The Cruelest Marriage For My Ex

Chapter 5

"You don't need to worry about the continuation of your life after getting out of this place. You can live with me," Julia said in an incredibly gentle tone of voice.

Daniel stared at the woman with wide eyes, as if unable to believe the words his ears had just caught. "A-Are you serious, Madam? W-why are you being so kind? What reason makes you willing to help me? And earlier... what did you say? Revenge?"

Julia nodded slowly. "Yes. But, on one condition. You must grow my company and make it a big name. I no longer trust my own biological son. I am not convinced the company will be able to thrive under his control. On the contrary, I actually fear that the company my late husband built from scratch will simply be destroyed in his hands. Considering that he is so greedy, unwilling to make an effort, and only wants to enjoy instant results. What can be expected from that nature of his? I will not let that terrible thing happen."

Daniel frowned, still unable to fully digest the meaning behind the middle-aged woman's words in front of him.

Julia continued her words, "Therefore, help me secure and grow the company. In return, I will support you in exacting your revenge against the Morales family. Besides, it is impossible for me to let you fall into ruin and be abandoned after getting out of here. You are my lifesaver, Daniel. If you hadn't helped me that night, I might have already died at the hands of my own son."

Daniel fell silent, his mind starting to race. The offer was like a double-edged sword. On one hand, he felt he was given a glimmer of opportunity to rise from the dark hole and embrace the justice he had been longing for. But on the other hand, the massive responsibility and the burning revenge against the Morales family made him hesitate.

Up to this second, he did not deny that he still loved Valerie, even though his feelings of revenge and hatred toward the woman had already piled up into a mountain. Furthermore, managing and growing a giant company was not an easy matter.

His gaze slowly dimmed, but his brain was working very fast. This golden opportunity was too precious to just let pass by.

*If I accept this offer,* Daniel thought to himself, *I will have the power to destroy those who have shattered my life. I can repay the actions of Valerie, the woman I once loved so much but who ended up stabbing me mercilessly. To hell with the remnants of this love; after all, she also destroyed me without thinking about our past feelings.*

After spending a few moments in silence, Daniel finally looked up and stared intently into Julia's eyes.

"But, Madam... I do not really understand the ins and outs of the business world. I don't even have any experience working in a company."

Julia gave a thin smile, then leaned forward.

"You don't need to worry about that, I will be the one guiding you," she said soothingly.

Daniel averted his gaze for a few seconds, trying to steady his heart. Slowly, he looked back at Julia with a piercing gaze full of conviction.

"Alright then. I accept and I am willing," he uttered in a low voice. He swallowed slowly before continuing, "But, what about your son? He will definitely be furious if he finds out his company has fallen into my hands. If he has the heart to intend on ending your life, you who are actually his biological mother, let alone to me. He will definitely be determined to eliminate me too."

Julia took a deep breath before replying, "After exchanging thoughts with you, my perspective started to open up," she said in a lowered tone. "Previously, I did not have the heart to throw him into a prison cell because he is the only flesh and blood I have. I still held out hope that he would change. But, it seems that is impossible."

She paused her sentence for a moment.

"I want to put my full trust in you, Daniel. So, please help me. You help me, and I will help you complete your revenge. They play with strength and power, don't they? That means you must also use equal power to pay back those who have made your life suffer like hell. You don't need to worry about my son; I will take care of him later. I myself will throw him behind bars. He must receive a fitting punishment for his actions so that he is deterred and regretful. Because if left unchecked, he will definitely continue to act arbitrarily towards me. So, forget about him. Just focus all your energy on growing the company and completing your mission against the Morales family."

"Alright, I will help you, Madam. I also want to avenge this heartache on the Morales Family."

***

Some time passed.

The light rain had just subsided, leaving behind the scent of wet earth. Daniel stood in the yard of Julia's luxurious residence after the driver who picked him up from the police station stopped the car in front of the courtyard.

