PHOENIX

5| PLANS CHANGE, JACKSON. EVEN MINE.

After dinner with his sister and new little brother, Jackson wanted to go back to his hotel but he also wanted to know how his sister had been doing these past years after they got separated. He wanted to know what happened to her and why she had decided to stay at home instead of going to Singapore. It had always been her dream to go there for her studies, and he knew something must have happened to lead her to stay home. From what he knew about his sister, she would give anything just to see her dreams fulfilled.

He looked at her, busy playing with Ethan, and the little boy seemed to enjoy it immensely. He remembered that the boy had complained about her coming home late sometimes, and he knew something was up. When Ethan got tired, Sue took him to bed and came back to join Jackson.

"You know, you may have changed your face but there are a lot more things about you that haven't changed. For someone who knows you, it will be easy to spot you. Remind me why you had to do plastic surgery again." She smiled at him.

"It doesn't matter why I did it. What matters right now is you. Why are you not in Singapore?"

"Plans change, Jackson. Even mine." She just shrugged.

"Not plans, dreams. I know my little sister's dreams will never change, not even this one. So tell me the truth, why are you not in Singapore?"

"It's a long story and I don't want to bore you with such stories." Again she just shrugged like it was nothing. It wasn't, and Jackson would be damned if he let it slide. He wanted to know, and he wanted to know right at that moment, not some other time.

"You won't be boring me with anything. I asked you because I want to know. Why did you choose to stay here and not go to Singapore? Don't tell me it's because of Ethan. You can raise your little brother anywhere in this world. You've always dreamt of studying there, and I know there's little to no reason why you would choose to change what you've always wanted. Tell me, what happened that made you stay back?"

Sue took a deep breath, her eyes welling up with a mix of frustration and sadness. She glanced at the kitchen, her mind seemingly racing back through memories that she had hoped to keep buried.

She moved around the living room, and Jackson could see she was hesitating to tell him what was happening.

"You know you can tell me anything, you don't have to hesitate." She stopped pacing and looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and sorrow.

"Lots of things happened when you left for college. My adoptive parents started hiding things from me, and I found out they were hiding me from my biological parents who were looking for me. I decided to find them and find out why they were looking for me.

"I was angry at them because they were alive but they gave me up. When I found them, though, I got to know the whole truth.

"My adoptive parents stole me from them, and my parents kept looking for me ever since. They took me back after that; my mother was pregnant with Ethan at that time.

"I was happy that I found them, but that happiness was short-lived. My mother gave birth to Ethan two months after we met but died a few days later with my dad, and I was left alone with Ethan.

"They died in a fire that was set in the building where my dad was working. My mother went there to give him lunch, but she had no idea the building was going to catch fire.

"I've been doing my research ever since because I knew even from then that the building didn't just catch fire—someone started that fire, and they wanted to kill people inside that building.

"I found some information about people who came to that building that day, and you were one of them. I vowed that I would make them pay for what they did to you and my parents.

"The Roy family has been ruling this town for a very long time. It is time for someone to put an end to it, and I will gladly do it.

"I will kill them one by one, but before that, I will take everything from them so that they will regret what they've been doing all these years.

"I'm not the only one who lost my parents in that fire. There are so many people who lost their parents too, their loved ones, but none of them are doing anything.

"I'm going to avenge them all, and if that means I have to forget about Singapore for a while, then so be it. I don't see a reason why I should go to college when I can use my time to ruin the Roy family and everything they love."

Jackson looked at her, dumbfounded. He wasn't expecting this. He knew how dangerous it was for Sue to go against Roy and his family. He had spent years training to take them down, and he knew the danger that came with facing a powerful family like the Roys.

"Do you know what you're saying? Roy is a very powerful man, and everyone knows that. Why would you want to provoke someone like that? You're not just putting your life in danger, but Ethan's as well. I will not allow you to do that."

Sue's eyes flashed with defiance. "I didn't ask for your permission, Jackson. I told you because you asked, not because I want you to tell me what to do and what not to do.

"You were in that fire; you should be more understanding. In fact, you should be planning your revenge. But don't worry, your sister is going to avenge you."

Oh, he was going to get his revenge. He was going to make every one of them pay. He just wasn't going to tell her that.

"Sue," he began, his voice laden with concern, "you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. The Roys... they aren't just powerful; they're ruthless. I've seen firsthand what they can do, and I've spent years preparing to bring them down. But this is dangerous, and I can't let you put yourself at risk."

