**This book is temporarily on halt. Right now, I am concentrating on my other books.** The quiet city of Vlei is filled with terror when its people are murdered one by one every few days. Nobody knows who the culprit is. No clues found, no leads yet. The MO of each death is different. The only common thing is that the murders happen in a secluded place and at night, compelling the people to not leave their homes when the night befalls. Enter Melanie Parker. She is an orphan who has been taken in by her aunt and her family only because her parents have left her the Parker Empire before their mysterious death. When the innocent girl stumbles upon a gruesome secret, it changes her completely. Now she is out for revenge and she does not stop until she has destroyed all the people who have wronged her. On her way, she meets Adrian Cyrus King. At first, there is enmity between the two and they cannot stand each other. They bicker and fight whenever they meet. But, Adrian has a change of heart when Melanie once saves him from his enemies. Who is responsible for all the murders? How will Melanie take her revenge? Read the story to know what happens further. Disclaimer: The cover picture does not belong to me.
The call went through until it disconnected automatically. This happened a few more times before the woman got tired and threw her phone in anger. The screen cracked as it fell on the floor.
"That bitch." She shouted, her eyes blazing in fury.
"Calm down Claudia. I am sure she is busy." The man who was calmly sipping his coffee stated. He did not care much about the call being not picked up.
"Ted, that idiot is not picking our calls. How can you expect me to be calm? Do you have any idea how annoyed I am right now?" Claudia shrieked. Ted closed his eyes irritated without her outburst. He was getting a headache due to her nonstop ranting. The woman who looked sweet and alluring dressed in the finest of clothes even when she was indoors would become a pyshco and behave like a madwoman when she was irked. Her character completely contradicted her attire.
'Someone please remind me why was I even attracted to her.' He spoke to himself
Claudia Sander was Melanie's aunt. Though she was Andrea's sister, she was not as intelligent or far-sighted as her sister. Claudia and Andrea belonged to a middle-class family, their parents working for the government.
Andrea had married her high-school sweetheart Henry, though he was not that established at that time. While Claudia put all her efforts into seducing a small construction owner Ted Sander. At first, she was very happy to have exceeded more than her sister's status and level. However, things changed when Henry's business flourished making them surpass her status. This had led her to lose her mind.
After the death of Melanie's parents, she was taken in by her aunt. The innocent Melanie did not notice the cunningness lurking in her aunt's eyes until a few days back. Since then she had been ignoring her calls much her aunt's annoyance.
"I know you are vexed, but try to calm down. Nothing is going to happen even if you shout." Ted tried soothing her although he knew it was useless. His wife had a mind of her own which was as useless as garbage. He did not like her even a bit especially after what happened a few years back when she had planned against him. But he had no choice than to tolerate her as she had the key to his destruction.
Ted did not know what Claudia was planning. At the same time, he sensed that it was not something good and definitely not without a horrible ending. As to who would meet the horrible ending, only time would tell.
"Problem with the bitch again?" A tall girl with a slightly tanned face strolled inside the house and sat on the sofa. She had curled her short black hair at the sides and her eyes were lined with a thick layer of eyeliner. Her lips were colored with a light pink lipstick. She wore a blood-red mini dress, hugging her body tightly emphasizing her curves. At first glance, she was bearable to see. On a second notice, she looked hideous in the outfit.
"Melanie is not picking up my calls Lexi." Claudia plopped on the sofa and dialed her number again to meet the same result.
"She sure has guts to disobey us," Lexi commented.
Lexi was Claudia and Ted's daughter. She was younger than Melanie by two years and hated Melanie to the core as her family background was way better than hers despite being cousins. She never missed her chances of bullying her just for the sake of enjoyment and thrill she achieved from it.
Ignoring the string of curses her mother was spouting, she switched on the television. Nothing held her interest, so she changed her channels until she stumbled upon a sensational news. It was conveying the news of Adrian's return to the country. Adrian Cyrus King or as he was shortly called ACK was the king of the business world. Not many people knew about him as he had kept a low profile. However, the paparazzi had managed to get a side profile of him.
Lexi looked at the photo that was being displayed. Although it was slightly blurred, she could still make out the he was extraordinarily handsome. Her heartbeat raced just by the thought of him. It was not clear as to what his business was ventured in, but she found out that he was rich.
'If I can make the tycoon fall for me, then my life will be settled.' She pondered building impossible dreams and aspirations in her mind. While her mother was still trying to get in touch with Melanie with no progress. Nobody noticed how Ted's face had paled on seeing the news. He was sweating buckets and was fidgetting in his seat. He felt that he was tied firmly to a hot frying pan at that moment.
'Oh my God. Why did he come back? Does he know about me and is out to get revenge? No that is not possible. I had managed to delete all my records and erase all the trails leading to me. How did he even find out? Now I am dead.' His thoughts were racing at 120 miles per hour.
Without giving another glance at his wife and daughter, he went to his study. He was scared to death. There was no one who could help him, he had killed them all before they had the opportunity to strike back at him. Now it was his turn to reap what he sowed.
All the things he had done in the past flashed in his mind continuously. It was on autoplay, his deeds presenting itself before him making him shiver.
He stared into space until his phone dinged. It was a message from an unknown number. On reading the message, he gasped in shock. He did not know how, but he realized that Adrian had found out the truth and now he was coming for revenge. The message he received was very short yet strong, nothing less than a warning: Let the game begin.