Return of the Strongest Scavengers Assassin

Chapter Two

“You have 10 minutes,” the guard told them as he walked away to give Reed and his wife privacy..

Immediately the judge passed on his verdict a week ago Reed was whisked away without being able to confront his lawyer to call his family

The judge was only able to send him away for a year because there was no concrete proof to hold him in for a longer time.

A year of being away from his family. His wife, Mom, and his daughter

His wife, Kayla visited him in prison a week later, Reed found out as he was escorted to the meeting room

Seeing his beautiful wife lifted his spirits, and his steps quickened.

Even though there was a see-through glass between them, it didn't diminish how sad his wife looked.

Picking up the phone, Reed spoke first. “How're you, and the kids?

Kayla tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, giving him the first unobstructed view of her face. “We’re fine.”

“And home?” He asked, eager to get information.

“Home is good.” She looks away. “Uh, actually we're not staying at the former house anymore, we moved to a smaller house in the suburbs.’

“Why?” He leaned forward, worried but Kayla moved away from him as if he had a virus.

Because our kid was bullied and humiliated so much because of your crimes that I couldn't take it anymore, Reed!” The first spark of fire he'd seen all day lit up her eyes. “I also couldn't afford her private tuition anymore, it's all your fault Reed, if you hadn't been so god-damned selfish and ruined our lives, we wouldn't be in this mess right now!” Kayla broke down

Each word felt like an arrow piercing his heart. “You can't think I did it, did you?”

He reached out to touch the glass, expecting Kayla to follow his lead, to at least show him that she hadn't given up on him completely but Kayla didn't put her hand up.l

She suddenly found a spot on the table very interesting.

Fuck

“Kayla, please say something…” He begged, his voice cracking. “Anything.”

Kayla didn't even say anything. Reed realized then, that his wife believed he was capable of rape despite all they've shared.

It was not only painful but disheartening, finding out the woman you love and would die for wasn't even half as dedicated as you are…

“Look, Reed, I don't want to go into all that.” Se pushed past the awkward conversation. “The real reason why I came to see you is to tell you that as soon as you're out of here, we're getting divorced.”

Reed jerked as if shocked by electricity. “What- no, Kayla, you can't possibly mean that!”

A stray tear slipped down her cheek as Kayla started to pack her bag, preparing to leave. “I'm sorry but…that's how it's going to be. Goodbye, Reed.”

Kayla stood up and started to walk out the door. It felt like she was walking out of his life and that made Reed react

He pressed up against the glass, screaming and yelling at her to come back…

But Kayla walked out without a backward glance.

A year later

The air of freedom smells different as compared to a stale one of confinement, Reed thought as he nervously tugged his baseball cap low on his face, worried about how his new look would scare them off.

“Hello!” He called out to the young girl who was startled, turning to look at him as if he was a serial killer. She even moved backward. “Sorry to disturb you but I couldn't help but notice that you and your family live here. Is there any chance you stay with her?”

“Nope, never seen her before.”

That underlined his fears.

Kayla had moved out and she didn't leave behind a forwarding address.

Crap, he had no idea where she could be staying since her old number was no longer in service too.

Resigned, Reed made his way to his mother's house.

“Mom?” He called out, noticing that the door was slightly open. Pushing it in, he noticed that there were piles of books and papers strewn away with dirty dishes in the sink.

“Mom? Are you here?” Moving further into the house, he discovered that even the furniture we're thrown over as if the place had been burgled

He went back outside to place a call to his Mom when he saw Mr Tom, Mom's neighbor.

After some careful inquiry, he found out that her place was burgled and his mother had been in the hospital for the past three days.

Those words sent fear racing down his spine and he dashed to the nearest bus stop, anxious to get to the hospital.

“Mom! What happened?” He cried out once he stormed into her room, seeing his mother hooked up to different machines with tubes sticking out of her nose. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes softened with joy. “Reed, I'm so happy to see you here!” She drew him close, plastering kisses all over his cheeks, before waving down at her body.

“As for this, it was because I was investigating your case. You know, I never believed you would do something like that so I spent months meticulously gathering evidence.” To say he was shocked was an understatement. “Unfortunately, about three days ago some gangsters broke into my house and stole everything.” 

Mom sighed, feeling bad that she didn't think of creating a backup plan for something like this.

Reed, on the other hand, felt terribly guilty for placing his Mom in harm's way

“It's okay, Mom. All that matters right now is that you're alive.” He held her close to his chest.

While they were each soaking in each other's company, the room door slammed open and Kayla walked in briskly, holding a slim file in her hand.

She dumped it on the bed in front of him. They spilled out and he realized that they were divorce papers.

“Sign it,” she ordered.

Wait, what?