Chapter 74 74

Chapter 74 74
A man sat on a dark brown leather sofa in a fairly luxurious apartment on the outskirts of New York City. The dim light of the chandelier reflected off the crystal glass in his hand. He sipped the whiskey slowly, then glanced at the wall clock, which ticked with a sluggish rhythm. It was already past midnight.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance, swirling the glass in his hand until the ice cubes inside clinked. "Why hasn't that woman arrived yet?" he muttered harshly. He felt his patience wearing thin. His plan was meticulously crafted, but waiting was the thing he hated most in this world.

Theo, or Theodore, as the man was named, let out a long sigh. His thoughts drifted far into the past, specifically to that bloody night on a tanker that was supposed to be his master's stage of triumph.

At that time, Theo was in Siberia. He was carrying out a secret mission ordered directly by David. David wanted to establish a partnership with a Russian mafia syndicate led by a man named Volkov to suppress Raymond Craig's power. David didn't want to rely solely on Raquel's cunning to destroy Raymond from within; he wanted physical force and weapons that could eliminate the man forever.

Theo remembered well how he struggled to convince Volkov amidst the frozen expanse of snow. He had to risk his life to get there and offer a highly lucrative deal. Just as he finally succeeded in gaining Volkov's approval, the bad news came through a satellite phone call.

David had been killed by Raymond.

The world seemed to collapse for Theo. David was more than just a boss to Theo; he was the only person who valued his loyalty. David was the only figure who gave him a purpose after Theo left his bleak life in the military. That grudge grew and spread like the roots of a poisonous tree inside his chest.

After returning from Siberia, Theo did not act immediately. He knew Raymond was not an opponent to be faced with blind courage. Raymond had everything—money, power, and trusted men who were always ready to protect his every move.

Theo began to spy on Raymond. He saw how Raymond changed his life after David's death. Raymond became much more protective, colder, and surrounded by an incredibly tight fortress of security. Theo realized he couldn't move alone. He needed someone on the inside, someone who harbored an equally deep grudge, someone who knew exactly where Raymond Craig’s weak points were.

Then, he found the information. Raquel, Raymond's ex-wife, was now languishing in a mental hospital. Since David's death, Raquel was rumored to have suffered a severe mental breakdown. She lived in isolation, abandoned by the world that once worshipped her as Mrs. Craig.

This was a golden opportunity. Theo knew Raquel had a motive far more personal than mere revenge.

That night, Theo snuck into the mental hospital grounds dressed in all black, wearing a mask and a hoodie. He knew the security patrol schedule because he had been observing it for weeks. With a few tricks and the negligence of a doorman, he managed to reach the room where Raquel was being treated.

Raquel's condition was truly pathetic. The woman who once appeared glamorous and arrogant was now sitting in the corner of the bed, clutching the sheets with a vacant stare. She did not realize Theo's presence until the man approached and called her name.

"Raquel," Theo called out in a low voice.

Raquel turned; she felt she recognized the man's voice. Her sunken eyes stared at Theo with fear. "Y-you... Theo."

"What do you want here? Were you sent by Raymond?"

"Did Raymond send you to torture me again?"

Raquel's face looked anxious for a moment, but then the woman burst into hysterical laughter.

Theo chuckled, the sound dry. "Raymond? That man doesn't even care if you're dead or alive. He's too busy with his new wife and his newborn little heir."

That name, the new wife, seemed to be the trigger that awakened Raquel's consciousness. Her laughter stopped, and her expression began to turn sad. She began to sob, tears streaming down her dull cheeks. "He destroyed me. He threw me away like trash."

Theo moved closer, kneeling in front of Raquel, looking the woman directly in her teary eyes. "I know, Raquel. I know all your suffering. I also lost everything because of that man. My boss, David, the man you loved, died at Raymond's hands."

Raquel froze. The name David seemed to tear at the remnants of her sanity. "David..."

"Yes, David," Theo answered firmly. "He shouldn't have died like that. And we both know who is most responsible for all this tragedy. Not just David, but your ruined life as well."

Theo reached for Raquel's trembling hand, then guided her to stand. The man stared at Raquel with terrifying intensity. "Listen to me, Raquel. I came here to get you out of this hell. I have a plan, I have the resources, and I have the same hatred as you."

Raquel looked at Theo, doubt still reflecting on her face, but there was a glimmer of vengeance reigniting in her dim eyes.

"Why should I trust you?" Raquel asked in a hoarse voice.

Theo smiled thinly, a smirk very similar to the way David looked at his enemies. "Because I am the only person who will not let David's death be in vain. We can work together for one main goal. We will make Raymond Craig feel a destruction far more painful than death."

Theo took a deep breath, steadying his resolve. "Come with me, Raquel. We can work together to kill Raymond. We will take everything back, then destroy that man right in front of the eyes of the family he loves."

Raquel was silent for a long time, thinking about every word Theo had spoken. She thought about the dark days in this mental hospital, she thought about the luxury that had been stripped from her, and she thought about how Raymond was living happily with another woman.

Slowly, Raquel nodded. "Take me away from here. Right now."

Theo helped Raquel put on the coat he had prepared. They stepped out of the room, walking through the cold and silent hospital corridors. No guards noticed their departure. When they reached the car parked in the darkness of the night, Theo glanced at his watch once more.

He knew the game had just begun. Raymond Craig might feel he had won, but he didn't yet know that the ghosts of his past had now united to collect a blood debt.