Chapter 28 : Lonely Eyes

After a few peaceful moments of picking oranges in the orchards, Angela found solace beneath the trees. However, her attention would occasionally drift toward the gate of the forbidden veranda. She had come to realize that Mrs. Vera was the enigmatic woman she had glimpsed before. Angela felt a sense of honor in being entrusted with the knowledge of Esmeralda's pink room by Leonardo.
As Angela continued her task, she was interrupted by Fredrick, who stood behind her, pleading. "What can I do to make you like me, Angela?" he begged.
Angela furrowed her brow, taken aback by Fredrick's statement. "Is this another one of your dramatic acts, Fredrick?" she questioned.
Fredrick's demeanor turned serious. "No, Angela. I am expressing my true feelings for you. I won't allow Lara to destroy me as she destroyed Leonardo."
Angela frowned, growing more concerned. "What are you trying to prove to me, Fredrick?"
"I'm simply being honest; this is a confession," Fredrick replied with a pained expression. "It's Lara's fault. She craved the adoration of men, almost as if she were a goddess, and her desires became increasingly unusual."
Fredrick's revelation only intensified Angela's desire to distance herself from him. She couldn't fathom believing the accusations he was making. Listening to him speak ill of Lara raised suspicions within her.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Angela asked, her voice tinged with caution.
"Because I genuinely like you and want to be with you," Fredrick admitted.
"I must leave now," Angela stated firmly, picking up her basket of fresh oranges and preparing to walk away. However, Fredrick grabbed her hand, but she swiftly pushed him away, creating distance between them.
"No, Fredrick," she asserted, walking away. "I do not wish to be closer to you."
But Fredrick showed no signs of giving up. "I already have Leonardo's permission to pursue you and court you," he persisted. "He granted me permission to court you."
"Well, I will need to clarify things with him," Angela replied, her tone determined. She returned to the mansion, placing her basket of oranges on the table. She prepared a cup of coffee and carried it to Leonardo's room. Angela shut the door behind her, her gaze fixed upon Leonardo, who sat solemnly at the edge of the bed. She took a few steps closer and inquired, "Did you discuss personal matters about me with Fredrick, Leonardo?"
He remained silent, not responding immediately.
Angela felt as if she were being manipulated by the two men. "It's not appropriate to discuss other people's matters," Angela reiterated.
"I don't hold any power over you, Angela," he said with a serious tone. "And when he approached me, asking for permission to court you, I couldn't refuse."
"Nevertheless, you don't need to say anything about granting Frederick permission to visit me here and court me during my working hours," Angela asserted firmly. "This is my workplace, and I cannot entertain visitors while I'm working."
"Alright," Leonardo calmly agreed. "I'm simply trying to be an understanding boss here; I don't have any control over your personal feelings towards a man. You're a woman, and having a man in your life is something you may desire."
"No," Angela responded dismissively. "I don't need a man in my life, especially if he's only going to bring me heartache. I would rather be alone and grow old by myself."
"So what's your perspective on life," Leonardo stated firmly. "Well, that's your choice."
Leonardo continued, "Frederick wanted to marry you."
"What's his problem?" Angela inquired. "Let's not bring him up because I don't want to hear any of his nonsense." Angela walked out, leaving Leonardo's coffee untouched on the table.
***
The clock struck ten in the evening, and once again, Angela found sleep eluding her. Her mind was consumed with curiosity about Frederick's intentions toward her. She sensed that there was more to his apparent interest than met the eye. Angela refused to blame Lara for what had transpired in the studio. She knew with certainty that it was Frederick who had enticed Lara into the studio, initiating that despicable act of betrayal. She longed to push those thoughts aside, as they made her feel sick every time they resurfaced. Keeping someone else's secret was tormenting her. And then, a recollection of her promise to Leonardo to uncover Esmeralda's treasure flickered in her mind.
