Chapter 2: Leonardo's Agony
Angela was taken aback by this startling revelation. As she gazed at him, a whirlwind of confusion engulfed her thoughts. Though it would have been simple for her to pull the trigger and end his life, she lacked the courage to take the life of a blind man. Her mind became entangled in a web of uncertainty. What had become of this malevolent man?
Leo's voice quivered with despair. "Whoever can end me shall be rewarded."
"Oh my goodness, Leo, suicide is an unforgivable sin in the eyes of God," Mrs. Gale attempted to reason with him. She explained that suicide leads to damnation. However, Leonardo was so shattered that he could no longer hear the gospel. Angela found herself rendered speechless by the unexpected turn of events.
"There is no God, Mrs. Gale, for if God truly existed, he would never allow this to befall me!"
"The wicked must face retribution!" Angela exclaimed, her voice brimming with righteous anger. "Perhaps your eyes have become the windows to all your sins, and they must be closed to bring you justice!" Finally, her grief and anger found an outlet without resorting to a firearm. She was seething, provoked by the blasphemous demeanor of this blind man.
"And who do you think you are to speak to me in such a manner?" Leonardo scowled.
"I am Angela, your new caregiver," Angela declared firmly.
"My new caregiver?" Leo scoffed sarcastically. He sneered as he turned to the elderly maid. "How many caregivers have my mother hired, Mrs. Gale?" he inquired.
Mrs. Gale responded politely, "Angela would be the eighth caregiver, Leo."
"You're the eighth caregiver, and you're fired!" Leo hissed.
Leonardo's outburst and anger fueled Angela's desire to end him, but retaliating against his vitriolic words granted her a small opening to unleash her fury. She shouted back at him:
"Yes, I am the eighth, and you cannot dismiss me," Angela stated calmly, her voice resolute. "Your mother is my employer, Mr. Vera. She hired me, which means she is the sole authority to terminate my employment. Is that clear?"
"You... bitch!" he yelled in frustration.
"My name is Angela Brinson, not 'Bitch,' and I am your new nurse, whether you like it or not." Angela's eyes blazed with determination, refusing to back down.
"And so, you've declared war against me," Leo spat harshly.
"Then so be it," Angela dared to challenge him, unyielding in her resolve.
Leo's anger surged, compelling him to make a move to harm her, but Angela swiftly evaded Leonardo's aggressive lunge. Desperate to get a hold of her, Leonardo's frustration found an outlet as he repeatedly pounded the wall with his fists. "I'll kill you!" he growled through gritted teeth.
"If you can catch me," Angela stepped back and retorted, "Let me make something clear. I needed this job, and no one can take it away from me. And as your nurse, I must fulfill my responsibilities and keep this position."
"I'm the boss here, and I have the power to dismiss you," Leonardo seethed, inching closer to Angela.
"Not anymore," Angela interjected. "No blind person can navigate through life without the assistance of others." She knew exactly how to wound him. His ego was pierced as she highlighted his helplessness and the disheveled state of his unkempt beard, dirty shirt, and trousers.
"I will kill you!" Leonardo rose to his feet and took two menacing steps forward, his back against the wall.
Angela's face turned pale with a mixture of rage and anguish as a tiny voice in her head urged her to end his life. It reminded her that this blind man was the murderer of her sister. Trembling, she contemplated reaching for her gun, but something held her back from resorting to such drastic measures. Instead, she took a deep breath, regaining control of her emotions. "You're not worth it," she uttered calmly. "I won't expend my energy on someone who doesn't deserve an ounce of respect."
Startled by the sound of her voice, Leonardo lunged forward, but Angela swiftly sidestepped, causing him to crash to the floor, his head colliding with the wall.
Angela stood tall, her eyes burning with intensity. "You reap what you sow, Leonardo," she spat.
"Leonardo!" Mrs. Gale exclaimed, rushing to help him while Angela stood frozen in place.
"Get out! Disappear!" he yelled at Angela, shoving Mrs. Gale aside.
Angela took a step back, collecting herself. "Alright, we all need some rest, so I'll step out for a while," she remarked nonchalantly.
"Never, ever, ever return!" Leonardo barked.
"Of course, I will; I must assist you," Angela responded firmly. She swiftly exited the room, leaning against the wall as she gasped for air, her heart racing.
Leonardo's screams still echoed from within his room.
Regaining her composure, Angela stepped outside the house and noticed Mrs. Vera sitting solemnly on the swing in the yard, tears streaming down her face. Angela approached her, briefly making eye contact before clearing her throat.
"I'm sorry for the chaos my son has caused, Angela," Mrs. Vera spoke softly as Angela came to a stop near her.
"It's alright, Madam," Angela sighed, offering a sympathetic smile.
