Chapter 69: Buried Alive Last Horay

Buried Alive Last Horay
Mrs. Gale rushed towards Angela, who was stuck on the wall, holding a knife to attack her. Angela swiftly moved and pushed Mrs. Gale aside, but she got a cut on her elbow from the knife. Mrs. Gale prepared for another attack, but a gunshot shook the tunnel, causing a disturbance.

"Stop, Mrs. Gale!" Leonardo urgently shouted. He ran in to prevent Mrs. Gale from attacking Angela again. Mrs. Gale resisted Leonardo's grip and threatened him, saying he would die.

"You need to stop, Mrs. Rosemarie Gale Mantissa!" Leonardo yelled, revealing a tattoo on her back that matched what he had learned from Camilla Mantissa. "You must stop, Mrs. Mantissa."

Mrs. Gale turned around and faced Leonardo. She claimed the place as her own and wished harm upon them, including Angela. A forceful punch knocked her down.

After some time, the police arrived, gathered evidence, and arrested Mrs. Gale. She resisted, insisting that the house belonged to her.

Angela observed the transformation of Mrs. Gale into a dangerous killer and wondered what had happened to her.

"I never thought Mrs. Gale would be the one behind the wedding gown and the killings," Angela remarked from her hospital bed. "She didn't seem like a violent person."

"Maybe she had a dark side all along," Leonardo sighed. "We don't know how she turned into a murderer."

"It's hard to believe she had a reason to kill Andrew," Angela mused.

"At least we now know about the hidden tunnel in the house," Leonardo said with a smile.
A few days later, Leonardo, Angela, and some police officers explored the tunnels and gathered in the pink room. They found the belongings of an unidentified woman who had likely passed away long ago.

"Why do you think he created this pink room to resemble the one above?" Angela wondered.

"Sometimes, men and women think differently. Maybe he wanted to hide here and relive the same feelings he had in the pink room," Leonardo speculated.

"I despise him," Angela muttered.

"Who are you talking about?" Leonardo inquired.

Angela held onto Leonardo's hand tightly. "Mr. Carlos Mantissa, the original owner of this house," she confessed. "Anyway, what's the plan now?" It was a difficult topic, but she needed to face it.

Leonardo's expression turned serious. "I want to sell this house. There's been too much pain and negativity here, and I don't want to carry it into the future," he sighed.

"Both you and your mother should decide together," Angela suggested. "But I think it's the best idea. This house isn't a suitable place to raise a family. The history of death will only bring bad memories and negative energy."

"Alright, then I'll sell it and find a perfect home for our future family," Leonardo decided.

His phone rang, cutting their conversation short. Angela waited as Leonardo's face grew grave while listening to the call. After a few minutes, he hung up and remained silent.

"What's wrong?" Angela asked.

"Lara was killed in prison by other inmates," Leonardo revealed.

Angela was shocked and felt sympathy for Lara.

In the following days, they busied themselves with cleaning up the house and trying to find Andrew's address, but their efforts were in vain. Andrew seemed to have vanished, and all his records were fake. "I can't believe I was so trusting," Mrs. Vera blamed herself.

"Let's put all this behind us, Mom," Leonardo suggested. "Our focus should be on selling this house."

"Do you think it's the right choice, Leonardo?"

"Yes, Mom. We can find another house, or even consider building and designing our own," he reassured.
A week passed, and things appeared to be back to normal in the house. Angela decided it was time to go back to her own home. She packed her belongings into a suitcase and stood by the window. Leonardo was out handling something, allowing her to leave without talking to him. She had resolved to return to Europe and put Leonardo behind her. Selling the house was also part of her plan. Feeling alone and seeking freedom from her troubles, she checked her watch, picked up her suitcase, and headed to the door. However, she was surprised to find Leonardo looking at her with a frown.

"What's with the suitcase?" he questioned.

"I'm planning to leave."

"Who told you to leave?"

"I decided to. You're all well now, and I don't need to stay here."

"Before you go ahead with that plan, come with me." Leonardo took the suitcase from Angela and placed it aside. "Follow me, please." He guided Angela to the car.

Driving in silence, Angela finally asked, "Where are we going?"

"I received a letter from an unknown person," Leonardo explained. "It turns out to be a fellow inmate of Lara's. Lara had asked her to let her mother know to contact me if anything happened to her in prison. So, after Lara's death, this woman sent me a letter."

"What's in the letter?"

"Lara requested that I investigate her apartment to uncover the truth about Andrew, our gardener."

"So, Lara knew who Andrew was."

"Yes, that's clear," Leonardo murmured as he turned the car left and stopped in front of Lara's apartment.

