Karma is my Middle Name

Kara pov

The prison gates creaked open, and I stepped out into the fresh air, feeling the weight of five long years lift off my shoulders. I looked with a smile at the sky. The sun felt strange on my skin, almost foreign. I squinted against the harsh sunlight as I stepped through the gates of the prison. Five years. Five long years behind those cold, iron bars. 

Five years of dreaming about this moment, hoping someone would be waiting for me. Jack, maybe. I scanned the parking lot, expecting to see Jack’s familiar face. But there was no one. Not a familiar face in sight. But I saw someone. I saw a man I had hoped never to see again.

He was about 6.2‘ tall with broad shoulders and perfectly brushed black hair. Under his suit, he was wearing a white shirt with a silk tie, that fit smugly on his lean, muscular body, with a designer shoe to match. 

Yep, it's him. Vincent.

He was leaning against his sleek black car, dressed in a designer navy suit that screamed power and arrogance. He glanced at me briefly, his eyes cold and unreadable, before turning his attention back to the entrance, clearly waiting for someone else.

No one came for me. Not Jack, not any member of my family. Not that I was expecting them to care about the black sheep of the family. But Jack at least should have been here. He couldn't have forgotten the date, could he?

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the crushing disappointment. Maybe Jack was busy. 

Well, it's been two years since I saw him last. He claimed that he was busy taking care of our son. The thought of our son brought a smile to my face. Soon, I’ll see my man and our baby. We’ll get married and have more children like we’ve always wanted.

I decided to dispel the thoughts of not having anyone come for me and try to find my way home. 

“Boss,” I heard a woman call out. I turned to look and saw that it was a fellow inmate who was also being released today. I saw her walking up to Vincent as he dragged his eyes off me and looked at this lady, as she said something.

He nodded to her and said, “Let’s go.” They both entered his car and drove off. This is a side of him I’m sure many people don’t get to see. He is known as a ruthless, heartless billionaire. It's quite surprising to see him here to personally pick up his staff. From what I heard while in prison, that woman was one of the managers of his club. She was in for just one year.

I shook my head as I started walking down the road. I didn’t have money to take a taxi so it had to be the bus. As his car moved past me I felt his gaze on my back and I looked up to see his eyes on me. For a moment our eyes locked as I slowed around a corner. Just then he looked away from me before he wound up his glass. I’m sure he’s not happy to see me like this - out of prison, free at last. 

Well, the feeling is mutual. I feel only loathe towards him. He is the one who put me in prison. Merciless, heartless, ruthless. Perfectly describes him.

I started walking again, my footsteps echoing in the silence. I kept walking until I got to the nearest bus stop. The ride home was a blur of painful memories and shattered dreams.

When I finally reached Jack's house—our house—I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe he had forgotten the date. Maybe he would be inside, ready to explain everything.

I knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest. 

“Jack? Are you home?” I called out.

Moments later, the door opened, and there he was. Jack. But the look on his face wasn't one of happiness, surprise or relief. It was one of annoyance.

“Kara?” Jack’s voice was sounding slightly annoyed. “What are you doing here?”

"What am I doing here?" I echoed, my voice trembling. “I… I live here.” 

He looked away but still blocked my entrance with his body.

“Jack, I just got out. I thought... I thought you'd be happy to see me." 

“Darling,” a woman’s voice called out from inside. ”Who is there?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Jack is with another woman. That’s why he’s blocking the door and not letting me inside.

“You are with another woman?” I stammered, feeling like I had been punched in the gut. “Jack, you betrayed me, after all I did for you?”

“Look, it’s not that simple. I can explain, okay.” He tried to come closer while I moved back and blinked, trying to hold back the tears threatening to pour from my face.

“Explain what you fu**ing idiot?” I rushed to him, punching furiously trying to hit his face but he deflected all my punches and held me tight.

“Kara, wait goddammit.” He pushed me off him.

“Jack,” I heard the woman’s voice again, this time closer. That voice sounds familiar.

He stepped aside, and that’s when I saw her. She was wearing a silk robe and a smug expression.

“Oh Kara, you are back.” she cooed as she came closer.

 “What... what is the meaning of this?" I faced Jack. He looked away, guilt flickering in his eyes. “What the he*ll is she doing here?”

“Well, we are married,” she answered, raising her left hand for me to see the gold wedding band on her finger. She walked up to him and placed one arm around his waist and the other arm on his shoulder.

I turned to Jack, searching his face for answers. 

“Jack?” I called him.

"It's exactly what it looks like," Jack said, crossing his arms. "We're married now, Kara. You need to leave."

“What?” My voice cracked. “Married? But… how?”

“You were gone for five years, Kara,” Jack said, his tone condescending. “You can’t expect me to wait forever.”

I was filled with emotion as I looked from her to Jack. I felt my world shatter around me. Without another word, I turned and left the apartment. I decided to leave before I burst into uncontrollable tears. I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart breaking with every step. 

I walked out into the street, this once familiar place that I loved to admire as I move around or take my morning walks, now seemed like an unfamiliar place. Tears blurred my eyes that I didn’t even want to acknowledge the nods and greetings of my former neighbors. I remember when Jack and I moved into this place recently.

It was our dream apartment. We were giddy with happiness and we decorated it with love especially when we discovered that I was pregnant. We had our whole lives planned out before the incident happened, the incident that would send me to jail. Tears poured out of my eyes as I turned a corner.

There was only one place left to go.

Vincent pov

The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the city. I arrived at the prison gates, impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit, complete with a crisp white shirt and a silk tie. My shoes were polished to perfection, and a Rolex glinted on my wrist. I had to look the part of the successful businessman, the perfect cover for my true activities.

I was feeling particularly satisfied this morning. Business was booming, with my legitimate enterprises providing an effective front for the more profitable, yet illegal, operations. Supermarkets, clubs, restaurants—all of them served dual purposes, masking the underworld dealings that truly lined my pockets. Today, I was here to pick up Flora, one of the key members of my inner circle. She had just finished a stint in prison, a minor altercation with the law that we had spun into a trivial misunderstanding.

When any of my people got out of prison, I made it a point to be th