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Chapter 4: Days before the Tragedy

It was 3:00 a.m. on December 10, 1980, and Hope Park was deserted except for a woman in a red dress who was sobbing into her phone. "No, Esper, please don't do it," she pleaded. Fear etched her face as tears streamed down her cheeks.

On the other end of the line, a distraught woman's voice cried and shouted, "I want to die! Life is meaningless without him!"

The woman in red tried to console her younger sister. "It's not the end of the world," she quavered, her vision blurred by tears. "You can find someone who truly loves you. Please don't do this."

"Please come home, Angela," her sister said in a trance-like voice.

"I'm on my way home," Angela promised, patting her pocket where her plane ticket lay. "Hold on, sweetie. I'll be there in a few days."

But then her sister's voice let out a piercing scream that turned into a deathly silence.

Angela stood frozen, her hand still clutching the phone. She knew at that moment that her beloved sister was gone, and she was helpless to do anything about it from the other side of the world.

It was 3:00 a.m. on December 10, 1981, and a woman dressed in black stood at a grave in Heavenly Cemetery, her eyes fixed on the tombstone. The name etched on it was Esper Brinson, a memory that haunted her.

While many women believed that love was life, Angela believed that love could kill. In her bag was a small .45 caliber pistol with an 8-round magazine. She also carried a photograph of a handsome man who once smiled at her: Leonardo Vera. "You're going to die soon," she whispered to the photo before placing it on top of the niche.

As thoughts raced through her head, Angela knew that today, on her last day of freedom, she would kill a man. A man who thought that money could save him from death. The "Day of Judgment" had arrived, and she would exchange a billionaire's life for her younger sister's life.

"We only have one life," Angela thought as she walked away from the grave. "And I will make mine count."

Present Day

4: p.m.

"That's good to hear," Mrs. Vera said. "I wanted to check on you and see how you're getting along with my son. I know he can be difficult at times, but he's a good man at heart. I hope he hasn't been too much trouble for you."

Angela forced a smile and replied, "No, Mrs. Vera, he hasn't been too much trouble. I understand that he's going through a tough time, and I'm here to help him in any way I can."

"That's very kind of you," Mrs. Vera said. "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. I want you to feel at home here."

"Thank you, Mrs. Vera, I appreciate that," Angela said.

"I'm glad to hear that he finished his meal," Mrs. Vera said. "Leo can be picky sometimes, but he needs to eat well to keep his strength up."

Angela nodded in agreement. "Yes, I understand. I'll make sure he eats properly."

"I appreciate that," Mrs. Vera said. "Leo's health is very important to me. He's been through a lot, and I want him to get better soon."

Angela couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as Mrs. Vera spoke. She knew that she was planning to make Leonardo suffer, and Mrs. Vera's words reminded her of the human being that she was about to harm. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside. She couldn't let her emotions get in the way of her plan. She had to stay focused and carry out her mission.

"Is there anything else you need, Mrs. Vera?" Angela asked, trying to sound as polite and professional as possible.

"No, that's all," Mrs. Vera said. "Just take good care of Leo, okay? He's a good man, despite his flaws."

"I will, Mrs. Vera," Angela said, forcing a smile.

As Mrs. Vera left the room, Angela couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that what she was about to do was wrong, but she couldn't back out now. She had to see her plan through to the end. The thought of her sister's face, battered and bruised, fuelled her desire for revenge. She would make Leonardo pay, no matter the cost.

Angela felt a deep sense of sorrow and anger as she gazed at her sister's picture. She couldn't understand why Esper had fallen for a man like Leonardo. Despite his blindness, he still managed to be cruel and domineering. Angela couldn't fathom why Esper had stayed with him, and why she had put up with his abuse.

As she looked at the picture, Angela made a silent vow to avenge her sister's death. She would make Leonardo pay for what he had done, no matter what it took. She knew that she had to be careful and patient, but she was determined to see her plan through to the end.

"I promise you, Esper, I will make him suffer," Angela said, her voice filled with determination. "I will not rest until justice is served."

