CHAPTER 5 – DOOR OF DEATH
The palace was a masterpiece, a testament to opulence and time. Its architecture was a blend of ancient and modern, a harmonious dance of stone and glass. A sprawling pond, its waters shimmering like scattered diamonds, was the centerpiece of the sprawling gardens. Flowers, vibrant as rubies, bloomed in profusion, and trees, their leaves an emerald green, stood tall and proud.
On a balcony overlooking this breathtaking panorama stood Anthony, a man whose age seemed to have only deepened his allure. His grey and white suit, paired with a black tie, was a classic ensemble that exuded an air of timeless elegance. His hair, a mix of black and silver, framed a face etched with both wisdom and sorrow.
In his hands, he held a family heirloom, a platinum locket shaped like a crescent moon, adorned with a flawless diamond.
"My poor daughter, my kindest daughter," he whispered to the locket, his voice filled with a profound longing.
"Where are you? Are you doing well now?"
As if in answer to his silent plea, a young man burst into the room. Jake, his trusted servant, his face flushed with excitement. "Chairman, Chairman!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with urgency, "Your daughter has been found!"
Anthony's heart pounded in his chest. Hope, a flame long extinguished, ignited anew. His daughter, alive, after all these years? It was almost too much to bear.
"Quick, get me a car," he commanded, his voice barely a whisper.
"I must see her."
With a haste unusual for a man of his age, Anthony descended the grand staircase and made his way to the basement, where his car awaited. Jake followed closely behind, his mind racing with the implications of this incredible news.
The car, a sleek black Mercedes with crimson leather interiors and silver accents, was a testament to Anthony's wealth and power. As he slid behind the wheel, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: his journey to find his daughter was about to begin.
Anthony waited in the car, a tempest of emotions churning within him. Hope, fear, and a deep-seated protectiveness warred for dominance. What if this wasn't his daughter? What if she didn't want him after all these years?
The questions gnawed at him, each one more terrifying than the last.
When they finally arrived, Jake opened the car door, ushering him out into the crisp evening air. A sense of foreboding washed over him as he followed Jake towards the house.
"The person who investigated about your daughter said that she is married and the family hasn't been kind to her," Jake informed him, his voice filled with sympathy.
The words struck Anthony like a physical blow. A wave of anger, fierce and protective, consumed him. How dare anyone mistreat his daughter?
The weight of his absence, the years he had lost, pressed down on him with crushing force. He was a failure as a father, and he would make it right.
"How dare they bully my daughter?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous. His usually impeccable suit, now rumpled from his agitation, seemed to mirror the turmoil within him.
With a determined stride, he straightened his tie, his eyes flashing with a cold fury.
"I will make them pay," he vowed, his voice a chilling promise.
…
The opulent tranquility of Alex and Ann's home shattered as Maria erupted from a room, a whirlwind of rage and despair. Janice, her face contorted with fury, lunged forward, her fingers clamping onto Maria's hair. With a brutal yank, she hauled her back into the room, the once-polished hardwood floor echoing with the violence. Ann, her expression a chilling blend of disdain and fear, delivered a stinging slap to Maria's face.
Janice, a dangerous glint in her eye, spotted a crystal vase. In a swift, calculated motion, she raised it high and brought it crashing down on Maria's head. The vase shattered, sending shards of glass and crimson droplets flying.
Maria's world imploded as a torrent of blood poured down her face, creating a grotesque crimson pool on the immaculate marble tiles. Her once lustrous curls were matted with blood, a macabre crown.
A stunned silence enveloped the room as Alex, Ann, and Janice stared at the horrific scene. Fear, a tangible entity, crept into Alex's eyes as he whispered,
"She won't die, will she?" Ann, her composure momentarily shattered, gasped, her voice a shrill counterpoint to the quiet chaos.
"Our company launch is imminent. We can't have any trouble now," she hissed, her words laced with desperation.
With a grim determination, Ann and Janice transformed into amateur medics. Grabbing wet towels, they frantically wiped away the blood and glass shards that covered Maria's body. Her dress, once elegant, was torn away, revealing skin marred by crimson streaks. The once pristine floor was now a crime scene, a stark contrast to the opulent surroundings.
With brutal efficiency, they bundled Maria's limp form into the car, her legs trailing behind as they dragged her across the leather seats.
Alex, his face pale and drawn, drove them to a desolate, abandoned sanctuary, a place where nature's cruelty mirrored the darkness within them. It was a gamble, a desperate attempt to dispose of the evidence.
Dumped in the shadows of an overgrown alley, Maria slowly regained consciousness. Her face, a mask of dirt and dried blood, was a stark contrast to her usual radiant beauty. Weakness enveloped her, her body protesting with every movement.
Despite the overwhelming desire to collapse, a flicker of defiance ignited within her. With a Herculean effort, she managed to stand, her legs trembling, her vision blurred.
A beam of light pierced the gloom as a car approached. Hope, a fragile flame, sparked within her. She waved frantically, a silent plea for help. As the car drew closer, she felt a surge of relief, only to be met with an overwhelming wave of exhaustion.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. The car screeched to a halt, and several figures emerged.
"It's her! Quickly, she needs help," a voice cried out, cutting through the still night.