Rohan’s heart races as he hears someone turn the doorknob. When he sees a servant coming to check on his laundry, relief washes over him. He relaxes and the man looks at him strangely before leaving.
Done with his tasks, he pushes the door to his small room in the servants’ quarters. In the center, a dark blue rug covers the floor, but the smell of mold and decay lingers like an old house that’s been closed for years.
Rohan closes his eyes, exhausted–the flat pillow and hard bed become a distant thought. After his wife dies, the silence surrounds him like a loving companion. The beautiful and kind Kyndra Walton—loved by the gods, but taken too soon.
Suddenly, Kaden bursts into the room and glares at Rohan on the bed. “Is it your break time?” he sneers.
Rohan sits up—his face frozen in fear. He cannot speak. Kaden sits on the edge of the bed and places his hand on Rohan’s shoulder. “Tomorrow is a weekend. I can spend my time with you tonight,” he promises.
Rohan shivers as Kaden straddles him. His eyes are burning bright with rage, and he says, “I am going to ensure we enjoy this.”
Rohan thrusts Kaden off the bed. He races to the door with fear pounding in his chest. Kaden is a monster, and he knows why he came here: to beat him until he’s satisfied.
Before he opens the door, a powerful force hurls him across the floor, and he crashes into the table with a loud bang. The impact knocks the air out of his lungs. He tries to stand up, but his head spins. He rubs his forehead and looks around.
Kaden is standing over him, wearing a sneer on his face. “You little shit, where the hell are you going when I am wasting my time here with you?!” he roars.
Rohan slowly stands, facing Kaden’s tall, broad frame. His blue eyes are cold and menacing.
“I am not my wife,” Rohan breathes.
Rohan remembers how Kaden grieved deeply for Kyndra when she died. Kaden had wanted to spend more time with his sister, but Rohan and Kyndra had been inseparable since their marriage. And now, his grief has turned against Rohan.
“I know you are not my little sister.” Kaden clenches his fist and swings, hitting Rohan straight on the cheek. “However, every time I see you, it fills me with rage!”
Kaden punches his stomach, and he gasps in pain as his blood drenches the blue gemstone on Kaden’s ring.
Kaden grabs Rohan by the neck, squeezing until he can’t breathe, before throwing him on the floor and kicking him in the stomach.
Rohan covers his head with his arms while reflecting on his life. When he married Kyndra, his life wasn’t supposed to be like this: a punching bag and a servant.
Rohan’s body aches, and he hears Kaden wheezing. He glances at the gemstone on Kaden’s ring. Not enough blood—they are still halfway through the session.
Kaden laughs and takes Rohan by the collar. “Are you not going to fight back, little shit?!”
He knows he can’t fight back against Kaden—the Walton clan is too powerful. If he does, he’ll suffer far worse than what he is already enduring.
Kaden pins him on the wall. “Let’s not wreck your face too much,” he smirks. “That’s the only thing my sister loved about you.”
His fingers trail on Rohan’s stomach and touch the skin around his belly button. He grabs the fabric of his shirt and rips it, exposing Rohan’s torso.
“Let’s focus on this part.”
Kaden lets out an evil cackle. His fist slams against his flesh, and his ring scratches across his skin. Blood trickles down, and Kaden’s ring is drowned in his blood—so much that it turns red—Kaden stands up with a smirk.
“Let’s do this again once you are all healed up,” he promises. And with a wicked laugh, he leaves the room.
Rohan gets up, bruised and battered. He locks the door even if he knows the Waltons have a key. He crawls to the rug at the center of the room and lies on it. He can’t sleep on the bed. He knows that he will be punished if he dirties the sheets.
