Chapter 1

[FULL STORY ON inkitt - @Lorime]

(It is not suspended, I just released what I wrote under a suspended story of mine, and now I can't seem to find a way to switch it back.)

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Life is a test, every day is a challenge, every situation basically happens to make you stronger, to help you grow. But sometimes, and actually, most times, life doesn't play fair.

It plays dirty, a dirty game that taints your soul, and awakens sickening and unfamiliar emotions you would've never thought you had in you... Greed? Jealousy? Cruelty?

Child's play.

No, emotions like fury so strong your forehead gets red and swollen from the two horns that decorate a demon's face... Or sadness that makes you drown in suicidal thoughts and gives you foreign strength that motivates you to throw yourself off a cliff, swallow a thousand sleeping pills, or hold a gun to your head. Yes... These emotions.

But there is one, I am particularly familiar with... Burning, aching, hatred.

Hatred so powerful, you do not care the risks, you throw yourself in a dangerous situation just to make someone pay.

And I already know what you all are going to say.

To "let go",

To "move on",

To "forget".

"it's not worth it",

"it's tainting your soul",

"it's the devil in your ears tempting you",

Some would even say "I'm crazy".

And I will admit, they are not wrong.

You see, a smart individual had once said "One who desires revenge shall dig two graves".

So I guess I am indeed crazy to sit here today, in this huge mansion, filled with powerful people. Waiting for the man I, oh so much hate to arrive, so I could proceed with my evil deeds.

Yes. Me, Marilyn Wolfe am crazy, and no one can stop me now. I will never back down. I'll use this body and face partly hidden behind a masquerade mask, to draw him in, make him pay for what he did to me, to my family.

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10 Years Ago:

"Dad please! Calm down!" Her brother shouted, struggling, and scared to see their dad in such a state.

He had gone crazy, his office was a mess, he was breaking computers and shredding everything to pieces. His hands were a bloody mess. He had gone beyond mad.

The 11 year old little girl, hid herself behind the door, avoiding pieces of shattered glass to hit her.

She was scared. Her dad was unrecognizable... He was always so happy and calm, joyful and affectionate. Now he was tearing their house down. Everyone in the house was confused. Her brother had asked her to go out while he tried to talk some sense into him, but she refused. Insisting to be there and understand what was going on.

So then, when it finally stopped and Gale stepped closer, a hand on their dad's shoulder, he just started crying. And her eyes went wide. Their. Father. Crying?

That never happened... Not ever since their mom died 2 years ago from breast cancer. No, not ever...

"What's going on dad? Y-you're scaring us..."

She barely recognized her brother's voice. It was high pitched from fear and probably a cry. What was happening?

He didn't answer for a long time. Taking in long breaths to calm himself down. And then he finally looked up to Gale. Despair all over his features, before finally speaking.

"I lost everything Gale... Everything..." his voice broke several times before proceeding.

"I- Oh my God... I was made out a fucking fool... They took everything I-... God... Everything I worked for... they took it all away... and now I have nothing... What am I going to do? Huh? I have you and your sister to take care of! I can't lose everything! I've worked so hard! So fucking hard!"

And then he lost it again, punching his desk, crying.

Mary looked up to find realization on her brother's face. She still didn't understand but from what she could tell. It was about his work. And that was not good.

He loved his job, their father was a very famous and successful businessman, even from her naive mind she could tell they lived a life different from others. Ever since she was born they had financial stability, and everywhere her and her brother went, they had security around. Even though he traveled a lot, their father tried his best to spend as much time with his family as possible. They had always lived a happy quiet life, till their mother's passing. Then it got different, he was drifted away, letting work consume him. He didn't spend any time with them anymore. And even if every time she or her brother l reached out, he made sure to listen and be there... It was obvious he wasn't the same anymore.

His work was everything now. He had worked so much... Sometimes he didn't come back for months, and when he came back, Gale would say they were richer.

So if everything he worked so much for was taken away, just like that. She knew that was a hard hit he would probably never get up from... Not after what happened to their mother... Not without her...

Gale's gaze flew to hers so she knew to leave them, so they could get into details a child would probably not understand. She nodded, a faint smile on her lips.

At the door, she hesitated for a few, analyzing her dad crying. Then she walked in, and before Gale could protest she hugged their dad tightly. He didn't stop crying, so she tightened her hug, before giving him a peck on the cheek and walking away.

Later on, Gale explained very briefly that their dad had been played by two people, investing into something that cost him everything.

Gale had made sure to add that they were still okay, sort of, because their mom had left quite a few millions. But their father was not satisfied.

