Chapter 75 Warning

"Liana, how could you utter such words?" Riya exclaimed with a tone of utter loathing. "Do you truly wish to see me living like a beggar on the streets? Can't you perceive my advanced age?"

"I believe you are paying for your sins," Liana retorted with a cold and emotionless voice. "Mellisa's unfortunate demise was a result of your actions. If you hadn't instructed your men to abduct her husband, she would still be alive. Your love for your grandson has blinded you to the point where you can no longer differentiate between right and wrong. So, do not even think about blaming me for your misery."

Zick's face turned red with anger. He couldn't fathom the thought of living on the streets like a beggar. What would people say when they saw the once-great billionaire Zick Nadia reduced to such a state? They would undoubtedly mock him, and he would lose all his dignity. All of this was because of Mellisa. Even in death, she continued to cause him trouble. He vowed to make Maxwell pay for everything he had done to him, no matter the cost.

Riya stood up from the chair and trudged up the stairs to her room. She refused to resort to begging on the street, no matter what. Upon entering her room, she locked the door behind her and let out a deep sigh. Her aging body was causing her immense pain and the unhealthy food she had been consuming only made matters worse. The stress was taking a toll on her health, and she knew it. However, she had a small box of medicine in her drawer, which she quickly retrieved. She swallowed all the pills and washed them down with a glass of water. Death seemed like the only solution to her problems. She would never resort to begging on the street, never. She crawled into bed and pulled the blanket over herself. It was better to sleep until the medication kicked in and let death take her in her sleep. She knew it was wrong to leave her beloved grandson alone, but she had no other choice if she wanted to preserve her self-respect.

..... 

After departing from the Nadia Mansion, Maxwell made his way back to his company. He diligently reviewed all the important emails, promptly responding to those that required his attention and signing all necessary documents. It was fortunate that Mark had taken care of the crucial tasks within the company, and Maxwell was grateful for his unwavering support during the difficult times. Mark had encouraged him to regain control of his emotions, and without his guidance, Maxwell was uncertain of what he would have done. The passing of Mellisa had left a profound wound in his heart, and despite his best efforts to alleviate the pain, it persisted. As tears streamed down his face, Maxwell covered his face with his hands, unable to stop thinking about Mellisa. The memory of their last kiss made it difficult for him to forget that she was no longer with him, and he held onto the hope that one day she would return to him.

Wiping away tears from his eyes, he grabbed his phone from the table and dialed his grandmother's number. Talking to her always made him feel better, especially when he was feeling down. After a few rings, his grandmother picked up the call.

"Max, my dear," his grandmother said warmly. "Is everything alright?"

Maxwell swallowed hard, his heart aching. "Grandma," he called, tears streaming down his face. "I miss her so much. It hurts, Grandma. It hurts a lot."

"Maxwell, my dear, I'm so sorry," Madam Williams said sympathetically. "I can't imagine how difficult this must be for you."

Maxwell frowned when he heard children crying in the background on the other side. He wiped his tears and asked, "Grandma, don't tell me you have kids at your age. Whose kids are those?"

Old Madam Williams chuckled awkwardly. "They are my friend's grandchildren. I'm just looking after them out of boredom, you know."

"Can I come to your house and play with them? Maybe I will feel better," Maxwell pleaded.

"No, don't come to my house," Madam Williams retorted quickly, her tone dripping" Can I come to your house and play with them? Maybe I will feel better," Maxwell pleaded.

"No, don't come to my house," Madam Williams retorted quickly, her tone dripping with blameworthy

"Why Granny?" Maxwell asked, his frown deepening. "What kind of a grandma are you? I'm sad and I need you, but you don't want me to come there."

"I have to go, Maxwell. I will call you back," old Madam Williams said curtly before hanging up the call.

Maxwell could only shake his head in disbelief. He grabbed his glasses from the table to hide his red eyes and left the office, feeling utterly gloomy. 

…..

Maxwell finally arrived home after what seemed like an eternity. The house was completely deserted, which could only mean one thing: either his family members were slaving away at their jobs or they were holed up in their rooms. This had been the norm for the past year, and it was a constant reminder of the gaping hole that Mellisa's death had left in their lives. 

Michelle and Shina had taken it upon themselves to keep Mellisa's business afloat, as a way of coping with their immense pain. Maxwell had done his part by constructing a shop for them, and it seemed to be thriving. Meanwhile, Linda was too preoccupied with her studies to be of any help. 

Maxwell trudged to his room, shut the door behind him, and made his way to the bathroom. 

....

As Maxwell had so callously predicted, his men arrived at the Nadia mansion with the sole intention of evicting Zick and his grandmother from their home. With no other options available, Zick made his way to his grandmother's room, only to find the door locked from the inside. He returned to the dining room and retrieved a spare key, using it to unlock the door and gain entry. Upon entering the room, he was met with the sight of his grandmother, shrouded in a blanket from head to toe. "Grandma, please wake up," Zick implored, standing at the side of the bed. But Riya remained motionless and silent.

Zick's desperation grew as he shook his grandmother's body, but to no avail. His heart raced with fear and apprehension. "Granny, please wake up," he pleaded, lifting the blanket to reveal a ghastly sight. White fluid oozed from her mouth, her eyes wide open and her face drained of all color.

Zick's mouth hung open in shock, his hands trembling uncontrollably as he clutched the corner of the blanket.

"Granny," Zick called, tears already shimmering in his eyes. He loosened his grip on the blanket, his hands moved to Riya's hand to check her pulse but he found nothing at all, she was already dead. What will he do without his grandmother by his side? It was utterly pointless to keep on living without her. His life was completely ruined. With unsteady steps, he went to the bathroom, took a box of rat poison pills, put all of them in his mouth, and swallowed them. He burst into tears as he walked out of the bathroom, he walked to the bed when his grandmother was and slept next to her on the bed. He knew that even if he died, his sister would avenge his death and kill Maxwell, he wasn't planning to die, he wanted to make Maxwell pay for everything he did to him, but without his grandmother, he couldn't do anything at all. 

... 

5 Years later. 

Maxwell, Shina, and Michelle arrived home simultaneously, with the meaning of surprising Linda on her birthday. Upon entering the house, they were met with a ghastly sight. The white tiles were now painted red, and the lifeless bodies of the guards and maids were strewn across the floor. Linda's head lay on the ground, with blood seeping out of it, while the rest of her body was nowhere to be found. Beside her head was a message, written in her own blood, 

[I'm gonna feed her body to the crocodile. This is only the beginning. Your end is near Maxwell Williams. Wait and Watch how I'm gonna kill your whole family as you did to mine.] 

Michelle and Shina were inconsolable, their eyes streaming with tears, as they screamed in horror. Meanwhile, Maxwell was rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak.