Silent Heartbeats - 11. Chapter 11: Carter and Jeremy share a moment of vulnerability, but shadows lurk in the dark.

“Aunt…?” he whispered, barely able to believe his own eyes.

Carter's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the woman take a step back, her eyes widening with something between fear and anger. Before he could react, she turned on her heel and started walking away from him, her pace quickening with each step. Panic surged through him, and without thinking, he bolted after her.

"Wait!" Carter called out, his voice laced with desperation as he followed her through the crowded room. People moved aside as he pushed his way through, his eyes locked on the woman who was slipping further and further away. Just as she was about to disappear into the kitchen, Carter managed to catch up to her.

“Aunt Sheila!” he called, his voice loud enough to stop her in her tracks. She froze, but she didn’t turn around. Her back remained rigid, the tray of food she held trembling slightly in her hands.

Carter’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps as he approached her, his heart heavy with the weight of the confrontation.

“Sheila, please,” he implored, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at him. "Look at me."

She didn’t move. The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Gathering what little courage he had left, Carter stepped around her, placing himself directly in her line of sight. The moment their eyes met, he was struck by the sheer intensity of her gaze. There was pain there—deep, unyielding pain—but also a burning anger that made him flinch.

“Aunt Sheila,” he stuttered, his voice breaking as he struggled to find the right words. “It's been so long… How have you been?”

Sheila’s expression hardened, her lips curling into a bitter smile.

“Why are you asking how I’ve been, Carter?” she asked coldly. “You didn’t care then, so why would you care now?”

Carter shook his head, the sting of her words cutting deep. “I do care, Aunt Sheila. I always have…"

“Stop pretending!” she snapped, her voice rising as she took a step closer to him. The sudden proximity made Carter’s heart skip a beat. “Stop pretending that you care when you don’t!”

Sheila let out a humorless chuckle, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. “Looks like some things never change,” she sneered. “Still chasing after men, just like you did in the past. I saw you with that famous fashion designer earlier.”

Carter’s eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head. “No, it’s not what you think. I spilled a drink on my shirt, and he… he’s just someone I work with.”

Sheila’s laughter was cold and hollow, her eyes filled with scorn. “It’s always the same with you, Carter. Despite everything, despite causing your father’s death, you still haven’t changed.”

Her words hit Carter like a punch to the gut, reopening wounds that had never truly healed. He shook his head, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over. “Aunt Sheila, you don’t understand… I never meant for any of that to happen.”

Sheila’s expression darkened, her eyes narrowing into slits.

“No, Carter, I understand perfectly. Your father… he misjudged you. He thought you were a good son, but you proved him wrong. You took him away from us, and nothing you say or do will ever change that.”

Carter felt his throat tighten, the tears that had been building finally spilling over as he looked at his aunt.

“I know I made mistakes,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “But I lost so much too. I lost my father, and I’ve been trying so hard to make things right, to do what he would have wanted.”

“Stop using your father as an excuse!” Sheila shouted, her voice echoing in the narrow hallway. “Nothing will ever change the fact that you killed him, Carter!”

Carter stared at his aunt, his vision blurred by the tears that now flowed freely down his face. There was nothing he could say, no words that could possibly alleviate the pain he had caused. The weight of her accusations crushed him, and all he could do was stand there, helpless and broken.

Sheila’s voice trembled with fury as she continued, “Do you have any idea how much pain you brought to this family? The sorrow, the grief… We’ll never forget what you did, Carter. Never.”

Carter’s chest felt tight, as if the very air had been sucked out of the room. He stared at his aunt, the woman who had once been a source of comfort and love, and saw only hatred in her eyes.

Carter's voice trembled as he spoke, each word laden with the pain and loneliness that had been his constant companion for months.

“Aunt Sheila,” he began, his voice raw, “I've been alone for so long... I've been suffering alone. Every day, I wished for nothing more than to have a family again. To have you back in my life.”

Sheila’s expression remained hard, her eyes cold as she stared at him, but she didn’t respond. The silence between them was deafening, and Carter’s desperation grew with each passing second.

“Have I not suffered enough?” Carter pleaded, his voice breaking. “Don't you miss me, even a little? Don’t you miss the way things used to be?”

