Chapter 3 Sinking shadows

Kevin, stop! You're hurting me," Sarah pleaded while being forcefully tugged by her hair.

"Shut up and hand over the drive," Kevin demanded sharply.

"What drive?" Sarah feigned ignorance.

"Don't think I don't know that's what you came to my house to take. Do you think I'm a fool?" Kevin erupted with fury.

"So, you were never really gone?" Tears streamed down Sarah's face as she uttered her disbelief. "I don't know what I did to deserve this. I loved you."

"Zip it! Shut your damn mouth!" he yelled while forcibly guiding her towards his vehicle and eventually shoving her into the trunk. Swiftly getting behind the wheel, he sped away without hesitation. He drove into a bush and dragged her out of the car.

"Where are we?" Sarah asked, her voice trembling.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Don't question me, and give me the fucking drive!" he shouted, now very angry.

"I won't give it. I know everything, I mean everything, you piece of shit," Sarah said defiantly.

"We'll see about that," Kevin sneered, gripping her hand tightly. She managed to kick him, causing him to stumble, but he quickly regained his balance and chased her deep into the bushes.

Tears streamed down her face as she ran desperately, her heart pounding, until she reached the edge of a cliff. Kevin, sensing her predicament, wore a wicked grin. "Hand me the drive," he demanded once more.

"Okay, okay, but please don't kill me. I don't want to die, please," she begged.

She fumbled in her pocket and retrieved the drive. Kevin smirked as he took it from her trembling hand. "There you go," she said, her voice shaking.

"Aw, thanks, baby," he said mockingly before callously shoving her off the cliff.

We should name the child Sam, don't you think?" asked Kevin, his face beaming with happiness as he sat with his family. It was a joyous moment, and one would never suspect that he had just committed a murder. Kevin was overjoyed that Sarah, his nemesis, was now out of the way. He believed that he had successfully destroyed the flash drive, and nothing could link him to the heinous act anymore. Or so he thought.

Little did Kevin know that the contents of the flash drive is still out there. The evidence it held was a ticking time bomb, a potential catalyst for bringing his world crashing down.

Years back, the company where Kevin had once worked erupted into a massive fireball. The building was mysteriously empty at the time, and to everyone's horror, news spread like wildfire that the CEO and his entire family had been brutally murdered during a home invasion on that very night. As the chaos of the burning company unfolded, it became evident that the perpetrators had meticulously orchestrated the entire scheme. To make matters worse, the company's accounts were discovered to be empty, and crucial files and documents had vanished without a trace.

The city was gripped with fear and confusion, and rumors swirled throughout every corner. The police and detectives worked tirelessly to piece together the puzzle, but the truth remained elusive. Little did they know that Kevin and his accomplices had carefully planned and carried out the scheme. They had cunningly manipulated their boss into signing seemingly harmless papers, unknowingly sealing his deadly fate.

The following day, Sarah stumbled upon a file with the CEO's name in Kevin's possession. She questioned him about it, but he swiftly dismissed her with a violent outburst, berating her for meddling in his affairs. Despite her instincts, Sarah couldn't put her finger on the connection between Kevin and the tragic incident.

That was the day the killing happened, and it was also the day Sarah was arrested, which eventually led to the events that brought us to this day.

As the investigation continued, Kevin decided to stay in town, carefully staging his actions to avoid suspicion. He manipulated the narrative, acting as a concerned citizen while secretly reveling in the chaos he had sown. For a year, he discreetly built a new identity for himself, starting his own company using the stolen mandate. His newfound business ventures brought unimaginable wealth, catapulting him to become the third richest person in the city.

Kevin's arrogance and greed knew no bounds, and he couldn't resist tightening his grip on the stolen fortune. He sent his hired men to eliminate the two former colleagues who had helped him execute the sinister plan. He wanted it all to himself, no matter the cost. This was Kevin's secret.

Julie, on the other hand, never bothered asking about her husband's story; she was just happy to have married a wealthy man, and at a young age too. Julie gave birth to a baby boy and named him Kendal. Kevin's joy knew no bounds, and he believed everything was finally coming up for him.

A few years later, Kevin's new enemy emerged. A lady called Annie Victor. Over the years, Kevin had been trying to surpass the rest and become the richest, and while he managed to climb to the second position, he couldn't claim the top spot.

Luckily for him, the man who held the first position passed away, but he willed all his wealth to his daughter. It was rumored that the daughter had gone missing, but suddenly they announced that she had been found after many years.