It had been months now, since the scandal, and he worked 5 times more, they barely ever saw him. The whole scandal was publicized. And it was so much that their father ordered they switch to a homeschool program. But later on, Gale told her it wasn't because of the scandal. It was because it was no longer safe. Apparently their dad was now caught up in some very dangerous mess, with some very dangerous people he apparently promised things related to the big investment loss, they were also hit big. And now, they wanted their money back... Gale had said some of them were really dangerous.

And she came to realize how much of an understatement that was when someone broke into their house and attacked her brother. He had told her the man held a gun to his face and he knew he would die. But then he thought about her and fought. That earned him a bullet in his leg and the reason why he now limped, and walked with a canne.

But the tragedy didn't stop there... days after the attack, their father suddenly appeared, after 8 months away "working" he looked different. Stressed, paranoid, sick and thin.

"You overwork yourself! I can't take this anymore! We get it! You lost big! But dad look here ! We're okay! We're still alive! Mom left us millions off her! We still can get through this! I don't get why you overwork yourself like it's not enough! We don't need to go back up there at the top! It's not a competition! And if it is for you! I don't want to be a part of it! It cost us our dad, and it almost cost me my damn life" Gale had screamed.

And from the look on her brother's face after that statement, they both knew that was low. Their dad had cried. Saying sorry again and again, and finally walked out to his office.

"I shouldn't have said that..." Gale cried.

Mary threw him a look filled with sad sympathy.

"It's okay... you've also been going through it." She said before hugging him.

Gale had always been athletic, and now, the most he could do was sit in the crowd and watch the matches. That had hurt him deep, learning he couldn't play again. He had said he at least was glad they were homeschooled because he would've lost it to see the pity looks on people from their school. But she knew not to be fooled by the fake-amused look on his face, he was not okay.

And then it happened. And it shattered them both forever.

It was one rainy night, their father had spent two whole months at the house with them. He helped them with homeworks, they cooked late night snacks sometimes, like when their mom was alive. He laughed, made jokes, but they both new it was a mask. They found it strange, how he wouldn't go to work anymore or even answer his phone when they heard it across his office door. And looking back now... they probably both knew...

That's why, when they found him, that rainy night. Sitting behind his desk, his armchair turned the other way as he was facing the window. A letter behind him, on the desk next to a load of pills, and a drink of strong scotch in his hand, his features relaxed from the stress, and his heart unbelievably quiet. She didn't cry. Gale of course lost it. It was the thing to do... Their father was gone. But she couldn't cry...

He looked happy... that face... that peace on his face was their father from before... Happy, in peace. She was almost happy for him... sickening right?

Gale on the other hand tried everything. Shook him, called 911, who proceeded to use these two curious big things they use in movies to shock the patients but he didn't move.

And when the autopsy came back, they had learned that he had been dead hours before they found him.

We learned later on, that he had left us a crazy amount of millions off his work and his insurance money. I didn't want to deal with it at all, so Gale was the one in charge. He became basically like dad, years later. Always working, transforming the fortune both are parents left us into 6 times the amount. He was as smart as dad, if not smarter, because he could smell fishy from a mile away, so he brought the Wolfe name back to the top. In tribute to our father.

"I just don't get it." Gale said, years later as we laid flowers on his grave.

"He had us... but I still feel like the happiness his kids brought him wasn't enough." He added.

Mary sighed, she caressed softly their father's name [SEBASTIAN MICHAEL WOLFE] on his grave, before retracting back up. She looked up to her brother and it was clear he was still not coping right with how he was gone.

She sighed

"I think he was happy... I think he tried... These last two months we enjoyed him, he was back to how he was when mom was still with us, but..."

She turned to face their father's grave and continued.

"But... he probably realized it wasn't the same anymore... He couldn't take it... He loved us. I don't doubt it... don't either. But... He couldn't take the challenge life brought this time."

She stayed silent for a bit, lost in her thoughts before feeling her brother's gaze. She turned to find him staring, tears in his eyes.

"I envy your way of understanding him... I still curse him out a million times a day... I keep thinking he could've waited for me to graduate, and then I could've helped it... hell look at us now... we have more than we had when he was drowned in his work." He finished, sarcasm clear in his voice.

Mary lifted a hand to her brother's face before smiling.

"You're strong Gale... I think he was too. Till he was no longer. Don't blame him too much, let's move on, both of them would want that for us..." she said before holding his arm.

He nodded silently, they said silent words to their parents before walking away.

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10 years Later, 21 year old Marilyn Wolfe.