Rohan wakes up, exhaustion filling him up. Sunlight streams in the window, yet he feels overwhelmed. He stares at the familiar ceiling of his bedroom but finds no comfort. Dread builds–it’s Saturday morning.Ignoring the trembling of his legs, he goes to the washroom. Splashing water on his face, he notices the swelling and pain in his stomach. After a bath and fresh clothes, he returns to his room and sits on the bed, feeling heavy and numb.A knock comes at the door. Rohan opens it and finds a female servant holding a breakfast tray. He frowns at the coffee and the food.“Sir Kaden sent me. He mentioned you got into an accident last night.”Rohan nods, and Sara, Kaden’s personal maid, enters. Sara is tall and slender with a plain face. Her hair is pulled back in a bun. She is dressed in a gray uniform and black apron and carries an air of confidence.She sets the tray down and pats the bed. “If you would sit here, I can look at the wound on your face,” she says. “And anywhere you ar
After his bath, Rohan enters a sun-filled greenhouse of vines and flowers. Inhaling the sweet scent, he relaxes in the comforting oasis.Rohan knows he’s dreaming when he sees Kyndra smiling down at him. Her dark hair falls around her shoulders, and her eyes sparkle in the light. She moves closer and presses against him, whispering, “Come to me.”He bolts awake, groaning. It had been a while since he last dreamed of his beloved wife.“Fuck me harder! Ah! Come for me!” It is a shrill cry of a woman amidst ecstasy.Rohan crawls towards the sound and sees Kendrick Walton and Chelsea, the famous actress, in a passionate embrace. She is writhing beneath him as pleasure wracks their bodies.Kendrick yells, “You whore! Stop faking your orgasm!”“I am not,” she purrs. “You are so good.”Kendrick whirls around and bellows, “Who’s there?!”Rohan panics as Kendrick’s eyes flash with murder. There’s no way to escape.Kendrick takes his pants and a gun. He fires. Rohan feels a sharp pain, and bloo
The grand party is filled with vibrant colors, music, and lights. Guests are dressed in their finest and are dancing. Buffet tables are set with crystal glasses, dishes, and food. The aromas of sweet desserts, savory meats, bread, coffee, and flowers fill the room.Rohan stands stiffly as Kaydance Walton smiles at their greeters. Kyndra should have been the one attending, but now Kaydance and Rohan have to substitute.“Why are there too many people?!” she complains, her arms interlaced on his. “I thought this is a gathering of the elite? It’s not elite if there’s a lot!”Rohan still thinks the number is small. Less than a hundred for the entire country.“Do something, dog!” Kaydance orders.Rohan ignores her command. His shoulders ache from Kendrick’s hit yesterday, and he is uncomfortable wearing a black tuxedo while others wear colorful gowns and suits. Thankfully, he only had to stay until Kendrick’s announcement.“There are a lot of handsome actors here. Dog, make yourself handsom
Kaden pulls Rohan’s head up. “Since you will die soon, I will tell you something really good,” he says. He leans closer to his ears and whispers, “I killed my sister Kyndra. I had no choice. She is about to squander our fortune. Too much for being one of the Twelve Elites. She is a massive fool, destroyed when she met you.”Rohan’s eyes flew open and sees the ceiling of a house. He is only dreaming. No, that was real. As he was dying, Kaden whispered it to him. That monster killed his wife! And then, he killed him too!His eyes begin to well up with tears. If he could go back in time, he would do everything differently. He and Kyndra would stay together forever. Instead, they wasted years, and their marriage only ended in misery and sorrow.“Why is the young man crying?”Rohan’s eyes go to an old man by the door. He is holding a pitcher with a small cup on top. And on his other hand is a water basin with a towel hanging on its side.“So, angels look like that?”The old man chuckles. “
When the gauze is unwrapped from Rohan’s face, he realizes he is looking at a stranger in the mirror. His terrified eyes scan his new features, feeling the unfamiliarity of his changed jaw, cheeks, and eyebrows.“I am sorry, but your face is too beat up that I had no choice but to completely change it,” Crete informs him too late.“Why...”“It’s also safer for you. If those people realize that you are still alive—”Fury boils within him as he snatches Crete’s collar, cutting his sentence off. He balls his hands into meaty fists. He lifts his arms, ready to unleash his wrath, when he holds back with great effort, leaving the air quivering with his anger.“Don’t worry, I understand,” Crete says.Rohan’s face contorts with rage. A sea of white-hot anger engulfs him. His jaw clenches. He can feel his heart pounding as every ounce of his being is consumed by the fierce desire for vengeance.Without warning, he storms over to the chair and unleashes a furious onslaught of kicks, obliteratin
The city is still the same as before. Heavy traffic. Pickpockets. Vendors on the side of the street. Women having a catfight on the side. It is chaos. Yet, there is a certain sense of comfort in him. Rohan has been here for a few months. He’s been studying the elites, taking information, and planning his next moves.Rohan walks down the busy streets. He spots a few men in black suits going to his destination: the fitness center. He follows them until they enter the gym.Rohan enters the lobby and looks around. There is a woman behind the counter checking people out. He approaches.“Good morning, I am Rudi Rowe. I am here to apply as one of the gym trainers or cleaners,” Rohan starts. “I just need a job.”The woman looks at him from head to toe and back again. “If you can wait there,” she says, pointing at one of the couches. “You are just in time. I believe the boss is looking for a new personal trainer.”Rohan nods and obeys the woman. He sits on the couch and replays his separation
