Chapter 65: Moment of Truth

Angela's POV

In the cozy living room, anticipation hung in the air as everyone eagerly awaited Leonardo's call, hoping for news of his journey.
"Your coffee, Mrs. Vera," Angela placed the cup gently on the table, her eyes reflecting the unease that had settled in the room. Mrs. Vera's worry about her son's expedition was palpable. Meanwhile, Mrs. Gale worked busily in the kitchen, preparing lunch, the clatter of dishes a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere.
Suddenly, Mrs. Gale entered the living room, setting a bowl of cookies on the couch opposite Angela. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "I fear Leonardo might be onto something. What if we're not alone in this house?"
Angela's smile faltered, a distant memory surfacing - a movie she'd watched years ago. A movie about a house with a hidden passage beneath its floors, a secret she had never dared to fully explore. The memory danced like a ghost at the edge of her thoughts.
But Mrs. Gale's imagination took a darker turn, her eyes reflecting her fear of a haunted house, shadows cast by her terrifying thoughts.
"I don't believe in ghosts," Angela whispered, her voice a fragile protest against the growing unease.
"You must," Mrs. Vera's voice was barely audible, tinged with a haunting certainty. "I can sense it, a presence watching us, tracking our every move." Mrs. Vera recounted a night when the rain had whispered against the roof, a night when she had been alone in her room. With Florencio away and only her two servants present, the rain had masked something sinister. A woman's scream, faint yet piercing, had cut through the rain's melody. She followed the chilling sound, from room to room, until the scream abruptly ceased, swallowed by the sound of the rain.
"Since then, my husband believed it was withdrawal, a product of an alcoholic mind. But I know what I heard," Mrs. Vera's voice quivered, a mix of fear and conviction. "And now, with Leonardo's discoveries looming, I fear what truths might emerge."
The room was enveloped in tense silence, each word a thread weaving a web of suspense. The past and the present converged, their secrets waiting to be unveiled.

***
Leonardo's POV

After hours of driving, Leonardo's car crawled its way up a hillside on the outskirts of town. The journey had been long, the anticipation growing with each passing mile. The directions had led him here, to the hill house that held the key to his mission. The journey had not been without its challenges; the rough road seemed to conspire against him, sharp stones lurking like hidden obstacles, ready to puncture his newly bought tires.

Determination fueled him as he pressed on knowing that the prize he sought was worth the challenges. Some helpful bystanders had pointed him towards Benjamin Curtana's house, their directions guiding him through the maze of trees until the image of a painted roof emerged from the foliage, a beacon of relief.
Finally stopping in front of the old house, its red roof unmistakably confirming its identity, Leonardo stepped out of his car. The creaking door swung open, revealing an elderly man with a shock of white hair, his unsteady steps accompanied by a bottle of wine clutched in his hand. The man's demeanor was far from welcoming, and his disheveled appearance hinted at a state of inebriation.
"What brings you here, sir?" the man's voice slurred as he spoke, his unsteady feet barely maintaining their balance.
"I'm Leonardo Vera, the son of Florencio Vera. My father purchased a mansion from an engineer named Benjamin Curtana," Leonardo explained, his words punctuated by the awkward encounter.
The man's expression darkened as he absorbed Leonardo's words. "You won't find him here," he retorted with a cynical smirk.
"I need to speak to him. It's important," Leonardo insisted, determined to get to the bottom of his quest.
The man's response was swift and matter-of-fact. "He's long gone, dead and buried," he announced casually, his words tinged with a hint of bitterness. "That house was his family's curse," he continued, referring to Vera’s mansion.
Introductions followed as the man identified himself as Alfred Curtana, Benjamin's older brother and the current caretaker of his younger brother’s house. Their exchange continued, hands shaking as introductions were made.
"What do you mean by 'cursed'?” Leonardo’s curiosity shone.
A sip of wine, a wave towards a weathered wooden chair on the patio - the man's movements were as uneven as his speech. Leonardo followed, drawn in by the promise of answers. As Alfred recounted the story, the house seemed to come alive, its walls infused with a history both unsettling and captivating.
"I've seen that house before," Alfred mused, his voice carrying the weight of memories and shadows. "And every time, it sent shivers down my spine. But Benjamin, he believed it was a monument of love. And yet, he met a gruesome end, his head crushed by the wheels of a monstrous truck," Alfred's voice trembled with emotion. "They said it was an accident, but many suspected it was his response to his wife's betrayal, a tragedy that painted the walls of that house with a dark narrative."
The previous owner of the Vera mansion had been the Mantissa family, with Carlos Mantissa at its helm. Subsequently, the house changed hands to the Curtana family. Tragedy had struck Mrs. Curtana, leaving her to grapple with the eerie solitude of the house after her husband's demise. The weight of her perceived betrayal haunted her, ultimately leading her to relinquish the property to the Vera family, the third in line to inherit the house's mysteries.
"Are you the owner's son?" the man inquired, a glimmer of recognition lighting up his features. "Florencio Vera, right?"
"Yes, that's correct," Leonardo confirmed with a hint of weariness in his voice.
“I met your father several times,” The man's gaze remained intent as he continued the conversation, taking deep swigs from his bottle of wine between sentences. "May I ask the purpose of your visit to this extent?" he asked, curiosity mixing with the alcohol.
"I've come to see the blueprint of the house," Leonardo stated firmly, "Our house now."
The man's laughter was tinged with the kind of amusement that only alcohol could conjure. "Ah, renovating, are we?" he chuckled, wine splattering in his wake, "But why the need for the original blueprint?"
"I'm planning to add a swimming pool to the orchard area," Leonardo explained, his determination evident. "The blueprint is crucial to ensure the structural integrity and safety of the pool."
A moment of reflection followed, the man confessing his lack of knowledge regarding the blueprint. "However," he offered, "there's someone who might be able to help you."
Leonardo's interest was piqued. "Who is this person, and how can I reach him?"
"Camila Mantissa," the man replied, his tone taking on a weight of reverence. "She's the elder sister of Carlos Mantissa, the original builder of your house."
"Please share her address with me," Leonardo requested eagerly, his curiosity eager to meet this connection to the house's past.
The man, though inebriated, mumbled the address, and without delay, Leonardo set out in search of Camila Mantissa. However, luck seemed to desert him when one of his tires burst, leaving him stranded on a remote, winding road far from the city and any signs of civilization. Frustrated but undeterred, he decided to call Angela for comfort.



