“No!”
Police officers come up to Hardin and drag him away. “No! I didn't do! I swear I didn't do it! Karina! Why did you do this to me?! You were the one who abused me! Tell them the truth! Confess it all! You set me up!” Karina rolls her eyes and gets up. Dario walks up to her and right in front of Hardin's eyes they both share a kiss. Hardin falls to his knees and the police officers try to pick him up. He couldn't believe the sight he had just witnessed. His mouth hung open and a tear dropped from his eyes “D-Dario? Dario! Did you two plan this?!” “Shut up already you bastard!” “Dario! I swear I will never forgive you for this! I won't forgive all of you!” The police officers push Hardin out of the door while Karina and Dario wave him goodbye with smug looks on their faces. It finally all made sense to Hardin. Karina and Dario had joined hands to put him behind bars to make sure he got a divorce so they could finally be together. Hardin hadn't known their affair had been going on for a long time under his nose. Dario felt satisfied. His parents had always praised and compared him to Hardin ever since they were young. They yelled at him to do better so much that they treated Hardin like he was their biological son instead of Dario. The Jealousy and bitterness Dario felt was put at ease as he watched the man he hated the most put behind bars while the woman he loved was in his arms. His parents were ashamed of Hardin and that was all that mattered. The high and mighty perfect Hardin Scott became a criminal. “Everything is finally in place now my love” Karina smiles while putting her arms around Dario's neck. “Now we can finally get married right?” Dario places a kiss on her forehead. “Why wait? Let's do it right away. Today calls for a celebration!” … One day later. Hardin reads the headline on the newspaper announcing Karina's appointment as the CEO of her father's company. A photo of her and Dario holding hands and wearing wedding rings is on the cover. Hardin crumples the paper with his fists shaking in anger. He couldn't believe the people who had destroyed his life had been living so perfectly while he suffered for a crime he never committed. “Karina Hamilton” Hardin turns to see a man in the other cell smoking a cigarette with his back turned against him. The man lets out a chuckle. “It's been a while since I heard that name” Hardin quirks an eyebrow seeming intrigued at the strange man. “What do you mean?” The man still had his back against Hardin as he crushes the cigarette underneath his feet. “The Hamilton's are really something especially their daughter Karina. I suppose you must hate her” Hardin was starting to get irritated at the fact the man had refused to look at him while speaking. Was he playing games with him? “Who the hell are you?” The man turns around to face Hardin. He had scars on his face and two eye patches. “You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is I loathe that family especially their precious daughter Karina” Karina's name rolls off his tongue with spite as the man clenches his fists. Hardin tilts his head to the side seeming more interested. “What grudge do you have against Karina and her family? Let me know” The man chuckles loudly and lights up another cigarette. “The name is Mole. I hear you're getting out of here soon. If you ever need help with Karina Hamilton don't hesitate to reach out to me” Hardin scoffs. “How am I supposed to trust that you could be of any help to me?” Mole smirks and blows a puff of smoke in Hardin's face but Hardin doesn't flinch. Instead, he looks rather pissed. “The choice is yours Hardin Scott. If you ever need me someday…” Mole slides a piece of paper with a phone number written on it to Hardin and he picks it up. Hardin is in awe as it is written in blood. “You can come find me” Hardin stares at the bloody numbers with curiosity. An officer walks in and open Mole's cell. “Hey you! You're free to go. Get out now” Mole gets up and does a little stretch before shoving his hands in his two pockets and stepping out. He turns around to look at Hardin. “I hope to see you on the other side buddy” Mole is taken away by the officer leaving Hardin intrigued. For someone who was blind Hardin wondered how Mole moved well so easily and how he was able to write the numbers. Most of all he wondered whose blood was used to write the numbers. … “Hardin Scott! You're free to go” The day had finally come. Hardin had counted the days until he could regain the freedom Karina and Dario took away from him but he thought his sentence was for five years. Was the officer mistaken? Hardin leaves his cell and bumps into an inmate on his way out. The man curses underneath his breath. It was a man