Angela rose from her bed, feeling the need to refresh herself. As she dried her hair, she opened the drawer of her dresser, where a collection of pink hair accessories, such as clips and combs, caught her attention. She then opened another drawer and discovered a file filled with bound writing notebooks, held together by a delicate pink silk ribbon.
Curiosity was piqued, and Angela carefully untied the ribbon and took out all the notebooks. Nestled within them was a small album securely clipped in the middle. As she opened it, a series of photographs revealed a captivating young lady. "Esmeralda," Angela whispered, her eyes fixated on the images. Something stirred within her as she gazed into the depths of those melancholic, beautiful eyes. Angela had never before seen such a profound sense of loneliness captured in a photograph.
With an undeniable connection to Esmeralda, Angela noticed the striking similarity in their long, flowing hair. She reached for a small blue hair clip and delicately pinned back a strand of hair from her forehead, mirroring Esmeralda's pose in the photo. Letting out a deep sigh, Angela resumed rummaging through the drawer when suddenly, the door swung open, revealing Lara standing there, her gaze fixed intently on Angela.
"Do not lay a finger on Esmeralda's belongings," Lara grumbled, her tone filled with irritation. "Unless you plan on keeping some of her valuable possessions for yourself, you have no right to meddle with them."
Angela met Lara's gaze head-on and spoke grimly, "I was merely curious to understand and see who Esmeralda was, Miss Chavez, and I stumbled upon something intriguing." Angela picked up the photo album once again. "Take a look at this picture. Esmeralda was a pure and timeless beauty. See?" Angela extended the photograph towards Lara, but before Lara could react, she jumped and slapped Angela's hand, causing the picture to slip from Angela's grasp and fall to the floor.
"You wretched woman! What are you trying to prove?" Lara seethed with anger. "Take that picture away from me!"
Angela frowned at Lara's sudden outburst of fear. It became clear to her that something significant had occurred between Esmeralda and Lara. Could it be the guilt of stealing Leonardo away from Esmeralda? Angela contemplated. Perhaps this woman played a significant role in driving Esmeralda toward her tragic end. "Are you burdened with guilt?" Angela questioned.
"You have no right to question me, you wretch! You are nothing compared to me!" Lara yelled, rushing to snatch the picture from the floor. "This must be burned!"
Angela swiftly pushed Lara away. "Keep your distance," Angela warned, her voice laced with determination. "I won't allow you to harm this picture. Esmeralda deserves to be remembered.”
“And mark my words, the moment I become Leonardo's wife, the first thing I'll do is kick you out of here and rid this place of all these useless things!" Lara growled.
"For that to happen, you should pray that Leonardo's sight is restored and he chooses to marry you. Otherwise, you'll forever be his desperate girlfriend," Angela's words struck a nerve within Lara.
"I'll kill you," Lara groaned, her anger escalating.
"Like you killed Esmeralda?" Angela asserted emphatically.
Lara was left stunned and frozen, unable to form a response. "Are you accusing me of a crime?" she finally managed to utter.
"No one truly knows what transpired on that night when Esmeralda leaped from the veranda," Angela stated calmly. "Now leave, Miss Chavez, before I bring Leonardo's attention to your behavior."
Lara was taken aback by Angela's bold statement and slowly retreated towards the door. However, before closing it behind her, she issued a chilling threat. "You will regret all of this."
Lara's enraged departure left Angela sitting alone on Esmeralda's bed, her mind consumed with thoughts of how to navigate and survive Lara's menacing attitude. However, overshadowing her concerns about Lara was a burning question that consumed her every thought: What truly happened to Esmeralda? The reaction Lara displayed upon seeing Esmeralda's picture raised suspicion, making her a potential suspect in Esmeralda's untimely demise. Angela couldn't help but wonder if Esmeralda's fall from the veranda was a result of her own choice to end her life or if someone had maliciously pushed her, leading her to a tragic death. The uncertainty gnawed at Angela, fueling her determination to uncover the truth behind Esmeralda's mysterious fate.