Vendetta: Venom, #1

By Arielle Alia

According to a prediction, Aster will have a peaceful and happy life if she marries her childhood friend, Enzo.

 

But if Aster chooses to love Code Jurado, misfortune and death awaits her.

 

Aster decided to disregard the prediction and gamble with her life and fate beside Code.

Because she would rather face death with the man she loves than live a life with someone she can never love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arielle Alia
• Release date: Jan 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393374848

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Code was silently watching the famous actress, Naomi Serafin, from his car. He was too far away to be noticed but by using his camcorder with special night vision lens, he was able to see and record everything the actress was currently doing inside her car which had been shaking now for several minutes.

The parabolic microphone Code had pointed in the direction of the actress's car also enabled him to hear all the noises coming out of Naomi's mouth as she and her lover made love. Code bought all of his equipment from his elder brother Cannon's electronic shop. These gadgets were recording everything that Naomi Serafin was doing tonight.

Code had planned all of these beforehand. He had followed Naomi from her house until she met up with her lover, Reynald Asorio.

Naomi Serafin was best known for her romantic comedy films where she often played the demure, girl-next-door heroine. She had been asked to appear in sexy and daring films before, but she always declined. She wanted to maintain her totally wholesome image.

But that good girl image was nowhere to be seen as she cavorted and screamed in her lover's arms tonight. Her actions and words would put to shame any porn star.

After their tryst, the two lovers smoked some cigarette before driving out of the underground parking lot.

Code chose not to follow them. He already had enough recorded footages for his plan. He turned on the ignition of the Subaru Forrester belonging to his brother Cannon. He had borrowed his brother's car because using his own car could alert Naomi to his presence.

Code drove back to his house. He just had this house built. He toiled and saved his money for several years to build a house for his future wife and their family. He made sure that the house was perfect. That everything needed to start a new family was there. The house symbolized his dream and love for the woman he would marry.

But tonight, Code didn't want to dream anything. He simply wanted to sleep. He needed to wake up early tomorrow.

By morning, Code dragged himself out of bed. He forced himself to eat breakfast, take a bath and get dressed. He knew he needed to get through this morning.

He arrived early in the church. There were already a lot of people in there. But none of them took notice of his arrival since he was using his brother Cannon's car. He sneaked inside the church.

All the bridesmaids and groomsmen were already there. Two of them spotted Code and walked toward him.

This is a miracle! For the first time in your life, you managed to arrive on time! taunted Revo, Code's second eldest brother. Cannon and I were already planning to drag you out of your house and if need be, pour water on you to wake you up. Revo was the middle child in their brood and was two years older than Code. Revo was also known for being a prankster and a fun guy who always had a joke ready for every situation.

Code gave his brother a wry smile.

I did my best to come here on time, but it seems I can never beat you two early birds. Don't you guys ever get late on any occasion? he teased.

Correction, this time, you managed to beat Revo, said Cannon, the eldest of Code's brothers. You are finally getting married while he remains a bachelor. Cannon laughed.

Hey! protested Revo. Unlike you two who managed to find their true love, I have yet to find the woman for me! Besides, I am just being careful. I don't want to make myself miserable for marrying the wrong woman.

Code found himself glancing at the group of bridesmaids. Standing among them was Cinder, looking lovely as usual. She was Cannon's wife. Cannon married her five years ago, but the two still acted as if they were still in their honeymoon. Every word and glance between the two were full of love.

Code's banter with his brothers were cut short when Raffy, the coordinator approached them. There was a stern look on his perfectly made up face.

Okay boys, enough chitchat! Groomsmen, go back to your line. The bride has arrived, and we will be starting the bridal procession any minute. Raffy's eyes, painted with green eyeshadows, focused on Code after his brothers had joined the line of the groomsmen.

You, began Raffy as he pointed a finger toward Code, should go to your proper place. A lot of people have been waiting for this wedding. Everyone here is excited. And I want this to be the most memorable and talked about wedding that I have ever coordinated.

Code nodded and walked toward the altar. Though most wedding these days would have the groom join the bridal procession, Code decided to do the traditional way. He wanted to stand and wait for his bride and watch her walking toward him. He wanted to give all the attention to his future bride.

