Chapter 4
1019 Words
The next morning, Tiffany sat at her kitchen table, scanning news websites for any mention of her family's murder or her disappearance. So far, there has been nothing. Her uncle must be keeping it quiet, probably to avoid drawing attention to whatever he was trying to cover up.
Later that evening, while watering the small garden, she had started as a distraction from her grief.
She stood and admired the quiet neighborhood.The house was modest – nothing like the luxurious mansion she'd grown up in – but it felt safe. Located on a peaceful street lined with oak trees, it was worlds away from the violence she'd fled.
She thought she would never be free from his evil uncle and his family. Tiffany tried not to think about how her uncle and his family treated her.
She tried not to think about that night, about how family was murdered in cold blood.
Would she ever live to forget that moment? Her head wandered in so many thoughts and she dropped the water can and went inside her room. She relaxed her back against the door and let out a sharp breath, trying hard to forget about her family.
“Poor Kayla, you don't deserve to die just like a chick.” She muttered, not being able to control the tears she was holding for long.
“Big sister, you look so beautiful in this dress.” She remembered how Kayla always rendered praises to her each time she wore a new dress.
She sniffed, taking out her phone from her dress pocket. Her hands moved swiftly on the screen as she scrolled through her dial log and saw her mom's countless calls on that night of their murder.
She wished she had answered her mother's call and heard those last words from her.
She sucked silently as the phone dropped from her hand.
An hour later, Tiffany stepped inside her kitchen, yawning hungrily.
She opened the mini size refrigerator and brought out a ball of apple since there was nothing else to eat. She has nothing in her kitchen and she has planned to go shopping the next day.
She washed the apple and walked to her bedroom, taking a large bite of it. She munched it hungrily,
She hasn't eaten something good for a long time now.
The sound of vehicles interrupted her thought. Curious, she peeped through her window and saw several men carrying expensive furniture into the house next door. The mansion had been vacant for months, according to her realtor.
She saw a moving truck pulled up. She ducked away from the window, her heart racing. But curiosity got the better of her,
A sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled into the driveway behind the moving truck.
and she carefully peered out from behind the curtain.
Tiffany's breath caught in her throat as a man stepped out: tall, powerfully built, with the aura of authority commanding attention. He was wearing a well-tailored charcoal suit that most likely was more expensive than her whole wardrobe put together. Everything about him screamed wealth and power.
Something about his stance seemed familiar, but Tiffany quickly dismissed the thought. She had more important things to focus on – like planning her revenge.
"Great," Tiffany muttered to herself. "So much for lying low in a quiet neighborhood." The last thing she needed was a high-profile neighbor who might draw attention.
She had specifically asked for a quiet neighborhood with minimal interaction, but it seemed life had other plans.
The man began directing the movers with quiet efficiency, his deep voice carrying across the yard. Despite her reservations, Tiffany found herself watching him. There was something familiar about his bearing, but she shook off the thought again as her eyes had to wander.
A sharp knock at her front door made her jump.
Her hands became shaky, making her stomach churn.
The news that her uncle was still in search of her made her feel scared.
She wished she had installed a peephole.
She waited a while, summoned courage and opened the door, poking her head outside.
"Hello?" a woman's cheerful voice called out. "I'm Grace from next door. Just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood!"
Tiffany hesitated, then slowly opened the door fully. A friendly-looking woman in her fifties stood there holding a casserole dish.
"I saw you moving in and thought you might be hungry," The woman said, then lowered her voice conspiratorially.
Good heavens! She was famished
and she felt indifferent, wondering if God was the one that sent the woman to her or otherwise.
"And I wanted to give you the scoop on our new neighbor. That's Dante Carter moving in next door. Dante Carter! Can you believe it?" She said, her voice filled with excitement.
Tiffany's face held a confused look.
Should she be happy with the news or what does she have to do with him? She thought.
“Dante Carter is the son of the billionaire, Lopez Carter.” The woman clarified and Tiffany nodded immediately as she remembered Lopez Carter.
“Dante Carter is the ruthless young billionaire who built an empire from his father's struggling company, known for his brilliant business strategies and zero tolerance for failure. There are also rumors that he hates women” The woman said and not giving Tiffany room to talk. She's quite a talker.
"The neighborhood's all abuzz," She continued, oblivious to Tiffany's distress. "A billionaire choosing to live here instead of those fancy gated communities!”
“Ohh, thanks.” Tiffany said, her vibes not matching with that of the middle aged woman. The woman's face dropped in disappointment, covering it up immediately with a faint smile.
“You're welcome again.” She said, finally handing the plate of Casserole to Tiffany.
“Thanks, Ma'am.” Tiffany forced a smile and accepted the casserole.
She smiled and left. Tiffany stood and watched in awe.
Her mind racing. Of all the neighborhoods in the city, she had to pick one where a high-profile billionaire was moving in? The universe surely had a twisted sense of humor
- Writer
