Chapter Two

Everly's jaw dropped as Edwin fell to the ground, he would never allow her to die in his place. The masked man came for him, it was only right for him to get his job done.

“Run!”

Edwin spoke through his teeth, she never conceived a life and a world without him, not even for once. Leaving Edwin behind was the last thing she would ever do. Her worst nightmare had finally come alive, and there was nothing she could do to turn back the hands of time.

She reluctantly stood up to run, but her legs froze, she felt rooted to the spot. She looked around, especially behind her where Edwin's body laid helpless on the tiled floor. Her heart raced faster, nearly exploding, she gasped and expelled her breath, whimpering uncontrollably.

She turned to run like Edwin had instructed her to, but she stumbled against her favorite couch and bruised her toe.

“Argh!” she shrilled.

Now it dawned on her that she was cursed for being the daughter of Hubbard. She squirmed through the apartment until she found herself outside, looking like someone who was made to do hard labor, hair crumpled, cropped top torn and toe bled seriously.

She had squirmed out without her fanciful pair of shoes, she pressed a fist to the mouth and exhaled sharply, her eyeballs ran from left to right and vice versa, her safety first, she conceived. Furthermore, she lifted her arm and brought to halt a moving taxi.

“Victorino estate.” she pleaded.

“Hop on.”

She recklessly got in and ignored the thoughts of hitting her head against the awning of the taxi. Victorino estate was the permanent resident of her family and the biggest among all others owned by her father.

The masked man drew in the gun to its sheath and moved close to Edwin. then he brought out a mini camera and took some pictures of Edwin, who laid helpless on the ground.

“Job done and dusted.”

He typed and hit the send button, he was provided with all necessary equipment needed to make the job easy.

Hubbard's mansion was the biggest in Victorino estate, it was highly secured by mobile policemen and the best of modern technological devices.

The white stucco perimeter fence in the mansion loomed six stories high, floodlights around it cast a cold gleam over its surface. Turrets rose from its corners to puncture the night. It had a security station with guards standing at the windows, just watching for the chance to take out anyone who posed a threat. It had a long driveway that circles to a statue of Hubbard sitting beside the fountains.

The large main building was covered in creeping ivy, before it was a grassy lawn, manicured hedges and shrubs. It had an expansive entryway with double doors, high ceilings that were painted white and stained-glass windows which had heavy curtains. The rustling of trees could be heard in a distant, as well as the scent of flowering plants.

Hubbard sat on a comfortable outdoor lounging furniture in the guest house. His phone made some jerky movements as it vibrated on the three-legged glassy table. He lifted a hand and positioned his spectacle, then picked up his phone, the picture of Edwin covered in blood popped up.

“Finally!”

A smile flickered at the edge of his mouth, he held the phone with a death grip and sipped the hot lavender tea prepared by Elyria, his wife. Edwin had to be removed from the picture for Everly to see what he had planned out for her. The thought of having a grandson with the blood of a lowlife running through his veins disgusted him so much.

Just some weeks ago, he met with his best friend and business partner, Luis Maria to discuss the future of his daughter, Everly and to strengthen their friendship.

in the meantime, the masked man stepped out of the apartment and left Edwin to his fate.