Sheila’s gaze wavered, her eyes flickering with a brief hint of something—perhaps regret, perhaps anger—but she quickly looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.

Carter took a shaky breath, his heart aching with the memories that flooded his mind. "I miss you," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I miss the way you used to take care of me, like a mother. The way you used to walk me to school, and how you'd hug me when I was scared or sad. I wish... I wish we could go back to that. I wish we could be a family again.”

Sheila let out a bitter chuckle, the sound sharp and cutting.

“A family?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “That's one of the things I regret the most, Carter. Loving you, taking care of you... It was all for nothing.”

Carter's breath hitched as her words sliced through him like a knife. He looked at her, eyes wide and pleading, but there was no warmth in her gaze, no hint of the affection that had once been there.

Sheila took a step closer, her voice low and filled with venom. “Just like you disowned your father, I now disown you. As far as I'm concerned, there is no Carter in this family anymore.”

Carter felt as though the ground had been ripped out from under him. His world, already fragile and crumbling, seemed to shatter entirely at her words. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he couldn’t look away from the woman who had once been his whole world.

Sheila leaned in closer, her face mere inches from his.

“Whatever bad things have happened to you, Carter,” she hissed, “You deserve every single one of them. And I hope you never find happiness as long as you live.”

Carter’s vision blurred as tears finally spilled over, his heart breaking under the weight of her hatred. He wanted to say something, anything to make her understand, to make her see that he wasn’t the monster she believed him to be. But no words came. All he could do was stand there, shattered and broken, as the last remnants of his family slipped away from him forever.

Carter took a few unsteady steps back, his vision blurred by tears as he took one last, sorrowful look at his aunt. Her face was a mask of cold indifference, hardened by years of resentment and pain. The warmth and love that had once existed between them felt like a distant, unreachable memory. Slowly, Carter rubbed at his tears with the back of his hand, trying to compose himself, but the hurt in his chest was unbearable.

Without another word, he turned and rushed out of the kitchen, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. The cold night air hit him like a shock as he burst through the doors of the hotel, leaving the warmth and light of the event behind. He walked aimlessly down the street, his tears flowing freely, his heart bleeding with the memories that refused to let him go.

Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of his past was pulling him down, dragging him back into a time he wished he could forget.

***

Over two years ago…

*

Carter followed his father down the staircase of their home, his heart pounding with desperation.

“Please, Dad,” Carter pleaded, his voice trembling. “Please, just listen to me. Elias and I... we love each other. I want to marry him. I need your blessing.”

His father, a stern and imposing man, paused at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face his son with a look of disappointment and anger.

“No,” he said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. “I will not allow my only son to marry a man like him. Elias is a good-for-nothing, and you’re too young to even understand what love is. You don't know what you're asking for, Carter."

Carter’s heart sank, but he refused to give up. He stepped closer, his eyes pleading.

“Dad, you don't understand. Elias is good to me. He makes me happy. He’s kind, and he loves me for who I am. Please, just give him a chance.”

But his father shook his head, his expression hardening.

“I don’t care how you feel about him. You’re not marrying him, and that’s final. I won’t let you ruin your life by tying yourself to someone like him.”

Carter’s desperation grew, his voice breaking as he tried to reason with his father.

“But Dad, I love him. Doesn’t that matter to you at all? Don’t you want me to be happy?”

His father’s eyes flashed with anger as he took a step closer, towering over Carter.

“What matters to me is your future, and I’m not going to let you throw it away on a man who doesn’t deserve you. This discussion is over, Carter. You’ll do as I say.”

Carter stared at his father, his heart breaking with every harsh word the man uttered. His father turned to leave, his decision final, but something inside Carter snapped. The pain and frustration he had been holding back surged to the surface, and before he could stop himself, he blurted out the question that had been festering in his heart for so long.

“Is that it, Dad? You don’t want to see me happy, do you?”

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. His father froze mid-step, turning slowly to face his son, shock visible on his face. The anger that had been simmering in his eyes was momentarily replaced with disbelief.

“What did you just say?” his father demanded, his voice dangerously low.

Carter felt a rush of fear, but he couldn’t back down now.

“You don’t want to see me happy,” he repeated, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain. “You want me to be lonely, miserable, and loveless, just like you.”