With that, she carefully placed Esper's picture back on the nightstand and sat down on the bed, lost in thought. She knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but she was prepared to face whatever challenges came her way. For Esper's sake, she would stop at nothing to make sure that justice was served.

Angela’s thought was disturbed by the knock on the door. It was Mrs. Gale smiling when she opened it. And she noticed the picture on the nightstand. "And who is that lovely lady in the photo?"

"She is my younger sister." She said solemnly.

"Is that so? You know, you have the same eyes. Where is she now?" Mrs. Gale asked.

"She died a few years ago," Angela said casually, trying to hide the pain inside.

"Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. "

"It’s okay, there’s nothing we can do about it. She's gone now." Angela said, adding, "But I still miss her. She is a good and bobbly company. No boring time for her, that’s what I missed about her. "

Mrs. Gale continued, "Anyway, that's what life is all about. Death can't be avoided; it comes when it's our time, and the painful reality is that someone sometimes leaves us first."

"If I could choose when to die, I would choose to die before my beloved family; it's too painful to watch death," she gritted.

“Anyway, the food is ready for you in the kitchen,” Mrs. Gale then left the room.

Angela was relieved that she didn't have to deal with Leonardo's rage for the night. She put the photo of Esper back into her suitcase and went to the kitchen. The aroma of the food made her stomach grumble. Mrs. Gale had already prepared the table, and there was a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, along with a loaf of bread and a bottle of red wine.

"Please sit down," Mrs. Gale said as she poured the wine into two glasses. "I hope you like spaghetti and meatballs. It's my specialty."

"Thank you, Mrs. Gale. It smells delicious," Angela said as she took a seat.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the food. "So, Angela, tell me more about yourself," Mrs. Gale said, breaking the silence.

Angela was hesitant at first but decided to share a little about herself. She talked about her childhood and how she became a nurse. She also mentioned her sister and how much she missed her.

"I'm sorry to hear about your sister. Losing a loved one is never easy," Mrs. Gale said, her voice filled with sympathy.

Angela appreciated Mrs. Gale's empathy and felt a little more comfortable around her. She hoped that their relationship would continue to improve, even though she was there to avenge her sister's death.


A chilly morning greeted Angela as she emerged from her room, wrapping herself in a heavy sweatshirt. Despite taking a hot bath earlier, she still felt the chill in her bones. Entering the empty living room, the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee from the open kitchen perked her up, only to be interrupted by the ringing phone.

Mrs. Gale walked in and said in a concerned voice, "Please answer the phone, Angela. It could be Leonardo's doctor calling."

As Angela picked up the phone, a demanding voice of a woman on the other end demanded, "I want to talk with Leonardo. Connect the line to him."

Polite but hesitant, Angela responded, "I will try, Miss. May I know who is calling, please?"

The voice on the other end demanded, "Who is this?"

"I'm Mr. Vera's new nurse, Angela."

"Okay, Angela, connect me to Leonardo's room," Lara demanded.

Angela hesitated, "I should ask for the extension number of his room."

Mrs. Gale interjected, "Leonardo's extension is number three."

In Leonardo's room, the incessant ringing of the phone jolted him awake, and he yelled, "Who the fuck is calling! Mrs. Gale! Put away the phone! Mrs. Gale!"

Angela entered the room, "Mr. Vera, why are you making such a racket this early in the morning?"

"Silence the ringing; I don't want to hear the phone ringing. Make it stop!" Leonardo barked.

"It will not stop if you do not respond to it. It's your girlfriend on the line. She wants to talk to you," Angela explained.

"Silence the phone and throw it away!" Leonardo was furious.

"I have to answer this," Angela said as she picked up the phone and answered.

"Give the phone to Leonardo," Lara demanded from the other end of the line.

Angela handed the phone to Leonardo, but he didn't respond or move.

"Put it down and never answer that phone again," Leonardo snarled.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but Mr. Vera doesn't want to talk to you," Angela said as she hung up the phone and stood where she was, the tension palpable in the room.

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