Sue's eyes flashed with defiance. "I've already lost too much, Jackson. I'm not going to sit back and do nothing. They took everything from us, and now it's time they pay."

"Do I need to tell you again that it is dangerous? Sue, I know what I'm talking about, and as your brother, I'm telling you to let it be. Has it ever occurred to you that they set that fire to destroy someone who got to know their secrets?"

"I don't care. No matter what, I must make them pay, and there is nothing you can say to make me change my mind."

Jackson sighed, trying to find the right words to convey the gravity of the situation. "I know why they set that building on fire because I was there. They wanted to kill me, and they had no reason to spare others because it would also create more witnesses. It had nothing to do with your parents or everyone that was there.

"They wanted me. They wanted me dead, and for years they've made peace with what happened in that building because they are convinced that I died. If you keep on digging, not only will they kill you and Ethan, but they will also know I survived too. Think about what you're doing and how it is going to affect all of us."

Sue looked at him as if he had grown another head. "They wanted to kill you? Why?"

Jackson took a deep breath, the memories flooding back painfully. "I found out about their secrets, and to protect their businesses, they had to kill me. What made it even worse was that Melissa, my then-girlfriend, was the one who started the fire. She didn't even think twice before telling her men to burn me along with everyone in that building."

Sue's eyes widened in shock. "Melissa? The girl you said you were going to marry?"

"Yes, the very same. It was the first time I saw her true nature. It was like I had never known her, like she was a stranger. Like I was a stranger to her. They are dangerous people, Sue. Very dangerous."

Jackson hated talking about that day because it always meant he had to talk about Melissa. After her betrayal, he swore never to mention her again. It had been years, and he knew he should have forgotten about her by now, but no matter how many times he tried to keep her out of his head, she was always there, purposefully tormenting him, making him question every day why he had fallen in love with her in the first place.

He had worked very hard to be where he was today, and if he kept thinking about how good Melissa was to him before that fire, he might end up changing his mind about getting revenge—something he couldn't afford to do.

At first, it was just for him, but now it was for his sister and her parents. They had nothing to do with what happened between him and the Roy family, yet they suffered for it. Jackson knew he had to find a way to convince Sue to let him handle this alone because he understood the danger that came with revenge.

In pursuit of destroying your enemy, you often end up destroying yourself too. He didn't want that for Sue. She still had a bright future ahead of her. He knew those words too well because, even though his mentor was the reason why he could fight the way he did, he still reminded him every day that revenge doesn't erase the past.

"Sue," Jackson began, his voice firm but gentle, "I understand that you want to avenge your parents, but the way you're going about it is wrong. Please listen to me and stop everything you're doing."

Sue's eyes flashed with determination. "Jackson, I can't just sit back and do nothing. They took everything from us. I need to make them pay."

Jackson took her hands in his, looking deeply into her eyes. "I know. I feel the same way. But I've spent years preparing for this, gathering information, training. This isn't something you can rush into. The Roy family is powerful and ruthless. They won't hesitate to kill you or Ethan if they find out what you're planning."

"But I can't just let it go," Sue insisted, her voice trembling with emotion. "They need to be held accountable."

"They will be," Jackson assured her. "But you have to trust me. Let me handle this. I can't bear the thought of losing you, too. You're all I have left."

Sue looked away, her resolve wavering. "But what if something happens to you? What if they find out you're still alive?"

Jackson squeezed her hands. "That's a risk I'm willing to take. I've lived in the shadows for too long, and it's time for me to face them. But I need to know that you're safe. Promise me you'll stay out of this."

"I can't promise you that because I'm not going to stop Jackson, make peace with that. You know I invited you here because I missed my brother and I wanted to talk to you but now I think you have overstayed your welcome. Shut the door on your way out."

She didn't wait for him to say anything else, she went straight to her bedroom leaving him standing where he was. Jackson shook his head.

His sister has always been stubborn but he never expected her to be this stubborn.

I don't know any other way to protect you than to ask you to stay away and forget you ever planned on destroying those people. I can't even tell you that I'm going to make sure they pay for everything they did because I don't want to put you and Ethan in any danger than you already are.

He left their house and went back to the hotel to try and have some sleep, in the morning he is going to try and find a way to convince Sue to let him handle things.