Chapter 51 : The New Gardener

Four months had passed since the harrowing attack that left Angela scarred and shaken. The visible mark on her face, stretching from her chin to her shoulder, was a constant reminder of that dreadful night. Meanwhile, Leonardo had been preoccupied with his medical appointments, his mother accompanying him most of the time due to Angela's ongoing medical needs.
One quiet afternoon, Angela found herself seeking solace in the orchard, lost in thoughts about the ordeal and Lara Chavez's disappearance. The garden, once lively and well-maintained, now appeared deserted, the bushes overgrown. A new gardener was needed, and though many had applied, Mrs. Vera remained picky about her selection.
As Angela strolled through the orchard, she halted at the very spot where the attack had occurred, memories flooding back. The investigation had been a roller coaster, and she was still grappling with the unanswered questions surrounding Lara. Leonardo had suggested that Lara might have been frightened of being caught if she was responsible for the acid attack, but uncertainty plagued Angela's mind.
Her stay at the mansion hadn't been as she had hoped. She never intended to become romantically involved with Leonardo, insisting that they were not in a relationship. She remained adamant that the day would come when she'd leave the mansion and forget everything about him.
Interrupted from her thoughts, Angela returned to the house to clean Leonardo's room. Alone in the room, an inexplicable feeling washed over her. She couldn't quite grasp the source of this sensation when the door suddenly opened, and Leonardo returned from his doctor's appointment.
"Angela, I'm back," Leonardo said, sniffing as he walked toward her.
"I know," Angela replied somberly, taken aback when Leonardo surprised her with a kiss on her nape.
"Stop doing that," Angela said quietly, her emotions a mix of confusion and frustration.
"Why not?" Leonardo smiled.
Angela mustered her resolve. "Small gestures mean a lot, and it might be difficult for me…"
He interrupted, speaking casually, "I'll do whatever I want. And if kissing your nape means something significant to you, it does to me too, in a positive way."
Angela couldn't help but feel torn. Her emotions were in turmoil, torn between the traumatic past and an uncertain future. The scars on her face were a testament to the darkness that haunted her, and she longed for clarity, for closure. The mansion held her captive, not just physically but emotionally, and she yearned to break free from its hold.
Angela had grown accustomed to Leonardo's assertiveness, and she often found herself acquiescing to his wishes without protest. Though she realized that Leonardo's influence over her bordered on enslavement, she felt trapped and unable to break free from him. Despite the complexities of their relationship, she couldn't deny the yearning she felt for his touch. In her heart, she knew that her time with Leonardo would be remembered as a bittersweet and extraordinary chapter in her life.

One day, as Leonardo sighed and shared his struggles with finding an eye donor, Angela tried to lighten the mood. "At the very least, there's hope," she joked, attempting to offer some comfort.

Time passed, and one morning, as Angela stepped outside the main door of the mansion, she spotted a man conversing with Mrs. Vera from behind. "Fredrick," she gasped, her heart skipping a beat at the thought of his return. But as she approached them, she was taken aback to realize that the man was not Fredrick.
Mrs. Vera noticed Angela's surprise and gestured for her to join them on the lawn. "Angela, meet Andrew Monto," she introduced, "he's the new gardener, occupying the cottage next to the garden tool house."
“Nice…meeting…you, Miss,” The gardener had difficulties speaking.
Angela returned a smile to him, relieved to know that the garden would soon thrive under his care. While the mansion held her captive in its way, the revival of the once-abandoned garden represented the hope that life could flourish even amid uncertainty.
As days passed, the new gardener, Andrew, remained diligently engrossed in his work within the garden. Angela would occasionally run into him during her time in the orchard or around the mansion. She noticed that Andrew was a man of few words, preferring to respond to questions rather than initiate conversations.
One evening, Angela and Leonardo decided to have dinner outdoors, enjoying the garden's tranquil atmosphere with a view of the orchard. As they sat at the table, Angela noticed Andrew's shadow moving gracefully under the trees, focused on his gardening tasks.
Curious, Angela asked Leonardo, "Have you had a chance to meet the new gardener, Andrew?"

