Chapter 12 Preparations for Revenge

Silverwood Park, once the home of Darius and his family, had been reduced to rubble by a fire set by Norma. The blaze didn't just consume their house; it also damaged the neighbouring properties. As soon as Darius showed up at his burnt-down home, the neighbours surrounded him. "Finally, you show your face! Your fire damaged my house too. You must pay up no less than 150 thousand, or I won't let this go!" "Yes, the sheet I placed on the balcony caught fire, and the security grill has become charred. If you don't pay at least ten thousand, we're not done here." "You dare to come back? Your woman refused to compensate for the damage to our homes, and she insulted us. It's a personal affront. I demand 300 thousand in compensation!" "If your wife not going to take care of this, you need to take responsibility as the husband. If you don't give me 150 thousand, I'll jump from your window!" Four women, each more aggressive than the last, demanded compensation starting in the tens of thousands. They really thought he was an easy target. "That's enough! Shut up! All of you!" Darius's roar silenced them instantly. With a stern face, he declared, "The house is in Norma's name; she's the homeowner. If you want compensation, bring it up with her. I have proof that she set the fire. Here's her number; take it." These women refused to accept this. They started to complain again, calling Darius heartless. Slap! Darius slapped the divorce papers and a wedding invitation on the charred wall. "See this? Norma and I are divorced. Any damage she caused has nothing to do with me. "But I'm not one to shirk responsibility. They're getting married at the Fortune Hotel in three days. If you're willing to make a scene with me, I guarantee each of you will get at least 75 thousand." 75 thousand! Though it wasn't as much as they had initially demanded, their eyes still lit up in greed. Yet they weren't fools, realising immediately that Darius was using them. "You little brat! Not only do you refuse to pay, but you also want to use us. Why don't you go to hell?" "That's right, you think you're so clever. We see through your plan to use us to crash the wedding. We're not falling for it." "Bottom line, pay up! If you don't, you're not leaving today!" Darius replied coldly, "Do as you please. You know how poor I am. Even if you take me to court, I have no money to pay. It's up to you." With that, he broke through their blockade and quickly left. The women watched him leave and stomped their feet in frustration. "That rascal is sharp. What do we do next?" "What else? Make banners and signs. We'll crash the hotel in three days. Even if we don't get the full amount, we'll at least get a few thousand to cover our losses." After some discussion, they decided to cooperate with Darius. As seasoned gossips, they knew Darius's financial state well. Expecting him to have money for compensation was a lost cause, as that man was too stingy to buy a bottle of mineral water. After leaving the neighbourhood, Darius went to the Orange Gaming Lounge next door and found Gene Cobbett, who was playing a game. With a snap, Darius shut down his computer. "F*ck! Who the hell dares to interrupt my game? Tired of living, are you?" Gene jumped from his chair. When he saw that it was Darius, his angry face immediately softened into a smile. "Darius ... You're here ... " In his heyday, Darius once saved Gene's life and topped up his gaming lounge membership card with 15 thousand. Since then, Gene has been completely loyal to him. Even when Darius fell through difficult times, Gene remained the most loyal and respectful person in his life. Darius patted his shoulder and said, "Relax; have a seat. I need a favour." Gene thumped his chest and said, "Anything for you, Darius. I'll go through fire if needed." He wasn't exaggerating; he genuinely meant it. Small-time hustlers like these always repay small acts of kindness with great gratitude. Darius said, "Nothing that dramatic. I need you to dig up some dirt." He handed Gene photos of Norma and Vere. "In three days, I want all the dirt you can find on these two, especially photos and videos. Can you do it?" Gene stared at the photos, dumbfounded. He asked, "Darius, isn't this your wife and buddy? You used to bring him together for drinks and parties." Darius grunted and admitted, "Once a brother, but we are now a love rival. He stole my wife and humiliated me." Gene swallowed hard and cursed, "D*mn it, how dare they cheat on you! I'll kill these despicable sc*mbags! "Don't worry, Darius. No matter how tough it gets, I'll get it done!" He called his WhatsApp group and shouted, "Stop gaming! Get to the Orange Gaming Lounge now. We've got work to do." Leaving the lounge, Darius felt uneasy. After some hesitation, he called Alana. Half an hour later, they met at a cafe. Alana was shocked by his request. She asked, "Are you serious? I'm the top CEO at Wreka. My promise is worth a lot, and you're using it for this petty revenge? Aren't you worried you would regret it?" Many people in Wreka requested her assistance and were willing to pay a high price. However, Darius didn't value it. He was willing to waste such a precious opportunity to get revenge on his ex-wife. Darius responded, "A man must do what's right. If I swallow this humiliation, I'll never hold my head high. Worse, I'd set a poor example for my daughter. This would ruin her values. "I must avenge this wrong. Even if it costs everything, I don't give a sh*t. Will you help me or not?" His words left Alana deeply moved. Darius lived with such integrity. He wanted not just revenge but to teach his daughter right from wrong. This guy is genuinely a loving father and a man. She exhaled, saying, "Alright, I'll help. This one's on me, not counted among your three promised favours."