Chapter CHAPTER 40

9 YEARS AGO. . .

"Why are we running, mommy?"Lily asks, tired.

Jack has a frown on his face as he waits for his mother to tell yet another lie.

"We're not running away, sweetie. We're just moving to somewhere much safer"

"Safer? Mom! We didn't do anything! Why do you and dad keep making us run from place to place?
Dad's innocent so shouldn't have to run or hide!" Jack yells, tired of moving endlessly.

"We don't have another option, son. Please, no arguments, we need to get going and meet up with
your father!"

Jack gives up, but he's not satisfied. Anna was young, so she didn't quite understand what was going
on or why they had to run continuously. But as for him, he knew what was going on, at-least, to an
extent.

Almost a two hour trip, Ava Hugh-Gray and her two children reach their destination. As soon as they
get down the bus, she reaches for her burner phone and dials her husband.

"The alley? We've arrived, come to the door" She says. She directs her children to the dark alley not
too far ahead and looks around cautiously, hoping no one had followed them or even worse, watching
them.

Following a very crooked path in the dark alley, they arrive at their destination. Their new haven.
George, Ava's husband and the children's father quickly opens the door. They get in and he locks the
door. Jack notices the door has several locks.

He holds his sisters hand, as he watches his parents caress each other.



"Lily" George says, as he picks up his daughter.

"Hi, daddy. Ice- ice cream"

He chuckles, "You want some ice cream? Dad's got you some toys, you wanna see them?" He turns to
Jack, "Hello, son"

"I'm tired of hiding, dad. I told mom. I didn't want to come here"

"Son, you need to understand, your father and I are only doing what's bes-

Jack interjects, "Exactly! Running away isn't what's best mom, we didn't do anything! You're making us
fugitives!"

"Jack!" George yells, his voice echoing. "Why don't we go out for a talk?"

***

Both father and son, quiet, walking on the cold streets of London.

"I know you didn't do anything" Jack finally breaks the silence. Jack was very intelligent for his age. His
IQ might've been between 150-162.

"The world doesn't work that way, son. The guilty don't get punished and the innocent get punished.
There's no balance"

"Is it because we're poor?"

"Yes"

"Well, I'll make us rich, I promise! I just don't think we should run away. We can report to the police and
tell them to help us" Jack says as he and his father enter an ice cream shop.



"The police system is corrupt too, that's why we can't trust anyone and we have to keep running until
we are able to leave for good" George says, in a very low tone. The walls had ears and he didn't want
anyone hearing a word of what he was saying.

"We're leaving London?" Jack asks, confused.

"Yes, son. We leave tomorrow morning, on a ship"

"Where are we going to?"

"Barbados. Now, easy with the questions. Enough of them. Don't give your mother a hard time again.
Get the ice cream and let's go to the girls"

***

"That's Lily's doll!" Jack notices and rushes to pick it. The doll lay down on the floor, in the dark alley.
Did it drop while they were on their way there? Jack wonders.

On the other hand, George is standing, as still as a rock. He didn't want to have any negative thoughts
or believe what his mind was telling him to. He begins to run towards their house for the night. He
hoped Lily and his wife, Ava were safe.

"Run, Jack!" He yells, still running.

"Dad!" Jack yells, running, but confused. George arrives and knocks on the door, Hugh-Gray style.
There's no answer. He knocks again. There's still no answer. As he knocks the third time, Ava opens
the door. He could see that she was worried and he knew something was amiss, but before he could
ask, the whole building explodes.

Jack stops dead in his tracks, witnessing what had just happened. Lily's teddy drops from his hand as
he watches from afar. The explosion was huge, there was fire everywhere.



_________________

My mission was destroying the Richardson's. Destroying everything they held dearly, taking all their
wealth and stealing the happiness they deprived me of. The Richardson's murdered my entire family.
My father, mother, sister- they all died in that explosion.

Like Natalie said, everything was planned, well planned. My only goal from that point onwards, was to
see the mighty Richardson family fall at my feet and beg for mercy. At certain points, I even had the
urge and felt the need to have every one of them killed. I'd have them assassinated and live the rest of
my days paying for my sins.

I grew up with a heart full of hatred. I felt no love, just hatred, especially during my time in the
orphanage. I knew if I wanted revenge on the Richardson's, I'd have to find a way to escape from the
orphanage.

5 years ago....

The kitchen was empty. The Marquis and his subordinates weren't around either. The other kids were
in the home room, studying. This was the time, the perfect opportunity to plan my escape.

My eyes scan the kitchen looking for a way to distract the guards so they could leave the main gates
unattended to. My eyes fall on a lighter. Did I want to do this? What if I put the other kids in danger? I
shakily reach for the lighter. I had to think fast. I peep through the window and settle my resolve as I
eye the armed guards.

Without thinking twice, I set the curtains ablaze. The fire alarm would start ringing shortly, and then I
would make my move.

________________________



I escaped. As I had hoped, the gates were left unattended to and that was my chance. I ran as fast as
my legs could take me. A few other children were able to escape. I didn't want to think or believe that a
life or lives were lost because of the fire outbreak. I had to do what I had to do.

