A/N: Hey there! School's reopening tomorrow for me... And I'm half-dreading it. Oh wells. I'd have to face it anyway. Hope this update was soon enough... It's nearing the end anyway. This will be the last chapter. Perhaps in the next few days I'll post the Prologue. I'm sorry if the last chapter confused you guys, guess it was meant to be anyway. I don't wanna explain anything now, because I'm hoping that this chapter would do the explanations instead. But if you still do not understand, do let me know in your review and I'll explain it the next time I post! Well.. maybe I'll just clear one confusion: Nothing happened to Ian's face. Yep. It was perfectly all right, just like I had mentioned in the story. Anyway... hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope it answers those burning questions (and not create more):)

Oh yes. I remember asking for opinions about a sequel? What do you guys think? Do let me know as well please! Thanks!

Disclaimer: As usual.


... It was all well finally. In the end. He smiled.

But the moment of peace was shattered when a piercing scream broke it.

Rylan pulled away from the embrace and staggered backwards, gaping and pointing at him. "Papa… I… you…" The horrified look on his face was unforgettable.

"What, Rylan? What?" Ian was panicking already. What had he done to make Rylan be so terrified of him? Was it his looks? He touched his face involuntarily. No, it wasn't disfigured. He looked at the glass window near him and checked his reflection. No, he looked perfectly okay. But then why was Rylan behaving like that?

And then he saw it. And now he wished he didn't...


Chapter 14

She sneered maliciously in the glinting light. She loved the way they look. Horrified. It gave her a sense of… achievement. Pride. Satisfaction.

She watched as the older one whirled around, with the gaping mouth. She had a bigger grin. That's the big fish… the only fish I want. She turned as she saw the younger one escaping. Ahh… the small fish. Let him go… he's not the one I want anyway. I don't kill children.

Brandishing the chopper she held in her hand, she grinned evilly as the older one stuttered, "M-Mabel… what do you think you're doing? Put that down!"

"Do I always have to listen to you?" She snapped, circling him, watching him like a hawk from head to toe. "I'm sick of listening to and obeying your orders!"

"Who are you?" He challenged, instead of answering her question. "You are nothing like the Mabel I knew. Where is she?"

"I am Mabel. Believe or not, it's up to you." She replied, shrugging. "But I'm a different Mabel, you're right. I'm the Mabel who once knew Daphne Dashwood, and has come to take revenge for her death."

"My name, is Mabel Turner. Short for Mabelyn, that is." She continued. "Daphne Dashwood was my cousin, and my best friend. She was one whom I was closest to, and shared my secrets with. And she would still have been alive, if you didn't kill her!" She accused angrily, thrusting the chopper in the direction of him.

"I did not- "

"Don't bother to try to explain further! I know you killed her, Ian Wallace. You killed her, so you could be with that… that Rebecca whatsoever! You killed her… you didn't love her! You only married her just for her money! You chose her to be your victim because she was rich! I knew it! I knew there was something wrong about you, right from the start. I tried to dissuade her from marrying you, but she was just head over heels in love with you. She wouldn't listen to what I'd got to say. And that, I would have gladly took it, but I couldn't imagine YOU would still carry out your plan!

"You are evil… the most evil human on Earth. You are inhuman! She loved you so dearly with all her heart and you still had the heart to kill her! Where's your conscience, Ian Wallace? Hmm? If you didn't love her, then you should not marry her right at the beginning! You should have gone with that Rebecca instead! Then you two can live happily ever after, and Daphne wouldn't have to die!"

"Please, Mabel, listen to me. I can explain. It wasn't like what you imagined, you've got it all wrong! Daphne loved me, and I loved her too. We could be the perfect couple ever, but unfortunately she died during childbirth, do you not understand? I love her too much to kill her." Ian tried desperately to explain.

"Hah!" She snorted. "So now you're blaming in on the poor boy! You are really heartless. I knew you didn't love Daphne, nor Rylan. You thought he was a thorn in the flesh! You hated him for being a burden. You were happy when Daphne died… but you forgot that you still had a son, didn't you? But you couldn't kill him, otherwise you'd arouse suspicion, am I not right?"

"Yes! You are so not right! Please… I love Rylan as much as I love Daphne, don't you understand? Or have your mind been twisted so much till you cannot accept any other explanation anymore?" Ian pleaded.

"Indeed! My mind has been twisted! By whom, you may ask? By you!" She screamed. "You didn't come home often enough to spend time with Rylan. All you had to do was, 'Oh Rylan, Daddy is busy. I'm sorry.' And he'd believe you. You counted on that, didn't you? You relied on his naïve nature! He's so young… yet you kept breaking promises, and at the same time, you broke his heart too! Every night, he waited for you, hoping that you would come home to spend time with him, yet you are always out with that bitch!"

