Avery slowed down her pace and waited for Vivian to reach where she was. She already knew what Vivian had to say but wanted to hear it from her mouth. The tension in the air thickened as Vivian knelt before Avery. She struggled to find the words to express herself, knowing the impact of her revelation would have on her husband at work. Malissa, however, was not as reserved."Are you seriously going to grovel like a fool over this nobody?" Malissa shouted, her anger mounting. Avery remained silent, her expression unreadable as she waited for Vivian to speak.Vivian swallowed nervously, her eyes downcast in shame. "Please, Avery," she pleaded, her voice quivering. "I'm so sorry. I know there's no excuse for what I've done."Avery's gaze was piercing, but she said nothing. She simply waited, letting the silence stretch on like a tightrope ready to snap at any moment.Malissa, meanwhile, rolled her eyes with disgust. "This is ridiculous. Vivian, get up off the floor and act like the wife
Avery's final words hung in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow of fear over the two women. They stood frozen in place, their eyes wide with terror, as she paid for her purchase at the counter.The other shoppers in the store watched in bewilderment as Malissa and Vivian quivered and shook, like two rabbits caught in a snare. When Avery turned to leave, they scrambled towards her, eager to carry her purchases like a pair of frantic servants.But Avery would have none of it."Stop this nonsense," Avery snapped, her voice hard and authoritative as she scooped up her own packages. "I'm not interested in your pathetic attempts to curry favor. You have a choice. Either you can apologize for your behavior and hope that I'm in a forgiving mood, or you can leave and never come back."Vivian and Malissa stared at each other, their faces pale and drawn as they weighed their options. Finally, Vivian stepped forward, her voice breaking with emotion."We're sorry, Avery," she said, her eye
The recent turmoil had left its mark on Jeremy and Avery, and in an effort to ease the tension, Jeremy decided that a family outing was in order. He believed that quality time together would help alleviate the stress and bring some much-needed peace.With this in mind, Jeremy set about planning a day filled with fun and relaxation for Avery and Mia.On a bright and sunny Saturday, Jeremy packed a picnic basket with all of his family's favorite foods and set off to a picturesque park near the city center. Avery and their young daughter, Mia, followed eagerly behind him, their moods already lifting at the prospect of a day away from the chaos of the world.As they settled down on a checkered blanket in the shade of a large oak tree, Jeremy smiled at the sight of his wife and daughter laughing and chatting. "This is just what we needed," he thought to himself.Jeremy watched with joy as his daughter, Mia, skipped through the park's lush green grass, her laughter filling the air. The sigh
"Dad, look! I found a four-leaf clover!" the man's daughter exclaimed, holding up the rare leaf for her father to see.The man smiled, bending down to inspect the clover. "Wow, honey, that's so lucky!" he said, ruffling his daughter's hair affectionately. "You know, a four-leaf clover is said to bring good luck to whoever finds it."The man's smile faltered as a shadow fell across the grass. When the man caught sight of Jeremy, he briefly assumed the man was approaching him for some assistance. But then his eyes fell on Mia who was standing in a distance with Avery pointing at him, and he realized with a sickening jolt that Jeremy's presence was far from friendly."Please, don't," he pleaded, his eyes darting to his daughter, still standing nearby, oblivious to the danger. "She doesn't need to see this. I-I can make this right. Please, don't do this in front of her.""I'm not here for luck," Jeremy growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm here for justice."The man's face paled, hi
Jeremy's hands closed around the man's throat, his fingers digging in as he fought to keep his rage in check. The man's face turned red as he struggled to breathe, his eyes pleading for mercy."Who. Sent. You?" Jeremy growled, his voice a low, feral snarl.The man wheezed, his words coming out in short gasps. "I-I can't...c-can't say."Jeremy's grip tightened, his knuckles turning white as he fought the urge to snap the man's neck."You're not leaving here until you tell me the truth," Jeremy growled, his eyes burning with fury.The man's face turned purple, his hands scrabbling against Jeremy's chest in a desperate attempt to free himself. But Jeremy's grip was like iron, unyielding and relentless."I-I can't..." the man gasped, his words barely audible. "I-I'm sorry...please."Jeremy's anger reached a boiling point, and he raised his fist, ready to give the man a punch that would break him.As Jeremy raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow, approaching footsteps pierced the
As they walked away from the scene of confrontation, Jeremy turned to Avery and Mia. "I'm going to take Sophia and her father to a nearby restaurant," he said, his voice firm. "Sophia says she's hungry, and I don't want her to go without food."Avery's eyes widened in concern. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked, her voice tinged with fear. "I don't think it's safe for you to be alone with him."Jeremy reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Avery's shoulder."I'll be fine," Jeremy assured her, his voice calm and steady. "I just need to get more information out of him, and I think I have a better chance of doing that if we're in a less volatile environment."Avery frowned, her anxiety still palpable. "But what if he tries something?" she asked, her eyes darting between Jeremy and the man. "We don't know what he's capable of."Jeremy gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I can handle myself," he said, his voice confident.With a final glance at Avery and Mia, Jeremy turned
With the plan set and the time drawing near, Jeremy pulled out his phone and dialed Jefferson's number."Jefferson," he said as the call connected, his voice taut with urgency. "I need your help with something."Jefferson's voice was calm and steady on the other end of the line. "Of course,boss" he replied. "What do you need me to do?""I need you to meet with someone," Jeremy said, his voice low and determined. "Someone from the ghetto." "His name is Capon Brat."Jefferson's voice grew serious."Capon Brat," Jefferson repeated, his mind working quickly to process the name. "I know of him. He's a dangerous man."Realizing the danger that he was putting Jefferson in since he had a past with the ghetto, Jeremy quickly changed his plans. "Forget about going to meet him," he said, his voice quick and decisive. "I need you to help me with something else instead."Jefferson, sensing the urgency in Jeremy's voice, asked, "What is it? What can I do for you sir?"Jeremy took a deep breath, hi
"Take off your mask," Shocker ordered Sophia's father, his voice low and threatening.But before Sophia's father could respond, Jeremy intervened, his voice hard and commanding. "You'd be wise to stop making baseless accusations," he said, his eyes flashing with danger. "This man is my trusted guard, and we have traveled from a faraway country to play with Capon Brat. He is the best gambler, the unbeatable gambler, and we have come to challenge him. Do you understand?"Shocker, still suspicious, hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between Jeremy and Sophia's father."Fine," he said, his voice resigned. "I'll let you pass. But don't think you can get away with lying to Capon Brat. He'll see through your deception."Jeremy, unperturbed, replied, "We have no intention of lying. We are here for the game, and that is all."With a final nod of warning, Shocker stepped aside, allowing Jeremy and Sophia's father to pass through the door and into the Viper Lounge.As they walked, Sophia's