His body still felt weak, as if the burden of more than a month in a stuffy room had not completely vanished. However, he could now breathe fresh air, looking at the blue sky that felt vaster than before.

Daniel stepped closer to Julia. His body trembled violently; he had thought his life was truly going to end tragically in prison. He thought he would die rotting behind iron bars like the curse Valerie had once thrown at him, but now, he could look at the sky with a smile and a relieved heart because it turned out his fear did not come true.

"Thank you, Madam," he said in a hoarse voice, before finally stepping forward and embracing Julia tightly.

Although initially startled, Julia finally returned the embrace gently. She could clearly feel how Daniel's frail body was trembling violently.

"If it weren't for you, perhaps my life would have ended tragically in a prison cell. I am extremely grateful to you. I promise I will repay all this kindness."

Julia slowly loosened the hug, then rested both her hands on Daniel's shoulders. She looked at the young man with a warm smile full of understanding. "You saved my life first, Daniel. So, you don't need to thank me excessively."

Daniel smiled faintly while wiping the remaining tears wetting his cheeks. "How did you get me out? Was it by... using power too?" he asked.

Julia nodded firmly. "Yes, I got you out with the money I have. But, I didn't do that without reason. My lawyer did manage to obtain proof that you are innocent, but I didn't use that proof to get you out. Because I felt that if I provided that evidence, you wouldn't be able to exact your revenge."

Daniel immediately furrowed his brow. He didn't understand the direction of Julia's words at all. "What do you mean?"

Julia explained in more detail, "The voice recording evidence played at the party that night has been forensically verified as merely an AI technology manipulation. That evidence was indeed handed over by my lawyer to the investigators, but we deliberately held back other much stronger evidence."

"Other evidence? What evidence do you mean?"

"My lawyer managed to secure hidden CCTV footage showing the moment Ricardo dragged you toward the emergency stairs. And much more surprisingly, he also got surveillance camera footage that clearly highlights the face of Ricardo's actual killer."

Daniel's eyes widened completely. "Are you serious, Madam?" he asked with a look of surprise and disbelief.

Julia nodded slowly without a doubt. "His name is Ivan Salazar. He is the only son of the Salazar Family, as well as the highest throne holder in the Salazar Group. I have examined the CCTV footage carefully. After you left the crime scene, Ricardo returned to the emergency stairs with Ivan, and they were involved in a massive physical confrontation. They hit each other until finally Ricardo lost his balance and fell down the stairs. It didn't stop there; Ivan also brutally kicked Ricardo's head repeatedly, and that traumatic injury was the main cause of Ricardo's death."

Both of Daniel's hands clenched so tightly that the veins bulged. *So that bastard's name is Ivan? Then, who exactly is he? Today is the first time I've ever heard his name, so what reason for revenge does he have against me?* Daniel thought.

"I deliberately did not hand over that evidence to the police. Because if I gave it to them now, Ivan would just go straight to prison, and your revenge mission would simply be over. In my view, you must destroy his life far more terribly than that, Daniel! Destroy him to his roots, make him lose everything, and only after that, throw him into a prison cell."

Daniel could only remain silent, but after digesting those words, he had to admit that Julia's reasoning was very logical. Putting him straight into prison was too easy for that man. He wanted him ruined down to his roots.

"Use that evidence later, when his position is truly at rock bottom. Rival his company, tear down his glory, and make sure he has no assets left whatsoever. So that in the future, when he is languishing in prison, he will not be able to escape using the power of the money he currently has. Besides, dragging him into the legal system now feels useless; with his connections and power, he would surely get out very easily, wouldn't he?"

Daniel nodded in agreement. "Yes, you are right, Madam. He could definitely escape easily if we act rashly. The decision you made is absolutely right."

Julia gave a smile full of satisfaction.

"So, it's because of this damn man that Mom intends to get rid of me?" A man's voice suddenly rang out, making Daniel and Julia shift their focus to the source of the sound.

To be continued