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2024-10-29 19:42:56Getting out of Jared's office was easier than getting in.
As Ryan past the security guards, he waved politely and thanked them. They didn't suspect a single thing. He just hoped that Jared doesn't look into the trash can in his private office because he dumped the box of pizza and an empty cup there.
Back in the TeaTop building, Ryan browsed his phone for the stolen files, photos, and screenshots of Jared's suspicious chat with the mysterious contact named 'Uncle Frey.' It was a tedious work, but he had no one else to get it done.
He fell asleep early morning, staring at the locked file with half-lidded eyes. 'I'll read it tomorrow when I can use Unlock again.'
With that in mind, Ryan lay on the previous director's couch and let the dream pull him down.
He was woken up by a continuous ringing from his phone. Violet's name is displayed on the screen, urging him to pick up the call. "Yeah?"
Violet ranted in his ear, asking him where the hell h
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The Revenger's System 39. A Leaked Revenge
It was a one-sided fight, exactly like what happened three nights ago in Exhibit X’s ring.The only difference was that Ryan was the one who gave his opponent punches upon punches until his knuckles hurt. If he peeled the black gloves away, he would find red blisters on his skin. He also suffered a few punches and kicks, but he was fine, considering what he had been through.But, damn.It felt good.It felt really, really good knowing Jared’s face was black and blue, swollen like a puffy fish with blood here and there. He never knew this feeling, rushing through his body like a remedy. His nerves burned with excitement.Ryan cackled darkly.“Ah… who knows I’ll be this happy,” he grinned, showing rows of white teeth to the panting man in front of him. “Now, I know why you like to hit people just because you feel like it. You and Violet, both. Although, I thought Violet only did that if she wanted som
The Revenger's System 40. The Crowne's Problem
Violet woke to her phone ringing continuously. She groaned and rolled on her side, trying to reach the source of the disturbing sound. "Wha's this…" Jared's assistant. She rubbed her eyes, trying to banish the sleepiness away. "Yeah?" 'I apologize for disturbing you this early morning, Miss Crowne,' the assistant's voice traveled through the speaker, thick with worry, 'I call from the hospital. Mr. Crowne just got admitted here last night.' "What?!" Violet's heart skipped a beat. She got up from her bed, almost stumbling because of the blanket around her legs. "What do you mean he's in hospital? What happened to him? How is my brother?" The assistant reported, 'He called me last night but didn't say anything. Then I tracked his location and found him in a deserted town out of London. I don't know what happened, but he was unconscious with several injuries. It's like he was fighting and lost. He is being treated by the doctors right now.'
The Revenger's System 41. Distorted Darkness on His Ugly Face
Knock! Knock! Knock! A blonde woman stood before the tall locked door, angry red crossed her face. No answer from the person inside. Knock! Knock! Knock! She tapped her foot against the hard marble, grumbling to herself and hoping the door would open soon. The reporters were waiting by the street, abiding by the law of not entering private property. Still, there was no answer given. The door was silent, tall, and unrelentingly locked in place, forbidding her from turning the handle even just for an inch. Bam! Bam! Bam! She was losing her patience, so he better not test it. She could break the door with a kick if she wanted. Really, really wanted it, for sure. This time, though, the door opened from inside, showing her that disgusting face of Ryan Wilder – her very own disgraceful husband. “Violet,” he said calmly, contrasting wildly against her furious one.
The Revenger's System 42. Jared In Hospital
When Violet and her parents finally arrived at the hospital, Jared just got settled in the VIP hospital room. His assistant was busy with the administration, so only four of them were there. “Oh, my poor boy,” Marissa was close to tears. She tried to hold it back, knowing it’d ruin her mascara and heavily applied makeup. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine, Mom,” Jared said weakly with a white lie. If he was fine, he wouldn’t be attached to cables and small tubes everywhere, looking as pale as death after the doctors dealt with his internal bleeding. Well, he also sported black and blue on his face, bruises Ryan dared to leave behind. “You almost died,” Violet was exaggerating, but it was the first time she saw her older brother this vulnerable. “Why didn’t you call me first?” “I don’t want to make you worry,” he said a little apologetically. “Sorry, you’re supposed to be in Paris now, having brunch with our little brother and comments on the Parisian’s fashion
The Revenger's System 43. A Long Distant Past
Under the spray of water, Ryan looked at his hands.They were full of blisters and callouses. Long, boney fingers that grasped at nothing. Yet, it felt heavy. As if he was dragged along an invisible burden by imaginary chains on his wrists.He couldn’t forget.There was blood everywhere.On his hands, on his skin, and the road in front of him. Red liquid haunted his dream – a nightmare.‘You son of a bitch.’Someone said, and Ryan could only close his eyes in fear.There was blood everywhere, and he couldn’t breathe. He could only look down at his tattered shoes, colored brown from overused mud. But he liked it better than red, which reminded him of blood.It came like a geyser. Sprouting from under his skin. The after-effect of the older man’s hit against him.Ryan whimpered, trying helplessly to stop the cry that threatened to burst. He shouldn’t cry. Boys don’t cry.
The Revenger's System 44. I Don't Owe You Anything, Scum
It was the first time Ryan went to a hospital.He had no illness, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t injured. When he was injured, some unknown doctors would treat him. If not, he had to bear it and get on with his pitiful life.Furthermore, he had no one to visit. Or, to be precise, no one wanted him to visit.He almost went to a hospital when Violet’s grandfather was in his dying days, but his parents-in-law and Violet didn’t want him there. So, yes, it was the first time he ventured inside hospital walls.From some glimpse of the TV show he watched when he could, Ryan knew that hospital VIP rooms were as comfortable. He just didn’t know it could rival a five-star hotel.“Keep your mouth shut.”Standing on the other corner inside the elevator, Violet eyed him with annoyance. Apart from the scowl that made her look older than she was, Violet got a nasty glare every now and then.Ryan sighed. She
The Revenger's System 45. One Thousand Diamonds for Churros
The VIP hospital room felt stifling, as if twenty people were there, along with Ryan and the Crowne family. “I guess I have to remind you again,” Ryan said to Jared. His older brother-in-law looked puzzled, “Remind me?” Ryan didn’t bother to hide the sly smirk from them. “If you think you’re above me that you refuse to apologize, then I just have to bring you down.” Before he could leave, a knock resounded from the door. It opened to a couple of police officers, stern-looking but polite enough, in Ryan’s opinion. “Mr. Jared Crowne?” one of the officers said, introducing themselves and then telling what they were doing there. “If you are well enough, we would like to get your statement.” “Statement?” As usual, Marissa was the one who spoke first. “You don’t think my son did some crime, do you? Because I can guarantee that he’s innocent.” Ryan almost scoffs in disbelief at a mother’s blind love for their child. He didn’t understa
The Revenger's System 46. A Childhood Revelation He Always Wanted
After Violet bought all kinds of snacks sold in the stalls along the street, Ryan insisted they ride the London Eye.They sat in the passenger capsule, which he managed to buy so that the entire ride they would be by themselves. The view was enchanting, he smiled to himself. It was a first – everything seemed to be a first for him. He had a dreamy look on his face.However, what captivated his attention the most was how the blue and green interchanging lights of the Ferris wheel looked against Violet’s soft skin, shining back on the glow she had on. For all of her rejection, Violet at least enjoyed the view she had from there.As far as their eyes could go, the beauty of London sprawled before them. Big Ben, some castle he couldn’t name, and Thames smoothly submerged in the background, blending in the evening lights engulfing London beneath the orange setting hues of the sky.Noticing the lack of people in the other capsule, Violet gave
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- The Revenger's System
156. Signing His Death Sentence
Ryan struggled to stay awake as he stared blankly at one of the bare white walls around him.The hum of the bright fluorescent lights above him flickered occasionally, breaking him in and out of his trance. There were no windows except for the small one at the door, which barely showed into the hallway.He had long lost count of the hours he had been held inside this room since he arrived. He felt tired and broken in more ways than one, but he was managing, and that is all he could do right now.He just needed to hold out a little longer.Just a little longer.Shifting his gaze at the paper before him, it did not take long to realize that no one here was ever on his side to begin with. Telling the truth did not matter. Everyone believed he was a murderer. He was guilty the moment he was arrested, and they made that very clear after trying to repeatedly beat him into signing the confession, making sure to avoid his face. Anything that his prison uniform did cover, they beat until they
- The Revenger's System
155. Turning Table is Not that Simple
The interrogation room was well air-conditioned, it was supposed to be cold. Yet, Ryan couldn’t feel anything but stifling heat from deep within his chest. He felt rage, more than fear or puzzlement at this point.There was only one person who could and would frame him, but getting everyone to believe was hard. Almost impossible, even.Leaning back in his chair, Detective Pierce continued, "Let me tell you the short version of what I think happened. You murdered Jorge and left Edric for dead. You left straight from the party to the airport, trying to flee the scene of the crime.""That's ridiculous.""Why else would you leave Seattle in such a hurry? Were you planning to leave the country next?"Glaring, Ryan griped out a resounding, "No, I simply went home. If I wanted to run, I'd go anywhere but there, wouldn't you think?""It's not far-fetched for you to gather your things and prepare to disappear for good. You wanted revenge for your father's death and you wanted to take down the
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154. Murder Interrogation
Still in shock, Ryan asked the police officer who told him to step forward. "Can I make a phone call?""You're not allowed.""What about an attorney?""The police will contact one on your behalf once you've been transferred.""Transferred?"The officer sighed, pushing him to move forward after a moment. "To Seattle's police jurisdiction. Now stop talking and walk."Following the orders to move, Ryan was taken to a small check-in station where an officer forcefully dipped each of his fingers in black ink, printing each digit on a white paper document.Once they were finished, he was escorted into another area, which was equipped with a digital camera and a large backdrop against the wall that was marked with varying heights. He inwardly sighed as he was given a small blackboard with his name to hold up.An officer instructed him to stand up straight and look towards the camera. He flinched as the flash sounded and wa
