in the room. Without thinking, he asked bluntly, "What about me?"
Laiva’s eyes widened in surprise at the question. "What...?" she murmured, taken aback by his directness.
Leon didn’t hesitate, his gaze steady as he continued. "Well, I won’t make it hard. I find myself attracted to you. I see a lot of women, but my heart... it reacted differently when I saw you."
Laiva stood still for a moment, her heart racing. She didn’t know how to respond at first. His words caught her off guard, but there was something about the sincerity in his voice that made her feel exposed in a way she hadn’t expected.
Her breath caught slightly, her thoughts a little scattered. "You’re serious?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Leon met her gaze, his expression earnest. "I am," he said simply. "I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s there. And I couldn’t ignore it."
Laiva looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief, and she took a step back, her mind racing. "But... I’m old," she said, her voice filled with uncertainty. "I even have a daughter and son. You still find me attractive?"
Leon couldn’t help but let out a small sigh, his thoughts momentarily drifting.
He stepped closer, his voice low. "Laiva, you’re... incredible. You don’t understand just how beautiful you are. I don’t think you even realize how stunning you look. It’s not just your appearance—it’s everything about you."
Laiva’s breath caught as she looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn’t expected this from him—not like this. The way he spoke, so earnestly, it left her feeling exposed but also somehow more alive.
She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she just looked at him, searching his eyes for any sign of insincerity—but she found none.
"But.."