Another reason why he decided to wait by the altar was because he and his brothers had lost their parents when they were children. Their parents died in an accident twenty years ago, resulting to the separation of all three of them. Code, being the youngest stayed with their grandparents on their mother's side. Revo meanwhile was adopted by their Aunt Livia who went to live in the US. Cannon got to live with his godfather who was a military man.

Code and his brothers only got together five years ago. It was a happy reunion. And since then, they had always made it a point to have dinner at the end of every month.

When Raffy was finally satisfied that everything and everyone was in their proper position, he signaled the organ player to start playing the music.

The bridal procession began entering the church as everyone waited in anticipation for the bride.

When the beautiful, beaming bride finally entered the church and began walking toward Code, people stood and clapped.

Cameras and videos caught every single moment of this wedding.

Code looked straight into the eyes of his bride, Naomi Serafin, as she walked toward him. smiling and wearing one of the most expensive bridal gown Code had purchased by using his hard-earned money.

CHAPTER 1

Ibañez Town

Seventeen-year-old Aster was startled from her hiding place among the thick foliage in the forest when she heard running footsteps. She fixed her glasses in her eyes that slightly got askew before she peered through the thick foliage. Her heart skipped a beat as she waited in anticipation for the owner of the footsteps.

Two weeks ago, their Biology teacher, Mrs. San Jose, required them to gather samples of herbal plants. The plants would be used for the school garden, which was a new project of their school principal. According to Aster's neighbor, Ma'am Josefa, there were many herbal plants growing in the forest at the edge of their town. Since Aster wanted to get a higher grade in Biology, she decided to impress her teacher by bringing a lot of unique herbal plants growing in the forest.

Aster had been studying and doing everything she could to get good grades. She knew high marks in high school would greatly assure her entry into one of the three colleges in the nearby town of Sta. Fe. She was supposed to graduate high school last year but due to poor harvest, their family didn't have enough money to send her to her fourth year of high school.

Now that she was back in school, she was determined more than ever to finish high school with the best grades possible and get herself into college!

Ma'am Josefa's instructions brought Aster to the place in the forest where the herbal plants grew in abundance. She succeeded in getting the herbs and the high grades she needed. And she also discovered the existence of the jogger.

Her thoughts were cut short when the footsteps grew louder. Aster couldn't help but smile when she finally laid eyes on the jogger.

Since she discovered the existence of the jogger, she also managed to know his daily routine. The jogger usually ran at this hour of the morning in this part of the forest. Today, he was wearing a white T-shirt and a blue jogging pants. Like always, he was holding a small water bottle which he would drink every now and then.

Aster's interest in the jogger started as a fascination. But lately, she had to admit that she was developing a crush on the jogger. But could anyone blame her? In their town, most men looked so ordinary. None could even be considered cute. But the jogger was a very handsome man! Simply looking at the man's patrician's nose, soulful eyes and squared jaws slightly marred by several days of unshaved beard would make Aster giddy.

But it wasn't just the man's face that captured Aster's young heart. It was how he moved and ran. There was sureness in his step as he maneuvered his muscularly lean body among the forest's foliage. His arms were muscled and bronzed from the sun's heat. Aster could only compare him with the actors she often saw on TV. But even those actors paled in comparison with the jogger. Those actors were a bit effeminate, but this jogger was every inch a man!

He was hard, masculine and the perfect specimen of a man in Aster's eyes.

When the jogger passed by Aster's hiding place, she waited for several minutes before she began following him. She knew everyone in the town of Ibañez. Every new face or visitor in their small town always became the talk of gossip. But Aster had never heard of any news or talk about this handsome jogger.

He had remained a mystery to her. She didn't even know his name or where he lived. So, after gathering enough courage, she had decided to secretly follow him and find the answers to the questions that had plagued her mind for days.

