With shotguns slung over their shoulders, Fredo and Monica follow the cowboys out on patrol.
The cattle on the ranch are kept inside fenced grazing areas, mostly surrounded by wooden posts and barbed wire.
The cowboys make daily rounds to inspect the fences and check whether any cattle get injured or wander off.
Dressed in fitted jeans, a jacket, and a cowboy hat prepared ahead of time, Monica’s already stunning figure somehow stands out even more.
Fredo can’t help thinking to himself:
Good thing this gorgeous cabbage ends up with me.
Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble she’d run into out there.
This era of America really is “wild and free.” Robberies, highway bandits, and armed theft happen all the damn time.
People work at sunrise and rest at sunset.
Today, the ranch feels even livelier than before.
Everyone finally relaxes after realizing they won’t lose their home, so the workers enthusiastically welcome their new ranch owners, hoping Fredo and Monica can feel the unique warmth of ranch life.
Outside the house, a bonfire crackles brightly.
Earlier that evening, Spurr specifically goes to the market to buy a lamb so they can roast it over the fire.
Watching everyone singing, dancing, and laughing together, Fredo speaks to Monica, who’s leaning comfortably against his chest.
“This kind of ranch life—working at sunrise and resting at sunset—is actually pretty nice.”
Monica takes a bite of food and nods.
“It really is.”
Fredo smiles.
“Like you said before, bringing Dad and the family out here someday to relax honestly sounds like a great idea.”
Monica immediately looks smug.
“See?
I told you so.”
But the reality is simple.
Being part of the New York underworld means enemies won’t magically spare you just because you hide on a ranch somewhere.
In the underworld, fights over benefit always end with blood.
Soon enough, even Rocco and the others join the celebration.
Fredo and Monica also mingle with everyone at the ranch.
They eat huge mouthfuls of meat, drink heavily, clink glasses, sing loudly, and dance around the bonfire.
It’s a happy night.
A carefree night.
A comfortable night.
Eventually, the bonfire burns low and the crowd slowly disperses.
Inside the ranch house bedroom, Fredo says:
“Monica, we should head back in the next day or two.”
She answers obediently:
“Okay.”
Earlier that day, Rocco contacts Mikey and says the investigation on their “side jobs” is complete.
Fredo needs to return to choose which contract to take.
Besides, everything at the ranch is already settled.
Staying longer would just turn into a vacation.
[Physique: Lv3 (4/99)]
Two points a day…
At this rate, it’ll take over a month.
And he’s already this ridiculous now.
So later on… Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Who the hell is even going to stop him?
Pushing those thoughts aside, Fredo gently brushes her hair back.
“Then let’s stay one more day tomorrow.
We’ll familiarize ourselves with things a little more and leave some final instructions.
The ranch shouldn’t have any problems after that.
We’ll head back the day after tomorrow.”
Monica rests her head against his shoulder.
“Mhm.
I’ll listen to you.”
A bright full moon hangs high above the silent night sky.
Then Monica suddenly pouts.
“You jerk, you’re laying on my hair.”
Fredo replies calmly:
“Then stop moving for a second… get up a little.”
“Get up already!
Look what time it is.
The sun’s practically overhead and you’re still sleeping.
Lazy ranch owner.
Do you even want this ranch anymore?”
“Hmph.
That’s your fault.
Last night you…”
Some things in life really are painful and enjoyable at the same time.
Monica is currently living proof of that phrase.
After glaring at Fredo, she finally gets up to change and wash up.
By the time she finishes, breakfast is already waiting for her on the table.
The current Fredo looks completely different now.
The balding head from before is gone, replaced with thick black hair.
His features are sharp, his nose straight, his eyes deep-set, and his physique powerful and athletic.
Combined with his unique aura, he genuinely looks handsome and imposing.
He even looks younger now—not like a man in his thirties, but someone in his twenties.
That’s the change brought by [Physique].
And his learning ability has become borderline monstrous too.
His horseback riding skills are already nearly on par with the ranch cowboys despite only arriving a few days ago.
Terrifying.
Looking at the stunning Monica Daddario sitting across from him, Fredo’s appetite improves considerably during breakfast.
After eating, the two of them continue touring the ranch with Spurr.
There honestly isn’t much left to familiarize themselves with, but understanding how things operate is still necessary.
As Spurr explains everything while guiding them around, Fredo’s enhanced memory allows him to quickly piece together a solid understanding of how the ranch functions.
Ever since Monica’s aunt passes away, Spurr is basically the one managing everything already.
So after discussing things, they decide he’ll continue running the ranch.
Naturally, his salary gets increased appropriately, and Fredo tells him to contact them immediately if anything happens.
He even tells Spurr that if managing the place becomes too exhausting, hiring two or three additional cowboys is completely fine.
After these past two days, everyone on the ranch now knows who their female ranch owner is… and they also know the ranch owner listens very closely to her man.
Still, with only a little over a dozen people here—and several of them being children—Fredo isn’t worried about Spurr causing trouble.
This ranch is their home too.
Worst-case scenario?
Monica simply sells the ranch.
And they lose the only home they’ve ever had.
As night approaches once more, Fredo and Monica sit outside the ranch house drinking whiskey while watching the darkened fields under the moonlight.
Monica suddenly sighs softly while staring at him.
“This is nice.”
Fredo turns toward her.
“Hm?”
Meeting his eyes, she says:
“Meeting you is nice.”
Fredo doesn’t fully agree.
“Hard to say.
Maybe I’m your disaster instead.”
Monica climbs directly into his lap, takes a sip of whiskey, then feeds it to him mouth-to-mouth before whispering:
“If you ever leave me, I’ll bite you to death.”
People are like that.
Once they finally have something precious, they become terrified of losing it.
Maybe that’s what it means to be afraid of gain and loss.
Feeling the soft warmth pressed against him, Fredo laughs quietly.
“How could I possibly bear to leave you?”
Honestly, Monica is probably one of the few people who truly recognizes his worth.
She really does have good taste.
Meanwhile, the entire Corleone family basically thinks the family fucked up son somehow wins the lottery of a lifetime.
In their eyes, their useless son / brother must have been blessed by the Virgin Mary herself to end up with a woman as stunning as Monica
What they don’t know is that everything begins with one moment of meddling.
One accident.
One act of saving someone’s life.
And from there, the story begins.
The huge bright moon bathes the lovers in silver light as the mood between them grows hotter and hotter.
Monica intentionally teases him with her fiery body while sitting on top of him.
Using this kind of temptation to test a man?
What government official could possibly survive that test?
Fredo immediately scoops up the curvy Monica and carries her into the bedroom.
Ignoring everything happening outside the window, the two wholeheartedly focus on “traditional activities.”
But tonight, Monica clearly seems to have ideas of her own.
Fredo pretends to sound angry.
“Monica, you’re getting bold after only a few days.
Think you can start climbing onto the roof now, huh?”
Seeing his fake irritation, Monica surprisingly doesn’t back down.
Instead, she shyly yet boldly whispers:
“Just indulge me this once… can I be on top tonight…?”