JADE 🍁
"Are the guests here yet?" I asked, in a stunning blue dress.
"They just arrived, ma'am."
"And Jackson?"
"Still not here," the maid answered.
It was my engagement party with Jackson, and surprisingly he hadn't showed up yet. We have been betrothed since I was in my mother's womb, and though it may seem inconvenient for us to have an engagement party, all we wanted was just a normal night.
Both our parents had connections in the underworld. They weren't the first, but at least one of the best.
Despite his parents' wealth, Jackson worked as a lecturer at Sunford University, and I did some 'little' work in the underworld.
I walked towards my soon-to-be in-laws, and they all looked happy to see me except one, Edward, Jackson's twin brother. I rolled my eyes at him and quickly greeted the others:
Jackson's mother, Adele;
Father, Mohan;
And little sister, Monalisa.
Beside my in-laws stood my own family, my mother and grandfather.
This was all that was needed: Jackson's family, my family, me, and Jackson.
"Jade, where is Jack?" my grandfather said, snapping me out of my daze.
"Uhm, he... uhm..." I didn't know what to answer. What do I even tell him when I was asking myself the very same question?
Luckily, a phone call cut through the awkwardness, saving me. I excused myself and walked out of the room.
"Thank God, Zade," I breathed out and continued without giving him a chance to talk.
"Now, where the f*ck are you and Jack? I have been waiting for minutes and the family is asking. Where are you guys?" I asked, my voice stern and fierce, but what came from the other line froze my whole body.
"Ja-Jade... it's—it's Jackson. He—he's de—DEAD."
"What?! Zade, cut the crap and just get over here with Jackson. If this is one of your 'before-wedding pranks,' I am not falling for it," I snapped and cut the call, but deep down I felt that Zade was right.
Zade has never made such kinds of jokes in his life. I tried to shake off the feeling, but a nudging sensation in my heart pierced my heart.
I took a deep breath and walked towards the well-decorated sitting room. I walked slowly, my heart pounding, and when I entered the sitting room, I found Adele on the phone.
"What?! Medical examiner. Is my son okay?" Adele almost shouted, stopping my heart.
'This is *********. I am from Huang Hospital. Where are you, ma'am?'
"Am with my family; now fucking answer me!"
"Ma'am, I need you to calm down. Are you with anyone right now?"
"Yes, just answer me, is my son okay?" she screamed, her voice echoing through the quiet room.
"Ma'am... your son was found shot at his workplace. He had called us last minute and..."
"And? And what?!" she shouted, grabbing down the pillar for support. Tears were already leaving her eyes. She knew what they would say next, but she didn't want to admit it—same with me. My heart was racing as I started to retreat my figure from the sitting room and started running. Down the hallway, I heard the despairing cry of Adele.
Her voice shook with agony, and I tripped and fell. Hot tears left my eyes as my voice choked in my throat.
No! Jackson wouldn't leave me. He promised not to. I took out my phone with my trembling hands and dialed Jackson's line, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried more than enough to make myself believe, but I still didn't give up. I called and called until I heard footsteps behind me, and it was my mother. Seeing me on the floor, crying, she instantly knew I had received the news.
She knelt beside me, and I broke out in tears, my cries filling the cold atmosphere.
THREE WEEKS LATER 🍁
The news of the death of Jackson spread like wildfire. The day after Jackson's death, we buried him. His cold, emotionless face pierced my heart. The beautiful child that was once born without any imperfections now left the world with gunshot holes in his skull.
I stayed in my room since then, eating only when necessary and refusing to see anyone.
Suddenly, a knock was heard on my door, and I heard my mother's voice call out.
"Jade, honey. Someone is here to see you."
I stayed rooted on my bed, only tears leaving my eyes as I thought of Jackson's death. My heart was unwilling to get out of bed; I wanted— I wanted to
DIE.
"Jade, I am going to let your guest in. I don't care if you like it or not. Jackson's death is hard for you; so is it for us, but I am not going to lose two children at once... I am not, Jade," my mother said with a broken voice, and the door was opened.
I heard footsteps of someone coming, but I didn't get out of my bed.
"Jade, it's Zade."
I didn't answer.
"I know it's hard; it's been hard for everybody. Hmm. I... I found out something. Jackson. You and I know Jackson was murdered."
The police had concluded that Jackson must have killed himself after they found no evidence to prove his murder.
"I found the first suspect. There was one kid at his school that was not on the right terms with Jackson, and he is the only one who seems to be capable of killing a person," Zade paused. I sniffed and rose up from the bed, my mind wary.
"Who is it?"
"Richard Brune. He is 23 and the—"
"Next Don of the Brune Clan," I cut him off. Who wouldn't know Richard Brune and his infamous activities and reputation? His family was the second most powerful mafia clan in the world. Almost every woman in the clan wanted to be on his bed and every man wanted to be him.
I raised up my eyelids and then said differently.
"Zade, I want him dead. I want Richard dead. And I—I am going to kill him with my bare hands."
"He is only a suspect; let's gather evidence first, then we can execute the plan. Lucy for you. I already have the best plan for us."
I stayed quiet, listening to him.
"You are going to go undercover as a lecturer for this semester only at Sunford University in place of Jackson until the school finds another teacher. But in the meantime, find anything to prove Richard's guilt, and then if the evidence is solid, you can kill him."
"Why can't I just kill him now?" I asked.
"He is a Brune, Jade. If we kill him and later it is found out that he is innocent, then your mother's whole hacking empire will be doomed, and Jackson's family will be killed in an instant."
"But I don't have any teaching experience."
"Just teach them anything that Jackson would have taught them. Do this for Jackson. I will send for everything you will need tomorrow. Since you are 22, I faked an ID for you, and it states 28 years old—at least not to draw attention. Remember, do it for Jackson," Zade said and left. I sighed. Zade must have had everything planned out already, but why? No one could be trusted, and I knew it. One thing I knew for sure was that I was now a lecturer at Sunford University.