The Lies That Bind: One Death, A Million Secrets.

20 years earlier Edward held out his hands, reaching out to his best friend for help while he sat in his pool of blood, struggling to take in air as his lungs gradually failed him. “You really thought you had it all; family, money, fame! I have sat in your shadows for 20 good years, E! I never got the applause I deserved, all my efforts had no effect on my own life.” The sound of his voice was laced with the venom of hatred he hid for years. “I gave you all you wanted, Jay, you had nothing. I literally made you who you are right now,” Edward said while struggling to take in the air. “All I got was remnants, E! Leftovers from your lavish lifestyle! Like a beggar, I ate from the crumbs that fell off your table,” Jayden raised his voice in anger, his veins prominent on his forehead while his face flushed. “But not anymore, my friend,” he smirked. “All the spotlight will have to shine on me now.” “This is not who you are, Jay, this isn't what you want. You're a good person. Remember how perfect our friendship was? Everyone admired us and wanted their relationship to be like ours.” “You're so wrong, my friend. This has been my plan from the first day we reunited after college.” He paused for a moment before letting out a little chuckle. “You know, I knew I'd be great, I just had to choose a path to achieve that and this seemed like the easiest.” His hands were up in the air as though he was showcasing his victory. “All you had to do was ask, Jay. You don't have to go down this path. We could have won together, done everything together just like old times.” “And why do I have to ask first?” His voice got louder as each word left his mouth. “Why do I have to ask for you to notice the number of sacrifices I made for the company? Why do I have to ask to be given what I deserve?” This time, he became more furious. “This company belongs to me and my family,” Edward replied, his breath becoming less consistent. “I built that company from scratch, it is my legacy and that of my family. I suffered so much so that my family will never have to be on the streets like me. I gave you shares in the company that would serve as a lifetime investment, Jay. If you wanted more, you could have simply asked me. Why do you have to pay me back this way? Why?” This time, Mr. Jayden moved back to relax his body on the wall, his eyes moving as though he was searching for answers. Strands of his hair fell randomly, obstructing the view of his face. A glimpse of guilt and regret flashed through his face and Edward immediately grabbed the opportunity to use it to his advantage. “This is not who you are, Jayden. I can help you, I can help you not to face the authorities. We could start all over as a family, just like old times. Please just save me.” Jayden paused for a moment before replying. “No… no, I can't, E! I'm so sorry I can't. I have to finish what I already started.” He slowly moved towards Edward. “I can't go back on my word.” “Yes, you can, Jay, yes, you can for friendship's sake. It only makes you a better person.” “No, I'm sorry, E! But I have to do this.” As those words left his mouth, he injected Edward with the last dose of poison. Immediately, Edward's breath began to seize as his lungs failed him faster. Jayden stood up, looking at his friend struggling to breathe with tears rolling down his cheek as he continually muttered the words “I'm sorry,” taking little steps away from the body of his almost lifeless friend. As soon as he was sure that Edward was no longer alive, he cleared all forms of evidence from the basement and ran away. . . . . . Present day The noise that came from her heels meeting the tiled floor had everyone alert as she walked into the dimly lit room. She walked straight to Mr. Jayden, who was tied to a chair after being beaten roughly, his almost lifeless body being held to the chair by the thin rope used to tie him up. “Oh dear! Look at yourself. It shouldn't have ended this way if you had not taken everything from me, but you chose greed. I guess this is what the result of greed looks like,” she spoke in a soft voice as though it was an ordinary situation. “I was determined to really make you suffer.” She sighed before she continued. “But my tender heart can't even take it. Now I have to end it, uggghhh,” she grumbled in frustration. “How could you do this to me?” Jayden said as he slowly raised his head up, blood dripping from his face at intervals as a result of severe punches. “It could have been anyone else, not you.” “Why? Because I'm a woman or because you can't imagine losing to me,” she let out a chuckle which was followed by hysterical laughter. “You should have thought about that before killing my father and taking what belongs to me, or you thought I'd never find out? What a shame. It really feels good though,” she paused before continuing. “I have waited for this moment all my life and here it is, here is my trophy,” she smiled, pointing her hands to Mr. Jayden. “You destroyed my life, you took everything from me. Are you even aware that I almost committed suicide three good times? I was going crazy for real,” she laughed again. “But I had to, I just had to put myself all together for this beautiful day. I guess hard work pays off after all,” she shrugged. “And after all this; making me suffer and ending my life, what is next? What would you gain from all this?” “Oh common now, are you really asking me that? Isn't it obvious? I'd simply take what has always been mine.” “And how about—--” “Oh enough! I've kept you alive for too long,” she said as she shut him up. She walked up to the man standing next to a table that contained implements used for torture. “My love,” she said while caressing his cheeks. They immediately kissed each other so passionately before separating but still leaning into each other. “Finish him up,” she whispered, “and make him suffer.” “Your wish is my command, my darling.”