Notes of Destiny: A Musical Odyssey by Neil Grant
Chapter 1

Notes of Destiny: A Musical

Chapter 1 Back to 1997

Osvod Channel broadcasted the latest news in Dracorea.

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“Neil Grant, a renowned international star, succumbed to his condition at ninety!”

“Mr. Grant was accomplished in entertainment, arts, and literature fields. He never married and had no children. Instead, he dedicated his life to charity. His passing is a tremendous loss to our nation and the world…”

Never married? No children?

Neil’s soul floated in the air. Images of his wife, Aneira Summer, leaping off the building with his son and daughter flashed before him.

He recalled Aneira’s last words.

“Neil, you’re a drunkard and a gambler. You never cared about our children or me! I have had enough of this. I’m leaving with my children, and I never want to see you again, even in my next life…”

Suddenly, a whirlpool of bright light appeared in the formless void, sucking Neil’s soul into it.

Neil heard Aneira sobbing softly in his dream.

“Mom, please stop saying that. I won’t go on a blind date! Luca and Yivi are nearly three years old. They need a complete family…”

Sharon Hudson, Neil’s mother–in–law, shouted from the other end.

“You ungrateful idiot! We didn’t raise you to marry that useless drunkard and gambler! I’m going to Cloubury, and you have better come back with me this time! Brian Calder’s family have assets worth up to one hundred million…”

Aneira hung up before her mother could finish speaking.

The sobbing voice began again. It sounded muffled, as if she covered her mouth as she cried.

Neil’s heart clenched painfully.

He did not know Aneira’s parents forced her to divorce him and marry a wealthy man before her

death.

At the time, he drank and gambled all day. Why would he have the mind to care about Aneira?

Chapter 1 Back to 1997

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Neil opened his eyes and found himself in a familiar old house.

An old bed and a few second–hand furniture occupied the narrow room.

There also was a retro–looking calendar on the table.

It was the first of July 1997.

Moreover, the musty smell from the cement walls felt realistic to him.

Is this not a dream? Did I come back to life? This is the day Aneira and our children jump off the building!This day, the thugs from the gambling den came to the house and forced Aneira to pay the debt. They threatened to sell our children if she didn’t pay.Aneira chased out the thugs alone. She contacted the reporters and told them about the illegal gambling den. Then, she took our children and jumped off the building. News about their suicide due to threats from the gambling den thugs caused an uproar. It was well–known throughout the state. That was why the gangsters did not dare todo anything to me and had to let me go. In other words, Aneira and our children sacrificed themselves to save me in my past life!The debt collectors are not here yet. I can still prevent the tragedy from happening!

Neil got up immediately.

He found a little girl sitting dazed on a shabby couch. She looked adorable.

“Yivi, come here. Let me hug you!”

Neil’s voice trembled when he called his daughter’s nickname.

“Papa, huggy!”

The little girl was delighted that her father called her.

She parted her hands and ran to Neil.

The little girl had beautiful facial features. She had nicely arched eyebrows and bright eyes. She looked a lot like Aneira.

Neil hugged his daughter tightly and pressed his cheek to her adorable face. Tears fell from his

eyes.

It has been sixty–six years. I missed my wife and children for sixty–six years.I didn’t expect to be able to return to the past and see my adorable daughter again.

A thin woman came out from the room next door.

Aneira wore a worn short–sleeved floral shirt and a pair of severely faded cotton pants.

Even the plain clothes could not conceal her elegant beauty.

She had a delicate oval face with exquisite facial features. Her almond–shaped eyes shone like crystals. She had a look that triggered one’s protective instinct.

Unfortunately, her skin, which used to luster like pearls, had gone dull from years of hard labor.

She looked so thin that a gust of wind could blow her away.

Moreover, her slender arms were covered with bruises of various sizes.

They were all caused by Neil when he hit her in his drunken rage.

Aneira’s beautiful eyes widened with horror as she looked at him.

He came home wasted this morning, kicking and punching. Moreover, he cursed her for being the cause of his bad luck before falling asleep on the bed.

Why is he awake so soon?Is he hugging our daughter? He never cared about the children!Is he planning to sell them off to pay his gambling debt?

“What are you doing? Give Yivi back to me!” Aneira charged at him recklessly.

Maternal instinct kicked in, giving the petite lady unexplainable strength to push the much taller Neil onto the bed and snatch Yivi from him.

“Don’t you dare do anything to Yivi!”

“Mama…” The crisp voice of a child sounded nearby.

Then, a scrawny boy rushed out, kicking and punching Neil with all his might, shouting, “You meanie! Go away! I won’t let you hit Mama! Leave!”

Aneira was terrified and called out to the boy, “Luca, come here. Don’t go near him!”

She feared Neil would hit the children in his drunken state.

Neil wanted to punch himself.

He frequently took out his anger on Aneira whenever he was drunk in his past life. He believed Aneira was the bad omen that led to his father’s bankruptcy and suicide by consuming pesticides.

Aneira’s body was covered with bruises. He had not spared her even during her pregnancy.

Neil remembered the debt collectors were about to arrive and hurriedly pushed Aneira and the children into the next–door utility room.

“You must hide here. I’ll deal with the debt collectors. Don’t make a sound!”

Aneira looked at him fearfully.

When Neil closed the utility room door, someone kicked open the wooden door in the living.

room.

Four thugs with tattoos all over their bodies walked in menacingly.

One of them, a sun–tanned and muscular thug, yelled threateningly, “Grant, you owe our boss. one million. Pay up now! Or else I will tear down your house!”

Neil looked at the thugs before turning to their leader standing in their midst. His name was Tony.

The boss they mentioned was the owner of the illegal gambling den, Cesar Dunbar.

His so–called friends tricked Neil into the gambling den. Initially, he won tens of thousands.

However, he kept losing after that.

Unfortunately, Neil refused to give up and borrowed money from Cesar. He wanted to gamble to recuperate his losses. Ultimately, he ended up with a debt of eight hundred thousand.

One should note that this was a small county city where most people’s yearly income was only four figures at the time.

Ordinary people could never hope to repay such a debt and its ever–increasing interest.

Neil stood straight and appeared calm. There was no trace of his past blundering and pathetic

self.

He sneered and said, “I’ll pay the debt. However, I have a few conditions!”

The muscular thug scolded furiously, “Are you out of your mind? You owe our boss money. Who are you to name conditions? Are you asking to die…”

Neil remained undaunted in the face of threat. “My life is worthless, and I have nothing to fear! If you force me to the brink, I will kill myself, my wife, and my children. Then, you won’t get a

cent!”

“You…” The muscular thug raised his hand to hit him.

“Bruno, step back!” Tony ordered.

The thug had no choice but to step aside.

Then, Tony turned to Neil. “What are your conditions?”