His father’s face twisted with fury, and before Carter could react, the man’s hand shot out, smacking him hard across the face. The force of the blow sent Carter sprawling to the ground, his cheek stinging with pain. He clutched his face, his eyes welling up with tears as he looked up at his father, who was now towering over him, seething with rage.

“How dare you ask me such a stupid question!” his father shouted, his voice echoing through the hallway. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you! I’ve cared for you, provided for you, made sure you had everything you needed. And this is how you repay me? By questioning my love for you?”

Carter’s tears spilled over as he looked up at his father, his heart aching.

“But I love him, Dad,” he sobbed, his voice breaking. “I love Elias, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Why can’t you just understand that?”

His father’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing with anger. “You’re not marrying Elias,” he declared, his voice firm and unyielding. “I won’t allow it. You’re my son, and you’ll do as I say.”

Carter’s pain turned into defiance as he struggled to his feet, his heart pounding with determination.

“I’m going to marry Elias,” he said, his voice shaking but resolute. “Whether you like it or not, I’m going to marry him.”

Carter's father stared at him, his face twisted in anger, his fists clenched at his sides.

“I am your father,” he growled, his voice low and trembling with fury. “And I will not allow you to marry some good-for-nothing. But if you still insist on going through with this foolishness, then you’ll have to choose—me or that boy.”

Carter’s heart pounded in his chest as he rubbed his tears away, his mind racing. The words his father had just spoken echoed in his head, but there was no going back now. His father had drawn a line, and Carter knew what he had to do.

With a shaky breath, he looked his father in the eyes, his own gaze filled with determination and pain.

“Then I choose Elias,” he said, his voice cracking but resolute. “I’m going to stay with him. If you don’t want me to be happy, then maybe you don’t deserve to be my father. I’m not going to grow old and alone like you.”

His father’s face turned ashen, his eyes instantly becoming glassy and red. He stared at Carter, his expression a mixture of hurt and disbelief, his body trembling with suppressed emotions. The words had cut deep, and Carter could see the devastation in his father’s eyes. But he couldn’t take them back. The rift between them was widening, and there was no way to bridge it now.

The silence between them was thick with unspoken pain, a chasm of anger and regret. They stood there, locked in a battle of wills, neither willing to back down.

Suddenly, Sheila entered the room, her face full of concern. “What’s going on?” she asked, her eyes darting between the two of them, sensing the tension in the air.

But Carter didn’t answer her. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from his father, the man who had raised him but now felt like a stranger.

“The moment I walk out that door,” Carter said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I’ll forget about you.”

His father’s tears began to flow, streaming down his cheeks, matching the tears that were already falling from Carter’s eyes. The weight of the moment was crushing, the finality of his words leaving a painful scar on both their hearts.

Without another word, Carter turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his vision blurred with tears. Behind him, he heard a thud, followed by his aunt’s scream, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. He had made his choice, and he couldn’t look back.

That day, his father was admitted to the hospital, but Carter never went to see him. He couldn’t face him after what had happened. A few weeks later, he married Elias, a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

***

Present Day

*

Carter was leaning against a cold wall outside the hotel, his body shaking as he cried uncontrollably. The memories were too much, the pain too intense. He gasped for air, his chest tight with emotion, tears streaming down his face as he relived the worst day of his life.

He felt like he was drowning in his own sorrow, his heart aching with regret and guilt. The night was cold, but the pain inside him was a burning fire that wouldn’t be extinguished. He slid down the wall, burying his face in his hands, sobbing as he tried to catch his breath, his body wracked with anguish.

Carter's sobs echoed through the empty street, his body trembling with the weight of his guilt and regret.

“I’m so, so sorry,” he whispered into the night, his voice choked with emotion. “I wish I could turn back time… I wish I’d never said those things to you, Dad. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

But the past was unchangeable, and the words that had torn them apart could never be unsaid. The pain of that realization was overwhelming, like a crushing wave that threatened to pull him under. He felt as though he were spiraling, losing control of his mind and heart, teetering on the brink of madness.

