Chapter 13

I’m not sure what Martin’s goal is. If he wants to teach me, he shouldn’t do it this way. My hands clenched, but I took a deep breath before returning my gaze to the target.

Although it is still a fake, there is a picture of the Villalobos. My fists right away shook as I glanced at the pictures of the Villalobos family pinned to the target.

Martin said, “I’ve been watching your shooting practice for a while,” but I stayed silent. “I noticed you were nervous about holding the gun, so I instructed my staff to make a picture of the enemies, so you could focus on what you were doing.”

I took a step back and shook my head because I wasn’t ready to see them again, not even in pictures. What is Martin thinking? I’m doing great in training! He no longer has to do this to me!

He grabbed my hand, but I evaded him and pointed at him, frightened.

“I’m not ready to face them, even with their pictures!” I yelled. And turned away because it made no sense to continue my training.

“How can you take revenge if you are a coward?”

Martin’s question brought me to a halt. My fists clenched, and I wiped away my tears. I refuse to listen to him since he doesn’t listen to me.

“I’m tired, Martin; let’s just finish this another day,” I said because I was tired.

I took my belongings, but Martin surprised me by pulling me back inside. I was struggling with his hands. “Let me go!” I yelled, hitting his hand. “Let me go, Martin! I’m going home!” but instead of letting go, he tightened his grip on my wrist.

“Don't run away from everything, Ana. Remember, they planned to kill you.” He forced me to face him and held my hand while pointing the gun at the Villalobos pictures.

He was holding my finger. But it trembled my hands as I glanced at the Villalobos picture.

“Remember, Mateo cheated on you. Remember that they planned for you to fall off the cliff, and remember that you almost died because of them,” Martin whispered, and tightening my hold on the rifle. It took my breath away while I was still crying.

“This is the time to take everything they have,” he continued, as my recollections of 5 years ago returned.

I shook my head and fired the trigger as my eyes widened, and I glanced at the target, exhausted. I heard gunfire but didn’t stop, instead continuing to fire bullets at their photo.

You are to blame for the misery in my life. You are the reason I am here, and you are also the reason I almost died. And I will cause your demise.

My vision is becoming blurry, but I continue to shoot at the targets. I hear nothing around me anymore because I’m feeling alone, and I believe the family that ruined my life is right in front of me.

“Ana, that’s enough!”

I blinked, and my eyes widened when I saw the gun was pointing at Martin, so I let it go and held my head because my memories from 5 years ago were playing in my head.

“F–ck. I apologize!” said Martin, and I just felt him hugging me, so I started crying and gripped his arm…

“Martin, I will kill them.” I muttered as he touched my hair while still holding me. “I will kill them.”

“Shh, you need to rest,” Martin whispered, calming me down.

I’m just stunned and silent, but I’ll do what I want: I’ll kill them all.

***

Martin let me relax after what happened at the shooting range, and Reese prescribed some medication for me because I had a panic attack. I’m still triggered by recollections from 5 years ago. I was about to strike Martin if he hadn’t intervened.

Furthermore, I also cooled down for a few days after Martin said he noticed my eyes blank, as if I was about to rush into battle without a fight. Perhaps it was because of what occurred to me, it triggered me 5 years ago that, causing my reaction to be the same.

Thereafter, I resumed my training. Lucas did not teach me again because he was afraid I might attack him, so I apologized for what I had done, but he laughed at me. It’s a good thing I forgot about his sin of abandoning me with Martin and didn’t harm him.

Klein afterward instructed me about physical attack. He’s a better coach than Lucas, who only knows how to yell at me.

Klein said as I listened to him, “You should know how to feel if someone is going to attack you.” I’m standing there watching him spar. “Levy has plenty of men,” he added, “so you should be able to fight them.”

I nodded, listening to what he was saying. Even though my body was in pain, I continued to train since I learned more from them.

“Ana!”

When I saw Klein kick me, I blinked, and I winced as I grabbed my stomach.

“Damn. I’m sorry, I can’t control my movements,” he said as he approached me and offered his hand. “Are you okay?” he asked. I winced and grabbed his hand, and he assisted me in getting to my feet.

“I’m fine; I apologized if I lost focus.”

He looked at me and around before announcing that we would first have a water break. We exited the ring, and I sat in the chair. I thanked him when he handed me water.

“I know him.” When I turned to face him, I noticed he had taken some water before gazing at me. “I know Mateo; he is not my friend, but I used to see him sometimes at the Arena,” he said.

