Markus took a step forward, even that one single step towards the coffin seeming very heavy.

He just couldn't make it in himself to face the coffin or more specifically the body lying inside the coffin.

He took another step, and one more, slowly lessening the gap between him and the coffin, the surrounding sounds fading in background.

Finally a face, pale, eyes closed, looking completely lifeless entered his vision. And he stopped midway.

No matter how much he wanted, he couldn't take another step or even lift his leg for the same.

And he turned back, running out of the mansion, deaf to all the shouts and calls of his family members.

Suddenly the sky turned grey, as dull and dark as his heart was becoming and eventually rain started pouring down.

He just couldn't believe that the person he always looked up to, the person who always stood ramrod straight in front of him was lying lifelessly in a coffin.

He just ran aimlessly on the roads. Not even knowing what he was doing or where was going.

He ran for more than twenty minutes before suddenly kneeling down with a 'thud' in the middle of the road, which was deserted because of the heavy rains.

"Aaaaarrrrghhhhhhhh!!!

" He cried loudly, finally letting his tears fall freely, as he remained in the kneeling position.

He didn't utter another sound. He was completely drained and exhausted, hurt and heartbroken.

That day nobody knew how long Markus stayed there crying, feeling lonely and utterly defeated.

He lifelessly returned back home in the evening, finished the funeral rituals and disappeared for days again.

Mary, who was already devastated from losing her husband, was even more troubled after being unable to contact her son.

Grandpa stopped her from searching for Markus. He told her to give Markus some time. If he was still not back, then it would be grandpa's responsibility to bring him back.

But in reality, grandpa was tracking every single movement by Markus. He could see that Markus needed some time to accept his father's loss, and even more time to stand up with more strength and power now.

Thus he let him be, deciding to wait for two months and see what Marlus would turn into.

He had in fact disclosed the information about Aaron's father being the culprit behind Markus's father's death.

Grandpa already has his own means to end Aaron's father. Because how could he forgive his son's murderer.

But he wanted to see where Markus stood in this Mafia world. If he was to ascend the throne that Markus's father had left behind, he needed to have the required qualities.

Even if Markus was his own grandson, he didn't want him to receive the title without any hardships.

Meanwhile Markus had been staying in one of his spare apartments for almost a week now.

For the first three days, he only drank and smoked, making him vomit blood on the very fourth day.

Fortunately grandpa's men were keeping a watch over him, making it easier to transfer him to hospital on time.

After that, grandpa visited him for barely half an hour, disclosing Aaron's father's information and how he killed his dad.

Grandpa didn't utter a single word for revenge or how irresponsible Markus was behaving.

But this was exactly what worked the most. If grandpa would have scolded him, Markus might have let this incident go.

But grandpa not disciplining or even lecturing him made it more difficult for him to forget this situation.

Thus from the moment grandpa stepped out of his house, Markus started with his planning and strategies.

He collected every single piece of information he could. If needed, he would ask for Lucas's help, who was more than happy to lend a helping hand to their young master.

Not only that, but Markus also started working out, self training his body to fight and defend.

His father, when alive, had taught him a lot of fighting techniques. And those exact techniques started helping him get stronger.

He would visit a shooting range, practice his gun skills. Would go to various fighting arenas and come back home with injuries all over.

On the nineteenth day after his father's death, Markus was as usual practising his gun skills in the shooting range, when another man approached him.

"What are you?

" The man said suddenly, interrupting Markus in the middle of his shoot.

"Huhh?

" He asked, not knowing why this unknown man had approached him.

The man, though average looking, had a great build and it wasn't difficult to see that he must be working out regularly to maintain his body.

"Are you even a human?

" The man said again, this time a little excitement visible in his voice.

"What do you mean?

" Markus asked again, this time paying all his attention to the man, as he found him mysterious.

"I have been watching you since the first day. Though you were good with the shooting, your skills have improved tremendously within a short period! And I never usually approach others, but you are truly on some another level.

" The man said, a smile forming on his face.

Though he wasn't very handsome, he looked rather cute with a smile.

"Thanks for the compliment.

" Markus said monotonously, not knowing what else he should reply.

"You want to take some revenge?

" The man suddenly said.

And suddenly Markus was frozen. But that was only for a moment before he covered his expressions.

"What revenge? What do you mean?

" Markus said, trying to know what this man meant.

"Ahem.. Don't take me the wrong way. I don't know anything about you. But you have been practising and improving like crazy. This only happens when you have some dead set goal or more likely some revenge. Plus with that it was easier to make this guess.

" The man said, pointing towards Markus.

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- Kizy