Ian was speechless. Mabel, as crazy she may seem, was right in some way, though. She was right when she said that he broke Rylan's heart. Yes, he had broken many promises, but why didn't it occur to him that he would be hurting the boy too, until now? Why didn't he realize that his son not only needs a mother's love, but a father's too! And yet, he had never expressed his love towards his son. He could not imagine what it was like to be neglected… without both a mother's love and a father's. He must be really lonely… no wonder he would envy his friends!

"Speechless, eh? I hit the nail on the head, didn't I? I bet you didn't know, every night he would cry himself to sleep, all alone. I could always hear him sobbing even from where I was sleeping! Sometimes, I would go upstairs and accompany him so that he felt better, but I'm telling you, it's definitely not enough!

"He wants you… do you not know that? But yet you throw him to one side, and rather spend time with that woman instead. Why must you torture him in this way? If you didn't want him, why don't you just put him up for adoption? At least if he finds a good family with nice parents that can shower him with love, care and concern, he can grow up happily, even if they are not rich! You are taking away his freedom from him… why don't you just let him go, if he is such a burden to you?"

"Enough of that! What do you want?" Ian gritted his teeth, as he spat the words out. He was sick of this game. There was she, trying to worm her way in, hoping to poison his mind with all reasons to feel guilty, and then she would attack. It was the typical way in movies too, and he had watched just enough to know what to do. He was not going to let her taunt him further. He wanted her to cut straight to the point. It was enough of beating around the bush already.

"Ahh… I see. You're getting irritated already, aren't you? Straight to the point, I like it. Maybe this is one of the reasons why my cousin loves you so dearly…" She babbled to herself.

"I asked, what do you want?" Ian repeated the question.

"All right, all right." Mabel raised her hands as if to surrender. "I'll tell you."

"Out – with - it." Ian spat the words one by one.

"As you and I both know, you are the one who caused Daphne's death." Mabel explained while examining her chopper in wonder. Before Ian could utter a single protest, she continued, "Look at this. Isn't this beautiful? But what a waste if this shiny smooth blade was stained, wouldn't it be? Hmm?" She turned to Ian, as though asking for his opinion.

But, again, without waiting for an answer, she added, "But no matter how shiny this blade may be, it still has to become dirty, sooner or later? Don't you agree? It's just a matter of time. Otherwise, what's the use of this chopper?"

Fear seized Ian's heart. "What game are you trying to play?" He hissed. He clenched his fists so tightly they were soaked in sweat.

"Game? Hmm… that's a strong word to use, isn't it?" She placed a finger to her lips, and pouted like a young girl. "But I like it." She clapped her hands and jumped excitedly.

Then, remembering Ian's question, she quickly answered, "I'm playing no game. The term is 'revenge'." She shrugged. "Simple as that. Just one plunge with this," she waved the chopper, "into the heart and it's done. Easy, isn't it? Quick and less painful… you see. I'm doing you a great favour here, you know."

"I don't see how." Ian's stare was cold, and his voice was too.

"Ending your life quickly isn't doing you a favour? Don't tell me you want to die a slow, painful death? Well… I wish to do that but I just don't have the time exactly. So count yourself lucky."

"Right. How lucky I am. Do I need to thank you?"

"Well… you don't have to. You can skip the thanks, I only want the heart." She sneered evilly as she advanced towards him, chopper raised high.

With every step she moved towards him, he took a step back in fear. Standing before him was no longer the Mabel he once knew, but instead was a madwoman. Should he run? She would surely give chase. Should he call for help? He had his mobile with him, after all. But no, she would get to him before he could do so. The only thing he must have now was time. He must stall for time if he wanted his life. And how should he go about it?

Talk. Talking, that's right. If only he could keep her talking, she would probably forget about her revenge or whatsoever.

"Wait. I'm gonna die sooner or later, but tell me, what's the secret behind this revenge of yours? I mean, how long did you take to come up with such a plan?"

"Ahh… I was hoping you'd ask." She clapped jovially. "You want to know the time I spent in this? Many, I tell you! I spent many weeks planning carefully; making sure it was foolproof before I stepped into this house as your servant." She spat.

"You spent so much effort just for this one day, one moment?" Ian could not help feeling incredulous. But she was a little out in her mind, so there was no question to what she could do.

"Uh-uh." She wiggled her finger proudly as though he had answered a question wrongly in a quiz. "That's where you're wrong, Mr. Wallace. You think I spent such a long time just to think of a little plan like this? You belittle me! I'm far much more efficient that that.

"Have you ever thought of the countless meals you missed? And let me tell you, not only was your oh-so-cute son disappointed, I was too! In fact, I was so much more angry and upset!"

"Y-you tried to… poison ME? You contaminated MY food? And you were the one who planted the can of chloroform in my bedroom?"

"Uh-uh. Wrong again. Well… partially wrong. I didn't plant it there, you know. I actually sprayed it into the room, hoping it would knock you out, and it did, but only for a short while. I thought I could actually kill you in the middle of the night while you're sleeping, but I didn't expect you to wake up so quickly! I just dashed out of the room when you opened your eyes…Okay, so this taught me a lesson. Never to buy that brand of chloroform again!" She muttered angrily to herself. It seemed as though the more she recalled, the angrier she got.