covered in tattoos and looked to be in his 40’s. He glares at Hardin. “You're finally getting out? Don't be so cheeky. I promise you once I'm out. I won't hesitate to get back at you for going against me when I'm the boss here” Hardin scoffs. “Goodluck” Hardin pushes past him and walks away. Hardin couldn't believe he was set free on bail. The sun was extremely bright today and the clouds looked more beautiful in Hardin's eyes. As he stood at the gates of his now former hell, the air outside felt so fresh as the breeze welcomed him. This was what Karina and Dario took away from him and he would never forgive them for what they had put him through simply because he was an orphan who didn't come from a wealthy family. Hardin grips the handle of his bag and starts making his way down the road but just then, a black limousine car pulls up to him. An old looking man dressed elegantly steps out and slightly bows to Hardin. Hardin is taken aback and stays on guard as he wonders if Karina or Dario had sent the man after him. “Welcome back Master Hardin” Master? “Who are you?” Hardin states bluntly. If Karina was trying to pull a prank on him, he wasn't going to sit back and take it” “I am here to escort you home” It didn't take long for Hardin to realize this man was the one who must have gotten him out so quickly. Hardin quirks an eyebrow at him. Home? His adoptive parents wouldn't ever welcome him back to their house after what happened. He knew how strict they were. Was this a joke? “What home is that?” The old man sends him a small smile. “The home where you truly belong”Hardin had been skeptical about getting into the car with a stranger. He didn't know if he was being driven to his doom or his fortune. Either way, he was willing to take the risk. If he was going to be taken to either Karina or Dario. He would make sure he ended their life on the spot as his revenge. After what they had done to him, they were better off dead. “Master, we are here”The old man, Sebastian steps out of the car and the chauffeur opens the door for Hardin. Hardin steps out and his mouth hangs open at the huge mansion standing in front of him. Astonished, he looks over at Sebastian. Who the hell owned such a mansion? The person must be very powerful and wealthy. But what did they want with someone like him? “This way sir”Hardin is escorted into the large mansion. He is in awe at all the luxurious items that surround him. Spiral stairs, Gold Walls. Expensive paintings. It looked like a castle. “Who is this person you want me to meet?”Sebastian gestures towards a door
“Cheers!” Karina giggles as she wraps her arms around Dario's neck. They were having a mini celebration for her suceeding her father's company. “How do you feel my love?”Karina gets up and places a hand on her chest with a huge smile on her face. She twirled around the office with a glass of champagne in her hand. “I feel so much joy, honey. I just can't believe it. I've waited for this moment for a very long time and now…”Karina ran her fingers over the nameplate with her name inscribed on it. She lets out a little laugh. “It's all mine. It feels like everything is in place. Like I have it all. Ever since that bastard was finally out of my life it was like a portal opened up! And my life was finally being put in the perfect place!”Dario claps and stands up putting an arm around his wife's waist. He was glad to see the delight on her face. Indeed everything was going so well for them, he had taken over the company Hardin had worked in and made so much money from it that he was
“No!!!!”Karina shoves the bottles of perfume on her dresser to the floor. They all smash into pieces and she stares at her disheveled state as anger coursed through her veins. “Karina! What the hell are you doing?!”Dario scolds feeling angry himself. Karina scoffs. “Didn't you see that bastard at the party! Didn't you see how well-dressed he was looking?! That damn smug look on his face! He came to daunt us I'm so mad!”Dario lets out a deep sigh as he sits on the bed silently fuming. “I can't believe he made his way into the elite society and what? Did he change his name? How could it be that he acquired all that wealth?”Karina glares at Dario. “Why didn't you figure out he was released already?! He was meant to be there for five fucking years Dario! How the hell is he out?!”Dario rises to his feet and grips Karina's shoulders. “Calm down Karina! Pull yourself together! Don't turn into a mess because of that bastard”Karina pushes him away. “Then you need to do something an