Three months later...Rohan is in front of Yu’s employees. He is the first quarter’s top awardee because he’s got a couple of clients and is earning decently. James approaches him with a smile on his face. “Congratulations, Rudi! You’ve done well.”Rohan nods. “Thank you.”“You are welcome. I was wondering if you would like to join my team. I am looking for a personal trainer to help me manage the other trainers.”Rohan is stunned. This is precisely what he wanted–the opportunity to work under him. That way, his revenge will be easier. “I’m interested.”“Great!” James claps his hands together. “You start tomorrow morning.”James turns his attention back to the other employee and says, “For anyone who would like to have the same position. Work hard, and I will include you in the team that I am building.”The employees cheer. “Now, let’s celebrate!” James shouts. “To a successful first quarter!”**************The next day, Rohan arrives at the gym early in the morning and sees James s
The day of the show has arrived. The audience watches the program while waiting for the host to call on James. He is the recent winner of another fitness reality show competition. A few minutes later, when the emcee announces James, he comes out wearing a shirt and pants instead of his usual suit. He sits down in front of the camera and smiles at the audience. “Hello, everyone!” he chirps.The host starts with the interview, while Rohan stands on the side. He watches closely how James presents himself to the public and tries to memorize everything he does. He could use it against him later.“You won last year’s competition. How did you prepare yourself for this season?” the host asks.“I trained harder than before.”“What kind of results did you get?”“I was able to increase my muscle mass by two percent.”“That’s an appreciable increase.”“Not so much. That is why, for this season, I hired a personal trainer to help me reach my goals.”“How many trainers do you have?”“Only one, but
As Pablo finishes his testimony, the courtroom is in shock. Gertrude’s face is twisted in anger and disbelief, while her lawyer looks defeated.“Your honor, I object to these baseless accusations against my client!” Gertrude’s lawyer exclaims.The judge raises an eyebrow. “I have heard enough evidence from Mr. Pablo and the other witnesses to proceed with this trial. Do you have any more witnesses or evidence to present on behalf of your client?”Gertrude’s lawyer shakes his head, knowing that there is no way to defend against the overwhelming evidence presented by Rohan and his team.The prosecutor steps forward confidently. “Your honor, we have shown with irrefutable evidence that Ms. Gertrude is involved in various illegal activities. We request that she be taken into custody immediately.”The judge bangs his gavel. “Ms. Gertrude, you are under arrest for drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking.”The court erupts into cheers as Gertrude is led away by police offic
After a while, Tyrianne comes out of her room wearing a skimpy outfit. “Oh, I didn’t know you were awake,” she comments, lowering down the volume of the television. “Who could sleep with that kind of noise?!” he snaps, straightening from the sofa. She chuckles, unaffected by his irritation. “We might have a little too much fun.” “A little?” Rohan’s voice rises in disbelief. “That was not a little. You two were practically screaming your lungs out!” Tyrianne just shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, we can’t help it if we enjoy each other’s company,” she smirks. Rohan rolls his eyes and huffs in annoyance. “I swear, you two have no sense of decency.” “Decency?” Tyrianne repeats, raising an eyebrow at him. “You’re one to talk about decency when you are watching TV at such a loud volume.” He gives her a pointed look before turning back to the TV. He doesn’t want to admit that he was trying to drown out the scandalous sounds coming from her room. She walks over and sits beside him on the co
They spend the rest of the evening coming up with a plan to gather evidence against Gertrude. They decide that Douglas will sneak into her office during business hours and retrieve any incriminating documents or emails from her computer. The following day, Rohan watches from a safe distance as Douglas makes his move. He sees him looking around before slipping inside Gertrude’s office. Rohan can feel his heart racing with anticipation, knowing that this could make or break their case against Gertrude. Inside the office, Douglas quickly moves towards Gertrude’s computer and begins typing furiously. Rohan can see that he is nervous, but determined, as he sifts through files and folders on the computer. Then, there is a loud noise outside the office and Douglas freezes, looking around frantically for a place to hide. The door swings open, revealing Gertrude herself. Douglas hides behind the desk before Gertrude can see him. But as she heads straight for the desk, Rohan holds his breath
