Where everyone was sleeping in the middle of that rainy night. She was heading to her destination, setting her car at full speed, without caring about traffic rules or law.

Her heart thumping inside her chest as her mobile kept ringing on the passenger seat, but her focus was on the damp, slippery road ahead of her.

She sucked in breath sharply as the ring of her mobile died for the seventh time. Her hands slightly trembled as she tried to maintain her focus on the road. She was no one but... Maria D'Angelo Russell.

Who ran from her house to marry the love of her life, having her own father's reputation on stake. She was blinded by love or was it the trap setup to change her life completely.

Leaving everything behind and excited to start a new life, Maria pushed her car to its limits to reach her destination as fast as she can.

After driving a long way here, Her car came to a stop at an unknown place which was centered by empty, dark buildings.

She reached out for her mobile, and saw almost 50 missed calls from her Dad Christopher, Mom Alina and brother Daniel, but she didn't call back any of those.

"Where is it?"

She mumbled. Her fingers were searching for that particular contact, and when she found it, she just hit the call button without wasting any other second.

"Pick it up… Please..."

While nibbling her lower lip she was impatiently waiting for the call being picked up. Three rings, and the call hung up. Maria pulled the mobile away from her ear, staring at the black screen which was showing her own reflection.

She hesitatesd to call again but stopped. She looked around and found no one around. Because of rain it was hard to see and only the sound of rain can be heard.

"Where are you?"

With a hesitated breath, she reached out for the handle and opened the door of the car before getting off. In just few seconds, her fragile self get damp due to rain.

She looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of her love, but there's no sign of human around. Minutes passed as she waited patiently but no sign of the man she was waiting for.

As few minutes passed tick by, she reached out for the car door's handle but... The sound of gunshot, and a muffled scream of a man make her almost jump in her heels.

She looked around to know where that sound came from. No one was around, and a thought of getting back in her car, and driving off was coming to her mind.

The fear of getting killed in the middle of the night at an unknown place, and the curiosity to know about where that sound came from were equal.

She took a deep breath, and decided the opposite, but as she was about to take a step forward, few men in suits appeared from the dark alleyway.

(Who are they?)

She hid herself behind by her car, and watched them. The one who was walking in front of the others was wearing a black suit, but no blazer. He was tall, majestic with his damp hair because of rain. His damp white shirt sticking to his body, highlighting his biceps.

"I want the whole detail about that vault and if you failed…"

That man said to the other two who were walking behind him obediently. They knew what he meant, so they just nod their head.

The rain slowed, and his face came to view, a scar on his left eye. It was carved vertically, making him even more attractive. The men behind him, one of them carrying a black bag while the other was carrying a briefcase.

She watched them getting into that parked car which she noticed before. She came out from her hidden spot as she saw them drive far away.

She watched them getting into that parked car which she noticed before. She came out from her hidden spot as she saw them drive far away.

It was clear that they were not good, and meant blood and business. She was lost in her thoughts, and felt someone's intense gaze on herself.

She turned her head to look in that direction, and her black eyes met with those hazel green eyes for the first time.

...

...

Cold, suspicious and calculating gaze raking over her body and Maria felt like, he was seeing her bare, and her soul with his piercing gaze. His dark hair sticking to his forehead but still neatly set.

‘And he looked at me like there's something worth looking at…. But what will be so worth looking at a woman who ran away from her own house, and here soaking in rain at an unknown place where there's no sign of humans except for beasts… Who is he? What does he want?’

She was thinking all this, and feeling shivers in her body as those hazel green eyes kept raking on her to know her identity. Maria was forcing herself to move, but her feet just froze, and gave up.

The more inciting the view was, the more suspicion grew in those hazel green eyes. Those eyes narrowed in a dangerous way and Maria's breath hitched in her throat.

But suddenly when her mobile start ringing, she gasped and tear her eyes away to look at her mobile which was showing a familiar number. The call from someone she was impatiently waiting for.

Her gaze wandered between her mobile, and that man who was still watching her every move like a predator.

Maria's chest tightened as she reached out to open the door of her car without breaking eye contact, and slipped in her car  immediately before fastening her seatbelt. She turned the key, and the engine roar, coming to life.

Without wasting any other second, Maria pushed the accelerator and drove off without looking back. She was heading to the next location her boyfriend gave just now. She can feel those hazel green eyes following her until she vanishes from the sight from the corner.

Lucas, the right hand of the moboss, dragging the body of the man they killed just now, froze suddenly when he heard that whistle. The Predator's Whistle.

It was clear that his boss found someone interesting but who's that unlucky to impress the psychopath named Sebastian De Costa Ryill.

‘Life is like a game. Be a player or be played. But my fate chose me to be played by the love of my life. But this was just the beginning of my story!’

Four years later.

The sun came lazily over the city of New York, bringing new starts and ideas for everyone but not for everyone. She was seated on the couch in the living room, staring at the papers in her hand. Divorce papers.

Near the ceiling-to-floor window, her husband, Ronald Greg, was standing, looking at the blue sky. Across from her was her husband's lawyer Brian, was seated, observing her reaction.

“So you finally remembered that you have a wife, huh?”

