9
My father opened the video file.
On the screen, a figure dressed in black crept through our house, looking around furtively before lighting flammable materials and tossing them into different rooms.
The figure’s build was eerily familiar.
Finally, in a shot from a hidden camera, we saw the person’s eyes. Even with a mask on, we all recognized him at the same time.
“Leo” we all said in unison.
My father slammed his fist on the side of the hospital bed, his eyes burning with rage.
“That soulless, godless monster!”
He didn’t hesitate. He immediately contacted our lawyer and sent the video evidence.
My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Just a short while ago, we were happily planning his wedding. And in the span of a few days, he had tried to kill us.
With conclusive evidence, Leo was quickly arrested and sentenced. We heard that when they caught him, he was being chased by loan sharks.
In my father’s study, our lawyer explained the details of the case.
“His motive was to pay off his gambling debts. Leo was in deep. When his creditors found out he’d been kicked out of the family, they all came after him at once. So he came up with a t ted plan. He thought that if he set the fire and got rid of you all before the disownment was legally finalized, he would inherit everything.”
My mother sighed. “It just goes to show you, a snake will always be a snake.”
Jessica’s friends came to see me a few times. Their families had forced them to come and apologize, hoping I would persuade my parents to back off and stop putting pressure on th small businesses. I was tired of it all and felt that justice had been served, so I asked my parents to let it go.
One day, I was meeting a friend for some shopping. While I was waiting, I saw a woman running a small street stall arguing with a customer. The customer, furious, kicked over her stand
“You’re going to charge me a dollar for an extra straw? Why don’t you just rob people? What’s the point of even having a stall?!”
The stall owner, realizing she was dealing with a tough customer, just bowed her head and kept apologizing. The customer stormed off.
The owner muttered curses under her breath as she began to clean up her things.
Suddenly, our eyes met.
Her hair was stringy and dull, her face haggard, her clothes patched. She was a world away from the arrogant, demanding Jessica who had tormented me on her wedding day.
She recognized me and quickly turned her face away in shame. She hastily gathered her things and scurried off.
If she hadn’t been so cruel, so greedy, perhaps she and Leo would be living a comfortable life right now.
But this… this was a fate she had brought entirely upon herself.
