The Mafia Empire

In this dark, stormy weather!

Madame Vivian had just sipped some broth, lacking any appetite. Had she not been pregnant, she might not have even managed the broth.

Every woman longs for the day she can become a mother, a right granted by God. Whether they wield power or status, they deserve this right.

Gently caressing her still-flat stomach, Madame Vivian gazed out at the rain-soaked darkness, feeling as though her world mirrored the dreary scene outside, bleak and devoid of any future.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and she frowned. Though Peter hadn't explicitly said so, everyone knew Vivian was confined within the estate. She could do whatever she wished, except leave.

"Come in," she called out, her raspy voice carrying a trace of melancholy as she gazed out the window, feeling as though her heart had died. She was certain that if Peter found Jon, he would kill him—and her child. The outside world was perilous for the unborn; even a minor accident could deliver them into God's embrace prematurely.

A familiar voice coughed, brightening her eyes. Her body trembled slightly. Though a strong woman with an impressive background, she was still a woman. At this moment, any woman would yearn for someone to comfort her, to bring even a shred of warmth. Yet this surprise was too much, so overwhelming she dared not turn around.

"It's dangerous here; leave immediately before Peter returns!" Vivian sighed, finally yielding to herself. She stood and turned, looking at the familiar figure, though momentarily stunned by the boy standing beside Jon.

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The boy stepped forward, bowing. "This may not be the best timing, but I'm honored to meet you, esteemed Madame Vivian."

"You may call me Julian, Jon's friend."

"Julian?" Madam Vivian showed a hint of contemplation, hesitating for a while before saying, "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before." Her expression was calm, and it was no surprise that she hadn't heard of Julian, an unremarkable "small figure." If it hadn't been for Jon's presence, she would have bluntly admitted that she had no idea who he was.

Julian merely smiled, unfazed by her reaction. Even though she was under house arrest and stripped of her freedom, Madam Vivian was still Madam Vivian. She had her pride, and even in her downfall, she wouldn't easily reveal her vulnerable side to just anyone.

Vivian's expression shifted slightly, and she scrutinized Julian carefully before abruptly asking, "Was this all arranged by you?"

If she still didn't understand the situation by now, her whole life would have been wasted. Clearly, Jon's presence was part of Julian's plan. She looked at Julian and then at Dave with a mix of hatred and resentment.

Dave hesitated to speak, then closed his mouth, choosing silence. He wanted to say something, but nothing could change the fact—it was Julian who orchestrated his approach to her, an ironclad reality.

From Vivian's perspective, Jon might lie, and Julian might continue to deceive her, but what shocked her was that Julian openly admitted it.

"Yes, Madam," Julian said. "I specifically arranged for Jon to approach you, with the purpose of influencing your judgment and thereby impacting the mayor's decisions." Madam Vivian's eyes blazed with anger as she coldly turned away, saying nothing.

In her life, there were a few who had hurt her deeply. The first was her husband. Although he had married her for status and power, he pretended it was all divinely arranged. For a long time after their wedding, Vivian was in shock, numbing herself through promiscuity as a form of revenge. Deep down, she hoped he would feel jealous, showing he cared for her despite his hunger for power.

But she failed. He ignored her actions, remaining solely focused on his position, resources, and ambition to become governor. Peter had always been careful not to stake everything on a single election; he was aiming for the next one, preparing for every opportunity. For someone so obsessed with power, a wife was merely an accessory to fulfill societal duties. However, Vivian's pregnancy represented a loss of control over his family—a problem for any politician, as family stability was essential for public image and future advancement.

Therefore, while he kept the matter secret from everyone but the butler and Vivian herself, he also instigated a city-wide search for Jon.

Vivian's relationship with Jon had started as a way to indulge in the thrill of freedom, but over time, she developed a shameful fondness for him, and her feelings deepened. She saw Jon as both a lover and a child, a desire that arose from her longing to become a mother.

For real libertines, the term "mother" might be a joke, but for a woman yearning for motherhood, the word held a sacred meaning. Thus, she had taken the risk.

What hurt her now was discovering that Jon and Peter were the same—both had approached her with ulterior motives.

"You may not know, Madam!" Julian didn't back down in the face of her coldness. Instead, he spoke calmly with a knowing smile, "You may now learn Jon's real name—Dave. He confessed his regret to me, admitting that he had developed feelings for a woman he should never have been involved with, which has left him feeling troubled and remorseful."

Vivian sneered, her laughter filled with disdain. "Solve it? How? Do you really think that a bunch of nobodies can win a battle against the mayor? This outcome was inevitable from the start."

Julian shook his head. "Then, do you truly want your child to be denied even a single breath of free air?"

Instinctively, Vivian's hand went to her belly, her face darkening.

When Mayor Peter returned late that night, he looked utterly exhausted. The state tax bureau's investigator had been relentless, demanding all financial statements from the past year to be brought out for examination, scrutinizing each paper one by one. Peter had tried every trick to disrupt the investigation while destroying evidence and silencing witnesses.

Loosening his tie, he handed his briefcase to the butler and asked offhandedly, "Did the Madam keep quiet today, as usual?"