Chapter 33 : She’s back

Angela's heart raced with adrenaline as she cautiously stepped into the pink room, shrouded in an unsettling silence that sent chills down her spine. The hands of the clock pointed to ten in the morning, yet an eerie gloom enveloped the house. Determination burned in Angela's eyes as she fixated on one goal—the discovery of Esmeralda's diary. Leonardo's words echoed in her mind, promising answers hidden within those pages.
As Angela began to sift through the dressing drawers, a sense of unease settled over her. Each drawer and cupboard was meticulously examined, but the elusive diary remained elusive, teasing her with its absence. Frustration gnawed at Angela's nerves, but she refused to surrender to despair. She was driven by an unyielding hope—an insatiable hunger to find Esmeralda's diary. "Where did you conceal it, Esmeralda?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Leaving the fruitless search behind, Angela approached the orchards, her gaze transfixed on the eerie surroundings that stretched before her. The air turned icy, brushing against her cheek like a phantom's touch, intensifying her determination. Slowly, she turned around and glanced up at the open window of the pink room. Illuminated by a lone light, Leonardo's haunting painting cast ominous shadows on the wall, lending an otherworldly ambiance.
Esmeralda's death weighed heavily on Angela's mind, shrouding her in a web of uncertainty. Doubt crept in, intertwining with her thoughts like a sinister vine. Could it be Lara? The image of Lara's pale face flashed through Angela's consciousness—an image of terror that betrayed more than fear. The memory of Lara donning Esmeralda's dress, her frightened countenance, and her aversion to the pink room fused, forming a disquieting puzzle. All signs seemed to point to Lara as the prime suspect.
Leonardo's unwavering conviction that Esmeralda had been murdered shattered Angela's every thought, scattering fragments of her reasoning. Yes, she concluded, Lara had ample motive to end Esmeralda's life, fueled by their bitter rivalry. The name Esmeralda had become a haunting specter in Lara's world, infecting her with paralyzing fear. The pieces aligned, leading Angela to believe that Lara was tormented by the guilt of Esmeralda's demise—a guilty conscience that painted her as the likely perpetrator.
The expansive orchard, meticulously tended by a skilled gardener, had always held a breathtaking beauty. Angela couldn't resist taking a moment to gaze at the ethereal clouds floating above before deciding to retreat to the house. As she glanced toward the pink room, a sudden movement caught her attention—a ghostly figure dressed in white, stirring within its confines. A chill gripped her heart. Had she forgotten to lock the pink room? Could it be the White Lady?
Crossing the orchards at a hurried pace, Angela ascended the steps leading to the house, her mind racing with apprehension. She reached the pink room and grasped the doorknob, gasping for breath, only to find it locked. Fumbling with trembling hands, she retrieved a key from her silver necklace and swiftly unlocked the door, pushing it open with a mix of trepidation and urgency.

The room greeted her with emptiness, devoid of any signs of intrusion. Everything remained untouched, and not a single footprint marred the pristine floor. Confusion clouded Angela's thoughts as questions swirled in her mind. What was happening to her? Why did she keep seeing the apparition? Who was she? Could it be Esmeralda's ghost? But Angela had already discovered that Mrs. Vera was the Lady in White haunting the orchards. Had Mrs. Vera somehow found her way into the room? How had she gained access?
Determined to unravel the mystery, Angela ventured into the adjoining spaces, scouring the lobby and the rooms adjacent to the pink room, yet found no trace of anyone's presence. Not even the faintest shadow of a rodent stirred in the eerie silence. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, laden with both relief and frustration. Seeking answers, she mustered the courage to knock on Leonardo's door before cautiously opening it, bracing herself for what she might discover within.
Leonardo sat hunched over the drawer, his unseeing eyes focused on the mirror before him, as if peering into a world beyond his blindness. He inhaled deeply, the familiar scent of Angela filling his senses, before he spoke with a solemn tone, each word heavy with regret. "It was raining that day when I bid farewell to Esmeralda. She sat alone on an old bench in the orchards, consumed by loneliness. I asked her what had transpired, and in a voice that shattered with sadness, she uttered words that still echo in my mind."
A pained sigh escaped Leonardo's lips as he recounted the encounter. "I saw you kissing," Esmeralda had said, her voice laced with solemnity. "You and Lara, locked in an intense embrace. My suspicions were confirmed. You both deceived me, carrying on a secret relationship behind my back, with no intention of ever marrying me. Why, Leonardo? Why did you inflict such pain upon me?"
Tears welled in Leonardo's eyes as he continued, his voice cracking under the weight of remorse. "I never argued with her. I simply nodded and asked for forgiveness, then left her there on the veranda," he sobbed. "Little did I know that it would be our last conversation. I hurt her deeply, so deeply that..."
Completing his sentence, Angela's voice trembled with a mix of empathy and sorrow. "So deeply that she took her own life."
Leonardo nodded, his voice choked with anguish. "I hurt her because I failed to fight for our love. I allowed myself to be carried away by the tempest of Lara's aggressive influence and lost her. But now, I remember her final words. She expressed her willingness to wait for the day I returned her embrace," his words faltered, memories from the past slipping beyond his grasp.
Tears streamed down Angela's face, her heart heavy with the pain etched on Leonardo's features. The forgiveness Esmeralda had bestowed upon him and her promise to patiently await his return haunted him like an unrelenting ache. Her throat tightened, making it difficult to speak, but she managed to utter the words through her tears. "Are you certain that Esmeralda vowed to wait for you?"
"Yes," Leonardo affirmed, his voice tinged with both sorrow and awe. "She was the epitome of patience. Through every hardship she faced, she would seek solace in her prayers to God. She was a fighter, and now I realize that she never gave up on me. Someone ended her life."

"And that someone is likely Miss Lara Chavez," Angela concluded, her voice filled with a mix of certainty and sadness. "She's the only one who had a motive to eliminate Esmeralda, to have you all to herself."
"Yes, Angela. She is capable of such a deed," Leonardo affirmed.
"It's too late to reopen the case and bring her to justice," Angela said sorrowfully, her voice laced with resignation. "It's almost been forgotten."
"That's why you must keep a watchful eye on Lara, observing her every move in silence," Leonardo urged with a serious tone. "Can you do that for me, Angela?"
"Yes, Leonardo. But before I forget, did you hear any footsteps or movements outside your room?" Angela asked, her concern evident in her voice.
"Why did you ask?" Leonardo inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Angela's urgency was palpable as she recounted the events. "Just moments ago, I caught sight of someone in the pink room. While I was amidst the orchards, my eyes inadvertently locked onto her figure within the chamber. It was none other than the ethereal Lady in White," she explained with an air of urgency.
Leonardo couldn't suppress a faint smile that graced his lips. "Ah, so your spectral visitor dares to appear even in the brightness of day?"
Angela's expression hardened, her tone serious. "Please, Leonardo, take this matter seriously. I assure you, I am not conjuring these encounters for attention. This marks the third occasion where I have come face to face with that woman. Initially, I believed her to be your mother, but now I know it wasn't her."
Leonardo's concern seeped into his voice as he inquired once more, "Are you certain that you saw someone clad in white within your room?"