She made sure that the man wouldn't notice her. She would die of embarrassment if he discovered her following him like a stalker. She planned this meticulously. It was Saturday today so she had no classes to worry about. She also asked her best friend Agnes to cover for her. She told her parents that she was going to Agnes's house to study for the upcoming final exams. And she had made Agnes promise her not to tell anyone that she never went to her house no matter how much they pressed her. Aster was assured that Agnes would swear to her parents that they were together the whole Saturday.

After thirty minutes, Aster saw the jogger ran toward a small hut. She frowned. The hut was one of those places that woodcutters or hunters built to serve as temporary shelters for the night when they would gather wood or hunt animals in the forest.

But the handsome jogger didn't look like a woodcutter or hunter.

The jogger stopped before the small hut. He walked toward a small well in front of the hut, grabbed the pail beside it and used it to get water. He then proceeded to dump the water into his head. The water rolled down his body, wetting his T-shirt and giving Aster a view of his abs! The man had six packed abs like those bare chested models in magazines!

Aster sighed. She couldn't help but daydream. It's not bad to dream that her future boyfriend would be as handsome and well sculptured as the man before her. Dreams were free. And she could even allow herself to think that the man would become her future husband. If he became her husband, Aster was one hundred percent sure, he would give her beautiful and handsome children!

A sound startled Aster and cut short her wild imaginations. The familiar sound was coming from the hut. If she wasn't mistaken it was the ring of a cell phone.

The jogger went inside the hut. When he stepped out again, he was holding a cell phone. He began looking for a spot with a clear signal. Aster noticed that his phone wasn't the usual cheap cell phones most people used in Ibañez, it was an iPhone. Something that she only saw on television and magazines.

As the jogger continued to search for a place with a better signal, he started walking toward Aster's hiding place among the trees! Aster stopped breathing when the man stopped several feet before her.

The man started talking to his phone. For the first time, Aster heard his voice. And like everything else about him, a strong, manly voice came out from his mouth.

The man's voice was a bit irritated, but Aster didn't mind. She liked listening to his voice.

How long are you going to make me hide in this goddamn forest, Cannon? the man asked looking annoyed.

Aster listened intently. She smiled secretly. It seemed some of her questions were about to be answered today! She would learn more about this handsome jogger.

It’s been almost a month! Are you telling me that the media are still talking about me and Naomi? the jogger continued. He became quiet for a while as he listened to the person on the other line. I should have just left this country, he groaned. As long as I am here in the Philippines, I wouldn't be safe from those reporters' prying eyes. If only I had left the country the moment I walked out of my wedding, I wouldn't be here in this mosquito-infested forest! His jaw clenched. Cannon, I don't want to hear anything about Naomi! I am through with her! She deserved whatever shame and scandal her career is suffering right now. She betrayed me!

Cannon. Naomi. Those two names were significant to the jogger. Aster kept those names in her mind.

My food supply is also running low, so I will be going to town tomorrow. Don’t worry, I will disguise myself! No one would be able to recognize me even if the news about me and Naomi had reached this small town. And yes, I know that once the media discovers I am just here, I would never have any peace. Don't worry, Cannon. I am already twenty-five years old. I know how to take care of myself. I am no longer a child. Bye now, Bro.

The jogger cut the conversation with Cannon. But his phone started ringing again. The man sighed when he saw the name of the new caller. He answered the phone.

I am still alright, Revo. I am not going to kill myself. You and our brother Cannon are so alike. When will you two stop calling me every day just to tell me to take care of myself and how you two worry about me? If you guys are so worried about me, why don't you come here and be with me and take care of me personally? Try living with nature for once, Revo.

Whatever Revo answered, it elicited a loud laugh from the jogger. After his second call, the jogger walked back to his hut. He didn't get out again.

Aster decided to leave. As she began walking back to town, the names she overhead and the circumstances she discovered about the jogger remained in her mind.

She never did get the name of the jogger. But with the information she now had and since she also discovered that the jogger's wedding to this Naomi became news, Aster was sure that if she perused all the newspapers in the past month from their school library, she would discover the true identity of the handsome jogger!

She suddenly realized that she was really becoming obsessed with the jogger! But she couldn't help herself. She smiled.

Her search would be much faster if she would use the internet. But the internet shops in