THE VENGEFUL BILLIONAIRE

FLASHBACK

“She is dead” Davis shouted on top of his voice, leaving his mouth agape, as he stared at his brother who seemed confused. “What did you do to her?”

“Wait! What do you mean by what did I do to her? I don’t even know this person.” Rylan said, looking at Davis in disbelief. Confusion was written on his face as he looked around the room, before fixating his eyes back on the lifeless body on the floor, soaked in a pool of blood. “We should call the police immediately.”

“Don’t bother, I already did that, they should be here anytime soon.” Davis said, shaking his head in disappointed while moving towards the door.

“Davis stop all these if it is a joke, you know I would never do such. I already told you what happened.” Rylan said with a shaky voice, his heart was beating faster than usual. He knew what would happen if he is unable to provide evidence of his innocence.

“Let the police do their job and prove your innocence. I’m sorry” Davis said, patting his brother’s shoulder gently before heading towards the door.

 Immediately, he opened the door and shouted, “Somebody call 911, somebody the police. Janet has been killed!”

“What! How did that happen?” George the club manager shouted, rushing into the room. On seeing the corpse, he froze, standing motionlessly while staring at Rylan for a few seconds. He was disappointed by what he saw and didn’t want to believe that, Rylan actually killed her. “What happened to Janet? Who did this?” He asked looking at Rylan.

“I don’t know what happened to her. I was in here and she came in.” He was interrupted.

“You are under arrested for murder of Janet Armstrong, please remain quiet as anything you say may be used against you in the court…”Donald shouted, walking towards Rylan, while being accompanied by three officers.

“Donald, you believe I did this too?” Rylan asked his childhood friend who was a police officer. “You know me too well”

“I’m just doing my job Rylan. Investigations will tell if you are truly innocent or not.”

“Where is my brother? I need to see him. I know he believes I’m innocent. He trusts me.” Rylan shouted with tears already streaming down his cheek”

As he was being dragged out of the room, people took out their phones, making videos of him, calling him a murderer, insulting and cursing him. That instance, he wished for the ground to open up and swallow him, he wished to end his life as he couldn’t bare the embarrassment and false accusations anymore.

Rylan stood at the entrance of the prison, reflecting on his life and how he spent ten years in prison for a crime he knew nothing about, not until he was proven innocent last month. He was set free thanks to the help of a mysterious old man he met while in prison, who happened to be the only friend he made. Unfortunately, the man died three days before his release.

 Memories of how he and his brother had hit a jackpot, that was supposed to change their life forever flash through his head, immediately a smile curled up by the side of his cheek.

“I’m sure Davis used the money wisely and should be doing well now. Since he isn’t here to pick me up and I haven’t seen him in a long time, I should pay him a visit.”

“Get moving right now!” An officer standing by the gate shouted in a loud voice.

“But first, I need to see Kate, I wonder if she kept the child.” Rylan said to himself, smiling profusely as he walked towards the road to board a cab.

Thirty minutes later, he arrived at his old apartment where he and Kate lived before the incident that landed him in prison. Kate was his girlfriend; as at the time he was accused of being a murderer, Kate was three weeks pregnant for him. She informed him through a text, which happened to be on the day he was arrested. He didn’t get a chance to speak to her and convince her to keep the child.

 To make matter worst, she never visited him in prison, nor did she attend any of his trials in court. As he walked towards the door and, he imagine a ten years old boy, who looked so much like him opening the door. A wide smile suddenly appeared on his face but the smile immediately disappeared when an elderly woman, in her early sixties opened the door with a frown on her face.

“Who the hell are you? Why knock on my door like you own the house?” The woman barked with a raised voice, staring at him from head to toe with her head cocked slightly to one side, as she let out a faint, “tch” sound, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth.

She noticed how disheveled he looked; he was putting on a shabby cloth and didn’t look good. Immediately, she concluded that he might be one of those beggars, going to people houses to request for food, jobs or money.

“I’m so sorry ma’am, my girlfriend lives here.” Rylan responded calmly, scrutinizing the house.

“Your girlfriend? You stupid fool, did I tell you I need a companion? Or do I look like someone that want to have anything with young kids like you. Get lost you smelling thief, I know you want money. I’m not a sugar mummy and don’t need your company. Even if I was a sugar mummy, I won’t settle for someone like you.” The woman shouted in a loud voice, drawing attention from the neighbors, who were looking at Rylan with disgust on their faces while mumbling in audible words.