That was me 5 years ago, being so understanding and a peacemaker. I loved everyone... I tried to believe everyone was good. But that was before. Before, I heard the whole truth. I never was interested in business, never in the high society, the extravagant galas and important crowds. Till I realized some of them were there because they had provoked tragedy in my family. They threw us under so they could reach the top.

Gale had sent me the whole papers as soon as he found out. Our dad's worse enemy, and actual rival at the top. Davis Trefford. The 78 year old billionaire who was famous for his 7 wives. But mostly because he had made a name for himself playing dirty and winning, always.

The man was linked to the two, now ruined, businessmen who approached our father to blow his career away and make him lose everything. It was crazy to see the lengths he had reach just to ruin him. The letters were there and the two men swore it was him who sent them. We then tried, tried hard to find anything that would link the whole scandal to him. But nothing, he was meticulous. And these types of guys were dangerous. So when one of the two men that helped ruin our dad was attacked and killed. The other one disappeared and made sure to let us know not to look for the truth or him.

"At least now we kinda have peace of mind... We now know who to blame and not just father." Gale said after a sigh, a hand of scotch in his hand.

But after the discovery of it all, I wasn't the same positive person anymore, if all of this didn't happen, our father would probably still be here with us. No... Trefford had no right driving our dad away, tormenting him the way he did, and, living his life with his old billionaire ass, sitting pretty on tv, fake inspiring new entrepreneurs with fake speeches.

"Gale..." Mary started, her face dark. So her brother straightened, clearly noticing the switch of mood.

"What?"

"Gale. This is bullshit." She spoke, fast and calm. But he knew her, that was when she was the most scary. He was a screamer, he broke things he expressed his anger... Mary did not. She was always too positive, and quiet, sometimes too calm. Hell, she didn't even cry when they found their father not breathing.

"Mary..." he started, warning in his voice.

"Let me tell you what is not going to happen." She said, as she stalked slowly closer to him, her hazel eyes dark, her lips tight. So he listened.

"This monster will not, sit there, collect his money, caused by our father's ruin may I add. Pay million dollar cars and dresses to his collection of blond sugar baby's, and our dad is sitting under foot. No, that does not happen. When you torment a man that just freshly lost his wife, tries his best taking care of his motherless kids while mourning the love of your life , you don't enjoy your life like it's nothing. You pay. I know there is a God but hell, if he doesn't make him pay, hear me now. I will." She hissed. Her voice dangerously low.

"Mary... This is not you..."

She laughed sarcastically.

"It is. I think it has always been. Remind me of passing my thankfulness for this awakening to him. Cause Lord hear me Gale. I will destroy him. And, you can either follow me or look the other way, cause there is no stopping me." She finished.

Her breathing was fast, her lips trembling, she was on the edge. She had never felt so much hatred for someone, ever. And Gale was almost scared... This was not Marilyn Wolfe... This was a scary and dangerous woman who wouldn't stop at anything to get her revenge.

"Mary..."

"Are. You. With. Me?" She asked again.

They could only hear the tics and tocs of the clock, the the ice from his drink knocking the glass and their fast breathing.

"You sure?" He asked again, lost in her hazel eyes as she was lost in his, waiting.

"Damn sure." She said.

He then looked away and sighed.

"There is no stopping you?"

"No"

"Then I have no choice, if you're in... I can't risk you, so I'm following..."

"You can look the other way-

"No way in hell Marilyn... we only have ourselves now. I will look out for you... he is dangerous Mary. I won't risk you." He finished with a hard look.

"Then we're good."

"So what's your plan?" He asked, getting up, facing her.

She smiled slyly.

"Well... businessmen are humans Gale, they are very protective of what is theirs."

He stared, encouraging her to continue.

She looked away.

"And when you have Davis Trefford's money, and you are that old. You make sure your legacy goes to the right person."

"Mary..." Gale started, realizing what she was saying.

"I'll meddle." She announced barely bothered by what she was saying.

"That's crazy !"

"I don't care." She blurt, throwing a glare at him.

"You-

"How many children does he have?" She asked... a calculating look on her face.

Gale thought for a second before answering.

"He has two sons, Xavier, his first son with his first wife and Andrew, his illegitimate son."

"And who will inherit his wealth?"

"That is not in public records Mary, let that plan go. Xavier is a engaged douche and Andrew is a mystery... they are both caught up in a war to prove themselves to their dad."

"Interesting." She bit

"Marilyn-

"I'll be seeing you more often now, the business world is suddenly so very interesting." She said, her purse in hand as she walked up, kissed his cheeked and walked away.

Gale stayed behind, struggling to stay calm. This was bad... really bad... he knew Mary enough to know nothing would stop her. Not even him, his dad or mother were gone... She had the will... and she would not back down.