“What?! Who the hell is back?!”Luke Hamilton, Karina's older brother had almost spat out his drink once his sister broke the news of Hardin's return to him. Karina sighs, sipping her glass of cold wine to help her stay sane. Lule places a hand over his forehead. “Oh Damn! This is bad. He wasn't supposed to be out until like five years. How the hell is he out?”Karina looked so drained that she spoke in a calm tone. She had to struggle to accept the fact it was not all a dream and Hardin had actually come back. “He was granted bail”Luke frowns. “By who?”Karina sighs. “By his father”Luke lets out a short-lived laugh. “Father? Karina, are you forgetting that bastard is a dirty orphan?”Karina cursed under her breath as her wine finished. “I need more”Luke takes away the bottle from her. “What? You're going to day drink and drown yourself in alcohol till your death because of that idiot?”Karina glares at her brother. “You really haven't realized how much of a nightmare this
“Thank you for your help with the investors Travis”Hardin shakes hands with his childhood friend Travis whom he had grown up with at the orphanage. He was now a police officer. “It's nothing at all. I am super glad I could be of help”Travis suddenly gets a call and he gets up after it ends.“It looks like I have an emergency to take care of being a cop and all. However, you should let me know if you need help in any way. I'm here for you”Hardin smiled. He was finally getting enough Allies. A few minutes after Travis exits the office, Layla rushes in with a look of panic on her face. “Sir! There's an emergency”Hardin sighs. “Calm down and tell me what it is”Layla catches her breath.“Attorney Park was involved in an accident”Hardin gets up. “What?!”…Hardin stared at Attorney Park who lay on the hospital bed covered in bandages. Luckily he had surgery and he was alive. The doctors were focusing on his condition. Hardin receives a call. “Hello, Detective Kim?”Hardin sits
“That fucking ex-convict. How dare he take what is mine?!”Karina rolls her eyes. “So what do you plan to do? Take him down? You must have a decent plan right?”Karina spoke while filing her nails. “Just wait and see. I'll get back what is mine and most of all I will teach that bastard a lesson and send him back to where he came from”Luke chuckles. “He comes out from jail and starts acting all high and mighty? It's only a matter of time until he ends up there once again”Karina scoffs. “Are you that daft? Do you think it'll be easy to take him down so easily like before? He had so much money and power now. Don't you still get it?!”Karina sighs, feeling frustrated with her brother. “Don't go doing anything silly that you can't handle. Hardin must be smart enough to have gotten into the elite club and make it to the top so quickly. You should be cautious about him”“Don’t worry about me. I have a meeting now with the investors so I'll be taking my leave”“Goodluck brother”Luke c
“What the hell?”Luke reads the words on the letter. ‘'TURN YOURSELF IN YOU DRUG ADDICT”Angered, he crumples the paper in his hand. What? Did Hardin start threatening him? “How dare he do this to me? I already promised I will do it”Luke scratches his hair in frustration. As if beating him up was not enough. Was Hardin also threatening him as well? Luke needed to do something before he will go down but how was he going to get any information on his sister? How could he actually betray her? A knock is heard on the door startling Luke. He takes in a deep breath and lays down still feeling intense pain all over his body. “Come in”Dario walks in with a smile on his face dressed in a suit and standing confidently as he towered over Luke. “Can you be honest with me Luke? You know I consider you like my little brother"Luke scoffs. "Don't. You already have an abandoned brother"Dario smirks and leans closer to Luke. "Did Hardin really beat you to a pulp?”Luke glares at Dario. “
Luke was doomed. He was caught red handed. How was he going to get himself out of this? Even his own sister didn't know about his drug trafficking history or that he was an addict and he wasn't going to confess now. Luke let's out a nervous laugh. “Karina. You're awake?”Karina had a cold expression on her face as she walked down to Luke and grabbed the file out of his hand. “Answer me Luke. What the fuck are you doing here? Why are you going through my stuff?!”Luke lets out a sigh and stands confident.“Why are you so on edge? Are you hiding something?”Karina scoffed. “I asked you a question brother. Why did you sneak into my room and come for this?”“I was drunk. I had too many drinks with Dario and lost my way to your room thinking it's the wine cellar and I stumbled upon this room. So I was curious”Karina takes a step closer to her brother glaring daggers at him. “You stumbled? No one knows about this room not even my husband! So I find it very hard to believe you ‘’stumb