Maria mocked him. It wasn't a question but a statement and Ronald doesn't like the tone.

“It'll be better if you'll sign the papers....quietly!”

He didn't glance at her and kept his back turned from her. Maria scoffed and looked at Brian who immediately handed her the pen. Maria stared at the papers for a moment then signed the papers.

“You are free to marry your mistress now!”

With that she threw the papers and pen on the coffee table. Ronald's jaw ticked visibly as he tried to control his emotions.

“Do you know that you just called yourself trouble by setting me free?”

Maria stood up and looked at her 'dear husband' who became her ex-husband', now turned his head at first then his whole body towards her.

“I don't think you can do anything else except for empty threats... if I remember correctly you said you'll destroy me, didn't you?”

“And I also said 'At the right time!’”

“Ohh and when will this ‘right time’ come, huh?”

Maria didn't respond and Ronald huffed then took a step closer to her while maintaining eye contact.

“You know... ‘To destroy a monster, you have to become one’."

“You're forgetting that I'm Maria D'Angelo Russell..!”

“A naive girl who ruined her dear Papa's reputation, right?”

Ronald mocked her with a smirk and raised eyebrow. Maria didn't respond and smiled softly.

“I'm feeling pity, so I decided to give you this…”

He said while looking around the Villa then looked at her.

“Villa.”

“You have such a precious thing..”

Her voice carried a soft tone as she turned away and walked to Brian who was still seated on the sofa and staring at them but startled as Maria walked to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Take care of him... you might need him in the future!”

She winked at him and Ronald frowned.

“Is that another empty threat?”

“Maybe…. But think once.. 'If your lover becomes the reason of your destruction–’”

“Don't you dare to harm–”

“Tch tch tch tch... nah.. why would I harm your mistress? She's just a wh0re who warms your bed!”

Maria's words hit him hard and he clenched his fists tightly.

“Maria... you're free but don't think that I won't keep an eye on you…”

“I'm not some bit¢h who attacks from behind... I'll do everything. In front. Of. You.”

With every word, her grip tightened on Brian's shoulder, who was looking at his boss.

Ronald just slightly nodded but Maria didn't show any reaction except for tilting her head.

“Take care of everything you have because one day you'll be left with nothing…”

“Another empty threat?”

“I heard... 'karma isn't so sweet'.”

She smiled softly and released Brian's shoulder before walking upstairs to pack her stuff.

“So he finally decided to give you divorce? How generous of him!”

Ashley sat down on the couch beside Maria, while holding two cups of coffee. She handed one cup to Maria who grabbed it with a nod. Ashley was Maria's best friend and after the morning incident with Ronald, Maria came to her first.

“How are you feeling now?”

Ashley's sudden question made Maria's hand stop in the middle as she was about to take a sip.

“I'm fine.”

Maria said with a nod and took a sip, but Ashley was just looking at her.

“Are you sure?”

She again asked and Maria nodded again.

“What will you do now? Will you go back to your home?”

Ashley asked cautiously and Maria glanced at her before narrowed her eyes.

“Say it clear that you're telling me to leave, huh?”

“That's not what I meant!”

Ashley protests at her accusation and Maria rolls her eyes.

“I'm not planning to go anywhere for now. Once the divorce is done officially then I'll think about anything else.”

Maria responded calmly and took another sip of the coffee.

“Your father… he might be –”

“He's aboard right now.”

Maria's cut her off in between.

“Mom's at home and Daniel bro might be in the office, but I'm not going anywhere. I don't even know if they will accept me back or not after the loss I have done yet.”

With a resigned sigh, Maria set down her cup on the coffee table and Ashley reached out to touch her shoulder.

“You're their daughter and your bro’s sister. They'll accept you back!”

Ashley reassures her, but Maria seems uncertain. She just nods and Ashley squeezes her shoulder with reassurance.

“What about Ronald? What will he do after divorcing you?”

Ashley asked her and Maria shrugged.

“Probably run off to his mistress to make his wife.”

“That bastard.”

Ashley cursed under her breath but Maria seemed unbothered.

“I planned everything and hope I'll be successful in redeeming my efforts..”

Maria barely whispered to herself but Ashley heard her and leaned closer to listen.

“What did you plan?”

Maria looked at her and smiled slightly which annoyed Ashley. She knew that look and that's why she just huffed and pulled away.

...🍁⃟꙱ꨄ...

“I think we should take action just in case to prevent whatever Miss Russell is planning for the payback.”

Brian, Ronald's lawyer, suggested but Ronald just ignored him and was smoking before crushing the cigarette under his shoe.

“She can't do anything. She has nothing. The least she can do is manipulate accounts of the company, steal deals or documents or make everyone against me. That's all. This is childish and she knew better than to give me empty threats.”

Ronald said calmly but Brian wasn't looking to settle with his assumption.

“She will take her revenge. She'll come back to redeem everything she has done yet but she'll get nothing.”

Ronald reassured his lawyer who just glanced at him with a thinking gaze.

“Imperfect order doesn't need to be corrected… True redemption lies in utter destruction. And I won't let it happen.”

His words made it clear that he's determined to fight back but he doesn't know that it's not any woman but Maria D’Angelo Russell and she's not ‘Alone’.