"Revenge is a dish best-served cold... but some betrayals deserve to burn." Elma was just a child when she lost everything. Her family was slaughtered in the dead of night, and the only one who stood by her was her uncle, Josh. Broken and desperate for justice, she became the perfect pawn-trained, sharpened, and molded into an assassin under his ruthless guidance. For years, she lived in the shadows, eliminating threats, believing she was avenging her family. But the truth was always there, buried beneath the lies-Josh wasn't her savior. He was the mastermind behind the massacre. The moment she uncovers the truth, Elma doesn't lash out. She doesn't strike in rage. Instead, she begins a deadly game-one that will take exactly 183 days to complete. A slow, undetectable poison seeps into Josh's body, hidden within the one thing he consumes religiously: his tea. But revenge is never simple. Josh begins to suspect. The web of lies grows tighter. And lurking in the shadows is another enemy-his son, Edward, who has been watching, waiting, and planning a far deadlier end. Time is running out. The hunted is becoming the hunter. And when the final day arrives, only one truth remains... Not everyone will survive.
Chapter 1 THE TRAGEDY
Chapter 1
The Night Everything Changed
Elma tossed and turned on her bed, hugging her stuffed rabbit as she stared at the ceiling. The house was too quiet-the kind of quiet that made her stomach twist uncomfortably. She glanced at the bedside clock-10:45 PM.
Her parents should have been home by now.
She reached for her tablet and called her father's number. It rang once, then went silent. She tried again, but nothing.
A shiver ran down her spine. She sat up, chewing on her lower lip. Where were they?
Her mother, father, and three older siblings-Leo, Sammy, and Alice-had gone to a charity ceremony for their company earlier that evening. She had stayed home because she had been feeling sick, but now she wished she had gone with them.
Her little fingers gripped the blanket tightly. Something didn't feel right.
...................
Hours earlier, Mr. Raymond was driving his family home, laughing at a joke Sammy had just made. His wife, Clara, chuckled, resting her head against the window.
Leo, the eldest at fifteen, sat beside his father in the front seat, scrolling through his phone. Alice, twelve, was humming a song in the back with eight-year-old Sammy, who was playing with his toy car.
The ride home was peaceful-until it wasn't.
Out of nowhere, three black SUVs roared onto the road, blocking their path from all directions. Before Raymond could react, masked men with guns swarmed the car, yanking the doors open.
Clara screamed, clutching Sammy, but one of the men grabbed her by the hair, dragging her out. The children shrieked as rough hands pulled them from their seats.
"Let go of my kids!" Raymond roared, throwing a punch, but a gun slammed against his cheek. The world spun, and he collapsed to his knees.
The children sobbed as blindfolds were forced over their faces.
"Please, don't hurt my babies!" Clara begged.
A cruel chuckle. "Shut her up."
A sharp slap echoed in the night.
Raymond fought against the hands holding him, heart hammering in his chest. "Please! You can take me, but let them go!"
The last thing he heard before being shoved into a vehicle was his children's terrified cries.
The air inside the warehouse was thick with the stench of gasoline and old metal. Raymond and Clara were forced to their knees, their blindfolds ripped off.
The first thing they saw was Josh.
Raymond's heart stopped. His younger brother stood there in a crisp black suit, hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips.
"...Josh?" Raymond's voice cracked.
Clara gasped, her eyes wide with betrayal. "No... No, this can't be."
Josh stepped forward, mocking sympathy on his face. "I know this is a shock, brother. But let's not pretend, you should have seen this coming brother.
Raymond shook his head furiously. "You're my brother! My blood!"
Josh sighed. "Exactly. And I've been in your shadow for far too long."
"I gave you everything!" Raymond's voice was raw. "I made you my partner! I trusted you!" I took care of you when our parents were gone.
Josh scoffed. "You let me sit at the table, but you never let me own it." He crouched in front of Raymond. "You see, brother, I didn't want to do it this way. But you left me no choice."
Clara clutched Raymond's arm. "Please, Josh. We're family! You don't have to do this."
Josh leaned in, whispering coldly, "It's just business."
Raymond felt rage and agony swirl inside him. "You promised me, Josh! You promised we'd always protect each other!"
Josh's expression darkened. "And you promised you'd treat me as an equal. But guess what? Promises mean nothing."
Tears slipped down Clara's face. "What about our children? Are you going to kill them too?"
Josh sighed dramatically. "Come on, Clara. Do you think I'm a monster? They're my nieces and nephews."
Raymond clung to that hope. "Then let them go! Please, Josh, they're innocent-"
Josh stood up and pulled out a gun.
Raymond's chest tightened. "Josh-"
BANG.
Clara's body slumped forward.
Raymond screamed, trying to lunge at Josh, but before he could,
BANG.
Everything went black.
...........
In a dimly lit room, Leo, Alice, and Sammy huddled together, blindfolded and trembling. The gunshots rang in their ears, making them jump.
Leo bit his lip so hard he tasted blood. "Mom... Dad..."
Alice sobbed into his shoulder. Sammy clung to her, whimpering.
Then, the door creaked open.
Footsteps.
A deep voice. "Only three?"
"Yes, sir. The fourth one wasn't in the car."
Silence. Then Josh's voice.
"...Elma."
Leo stiffened. "Elma's safe?"
Josh turned to leave.
A man hesitated. "Sir, what do we do with these?"
Josh paused.
The children held their breath, praying.
Finally, Josh spoke.
"Kill them."
Leo barely had time to scream before the room exploded in gunfire.
Elma's Call
Elma clutched her tablet, tears welling in her eyes. She was scared.
She hit the call button again.
Finally, the call connected.
"Elma?" Josh's voice came through.
"Uncle Josh!" she cried. "Where's Daddy? Mommy? Leo? Sammy? Alice?"
Josh's jaw tightened as he stood outside the warehouse, wiping blood off his sleeve. He took a deep breath and softened his voice.
"Little princess, why are you still awake?"
Elma sniffled. "Daddy and Mommy aren't back yet. And I keep calling, but their phones won't ring."
Josh forced a smile through the phone. "What? Since they left for the occasion?"
"Yes, Uncle. I-I'm scared." Her voice wobbled.
Josh exhaled slowly. "Don't worry, angel. I'm coming now, okay? Don't be afraid."
Elma nodded, gripping her stuffed rabbit tighter. "Okay, Uncle."
The call ended.
Josh slipped the phone back into his pocket. He turned to his men.
"Clean this up."
Then, he walked away-toward the one loose end he had left.
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