Kevin couldn't care less, as he believed taking down a lady would be a piece of cake.

"Annie, this is the file you asked for," her secretary said, placing a folder on her desk.

Annie thanked her and asked her to leave. She stood up from her chair and walked to the window. A smile spread across her face as she looked out, and then she went back to her seat.

Annie sent a business partner request to Kevin, and he couldn't help but wonder why she would make such a move. Nonetheless, he accepted the request, thinking it would provide him with an opportunity to get closer and bring her down.

As business partners, Annie and Kevin were supposed to have regular meetings, but to Kevin's frustration, Annie missed every single one of them. Instead, she would send her secretary and personal assistant to represent her. Each time, they would come up with excuses for Annie's absence, claiming that her father's recent passing had left her dealing with some rough patches.

Despite the explanations, Kevin couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. He became increasingly obsessed with meeting Annie in person, as he believed it was the key to understanding her and finding the leverage he needed to take her down.

One day, when the secretary and assistant arrived for yet another meeting without Annie, Kevin decided he had had enough. "I've been patient for far too long," he thought. He confronted them sternly, demanding to know why Annie continuously avoided meeting him.

The secretary looked hesitant, glancing at the assistant before finally speaking. "Mr. Green, Annie is going through some personal difficulties after her father's death. She's not in the right state to handle business matters at the moment."

Kevin's eyes narrowed, not entirely convinced. "I understand her loss, but this is a professional partnership. We need to discuss important matters face-to-face. I won't accept this any longer."

The assistant interjected, trying to appease Kevin. "Please understand, Mr. Green. Annie values this partnership, but she's just not emotionally ready to engage in direct meetings. She has been focusing on the business decisions, though, and she trusts us to represent her interests."

Kevin took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. He knew he needed to tread carefully if he wanted things to work out. "Alright, but tell her I expect a video conference at the very least. I won't settle for anything less."

The secretary and assistant nodded, assuring Kevin they would pass along the message. As they left, Kevin felt anger. He had a gut feeling that there was more to Annie than met the eye, and he was determined to find out what it was. The more she evaded him, the more he became intrigued, and he knew he had to be patient and strategic in his approach.

From that moment on, Kevin's obsession with meeting Annie grew stronger. He knew that face-to-face interaction was crucial to understanding her intentions and finding the information he needed to bring her down.

Julie, Kevin's wife, strolled on this fateful day, her arms cradling her baby boy. She had just parked her car and was approaching the bustling mall when she spotted a woman coming out. It was Annie.

Julie noticed Annie looking at her and decided to approach her. "Hi," she greeted with a warm smile. "Do I know you?" Julie asked, trying to recall if they had ever met before.

"You might not know me, but I know you," Annie replied, still smiling. "Aren't you Mr. Green's wife?"

"Yes, I am Julie Green," she answered back, feeling a bit flattered that someone recognized her. "And you are?"

"I'm Annie Victor, Mr. Green's business associate and partner," Annie said, extending her hand for a friendly handshake.

"I've heard about you. Nice to finally meet you. I'm sorry about your father, by the way."

Annie nodded gratefully. "Thank you, and your baby is so cute," Annie remarked, glancing at the adorable baby boy in Julie's arms. "Just wanted to say hi and give you my card. We could be friends, and you can call me anytime."

Julie happily accepted the card, feeling excited about making a new friend, especially one who seemed to have a close connection to her husband's business. As they bid each other farewell, Julie couldn't wait to share the news with Kevin when she got home.

"Guess who I ran into at the mall today," Julie exclaimed as she walked into the living room, where Kevin was engrossed in watching TV. Kevin looked up, his interest piqued. "Who?" he asked, trying not to sound too interested.

"It's Annie Victor, your business partner," Julie said, hoping to catch his attention. However, instead of showing enthusiasm or interest, Kevin's face seemed to darken, and he turned back to the TV without saying a word.

Ignoring his cold reaction, Julie continued, "She was nice and gave me her card. She said we could be friends."

Kevin grunted in response, still not looking at her. Julie couldn't help but feel a bit hurt by his indifference. She had wanted to share her excitement with him, but he seemed uninterested.

"Anyway, I'm going to put the baby down for a nap," Julie said, taking the baby and heading upstairs. As she placed the baby in the crib, she wondered why Kevin had reacted that way. She had hoped that making a new friend would be a positive thing, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on her husband.