I frowned because I didn’t understand what he was saying.

“He’s doing boxing in the Arena.”

I stared at the water bottle, stunned. I only learned about this. Mateo also avoids discussing his past because I know it embarrasses him to tell me about his background.

“I’m sorry, but Mateo is not a good person. I saw him fight with people in the Arena, and he even uses his father’s name to avoid going to jail,” he continued, and I turned to face him, and he nodded. “That’s why I was surprised that you were the one I heard became his wife.”

Klein stopped talking when I flattened the bottle.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be telling you this, he he-he,” said Klein as he scratched his head, sensing that I was losing my temper.

I rose and stretched before throwing the bottle away. I turned to face Klein. “Let’s go, thank you for telling me,” I said as I entered the ring.

“That’s the spirit. You need to focus, Ana. Think of Mateo as your opponent.” Klein smiled and entered the ring. I swallowed as I stared at him.

“You need to remember what he did to you.”

I tightened my hands when Mateo appeared in front of me. His expression when I caught him and Chloe together.

“Ana…”

I’m not sure what happened, but my movements became faster, and I could keep up with Klein’s every move. Klein whispered, “It’s not bad, but…” he grabbed my wrist. “You’re not in focus,” he said, and we both fell down.

I smirked. “You’re not certain...” I said as I kicked him and got up to punch him in the stomach. He took a step back, grabbing his stomach, but my vision shifted.

Mateo was the one I saw, so I rushed towards him and kicked his leg before tossing him over. But I didn't stop and instead stepped on his chest.

“H-hey…!”

I blinked and stared at the person in front of me… “Oh, my God! I’m sorry!” I exclaimed as I assisted Klein in standing. “I did it again,” I whispered, messing up my hair.

Klein tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I-I'm fine. I think it broke my ribs, he-he…” He smiled. “Looks like you’re learning to defend yourself; just keep learning everything you can, Ana, for all of our plans,” he offered his hand. I looked at his hand, but he only smiled at me, so I sighed and shook his hand.

“Thank you,” I said. “You’re a better coach than Lucas.” He chuckled and shook his head.

“I’m not certain why Lucas became your shooting range coach.”

I raised my brows, but he grinned and said, that today was my last day. We were just leaving the gym, and he seemed to be better than Lucas. Because that man left me in the air, TSK!

They kept teaching me what I needed to know about business strategies and how to act while dealing with high-ranking people. And they taught me how to operate as a powerful businesswoman, as well as how to keep up with elite individuals like them.

As I stated, I have my own plan. I will do everything I desire in my own way. Because I will not to rely on Martin and the others forever because they are not always at my side.

I must also operate alone because I would rather not rely on others.

And In my few months of studying everything, I’ve discovered many things that are difficult to learn because I didn’t grow up wealthy either. I was just a simple woman who did nothing but work to survive.

I worked in different jobs just to survive, but because of the challenges in life, I almost became insane, but because the atmosphere was still good to me. He gave me hope to live again even though I was alone in this life.

When a widow woman found me on the street seeking for people in her restaurant, she helped me get up, educated me, and dressed me again.

So, I am truly thankful to her because if it hadn’t been for her, I could have given up for good. However, she died later, so I worked hard to finish my studies, but it was still not enough, so I did not complete college.

I applied to a small company using what I had learned in college; fortunately, they needed someone currently, so they hired me, and my life calmed down a little on my own, which is when Mateo entered my life.

That’s where our love began, and it ended tragically.

I never imagined I’d be in my current situation, thanks to Martin’s help. So, I won’t let him down, and I won’t waste their time making me better.

I will strive to use all I have learned so that I will have no regrets in the end.

“Ana.”

I took a deep breath and turned to face them all. Their eyes widened when they noticed how much I had changed. I wasted no more time trying to stretch out my plans.

“You look stunning,” said Klein. I smirked at him.

“You’re different today,” said Lucas as he was staring at me.

“Is it better?” I asked, and smiled as he nodded. Doc Cole hit him because he was such a flirt.

“Oh, the king is here…” said Doc Cole, pointing to the man behind me. Lucas shook his head and made the peace sign.

When someone held my waist, I smiled and turned to face him.

“Let’s go.”

I nodded and looked at our companions. “See you around,” I winked as I walked away.

“Do you know what you’re going to do, Miss…”

I chuckled and grabbed his arm. “Ana Mystica.”