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153. Arrested in Cuffs
Opening the door, Ryan was alarmed at finding a couple of police officers standing on the other side. Glancing at the police car in the driveway, his face drained at wondering what the hell was going on."Are you Ryan Wilder?" one of the officers asked."…Yes."One of the men immediately took his hand and placed a handcuff around his wrist, pulling his other arm behind his back before adding another cuff.Another officer said, "Ryan Wilder, you are hereby under arrest on suspicion of murder."His mouth fell open in complete disbelief. "What?""You have the right to remain silent," the officer continued. "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?"His knees felt weak. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. If this really was a dream after
- The Revenger's System
152. Running Away Together
Everything was a blur as Ryan rushed down the hall and burst through the door where they had last left Violet and Edric.What he had found on the other side was his worst nightmare realized.Kneeling down as he pulled Violet limply into his arms, he shakily touched the side of her draining face and gently shook her, finding no response. Choking out her name through cracked whispers over and over, he couldn't stop the sudden tears blurring his vision.Never in his life had Ryan ever felt so hurt and broken as he did now."G-God, no…" he whimpered. "Violet, please… please wake up."Every silent second that passed felt like eternity as his chest began to heave with broken sobs. His throat burned and his eyes clenched in anguish.Weakly picking himself up to see her face, he brushed back her bangs and froze when her blue eyes slowly fluttered open. Everything around him grew still like he was viewing a dream
- The Revenger's System
151. Fight Against Luck
Violet was ready to fight him. She had trained in several martial arts and mastered them for self-defense against harmful men like him. Rendering Edric useless was an easy task. She had almost done that months ago, when he was still playing with his old dog. Come to think of it, where was that old dog of his again? Violet’s blue eyes were focused as she shifted into a defensive stance, her lithe frame ready for action. On the other hand, Edric appeared remarkably nonchalant, sitting at a table with a book and a wide grin on his face as if he knew something Violet didn’t. The first move came from the infamous actress. Her movements were swift and precise, as she had aimed a roundhouse kick at Edric’s head. The red dress with high open slit at her tight created a beautiful motion picture, if one were to enjoy it. Sadly, the circumstance was not fit for such approval. However, just as Violet’s foot was about to connect with Edric’s head, a stack of books toppled over, and he stumble
- The Revenger's System
150. The Outbreak
"Pick it up," Edric haughtily repeated. Violet couldn't believe what she had done - even if he did deserve it. Her reputation was already in the mud lately, so it wasn’t her concern. She just didn’t believe that she punched Edric because of Ryan, the fucking scum. To hell with people still watching her nude scenes. She had made that choice in her younger days, so she didn’t want to regret it right now. However, to insult and humiliate Ryan for having such wife, crossed her line. Oh, how her world had turned upside down because of him. Not responding fast enough for his liking, as she stood frozen in place, he roughly grabbed her arm and nearly pushed her towards the floor before Ryan had cut in between them. "Don't you ever touch her again," Ryan furiously spat. "You'll fucking regret it." Before Edric could retort, the Head Butler of the Ashford family, Jorge, wedged between them, gently pushing them back by the shou
- The Revenger's System
149. To the Fundraiser
Right after breakfast, Thomas knocked on the penthouse door and asked if they were ready. Once they were, they left with Thomas, who had been waiting in the living room. He had been instructed to chauffeur them around Seattle today to find appropriate attire for the company's black tie fundraiser tonight.Although they were being forced to attend, Ryan surprised himself by enjoying their time together shopping for the event. Maybe it was because he got to see Violet try on dresses, or maybe it was just nice to do something normal. Before they return to the penthouse, Violet wants him to buy her a car. She would never ask him for such a thing, because even with all the wealth he had acquired, Violet could afford a car herself. Besides, she was too proud to ask for one. So, when she did ask him, Ryan easily agreed, and they bought one. Too bad, Violet didn’t let him see what the car she bought either, saying it was a surprise for him. Once they returned back to his penthouse after t
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148. His First Kiss
Street lamps flickered on one by one as Thomas drove him about an hour south from the Ashford Gorup's building headquarters to the city's international airport.As the car rolled to a stop, Thomas turned back from the driver's seat and said, "I'll go wait for Ms. Crowne and escort her here, Mr. Wilder."Already unbuckling his seat belt, Ryan lifted a hand up for him to remain in place. Opening the door, he said, "Not necessary. Just stay here and wait for us.""But-"Slamming the door shut, he reached into the inside of his suit jacket and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. He felt like an idiot wearing them, but they had helped with shielding his eyes from any sudden camera flashes. He doubted it would somehow cover his identity, but it served as a kind of protection from meeting someone's eyes directly.Familiar with where to go, Ryan placed his hands in his pockets and walked towards the terminal she would be arriving from.Once he heard Vi
