Revenge Never Knocks

Chapter 13: Where it all Began

Flashback

Vivian and Sebastian both moved together recently. Sebastian finished A-levels, then started working, University was not an interest for him. He worked in a few different places just to have few sources of income, considering rent needed to be paid and to purchase general necessities.

Vivian finished A-levels after him, she then decided to try out University. However, she lost interest just a year in, it was too overwhelming for her and she could not focus. She lost concentration because she really missed her parents.

To add salt to her wound, every now and then she would see the accomplishments of the Marshalls, especially Raymond Marshall. This frustrated Vivian, she felt hurt that Raymond didn't even look for her after her parents died.

He was another important figure in her life when she was young. He would look after her, buy her toys and take her to concerts. If she hurt herself, he would bandage her up and give her a lollipop. He was her best friend, someone she could talk to, joke around with, and even cry to. Surprisingly, she was closer to him than her own father. Therefore, this hurt her because he moved on with his wife and kids. He didn't even look for her to make sure she was alive. She didn't even get to see Isabella when she was little, she only saw her for a few months when Isabella was born but, then things went wrong. They wouldn't bring Isabella over to her house, they started being more distant and he wouldn't play with Vivian anymore.

Once Vivian quit University, she began writing a book, it was a way to release all her emotions, to share and lighten her mind. It was her form of relaxation, to write and use her imagination. She wrote a short book and published it, remarkably, a lot of people read her book and loved it. It was her authenticity and raw emotions that attracted readers and allowed them to feel the words.

Sebastian came up with the idea to start a new business. He was an expert with editing and technological stuff, and she was excellent with writing and so they moved to the USA to clear their heads, they needed a change of environment. Sebastian was 21 and Vivian was 20 when they relocated to the USA after finishing education.

Sebastian knew the more Vivian stayed amongst the Marshalls; she would never focus on anything else. Hence, with all the savings they had, they moved to Los Angeles and began their business. It was very difficult at first because they were new. They struggled with money, with printings and production. However, they became friends with a few people who aided them. They started off selling books in bookstores, with enough money they opened an office, where they professionally began producing and selling books. It didn't take them long to gain investors and employees.

After three years in the USA, one day, Vivian was holding onto a little letter. Sebastian walks up to her and asks what it was about. She notified him that the letter was in her handbag since her parents died. A week later, she found it in her school bag, and she kept it with her ever since.

'Why did you not open it up?' Sebastian questions.

Vivian sighs, 'It says 'Open this when you're ready'.' Vivian never felt ready to open it, this letter was from her parents.

'Open it, Viv. It might be something important,' Sebastian says squeezing her shoulder. She sighs, but refuses to open it. Sebastian did not pressure her further; it was her choice.

The same day, at night, Vivian was ready to fall asleep when her eyes spotted the letter. She reluctantly picks it up and debates for a few minutes if she should open it or not.

After several minutes, she musters up the courage to open it. She begins reading the letter that her father wrote for her. By the end of the letter, there was a waterfall of tears rolling down her cheek and hitting the floor. She allowed them to freely drop, she needed to let them fall. She didn't grieve properly when her parents died, she was not ready to give them up. But it had been years now, she had to. She screams and cries as she falls to her knees. Sebastian runs in and embraces her in a deep hug.

'What happened?' he questions. She hands him the letter and he reads it; his eyes widen, and his chest heaves up and down, his hands rolled into tight fists.

'We need to go back to England, Sebastian.'

'I will go book the tickets right away,' he replies.

'No, we will wait here for a few months, until I make a plan. I always knew my parents were murdered, no one believed me. The police ruled it a suicide because that's what the scene showed, but no one suggested an alternative,' Vivian wipes her tears.

'Whatever you say, Viv. I am always by your side, and we will make a plan and I will help you through it all,' Sebastian encourages and hugs her. He then takes her into bed and sleeps beside her to comfort her.

The next day, she began planning, she wanted the Marshalls to pay for their deception. Her father trusted Raymond with everything and Raymond's greed got the best of him. A few weeks later, Vivian watched the news where Raymond Marshall stood on stage in an opulent, branded attire. He won an award for the Most Successful Businessman, for the third time in a row. This fuelled her anger even more; he was flourishing on black money and he was getting away with all his crimes. She is going to avenge her parents' deaths and punish the killers.

For the next few weeks, they developed a scheme to separate the family. Sebastian discovered everything about the Marshalls through hacking. He figured out about their illegal trades, the drug deals in their clubs. They researched about all the family members and their past lives, they found out that Raymond made his son, Jackson the owner of all their clubs and hotels- who they adopted. His younger daughter, Isabella was yet to be corrupted by them.

They found out about Raymond's partners-in-crime, Dominic and Richard. Furthermore, they found out Raymond's weakness, which is his family and status, he would go to any extent to protect them. They found this because once Jackson's club was busted for possession of drugs in huge amounts. It was another citizen who called the police when he found out about the drugs. He also gave a statement and he was there when the police found the bags of drugs. Raymond bribed the police to look the other way.

A few days later, the police refused to acknowledge the drugs and the case was dismissed. However, his biggest weakness is his love for himself. He is a prideful, egotistical being who will destroy and deceive anyone in order to defend his image and his life.

Once their plan was full proof, it was time to execute it. They both travelled back to England and opened a franchise here. They spied on the Marshalls and kept tabs on their daily lives and whereabouts.