"I've heard about him,” Leonardo replied, seeming disinterested in the topic. His mind was consumed with the search for the missing painting, "The Crying Lady."
Angela nodded, understanding Leonardo's preoccupation. She knew how important the painting was to him. However, she couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue about Andrew and wanted to learn more about the quiet gardener.
During dinner, Leonardo requested Angela, "Could you stay with me until nine o'clock tonight?"
"As you wish," Angela agreed, smiling softly as she gathered their dishes, willing to accommodate his wish. Her feelings for him were still complex, a mix of affection, confusion, and a lingering sense of entrapment within the mansion's walls. Yet, she remained devoted to him, cherishing the moments they shared, even amidst the uncertainty that surrounded their lives.
At 8 p.m., a man arrived, and the new guard escorted him to their table. He was the detective Leonardo had hired to find the missing painting, and he looked younger than he was, at 45, and he reported that he had a lead on the painting. His name was Miguel, and he reported to Leonardo. A witness saw the painting in a small art shop but disappeared the next day, and he planned to return to the shop the next day.
"Could you tell me the name of the store?"
"Sand Dust, art shop," the detective said.
"I know that store," Leonardo said quietly.
The detective didn't stay long, and when he left, Angela directed her questions to Leonardo. "How did you find out about the Sand Dust shop?"
"It was Fredrick's aunt's shop," Leonardo stated unequivocally.
Leonardo was planning something. He suspected Fredrick was involved in the burglary and broke into his studio to steal the painting.
"But Fredrick was already missing at the time of the burglary," Angela was perplexed.
But Leonardo was determined to find out the truth and was willing to spend money to recover the painting. Until that day, there had been no word on Lara and Fredrick's whereabouts.
Several weeks passed, and Angela found herself in a deep slumber in the pink room when she was abruptly awakened by a knock on the door. Leonardo stood there, requesting her company to meet with the detective he had hired. "Give me a few minutes to change," Angela said hurriedly, making her way to the bathroom.
After a quick preparation, they were on their way. Leonardo remained silent during the journey, keeping Angela curious about the reason for this meeting. However, Leonardo didn't want to share incomplete information and urged her to wait until they met with the detective.
The detective was waiting for them at a restaurant. "Apologies for the delay," Leonardo said as Angela took her seat. They ordered drinks, but Angela declined, opting for water instead. She dressed in a black blouse with a high neckline, concealing the scar on her neck and shoulder. Leonardo's excitement was evident as they waited for the detective to share the news.
"The owner of the Sand Dust art shop disclosed something intriguing," the detective began, "a woman named Lara approached her to display the painting, but later took it back."
Both Leonardo and Angela were taken aback by this revelation. The mention of Lara's name brought back memories of the past, and Angela couldn't help but think that she might be connected to the stolen painting. Her mind drifted to the time when both Fredrick and Lara had expressed interest in showcasing the Crying Lady painting in an art exhibit months ago. Learning that Lara had briefly placed the painting in the Sand Dust store only fueled her suspicions, pointing to the fact that they might have been involved in the theft. Now, the focus was on locating Lara and Fredrick. "You must find at least one of them," Leonardo urged the detective.
On the way back home, Angela remained silent, her mind consumed with thoughts about Lara and Fredrick's sudden disappearance. "What could have happened to them?" she asked Leonardo.
Leonardo retired to his room early that night, and Angela returned to the pink room. As Mrs. Gale helped organize some of Angela's clothes, Angela stared out of the window, contemplating the events unfolding around her. Mrs. Gale expressed her concern for Angela's well-being, and Angela shared her confusion about the situation.
"Maybe it was Frederick," Angela mumbled, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Mrs. Gale looked at her with curiosity, "What do you mean, dear?"
"I think he might be the one who attacked me and left this scar on my face," Angela replied, her suspicions growing.
Mrs. Gale nodded solemnly, "If that's the case, you must be careful."