I lived from hand to mouth. Becoming a petty thief, stealing from whoever and wherever I could.
Everyday, I would wake up and weep over my family, not forgetting their murders. Truthfully, I'd have
died long ago. The only thing that kept me alive and going, was my thirst for vengeance and a part of
me, hates me for failing to do what I vowed to do. I failed my family. I betrayed them, by falling in love
with the enemy. I truly despised Natalie. I did. I made her believe I loved her. I planned the kidnap with
Bart- a planned act, so I would come rescue her and she would ultimately fall for me. As predicted, she
did. She always followed my plans, unknowingly.

Honestly, I had no idea of when I started falling for her, but I knew I loved her even much more than
she loved me, when I realized she was having my child. I had to put a hold on all my plans. It broke me
seeing her she'd tears when her parents were evicted from their home. I was behind too. I had so much
planned for the Richardson's, but I just couldn't push through with them.

When she confronted me about the whole thing, I desperately wanted to beg her on bended knees, ask
for her forgiveness. I didn't want her to leave me, but the anger, bitterness and jealousy in me all came
rushing back. I realized my love for her because I thought I was finally going to have a family again. I
thought she was carrying my baby. I felt hatred, abundant hatred for not only her family, but Natalie too.
Now, there was nothing stopping me from destroying that family, including Natalie.

Two months later...

Dressed in an all black ensemble and a black head net, I exit the airport, heading for the car Aunt Ruth
had sent for me.



I was 5 months pregnant, and my baby bump was already visible. My stomach was huge, and I
wondered if I was having twins, even though I already knew I was having just a baby.

The chauffeur opens the door for me, and as soon as I enter, hot tears begin to roll down my cheeks. I
was back in London, and I wasn't back for anything positive. I had left London for Australia after seeing
and spending time with my father. I left for Australia a few days after he was discharged from the
hospital. The doctors said he would recover from the shock, they said his heart would heal. I believed
them, hoping to return to London after I'd had my baby, bringing him home to his grandfather. Sadly,
that wasn't possible anymore. My father had passed on, and it hurt like crazy. I thought I would lose my
mind after Aunt Ruth gave the news to me over the phone. I wept. I cried. I didn't eat. I cried, again and
again and again. I tried to be strong for the baby, but I couldn't. I had no willpower anymore- I just
wanted to die too. I was too heartbroken. I'd lost my husband, my marriage and most importantly, my
father. What I else did I have left?

The car comes to a halt and I try to hold my emotions together as I alight the vehicle. A flock of people
dressed in black filled the entrance of the church, but as I walk, they all make way for me, and I was
thankful for that, because if I stopped at any point, I would break down completely.

I enter the church, and although I don't pay attention to the crowd, I can feel all eyes on me. I ignore
the stares, and make my way to the casket. I place my rose on it. I caress his photo, "I wanted to tell
you that I was pregnant, dad." I say, as I begin to sob. "I wanted my baby to call you grandpa, I wanted
him to meet you. Why, daddy, why?" I lament, holding on to his casket. The casket was closed, so I
couldn't see his face. My sobbing intensifies and I'm trying my best to hold back, but I can't. Suddenly, I
feel a familiar touch.

"My love," Aunt Ruth holds me and I bury my head in her shoulders.

"Why did he have to go now? Why couldn't he stay for me, for the baby? Is it because I didn't tell him?
Aunt is this my fault?"



"No, no, Natalie, never ever say that. It was his time to go. Francis was happy, and I'm sure wherever
he is, he's happier and at peace."

"This is all my fault, because Laurel made that call, all this happened because of me, aunty!"

"You're causing a scene, Natalie. Keep it down." I hear and it's no surprise such words are coming from
my mother.

"You might not feel pain or grief for dad, but I do. Do not tell me to be quiet, mother. I wonder if you
ever loved my father. You don't even look sad or bothered." I say, as I gesture to her appearance. She
had so much jewelry on, excessive makeup and her eyes were bright. It was disappointing. Did this
woman even shed a tear?

"Now's not the time to speak rudely to me, Natalie. There are cameras around, behave like the lady
you are, for God's sake!"

I hold my stomach and take a deep breath. I was beginning to feel nauseous. "Aunt, I'd like to sit,
please".

"No, no, Natalie, never ever say that. It was his time to go. Francis was happy, and I'm sure wherever
he is, he's happier and at peace."

"This is all my fault, because Laurel made that call, all this happened because of me, aunty!"

"You're causing a scene, Natalie. Keep it down." | hear and it's no surprise such words are coming from
my mother.

"You might not feel pain or grief for dad, but | do. Do not tell me to be quiet, mother. | wonder if you
ever loved my father. You don't even look sad or bothered." | say, as | gesture to her appearance. She
had so much jewelry on, excessive makeup and her eyes were bright. It was disappointing. Did this
woman even shed a tear?

“Now's not the time to speak rudely to me, Natalie. There are cameras around, behave like the lady
you are, for God's sake!"

| hold my stomach and take a deep breath. | was beginning to feel nauseous. "Aunt, I'd like to sit,
please".



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