The Revenge Quest

Chapter 1 - Anniversary Gift

“Excuse me sir, we will be closing now”

Hardin looks up from his empty glass of whisky which he had been staring at for the past few minutes lost in thought.

His wife, Karina had suddenly asked for a divorce over he past few weeks but he had refused to sign the papers. It wasn't like he was treated well in the family but he couldn't believe the woman he had loved so hard would give up on him so easily.

“Sir?”

Hardin slams a rough dollar bill on the table and staggers out of the bar. It was their anniversary night and he had asked Karina to go out with him in an attempt to convince her not to divorce him but he had foolishly waited for hours and she hadn't bothered to show up.

Why was he holding out on a hopeless marriage when he was constantly abused? Redemption? Maybe he could work hard and prove to his wife that he could be the rich man she had always wished she married.

Tipsy, Hardin takes a cab back to his house ready to face his furious wife forcing him to sign divorce papers.

Once he arrives at his house, he is confused at the sight of two police cars parked at the yard. Hardin rushes into his house hoping something bad hadn't happened.

Once he is inside, he sees Karina sobbing on the floor with her mother and brother by her side comforting her.

“Karina! What's wrong?!”

Hardin rushes up to Karina but receives a hard slap from her mother, Eliza. Hardin stumbles and almost loses his balance from the impact.

“You monster! Just look what you have done to my daughter?!!”

Confused, Hardin takes a good look at Karina to see her face and entire arms covered in bruises.

“What do you-”

“Officer! What are you doing standing there?! Take this man away!”

Karina's older brother, Luke yells while glaring at Hardin. Two officers who were standing in the corner come up to Hardin and roughly grab his arm.

“W-Wait! What's going on?!”

Hardin tries to struggle against their tight grip but he is pushed to the floor and handcuffed. Luke comes over and grabs him by the collar.

“How dare you do this to my sister just because she asked for a divorce. You go ahead and beat her up?! What sort of animal are you?!”

“I didn't do it! I could never hit her! Karina!!”

Karina looks up at Hardin with teary eyes and smirk.

“He beat me up mom! He told me he would kill me if I ever asked for a divorce? He said he would never let me away from his sight that I belonged to him!”

Karina sobbed even harder as her mother embraced her and Hardin's mouth fell slightly open. He couldn't believe Karina and her family had stopped so low to put on a show just so they could get rid of him.

He knew Karina was heartless but he couldn't believe she would go as far as sending him to jail.

“No! Officer please I swear I didn't harm her! This is all a scheme!!”

Eliza gets up aggressively and charges for Hardin but she is held back by her son.

“How dare you say that?!! Do you have no conscience even after what you did to my daughter? My daughter took care of you all these years and all you ever did was extort money from my family and this is how you repay her?!I promise you Hardin you will rot in jail forever and I will make sure of it!”

Luke looks up at the officers with fury in his eyes.

“What are you still doing? Take this bastard away!”

Hardin is dragged away aggressively by the officer.

“No! Please! Karina! Please tell them I didn't do this! I would never harm you! Karina!!”

Hardin cries out but Karina ignores him as he is pulled away. Karina chuckles underneath her breath once Hardin is taken away. She rises to her feet, folds her arms and smirk.

“Is he gone?”

Luke checks the window and nods. Not being able to hold herself back anymore Karina bursts out into laughter.

“Goodbye forever Hardin. You useless bastard”

Luke chuckles loudly and grabs a bottle of champagne off the table.

“Finally! I hope that jerk gets what he deserves”

Eliza, Karina's mother places a hand over Karina's shoulder.

“Your acting was spectacular my child”

Karina smirks.

“Of course mother. I made sure to teach him a lesson. He will regret the day he ever came into my life to mess with me”

Karina chuckles loudly and clink glasses with her mother and brother.

“Cheers!”

…

“Dario! Please you have to help get me out!”

Hardin begs as he stares through the glass that seperates him from his step-brother Dario.

“How did you get yourself into this much trouble Hardin?!”

“I swear I didn't do it Dario. Please just help me! You have to testify in court! Reveal all Karina and her family have done to me…You have to prove my innocence. I was framed!”

Dario sighs and rubs his temples.

“I believe you brother. You don't have to worry about anything. I will help you in any way I can. I've got your back Hardin”

Hardin let's out a relieved sigh. For the first time since he had been arrested, he had hope. Hope that his step-brother will save him.

“What about Mom and Dad? H-How are they doing? They haven't come to see me”

Dario frowns.

“They're quite dissapointed about this. It might ruin business”

Hardin nervously picks at his fingers. His adoptive parents had taken him in and treated him so well. They had been proud he was finally starting a business.

Hardin knew they would be disappointed as they had always looked up to him more than their biological son Dario.

“Just trust me Hardin. Everything will be taken care of. I'll see you in court”

“Thank you, Dario. I'm glad I have you as my brother”

…

The day of the trial finally arrives. Hardin nervously trembled in his seat as he awaited Dario as his witness but he was nowhere to be found.

“Now. We will bring up the witness for Hardin Scott. Please come up to the witness box”

The two large doors of the court are suddenly opened. Dario steps in and quickly rushes to the witness box.

“Your honour, I apologize for coming in late”

“Go ahead”

The judge says seeming uninterested. Hardin smiles at Dario feeling a bit of relief in his heart. It seemed everyone in the room was against him but now his brother was here to defend him.

The lawyer walks up to him.

“Mr. Dario can you attestify to the fact that Mr. Hardin was not the culprit in Miss Karina's case?”

Dario goes silent for a minute and the entire room is tensed. Karina sits with crossed arms staring at Dario with a smirk.

Dario looks up at Hardin.

“No. Hardin indeed abused Miss Karina for over a long time and he told me to lie and stand as a witness for him but your honour I can't lie because I have a conscience. I am truly dissapointed in him”

Murmurs erupt throughout the court room. Hardin gets up abruptly with shaky hands and a twinge of pain in his heart. Hardin looks at Dario with disbelief.

“What?”

Hardin speaks in a faint voice.

The Judge bangs the gavel.

“Order in the court! Mr. Hardin Scott”

Hardin shifts his attention to the judge. Sweat on his forehead, trembling hands and a mouth hung open.

“You are hereby sentenced to five years imprisonment for domestic violence”