“I’m sorry for offending you. It seems like she doesn’t live here anymore. I would just take my leave.” He apologized respectfully, but the woman slammed the door on his face without responding.

“Wow!.” Rylan said to himself as he walked towards the elevator disappointed and pondering on when and where he was going to find Kate. “What if she left the country?” He asked aloud.

“Rylan?” He heard his name just as he was about to step into the elevator. “Are you Rylan?” A young lady asked.

“Yes” He responded, turning his head immediately with a soft smile on his face hoping to get information about Kate from her.

“I know who you are looking for and I will you where to find her, if only you make a promise to me.” She said, looking directly into his eyes fiercely. “I prayed for this day to come and it finally did.” She moved closer to the elevator, her index finger pressed the button with a soft click and a smile appeared by the side of her cheek.

Rylan knew that something wasn’t right. She wasn’t just offering to help him locate Kate. There was more to it which he needed to figure out, but first he has to accede to her promise. “May I know your name and who you are?” He asked.

That moment the elevator door opened and she shouted, “Hop in” and he obeyed. “Do you want to find Kate? I mean, do you want to see Kate?” She asked him, gazing weirdly.

“Yes, I do. Why else would I be”

“Keep shut. You asked for it.” She said aloud, leaving Rylan to ponder if he said anything wrong.

“Who the hell are you?” Rylan asked, already getting irritated. “Just because I need you to help me doesn’t give you the right the look down on me.

“Who are you? A politician? The President? A Billionaire? You are none of this so I can talk to you however I like. “If you don’t need my help, I can leave now and figure out another way to carry out my revenge on Kate.

“Wait! What do you mean by that? As long as I live, you would never do such to my girlfriend.” Rylan said to her angrily.

“Your girlfriend? Oh, you would be so sorry for saying this words.” The lady said, laughing profusely like he had just cracked some jokes.

The elevator door open and they both stepped out. “Where are we heading to now?” Rylan asked her with his face still frowned.

“Vale Land” She responded, waving her hands towards the approaching taxi. The driver saw her and began to slow down.

“Vale Land?” Rylan asked with his eyebrow furrowed, leaving a puzzled expression on his face.

The taxi finally stopped, she stepped forward, opening the door and said, “Get in.” Rylan obeyed while lost in different thoughts as he waited for an answer, from this stranger.

“Heathrow Mansion at Vale Land.” He heard her say to the driver. The name of the mansion was his Surname, but he didn’t bother asking since many people have the same surname these days. He was too bothered about Kate.

“I thought Vale Land is only for the wealthy. Did that change while I was in prison?” Rylan asked curiously, turning his head to look at her.

For the first time, he noticed the name tattooed on her neck. “Who is Elvis and Sophia?” He asked curiously, still staring at it while noticing how quiet she remained.

After a minute, she finally said, “My Son and I”

“Where is he?” Rylan asked with concerned.

“That’s not important. Kate now lives in Vale Land and doing very fine, living happily like a queen with her son and.”

“YES!” Rylan screamed with excitement, interrupting her. He couldn’t believe his ear. A smile appeared on his face. He lifted up his hands and shouted, “That’s very good to know. I can’t wait to see my son.” He stared blankly at the seat in front of him, envisioning his life the moment he reunite with his family. A wide grin spread across his face; he couldn’t care less about what Sophia had to say anymore.

“Don’t get too excited. I guess I won’t be the one to tell you the other side of the story.” She muttered.

They approached Vale land, heading to Heathrow Mansion. The car squealed softly on the gravel driveway, heading to the entrance of the mansion. Rylan was in shock by what he saw; his mouth was left agape as he alighted the vehicle. The front look of the mansion was amazing, that one would mistake it to be heaven.

“Wow!” He said, moving towards the gate filled with excitement, while Sophia walked behind him.

“Hey! What are you doing there? Get lost, we don’t feed beggars here.” One of the security guard shouted, walking towards the gate.

“I’m looking for Kate and my son.” He responded confidently. “Please tell her, Rylan is outside waiting for her.”

“Leave before my boss and his wife comes back. You would hate it.” The man warned seriously, looking sternly at them.

Just then, a white range rover was heading toward the mansion. The security man immediately took out a remote from his back pocket to open the gate. As the car got closer, Rylan could see Kate sitting beside the driver, she was staring at him. A smile curled up by the side of his cheek. Not until he turned to see who was driving.

“Davis?” He said out absentmindedly with his eyes wide open.

“Yes, Davis your blood brother is her husband.” Sophia muttered in his ears. “You going to prison was a set up, they planned it.”