1 #Prologue

“Mom see, I brought a lot of groceries,” I said, placing a big sack full of veggies, meat, eggs, toiletries, and everything that was necessary for us to survive for a whole week.

The last few days have been hard; we barely had enough to fill ourselves, and after Dad's accident, Mom totally scattered. She still tries her best, but I can see how broken and hurt she was after that day. Her smile and the cheerful, bubbly attitude of my mother somehow faded away, and there has been a 180-degree change in her personality.

I don’t like seeing her scattered but, no matter how much I try, I can't help her. It's been difficult for me to witness the toll that Dad's accident has taken on my mother. Despite her efforts, it's clear that she is struggling to cope with the emotional and physical aftermath. I wish there was more I could do to support her during this challenging time.

“Jason,” Mom called, with her voice sounding weaker than usual. “Come sit beside me,” she said, patting the empty space on the couch. As I sat down, I noticed the lines of worry etched on her face and the exhaustion in her eyes. It was heartbreaking to see her like this, but I knew that just being there for her was a small way I could provide comfort and support.

“Mom, are you fine? Do you need anything? I can cook, I brought a lot of food,” Mom shook her, smiling tirelessly.

"No, Jason, I'm okay," she reassured me, her voice filled with gratitude. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t be a good mother for you,” she said with a hint of sadness in her tone.

I reached out and gently squeezed her hand, assuring her that she had always been an amazing mother and that I was grateful for everything she had done for me. “Mom, you are the best,” I said, hugging her tightly.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, “Maybe not as you think, you’re only fifteen. You do two jobs and even go to school on a scholarship, all because I couldn’t provide for you, all because I’m worthless as a mother.”

I pulled away from the hug, looking into her eyes with sincerity. "Mom please, all I want is to make you happy,”

“I know that you worry about me the most, I don’t want you to ruin yourself for me,” Mom continued with her hand rubbing my back, gently consoling me. I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.

“You know Jason, in this world there are two that can either ruin you or repair you.”

"What are those?" I asked, genuinely curious about my mother's perspective.

She smiled softly and replied, “Money and love, you can take your father and me as an example,”

She is right; it was because of my money that the person who caused my dad's accident is free and living his life happily, and it was because of my mother's love for my father that she is like this today, all because of love.

It's true that money makes you strong, whereas love makes you weak and vulnerable.

“I don’t understand what you are trying to say,” I responded, puzzled by her statement.

“You will one day....” She said with a whisper. “I love you, my son, and so does your dad,” she finished, as her hands that were patting my back seconds ago slid down, with her head on my shoulder and all her body weight on me., I can't feel her breathing, she not reacting to any of my actions no matter how hard I try.

I don't know what is happening. I laid her body on her back on the couch, shaking her and shouting her name again and again, but there was no reply from her side.

Even though I know I am trying to avoid the truth in front of me, I can’t accept the fact that my mother who was talking to me seconds ago is gone and she took her last breath in my arms.

“Mom, Mom......Mommm,” I shouted and shouted louder and louder until my vocal cords started hurting. But it was hopeless in the end. Tears streamed down my face as I realized that no amount of shouting or shaking would bring her back. The reality of her absence sank in, leaving me feeling lost and utterly heartbroken.

“Mommm,” I shouted, opening my eyes, and breathing rapidly, with all my body covered in sweat.

I sat up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest, realizing that it was just a nightmare.

F**k, even after twelve long years, these things still haunt me in my dreams. I stared at my hands, the same hands that were holding Mom when she took her last breath, leaving me all alone like Dad.

I stood up from bed because after this dream sleep is the last thing I want. I don't know how many hours I've lasted, maybe two or three. I don’t know, and even though I am tired as heck, I can’t make myself sleep and have myself haunted by the same thing again and again. All I want now is to clear my mind. Maybe a long run and some air can help me do that. After all, today is my wedding and the day when I can finally start with my revenge. As I stepped outside, the cool morning breeze brushed against my face, providing temporary relief from the suffocating thoughts. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the world and filling me with a renewed sense of determination. Today, I would not only embark on a new chapter of my life but also unleash the carefully planned vengeance that had consumed my every waking moment.

A small smile plastered on my face thinking about the reaction I'd get from Gabriel after taking his most precious thing away from him.

I want to see him suffer from the pain of losing someday, dear, like I did all these years. All because I'm alone and haunted by my own dreams, he is the cause of my father's death and the reason for my mother's suffering. All these years, my family has been nothing but a victim of his crimes. But not anymore; it's time to pay back; this time he will be the victim, the one to suffer, as I ruin his livelihood day by day, slowly torturing him, making his life a living hell. I will make sure he experiences the same anguish and despair that he inflicted upon my loved ones. Every ounce of happiness and success he has enjoyed will crumble before his eyes, leaving him with nothing but regret and remorse. Revenge will be my solace, and justice will finally prevail in our shattered lives.