Twisted Desires

Prologue: Hanni's Descent

Hanni's life had been an unending struggle, a relentless battle against the cruel hands of fate. Crippling debt loomed over her like a never-ending shadow, casting a pall over her every waking moment. It was the consequence of mounting medical bills, a relentless barrage of expenses incurred while desperately trying to keep her ailing mother alive. The weight of this financial responsibility bore down on her shoulders like a crushing burden, threatening to suffocate her hope.

Injustice had a face, one she had come to know all too well. It belonged to a wealthy, heartless businessman who had callously orchestrated her family's financial ruin. It was this man who had tricked her father, a kind and trusting soul, into a web of scams and gambling. It was all a desperate attempt to gather funds to pay for his beloved wife's mounting medical bills, unaware that he was being ensnared by a predator.

Hanni's heart simmered with an unquenchable desire for revenge, a fire that blazed within her. It refused to be extinguished, even in the face of overwhelming odds. She yearned to find a way to strike back at the man who had callously manipulated her family's vulnerability. The day when their paths would inevitably cross again, their fates colliding in a fateful encounter, became a singular focus for her—a day when she would make him pay for the suffering he had wrought upon her family.

Hanni's Auntie had been her savior when she needed it most, providing her shelter and a semblance of stability. Their home was perched above a modest liquor store that her Auntie had tirelessly managed for years. It was a place that had witnessed their struggles, their laughter, and their moments of quiet despair.

When Hanni reached the age of 23, she decided to lend a hand, to repay her Auntie's unwavering support. She started working at the liquor store alongside her. What had initially been a small contribution soon became a full-time commitment. The 'cozy' corner shop became Hanni's daily refuge, even though the pay was meager, and it occasionally brought the nuisance of unruly, inebriated customers.

But Hanni was resourceful, and she had a knack for making the best of her circumstances. She found ways to cope with the challenges, to maintain a sense of dignity amidst the chaos. And then, one fateful day, what she thought was merely the continuation of the life she had come to accept turned out to be the beginning of something entirely unexpected.