His tear-filled eyes lifted, and that’s when he saw it, a huge, bright bar sign glowing in the distance, its neon lights flickering like a beacon in the darkness. It was so inviting, so warm, that it seemed to be smiling at him, beckoning him to come closer. The colors danced in the night, almost as if they were reaching out to soothe his tortured soul. Carter took a deep, shaky breath, his hand wiping away the wetness on his face. The sign’s pull was irresistible, like a magnet drawing him in. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a drink, but tonight, he knew he needed it… needed something to dull the ache inside him, if only for a little while.

Slowly, as if in a trance, Carter pushed himself up from the ground and made his way toward the bar. Each step felt heavy, his legs unsteady beneath him, but the thought of a drink, of anything that could numb the pain, kept him moving forward. The closer he got, the more he felt like the bar was pulling him in, offering a brief escape from the torment that gripped his heart.

The door to the bar swung open easily, and Carter stepped inside, the warmth and dim light wrapping around him like a comforting embrace. The low murmur of conversations and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air, but it all seemed distant, like a world apart from his own. He walked over to the counter, his eyes locking onto an empty stool that seemed to be waiting just for him. He slid onto it, feeling the coolness of the seat beneath him as he slumped forward, resting his arms on the bar.

The bartender, a middle-aged man with a kind smile and a knowing look in his eyes, approached him.

“Rough night?” the bartender asked, his voice gentle, as if he understood the depths of the pain Carter was drowning in.

Carter looked up at him, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need something strong,” he said, his words tinged with desperation. “Something that’ll make me forget… even if it’s just for a little while.”

The bartender nodded, his smile sympathetic. “I think I’ve got just the thing,” he replied before turning to prepare the drink.

Carter watched as the bartender moved with practiced ease, his hands deftly mixing the drink that would offer Carter the solace he so desperately sought. When the man returned, he set a glass in front of Carter, a shot of something dark and potent.

“This should do the trick,” the bartender said with a nod.

Without hesitation, Carter reached for the glass, lifting it to his lips. The liquid burned as it slid down his throat, the warmth spreading through his chest like a fire igniting in his belly. But the burn was good—it was a distraction from the gnawing ache in his heart. He quickly downed another shot, the effect more immediate this time. The world around him started to blur at the edges, the sharpness of his pain dulling, even if just a fraction.

He lost track of how many shots he had after that. The alcohol coursed through his veins, bringing with it a wave of dizziness and a strange, numbing sensation that started to take over. The room seemed to sway gently, the faces of the other patrons becoming indistinct shapes and colors as the alcohol took hold. He felt the weight of the world lifting off his shoulders, the pain in his chest loosening its grip, even if only temporarily.

Carter felt the warmth of the alcohol spreading through him, the numbing sensation dulling the sharp edges of his pain. With each shot, the world around him blurred more, his thoughts becoming a tangled mess of memories and regrets. He was lost in that haze when he noticed someone approaching, a familiar figure weaving through the dimly lit bar.

Jeremy, equally inebriated, staggered his way toward Carter, a crooked smile on his lips. He looked like a man who had been trying to drown his sorrows and was nearly succeeding. When he finally reached Carter, he leaned heavily on the counter, his laughter slurred and unsteady.

“You felt so bad for me,” Jeremy slurred, his words tumbling over each other, “that you decided to join me for a drink, huh?”

Carter lifted his head, his eyes bleary and unfocused, as he tried to make sense of the figure before him. A sleepy, drunken smile spread across his face as he recognized Jeremy.

“Boss, you're here too?” he mumbled, his voice thick with intoxication. “Doesn't matter... alcohol takes all the stress... and worry... away.” His words came out in a jumbled mix, but the sentiment was clear.

Jeremy chuckled as he collapsed onto the stool beside Carter, his own movements clumsy and uncoordinated.

“I've never seen you drunk before,” he remarked, his voice filled with the same drunken amusement.

Carter chuckled, almost childlike in his response. “Neither have I... but it's a good thing... cause now I'm laughing.” He let out a laugh that was both genuine and tinged with the sadness he was trying so hard to forget.

The two of them shared a moment of drunken camaraderie, their laughter echoing softly in the bar. The weight of their sorrows was still there, but for a brief moment, it was overshadowed by the shared absurdity of the situation.

Jeremy, his voice slurred but sincere, leaned closer to Carter. “You know... in so long, I've never gotten so close to someone... that I felt like calling a friend and... sharing my problems with.”

