Mercy For None

It's Showtime

As Riley Collins stepped out of the prison gate barefoot, he let out a bitter chuckle before staring at his torn, old clothes. He raised his hand slightly, staring at the trembling fingers for a few seconds before turning his gaze to the sky, his half-torn clothes dancing on his body as the wind blew.

“What a life!” he muttered to himself, closing his eyes slightly. “Good people often walk through life with open hands and open hearts. They forgive when others hold grudges, they share when others hoard, and they see light in places where others see only shadows. Yet it is their very openness that draws betrayal, wolves come dressed as friends, and daggers hide behind smiles.”

Opening his eyes again, he took a slow step forward. As his foot touched the pavement, a low groan escaped his lips, and he gazed directly at his injured hand, wrapped in a bandage.

“I almost died yesterday,” he murmured, his voice mixed with both disbelief and exhaustion as he stared at his trembling fingers beneath the cloth. “Life is so unpredictable.”

He shifted and took another step forward. Gently raising his head, his eyes caught the sight of a large billboard on the street.

At the top of the billboard, written in bold, gleaming letters, were the words: “Henry Cardwell and Catherine Philip celebrating their twelve years of marriage.”

“What an irony!,” he muttered under his breath, his voice low as he fixed his gaze on the very person he had spent his life savings on to save her mother, now in a kissing position with the very man who had always been after his life.

Out of nowhere, the sharp screech of tires interrupted him. Several SUV cars suddenly parked right beside him. Instinctively, he stepped back, gazing at the cars in both confusion and surprise.

All of a sudden, the doors swung open in unison and people started stepping out. They bowed down to him respectfully and muttered in unison.

“Welcome back, Lord.”

“What on earth…” Riley whispered under his breath as he rapidly moved his eyes between the bowed heads of the strangers and the SUVs. “Who are you?” he asked, looking in disbelief.

One of the men lifted his head slightly, his voice mixed with both reverence and relief.

“Finally… finally,” he said, a gentle smile curling at the corner of his lips. “We have found you, Riley Collins, my lord. I have been looking for you for many years. I recently got the news of your release. Please forgive me for the long delay in reaching you.”

Riley blinked at him, looking even more confused and surprised. “Looking for me?” he repeated, trying to understand what's really going on. He took a step back, narrowing his eyes at him. “What are you talking about, and why are you looking for me?”

Straightening fully, the man lifted his gaze to Riley and responded, “You are the only heir of Lord Collins. We have been searching for you before his death. And after his death, his position became vacant. It is now time for you to take over your rightful place in the leadership of the empire.”

At the sound of his father’s name, Riley shifted instinctively, moving a step towards the man.

“Di… did you know my father?” he asked, his voice cracking and breaking. “What happened to him? Wh… where is he right now?”

“He’s dead. He… he was killed by poison,” the man murmured, his tone laced with sadness and grief. “He always wanted to see you before his death, but fate was cruel, and he lost his life before he could.”

“Ho… how did he die?” Riley whispered, his breath hurrying and uneven. “How… how? Who killed him? And what about Mom? Where is she now? Is she safe? Is she fine?”

The man hesitated, then lowered his gaze, shaking his head.

“I am sorry,” he murmured, his voice trembling as he spoke. “Your mother is still on her sickbed. For the past five years, she has been in a coma, and since then, she has not…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he broke down into tears. He gently lifted his right hand and wiped his tears with it.

“I… I’m sorry,” he added.

Riley’s jaw clenched as he looked in disbelief. “Who killed my father? Who had the audacity to poison him?” he demanded, his voice rising. “Who is the person?”

“Cardwell, my lord,” the man replied quietly.

“The father of Henry Cardwell, the lover of my ex-wife?” Riley asked, his voice laced with fury.

The man nodded slowly. “Yes, my lord.”

Riley curled his fingers tightly into fists. He turned toward the big billboard, staring at the smiling image of Henry Cardwell.

“I will crush you,” he muttered through his teeth, “and your entire family.”

Then he turned back to the man and added, “Let us begin with Henry Cardwell. He already did his worst while I was in prison. It’s showtime.”