But Ian was not paying attention to her anymore. So that explains the silvery flash of light I saw… and the can of chloroform…

"A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Wallace?" Mabel broke into his train of thoughts with a sweet voice. A little too sweet.

"W-What about my watch then? Did you try to steal my watch as well?" He asked, recalling that night when he found his watch.

"What watch? I didn't see any watch. And please, I'm a murderer, not a thief!" She replied, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, let's get on. This is taking up too much of a time." She continued, taking a step closer to Ian.

Meanwhile, Ian did not see her advancing towards him. He was thinking, thinking about everything. A lot of things had happened in just, what, two hours? And it was too much for him to take in such a short time. Firstly, Rebecca. And now, Mabel. What was going on with the women around him? Or maybe it wasn't them; it was him. Maybe he was the one that has been causing this much trouble. Maybe Mabel was right, that he caused Daphne's death, that he was a jinx.

As Mabel's words slowly brainwashed him in guilt, he surrendered himself to death. If I were the one who caused all these trouble, then shouldn't I go? Maybe Mabel is right. It's better if I'm gone. Then Daphne wouldn't be so upset, and Rebecca can find another man who is just right for her. And Mabel, she can take her revenge all she wants. Everybody would be happy, wouldn't they? And Rylan… wait. Rylan… would he be happy?

No. Perhaps, but he'll be lonely. All alone. With no one to love him. He needs me. He needs someone to love him. Daphne is gone, and I cannot abandon him too. He must not be an orphan. He must not have a broken family. He must have a happy and enjoyable childhood…

Yes. I must stay strong, for the sake of my son.

With that, Ian pushed away all his negative thoughts. He would do anything to make Rylan happy, even die for him. But Rylan would want him to stay alive. And so he shall.

He looked up, into a face just centimeters away from his face. A shiny silver blade pressed into his neckline. It drew blood, but he didn't care. His mind was reeling, and that was the only thing he focused on now.


It's drawing blood, can't he see that? He must have known, he couldn't possible not have. But why is he ignoring it?

He's looking up now. Great. I can't wait to hear him yield to me, but I know he wouldn't. He would surely put up a fight. But I don't mind, as long as he is dead after this.

Wait, why is he staring at me like that? Doesn't he know that his end is near? Hold on. He seems to know that. His eyes no longer held the defiance they had just now. It is now replaced with… I can't read it. Is there a tinge of sorrow in them? The gaze… there's just something about them that I-

WAIT! I think I see it now. A sign of defeat. Yes, that's it. He looks defeated. But why? I'd thought he'd…

"Kill me," he said.

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I almost dropped the chopper.

"Kill me," he repeated. "You're right. I'm a bad father, I'm a jinx. I brought trouble to everyone, even Daphne. I brought her death. And I cannot let this happen to Rylan, so just kill me."

I just stood there, shocked. I knew that this was the time now, the time I'd been waiting for for ages now. But oddly enough, I just could not bring myself to it. I was thinking, searching for an answer, a reason to his behaviour. Before I kill him, I want to know why. Yes, so I've succeeded in brainwashing him, but it was something I thought I never would achieve. Why did he change his mind so quickly?

I know it's the time for me to strike, if not, I would lose the chance forever. But something was holding me back. What was it? I don't know, and I don't want to know.

Strike now, I thought. Was I starting to feel guilty? No, it can't be. I never feel guilty. Murderers never feel guilty just before they kill their victims, and I will not be a special case. Strike now…


Ian was astonished. The madwoman before him was actually hesitating to kill him? Did that mean that he still held a chance? No, she surely couldn't have changed her mind so quickly, no.

But as the seconds ticked by, she still held the chopper in her hand where it was, not wanting to push it any deeper. What is she waiting for, and why? Doesn't she know that right now every single moment, every single second was very precious to her?

His gaze locked with hers and they stared intently at each other, both not moving an inch. Not even a single eyelid twitched. Ian was starting to think that his heartbeat was so loud that she could even hear it.

Blood was seeping out of the wound on his neck as minutes passed. It stained the used-to-be-pure-and-white collar into a crimson red colour. But he took no notice of that. Neither of them dared to even move a single finger, as their gazes challenged one another.

It was as though time stood still at that moment, but obviously it did not. That lone moment was all the policemen outside needed. They charged in with their pistols raised, ordering the maid to surrender both her and her weapons. When no response was received, they decided to take a risk and went towards her, but she made no move. In fact, she did not even put up a struggle when she was dragged away by the officers.

Throughout this whole time, the intense gaze that Ian and Mabel shared never broke, until she was out of his sight and vice versa. He did not even pay the least attention to the paramedics who were tending to his wound. He had also completely forgotten about Rylan.


As she was being whisked away, only one thing was going through Mabel Turner's mind. It was just two words, simple words, but it was as though they were haunting her.

"Kill me."

TBC...