Carter blinked slowly, the words sinking in through the fog of alcohol. A drunk smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he asked, “You regard me as a friend?”

Jeremy nodded, his expression earnest despite his intoxication. “Yeah... you know more about me than... most people. I'm comfortable around you.”

Carter's drunken laughter bubbled up again, but this time it was tinged with something bittersweet.

“If you consider me a friend,” he mumbled, his voice thick with emotion, “then why do you despise me so much? You're always shouting at me... ordering me around.”

Jeremy's gaze softened, his eyes glassy with the weight of his own emotions. He took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a whisper, “It's because... you remind me so much of Ethan.”

The name hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken pain. For a moment, neither of them said anything, the truth of Jeremy's words sinking in. Carter felt a pang in his chest, a mix of understanding and sorrow.

Carter, his eyes bleary and unfocused, stared at Jeremy with a mix of curiosity and confusion. The mention of Ethan stirred something deep within him, something he couldn't quite grasp through the fog of alcohol. Jeremy's words seemed to cut through the haze, hitting Carter with a sudden clarity that made him squint, trying to piece together what was being said.

Jeremy, oblivious to Carter’s growing confusion, took a long swig from his glass, emptying it with a practiced ease that came from too many nights like this.

“You know,” he began, his voice slurred but tinged with a raw honesty, “It drives me insane… how much you remind me of Ethan. The way you look… the way you act… it’s like seeing a ghost sometimes. But…” He paused, staring at Carter with an unsteady gaze, “but I appreciate what you’ve done. Especially for my kids. You’ve been there for them… more than I could have hoped.”

Carter, still struggling to fully grasp Jeremy’s words, let out a sudden burst of laughter. He raised his glass, his movements clumsy and slow, a drunken grin plastered across his face.

“You know what?” He declared, his voice cheerful despite the tears still glistening in his eyes. “We’re not gonna talk about any sad stuff tonight. No more sad things. Here’s to Ethan… and to our friendship.”

Jeremy blinked, momentarily disoriented by the abrupt shift in mood. Then, catching Carter’s infectious enthusiasm, he laughed and clinked his glass against Carter’s with a loud, satisfied clang.

“To Ethan and our friendship,” he echoed, his voice a mix of slurred joy and genuine warmth.

Both men took hearty gulps from their glasses, the alcohol warming their insides and clouding their thoughts. The night unfolded in a haze of laughter and random conversation, with neither Jeremy nor Carter fully aware of the absurdity or significance of their words. They rambled about trivial matters, their conversations jumping from one topic to another, both men finding solace in the shared distraction from their personal torments.

Their laughter echoed through the bar, a rare and fleeting moment of connection that transcended their individual pains. As the hours slipped by, they drank and talked, their inebriated state leaving them blissfully unaware of the passing time or the lingering shadows of their pasts. It was clear to both of them that the night was far from over, and for now, that was enough.

***

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Jeremy's opulent mansion, filling the grand living room with a soft, golden light. Jeff and Laura sat on the couch, engrossed in a lively conversation that was punctuated by their shared laughter. Their bond was evident, a moment of genuine connection amidst the turmoil that had plagued their lives recently.

Suddenly, the tranquility of the room was interrupted by the sound of heavy, unsteady footsteps. Jeremy walked in, his steps slow and faltering, as though the weight of his emotions was dragging him down. His posture was rigid, his face blank and robotic. He moved towards the grand hall, where the massive portrait of Ethan hung prominently on the wall.

As he reached the portrait, his body began to tremble uncontrollably. Shivers cascaded through him, and his heart pounded erratically against his ribcage. His mouth quivered, and his breaths came out in harsh, ragged gasps. The portrait of Ethan, with his beaming smile and serene eyes, seemed to taunt him with memories that Jeremy was desperate to escape.

Laura, who had been sharing a light-hearted moment with Jeff, immediately lost her smile. Her face paled as she took in the sight of her son in such distress. With a frantic urgency, she leapt from the couch and rushed toward Jeremy, shouting his name with a note of panic, “Jeremy! Jeremy!”

Jeff, equally alarmed, followed closely behind. Laura reached her son and wrapped her arms around him tightly, her voice filled with a desperate concern.

“Jeremy, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”

Jeremy’s response was barely audible, a whisper laden with anguish. “I’m sorry… so sorry.”