***
Angela's POV

Angela's phone pierced the tranquility of the lawn with its ring, and she hastily answered, her breath visible in the chill of the afternoon breeze. "Hello, Leonardo. How's everything going? Did you manage to reach the original owner?"
Leonardo's voice resonated calmly from the other end, "I've gathered some information about the house, but I need to speak directly with the original owner to obtain the blueprint."
"When will you be back? And what should I prepare for dinner?" she inquired, a mixture of curiosity and concern evident in her tone.
"Skip dinner preparations for now. I've encountered a few obstacles on my way to meet the first owner, but I'm determined to reach there by tomorrow morning. You'll see me then," Leonardo reassured her.
After exchanging a few more words, they bid each other farewell, the line going silent. Angela's heart was unsettled, sensing something amiss in Leonardo's voice. Yet, all she could do was wait for his return.

As the clock struck five in the afternoon, the trio of Mrs. Vera, Angela, and Mrs. Gale came together for dinner outside the house. Over the years of service, Mrs. Gale had become an integral part of the Vera household, sharing meals and forging a strong bond with the family. Arriving when both Leonardo and Esmeralda were teenagers, she had proven herself to be a reliable and cherished servant, trusted by all.

Later, at eight o'clock in the evening, the companionship of Mrs. Vera and Angela extended to the lawn once more, where they sipped coffee and gazed out at the twinkling city lights. Mrs. Vera's sigh resonated through the night air, a mix of contentment and nostalgia. "The nights are truly enchanting here," she mused, a smile playing on her lips. "This place stole my heart the very first time I saw it. It's perfect for young lovers, madly in love."
However, as her reminiscence continued, Angela detected a shift in Mrs. Vera's mood. The conversation took a darker turn as Mrs. Vera opened up about her past, her eyes welling with tears. "Florencio was a devoted husband initially, but after years in this house, he began to change," she confided, her voice tinged with pain. "After we unofficially adopted Esmeralda, he transformed into a different person."
Angela's shock was palpable. The revelation painted a chilling picture as if the house itself had triggered a series of unfortunate events, all linked to Mr. Florencio Vera and Esmeralda.
"It's almost as if there's a curse upon this house," Mrs. Vera's words hung in the air, heavy with concern. She turned her gaze towards the house, tears trailing down her cheeks, "A malevolent force lurking within, corrupting the goodness within people."