"I know his anger and self-destructive behavior must frighten you. It's just that he can't come to terms with the fact that he is now blind. And who could blame him, growing up as a happy and renowned artist?" Mrs. Vera sighed, her gaze fixed on the houses below. The mansion was perched beautifully on the hill, overlooking the city.
Angela had no words that could alleviate Mrs. Vera's pain. She felt a genuine desire to listen to their story rather than utter meaningless platitudes. So, the beast was an artist, she mused silently.
"Leonardo was well-known for his abstract and landscape paintings. His studio is located behind those neatly trimmed trees down there," Mrs. Vera said, pointing towards a cluster of trees behind the mansion, where a small house with a red roof peeked out amidst the various fruit trees.
"Leonardo used to paint tirelessly. But after his accident, his dream of having the largest gallery in every mall vanished," Mrs. Vera continued.
"May I ask what happened, Mrs. Vera?" Angela inquired gently.
"He was a victim of a hit-and-run," Mrs. Vera whispered, tears welling up. "And that incident turned him into a walking time bomb, ready to explode whenever he found a means to end his own life."
Angela listened attentively to every word spoken by Leonardo's mother. Mrs. Vera was a good mother, but she seemed oblivious to the true nature of her son. Doubts began to creep into Angela's mind, wondering if she should reconsider accepting the job.
"You just hired me, and I genuinely need this job," Angela replied with a reassuring smile. A thought sparked in the depths of her mind. "May I go home to gather my belongings, Madam?"
"Of course," Mrs. Vera's face lit up, a wide smile adorning her features. "Take your time. We'll be eagerly awaiting your return. And please do come back."
Standing at her sister's tomb in the cemetery, Angela felt a rush of emotions as memories flooded her mind. She longed to share with her sister about her recent encounter with the killer. "He's blind now; sis," she whispered, "and I could end him anytime I want. But first, he has to suffer like he made you suffer."
Angela couldn't help but think back to the sweet memories of her younger sister, who was always vulnerable and in need of protection. As the older sibling, Angela felt it was her duty to defend her sister, even if it meant getting into trouble with boys. Their mother always reminded them that they were sisters born from the same mother and that they should love and support each other, even in her absence.
Esper had always dreamed of becoming a stewardess, traveling the world, and buying a mansion for her family. She even planned to marry a doctor to secure their health and that of their beloved mother. However, when their mother passed away from cancer, all of their aspirations vanished into thin air.
Angela and Esper's lives were thrown into disarray when they became orphans. Angela was twelve years old, and Esper was ten at the time. Despite the hardship, Angela refused to give up on her education and worked hard to achieve her goals. She began as a working student in a clinic owned by one of her mother's doctor friends and eventually became a certified nurse. Esper, with Angela's support, attended college and dreamed of having a double wedding with her sister.
To support Esper's college education, Angela applied for work abroad and was successful. Although their separation was difficult, Angela promised to be home for Esper's birthdays and kept her word. Sadly, Esper's life was cut short by a man, and Angela was devastated by her loss. The man who caused her sister's suffering would pay for what he had done, just as Esper did before her untimely death.
Tears streamed down Angela's cheeks, clouding her vision. "I have to go, Esper. The enemy is waiting for me," she mumbled as she wiped away her tears.
Later that afternoon, Angela arrived at Vera's mansion with a small suitcase in tow. She didn't bring all of her belongings as she didn't plan to stay at the enemy's mansion for long. Mrs. Vera welcomed her back warmly, saying, "Thank you for returning, Angela."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Vera," Angela replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Vera then turned to Mrs. Gale and said, "Please take Angela to her room and give her a tour of the house and grounds."
A few minutes later, Angela found herself standing in Leonardo's studio, which was painted entirely in black.
"This is Leonardo's studio, Angela," Mrs. Gale said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gale," Angela replied. "Please, call me Angela. It's more comfortable for me."
"Of course, Angela. This is where Leonardo worked on his paintings and other artworks. He never allowed anyone to enter without his permission."
The mansion was perched on the edge of a cliff, with a balcony overlooking a deep ravine filled with large trees. The studio was a short distance away from Vera's main residence. Mrs. Gale continued, "This place is simply stunning, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen."
As Mrs. Gale continued her tour, Angela found herself paying little attention. Instead, her thoughts were consumed by Leonardo Vera and his latest outburst, which echoed through the house.
"Go away, and don't come back!" Leonardo's voice rang out from somewhere inside.
"Perhaps Lara is here." Mrs. Gale murmured.
"Who is Lara to Mr. Vera?" Angela asked.
"Lara is Leonardo's girlfriend," Mrs. Gale replied.
Angela frowned, knowing that Leonardo had a girlfriend.* So this is the woman who took him away from my sister*, she thought to herself. "I would like to meet her, Mrs. Gale," she said aloud.