He collapsed to his knees, his eyes locked onto Ethan’s portrait as if it were the source of his torment. His breaths came in harsh, uneven gasps, and his body shook with an intensity that left him nearly paralyzed.

Laura’s fear escalated as she watched her son’s crumbling state. She shook him, her voice rising in frantic desperation.

“Jeremy, please tell me what’s wrong! What’s happening to you?”

Through his tears and tremors, Jeremy managed to focus on Laura’s concerned face.

He hesitated for a moment before his pain-laden voice broke through, “Carter… betrayed me. He betrayed my trust.” His confession came out in broken sobs, his tears streaming uncontrollably.

Laura’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief, her mouth opening in a silent gasp. She glanced at Jeff, who stood frozen beside the couch, equally stunned and speechless. The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of Jeremy’s revelation sank in. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions and the haunting echoes of a betrayal that had left Jeremy in such a fragile state.

What could have happened?

***

In the dimly lit confines of a prison cell, the air was thick with the scent of sweat and frustration. Harsh, labored breaths filled the small space as a man with tattoos sprawling across his muscular arms continued his grueling workout. His movements were intense and rhythmic, each repetition a testament to his physical endurance and mental focus.

The officer's footsteps echoed down the corridor before he struck the metal bars of the cell with a firm knock. The man halted his exercise abruptly, his breath coming in sharp, angry bursts. He turned to face the officer, his face a canvas of rage and dark anticipation. The officer’s words were clipped and businesslike.

“You’re being released.”

A menacing grin spread across the man's face as he processed the unexpected news. Without a word, he grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his neck with a practiced flick. His movements were deliberate as he walked toward a small corner of the cell. There, a modest table stood beneath a wall cluttered with pictures.

Among the images was one of him and Elias, beaming with happiness, their joy captured in a moment of perfect harmony. Another picture showed Carter, his expression unguarded and vulnerable. The man’s fists clenched tightly as he stood before these reminders, his eyes blazing with a dangerous resolve.

He muttered to himself, his voice low and seething with venom.

“It’s not going to be long now. I’ll get my revenge for you little brother. That boy will pay for what he did.”

***

Over a year ago…

*

Carter was behind the wheel of his car, his face streaked with tears, his vision blurred by pain and fury. The road ahead seemed a blur as he drove recklessly, consumed by grief and rage.

In a horrifying moment of recklessness, Carter’s car collided head-on with another vehicle. The crash was catastrophic, metal crumpling and glass shattering in a brutal explosion of sound and chaos.

The next image was haunting: Carter, slumped against the airbag, bloodied and unconscious. His car was enveloped in a cloud of smoke, small flames licking at the edges of the wreckage.

Inside the other car, the situation was equally grim. Elias lay unconscious with a severe wound on his head, his once vibrant life now hanging in a fragile balance. Beside him, the man Elias had been cheating with lay in a similar state of unconsciousness, their fates intertwined in the aftermath of the catastrophic collision.

***

Present Day…

*

The man’s jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles beneath his skin trembled. His eyes, filled with fury, bore into the image of Carter on the wall. With a swift, violent motion, he reached out and tore the photograph from its place, crumpling it in his calloused hands. The paper crinkled under the pressure of his grip, distorting Carter’s face into an unrecognizable blur.

His breath came out in harsh, ragged bursts as he stared down at the crumpled photo, his mind seething with thoughts of vengeance.

“It’s time,” he spat, his voice low and venomous. “Time to take revenge!”

The words hung in the air, charged with a dark and menacing resolve. He could feel the rage pulsing through his veins, fueling his every thought and action. The pain of loss, the betrayal, and the months of festering anger had all culminated in this moment.

“You're gonna pay, Carter,” he hissed, his voice a promise of the violence to come. “For the murder of my brother, it’s game on.”

With that, he crushed the photograph further, reducing it to a tightly balled-up piece of paper. He tossed it to the ground with a sneer, watching as it rolled across the floor before coming to a stop. The man’s gaze remained fixed on the crumpled picture, his heart pounding with a lethal mix of grief and rage.

He knew that once he stepped outside those prison gates, there would be no turning back. His path was set, and it was one that led straight to Carter.

To be continued…