"I thought you said we wouldn't get caught?" One of Edward's companions snapped inside the prison cell.
"Damn you, Edward! I thought we'd be swimming in money by now—not sitting behind bars!"
"Can you shut up?" Edward retorted, glaring coldly at his two companions.
They were now locked in a cell, and he still couldn't wrap his head around how they ended up here.
"I told you before—they already knew your moves, Ed," one of them muttered, shaking his head.
Who the heck would spy on me? Edward thought bitterly, trying to figure out who would dare and why. Yet, no matter how he turned it over in his mind, no answer came.
"Edward."
A voice called his name. He immediately looked over.
"Anthony," he muttered.
Anthony let out a deep sigh. Edward could tell he wasn't here for good news.
"You don't even have to say it, Anthony," Edward said, sighing in return.
"Are you sure?" Anthony asked.
"Yeah. My license is gone. Guess you were right—karma's finally chasing me for everything I've done," Edward smirked.
"Do you regret your foolishness?" Anthony asked sharply.
Edward suddenly burst out laughing. "Heck, no! I just got caught, that's all." He grinned mockingly.
"I heard it's a life sentence. You won't be walking out of here easily—there are too many cases lined up against you," Anthony replied.
Edward only smirked wider. "I'll get out if I behave. That's how this game works."
Anthony shook his head.
"Wow. Not a shred of remorse, huh?" Another man's voice cut in.
Edward turned to see who it was.
"Clover." He sneered. "Hasn't that woman lost her mind yet? So, when's your cousin's funeral?" he mocked.
"Whose funeral?" someone beside Clover asked.
"Looks like I've got a lot of visitors today," Edward said, eyes still locked on Clover. "Are you all here to avenge that man? One thing I'll never regret is killing that bastard." He chuckled darkly.
Anthony exhaled heavily, while Edward glanced around.
"Hasn't your little sister lost her mind yet, Nathan?" Edward asked the man standing nearby.
Nathan didn't answer, just smirked. Edward clenched his jaw at his attitude.
"No way," one of Edward's companions muttered under his breath, gasping. "No way in hell…"
That's when Edward noticed another man standing quietly beside Frank—dressed in white. His eyes widened. He swallowed hard.
"You're dead…" Edward whispered, stunned.
The man smirked. "I've crawled back from the depths of hell just to see you, Edward."
"No! No, you're dead! You're dead!"
"Oh no," the man taunted. "You need to accept that I'm not dead yet."
Edward rattled the iron bars in rage. "I saw you die! Don't play games with me!"
"Nope. It's really me. I'm not that easy to kill—especially by someone like you." He tugged at Edward's sleeve. "Go ahead, stare all you want."
Edward's mind raced. He knew Frank was dead. Before he laid hands on Faith, Frank had no pulse, his body already cold. Edward shook his head violently, refusing to accept what he was seeing.
"I'm sure your child is dead," Edward spat back bitterly.
"Nope. You're wrong. My wife and my child are safe and sound. You hurt my wife, yes—but I'll make sure she never suffers again." Frank shoved Edward's sleeve away.
Edward glanced at Anthony, who stood quietly listening.
"You know them, Anthony?" Edward asked, his eyes darting between them.
"Yeah. I know them."
Edward froze, then glared. "You're the one spying on me? What the hell, Anthony? I thought you had principles!"
"Yeah," Anthony admitted calmly. "I've been spying on you and helping them bring you down."
"You snake!" Edward roared.
"Edward, I've always tried to warn you about the reckless things you've done."
"Why, Anthony? Why betray me?" Edward shouted, ignoring everything else.
Anthony let out a long breath. "For my own revenge against you."
"W-What?" Edward stammered, confused. "Are you insane? I never did anything to you!"
"Really?" Anthony's eyes burned with hatred. "Don't you remember the last family you destroyed?"
Edward froze, his mind trying to recall.
"You're a family man?" he asked mockingly.
"Yeah. I was. Until my wife died—because of you." Anthony's voice shook with restrained fury.
"What?" Edward's eyes widened. "I thought you just had a girlfriend back then?"
"Yeah. I had a girlfriend—after that nightmare. After my wife died."
Edward stayed silent, unease creeping into his expression.
"How do you know it was me? Maybe you're accusing the wrong person." He let out a forced laugh.
Anthony smirked darkly. "I'll never mistake you for someone else, Edward. You raped my wife that time. Nica Catherine Juezan—ring a bell?"
Edward swallowed hard. He remembered. One of the women he had once befriended, one of his victims.
"What are you talking about? She wanted it to happen," Edward scoffed.
Anthony grabbed his sleeve roughly. "What the hell did you just say? You still dare deny it? She was three months pregnant with our child when you raped her, you bastard!"
Anthony's whole body trembled. "She fell into anxiety, depression… her pregnancy was delicate. In the end, she ended her own life—because of you! You raped my wife! I wanted to kill you with my own hands so many times—but I held back, because she would never forgive me for staining myself with your blood. I waited almost a decade. My wife trusted you, Edward. And you destroyed her."
Edward couldn't form words. His mind struggled to process what Anthony revealed. Anthony shoved him back against the cell bars.
"You're going to rot in prison, Edward. You'll never get out."
Anthony turned and walked away, followed by the others.
Before leaving, Frank smirked at him one last time. "You've committed so many vile things, Edward. If you had just blown my brains out back then, I wouldn't even be standing here now."
Edward glared, seething.
"Enjoy your life here, Edward," Frank said coldly before walking out.
Edward rattled the cell bars in fury, cursing under his breath.
"Damn! Bullshit!" He spat inside his mind, slumping onto the bench.
One of his companions tapped him on the shoulder.
"Leave me alone!" Edward snapped.
Tsk. Damn it all.
For the first time, Edward realized he might not escape so easily. This time, freedom would not come cheap.
Damn this life.