The Shadow of Retribution: A tale of vengeance and the price of justice.

Prologue.

July 13, 2022
Kathmandu, Nepal

Over the phone, I shared the thrilling news with my sister. "I'm getting married!" I burst out, barely containing my joy. As a self-proclaimed Brigerton girl, I had, finally found the one who had captured my heart. My sister's curious voice interrupted my euphoria. "To whom?" she asked.
"I called him the love of my life," I said.

It took her a moment to understand I was referring to him.

"Wasn't that eight years ago, and didn't you break up?" she asked, incredulous. "You're not even in a relationship now; stop teasing," she added, shocked that I'd consider dating or marriage.

To clarify, after him, I had been in another relationship that turned out to be abusive, and I'd been single for four years since then. My abusive ex and the love of my life were two entirely different individuals.
"I revealed that we had reconciled months ago and are now planning to get married once I turn 26 in October; he's visiting home during Dusshera to discuss the union with mom, with plans to spend four years as newlyweds before considering parenthood at 30," I said.

My sister immediately demanded, "Sambhavi Chhetri, tell me everything right now!"
That night, we conversed until the early hours of the morning, and I remained wide awake, overwhelmed with excitement as I was about to marry the love of my life after an eight-year wait. To provide context, I wasn't an overly attached ex, but it was undeniable that I couldn't truly connect with anyone else despite numerous attempts. As it turned out, Jared felt the same way. My partner, Jared, was breathtakingly handsome, with a smile as serene as music and an overall presence that embodied perfection.