Using his key, Leonardo entered Lara's apartment. Angela stood in the living room as she watched him search through drawers. He moved into Lara's bedroom with Angela following. Taking the letter from his pocket, Leonardo looked at it briefly before opening a drawer and examining its contents. He spread out the photographs he found on the bed. All the pictures that had seemed to be of Fredrick were actually of Andrew. Some were taken at the clinic where Andrew had undergone cosmetic surgery.

"Why did Lara reveal this information?" Angela asked.

"She needed to settle some debts," Leonardo sighed. "And she wanted to direct me to the right people to claim Andrew's body."

"Let's head back home. We have some people to make happy," Leonardo said with a smile, holding Angela's hand.



Angela was in a cab early the next morning. She left the Vera mansion without telling anyone. She only left a note on Leonardo's bed, bidding him farewell and good riddance. Her heart ached while she was in the cab. She must leave everything behind, forget the painful past, and forget Leonardo. Mrs. Gale described their relationship as "just his bed buddy." Angela exhaled deeply as the horizon turned reddish and the sun almost kissed the ground. She wanted to bury the true purpose of her coming into Leonardo’s life. She didn’t want to relive Esper with Leonardo and her, planning to kill him on the first day they met.

The cab was going to the airport. Angela’s flight was waiting for her to take her anywhere, away from Leonardo.
Two years later.
The morning breeze caressed Angela's skin as she savored her coffee on the patio of the charming seaside cottage she had called home for the past two years. Immersed in the island's tranquil rhythm, she had seamlessly woven herself into the local tapestry, dedicating her days to nursing at the island's center. It was a life that provided her with all she needed. Her gaze danced over the endless expanse of the ocean, lost in its beauty until a sweet cry broke her reverie.

With tenderness, Angela scooped up the little one who was playfully exploring the bed. "Hello, my precious. Is hunger knocking at your door?" Her melodious voice filled the room as she cradled the baby in her arms. "Alright, my love, a warm bowl of soup to start our day." With her heart full of love, she carried the baby into the cozy kitchen, where the scent of possibility lingered. This sanctuary was a testament to the kindness of her neighbors, who had rallied around her in unwavering support.

Two years had flowed by, a journey of healing and renewal. Angela had deliberately distanced herself from the past, finding solace in forging connections with her friendly neighbors, most of whom were skilled fishermen. Their camaraderie was evident in their gestures – setting aside a portion of their catch as a gesture of care for Angela. Gratitude swelled within her for the community that had become her haven, a stark contrast to the world she had left behind.

The table was adorned with a steaming bowl of soup as Angela enjoyed a rare day off, a day she intended to share with her daughter by the shimmering shore. "Today, my sweet, we shall seek treasures among the seashells," she whispered to the giggling bundle in her arms. Hand in hand, they wandered along the sandy coastline, the lapping waves composing a gentle symphony.

Giggles mingled with the sound of the sea as Angela and her baby played on the shore, their spirits dancing in the salty breeze. Angela marveled at her daughter, a beacon of light born from the ashes of heartache. She was the rock that had anchored Angela through it all.

But then, a voice carried on the breeze, a voice that ignited both joy and trepidation. "Don't let our princess roam barefoot in the sand," the voice, like a familiar melody, reached her ears, causing her heart to skip a beat. "Leonardo?"

Time seemed to waver as their eyes locked, years of longing and questions contained in a single gaze. "You took our daughter away from me, but the bond between us remains unbroken," his words were a blend of accusation and vulnerability.
"How did you know?" Angela whispered.
"When my world plunged into darkness, your eyes became my light, connecting us beyond distance," Leonardo spoke, his gaze unwavering. "I found you once, and I will always find you."

In an instant, he cradled their daughter, a gesture of possessiveness that Angela understood too well. "And you, my little princess, are the living proof of our love."

Doubts swirled within her, but then he revealed a ring, a promise of forever. "Present this to your mother, little one, for I wish to marry her. My love for her knows no bounds."

Tears traced a path down Angela's cheeks, carrying away the past and birthing a new beginning. At that moment, she resolved never to part with Leonardo again.

"Yet there's something I must confess," her voice quivered as she met his gaze, determination burning in her eyes. "I am Esper's…"

"Sister," he gently interjected, his touch as soft as his words. "Before I embarked on this journey, I delved into your story, and it led me to Esper." His fingers brushed her cheek, a gesture of understanding and acceptance. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused her," he sighed, remorse tingling his words. "What was a fleeting moment for me became heartache for her."

Angela's heart ached with empathy. She knew her sister's yearning all too well – a vulnerability she could no longer deny. "Esper fell in love with you."

"Let's cast aside the shadows of the past and sculpt a new chapter, one where my daughter and I are embraced in your love," Leonardo's lips met hers, a kiss that transcended time and resentment. In that instant, Angela comprehended the essence of love – it was a tapestry woven with forgiveness and hope.

The End