Rohan adjusts his tailored tuxedo jacket and straightens his silk tie as he enters the grand ballroom. “You look stunning,” he whispers to his partner, Tyrianne, as they make their way through the lavish crowd. “Thank you, darling,” Tyrianne replies with a smug grin, flaunting her designer gown that hugs her curves perfectly. “I can’t believe we blended in so well with these wealthy elites,” he chuckles, scanning the room for their target. “But I have a feeling Gertrude will stand out like a sore thumb.” Tyrianne mumbles something, her eyes already searching for their target. Rohan mimics her. They are using crystal glasses and extravagant decorations. There is also a huge chandelier above, which gives off a more opulent atmosphere that matches Gertrude’s persona. “She loves to show off her wealth and power? I guess this is a great place to do it.” As they carefully navigate through the throngs of people, Rohan and Tyrianne keep up a steady stream of discreet conversation, keepi
Rohan and Tyrianne quickly make their way towards their safe-house, the injured mercenary slung over Rohan’s shoulder. They have no time to waste, as they need answers from this man before he succumbs to his wounds. As they enter the safe-house, Rohan sets the injured man down in a chair while Tyrianne begins to prepare for the interrogation. She brings out various tools, including ropes and knives, that she knows will be effective in getting information out of someone. She also prepares medicines and bandages — another path for the mercenary if he chooses to cooperate. When the mercenary wakes up, he struggles weakly against his restraints as Rohan takes a seat across from him. His eyes flicker with fear and pain, but he remains silent. “Who hired you?” Rohan starts off calmly. The mercenary remains silent, his gaze shifting between Rohan and Tyrianne. “Are you not going to answer?” Tyrianne asks coldly, her fingers daintily touching the different tools setup for him. “I—I can’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Rohan and Tyrianne duck behind the staircase as Jackson starts firing his gun. The bullets ricochet off the walls, sending dust and debris flying in all directions. The two huddle together, trying to come up with a plan. “We need to disarm him,” Rohan whispers, his eyes darting around the area for any possible weapons they can use. Tyrianne nods in agreement. “I’ll create a diversion. You sneak up on him from behind,” she says, before dashing towards the opposite end of the hallway. Jackson’s attention turns towards her, and he starts shooting in her direction. Meanwhile, Rohan takes advantage of the distraction and stealthily moves towards him. Just as Jackson turns around, Rohan tackles him to the ground, sending both of them tumbling down the stairs. The impact knocks the wind out of Rohan, and he struggles to maintain his grip on Jackson’s gun. They wrestle on the floor. He can feel his muscles straining from the effort. “You think you can take m
Rohan and Tyrianne sit across from each other in a dimly lit room, sharing breakfast and visibly shaken. Dust fills the air and the slivers of light that sneak in from the outside illuminate the room. He shifts his gaze to her, and like him, her face is pale and drawn. He can see the worry in her expression, the same as what he is feeling now. Tyrianne breaks the silence. “How could it have been so easy?” Her voice is barely audible and there is a tremble in her voice as she speaks. Rohan shakes his head. “I don’t know,” he admits. “Do you think it’s a trap?” “But we’re still alive.” “A delayed trap, perhaps?” Still, Rohan feels like someone is laughing at him–as if he is being played around. “How safe is this place?” she asks. “You’re the only person who knows this place.” “I’m worried about my kids in the orphanage.” “I don’t think they would massacre them.” “Rohan!” she scolds, and she might not have noticed herself, but she just called him by his name. “Should I apolog
There are two places that Pablo has mentioned to Rohan where they can look for more evidence. One is in a mansion, the other one is in a derelict warehouse looming before them.“Why did Pablo even think that this warehouse has evidence?” Rohan asks as he walks inside.This place is more than abandoned. Shadows dance through the shattered windows as he and Tyrianne pick their way carefully over the debris on the floor.“He did say that Gertrude’s allies are using this place to store incriminating documents.”“Without a guard?”“We’re not yet sure of that,” she answers.Rohan keeps quiet as they delve deeper into the crumbling building.“Over here,” Tyrianne calls softly, her flashlight illuminating a stack of dusty file boxes tucked away in a corner.Rohan joins her, his pulse quickening as he opens the first box. “Look at this,” he murmurs
The following weeks are a flurry of activities. They set their plans in motion. Rohan and Pablo help gather evidence against Gertrude, while Tyrianne snakes her way into infiltrating Gertrude’s inner circle. Although, Tyrianne looks all harmless, innocent, and sincere—it belies the fact that she can ensnare anyone within her traps.The door opens, and Tyrianne comes into his office. She is wearing a purple dress that reaches half her thighs. Her hair is up in a lovely bun and her heels are at least five inches high.Sitting on a couch, she removes her heels and starts to massage her feet.“Gertrude Mendoza has her fingers in a lot of pies,” Rohan informs her.“Right,” she says. Clearly tired and annoyed by the recent social event she had just attended.“How’s everything on your side?”“Bad. I didn’t see Clint at all. No one from Gertrude’s side attended the event too.”“A waste for the get-up?”“What?” she asks, frowning.“Well, you look pretty in that dress,” he comments, almost trip