Santos shaked his head decidedly and said.
"No mother, I will never divorce my wife."
A dark stormy cloud instantly hovered beneath Ms Isabella's eyes. She angrily yelled.
" You ungrateful thing! What good is that wretched whore! Why do you want to wast your time with her? She's not even allowed in my birthday bouquet, I don't want to see her, get the hell out of here."
Cindy heaved a sigh of dismay, she didn't want to stay in that horrible family anymore, she turned her watery gaze on Santos who was standing besids her and said.
"Am going to visit Ms Margate at the hospital."
" Wait! I will come with you." Santosa quicklh said.
" I dare you Santos!" Ms Isabella shouted. If you got balls go with her, and I will disown you from my family!"
Santos glared at his mother surprised, he didn't expect such harsh comments from her
"You sat here, don't worry about me." Cindy interjected
Before Santos could say a word, Cindy turned and left.
"Hey, my sister-in-law," Trisha called out in a voice louder than necessary, drawing the attention of the entire hall. "It isn't good to leave empty handed. It will bring bad luck to my family!" With a flourish, she produced a shiny fifty-cent coin from her expensive purse,
"I have some alms to give, lest you find yourself wandering the streets begging for them. That will tarnish my family's reputation."
Then threw it Infront of her heels, mocking Cindy's modesty.
The hall erupted in laughter, the sound echoing like distant thunder stinging Cindy's heart.
Gritting her teeth, eyes filled with unshed tears of pride and frustration, Cindy turned her back on the mockery but Trisha blocked her way and said with a giggle.
"Come-on, pick it up, don't be ashamed." She mocked.
The whole hall thunderously laughed continuously.
Cindy gritted her teeth in annoyance and left the banquet without looking back.
As she approached the staircase, her heart still racing from the evening's prickly atmosphere, a sharp voice called out behind her.
"Cindy! You can't leave yet!"
Clicks of their heels echoed as they stepped closer, and Cindy felt an ominous chill sweep through the air.
Just as she turned to face why she was stoped again, three hands shoved her unexpectedly. The world tilted, and she felt herself plummet as gravity yanked her down the polished stairs.
Time seemed to bend. The music that echoed above transformed into a distant murmur, the laughter a sickening backdrop as her scream morphed into nothingness.
She landed hard at the bottom, and a searing pain shot through her body.
Helpless, she lay sprawled on the cold floor, blood pooling around her. The flash of red blood was stark against the gleaming surface, swirling like a dark flower blooming in the night.
Cindy's eyes darted toward those who had gathered at the top of the stairs, those who pushed her down.
There they stood, without remorse, and Tina Hudson was among them, flanked by the gaggle of giggling friends, their voices an unsettling melody. It was as if they just got rid of an obstacle.
"Help.... Help..." She yelled but her voice was too low to be heard.
With great effort, Cindy pushed against the floor, trying to rise, searching for help and a breath that felt lost.
The world began to blur; her vision narrowed as shadows danced at the edge of her sight, suddenly, she became numb and died after thirty minutes of struggling for help which never come .
At that moment, her soul departed for her body, she slowly turned and looked in the depths of the crimson pool, her body lay lifeless. She glided closer, her heart, if it still existed, ached with the weight of a single question.
"Was it worth it?"
A turbulent mixture of regret and longing swirling within her.
As she turned from the scene of her demise, her gaze fell upon the tall figure standing at the edge of the parlor not far from where her lifeless body lay, draped in shadowy fabric.
He was imposing yet strangely comforting, a being shaped from the night itself. His round black hat tilted slightly, revealing just a hint of his glossy bald head beneath.
"It's time..." he spoke softly, the sound of his voice echoing like a gentle wind through the emptiness.
"Is it?" Cindy responded, a mix of curiosity and hesitation filling the air between them.
"Mm"
The man nodded, his demeanor unwavering, as if he had seen countless souls torn between acceptance and regret.
"You regret it, don't you?" His eyes glimmered with understanding, piercing through the veil of her tumultuous emotions.
But Cindy had lost the power of words. Memories of laughter and love clashed with the reality of ambition and betrayal that had led her here.
She raised her glare at Tina and her friends who were celebrating their victory.
Then she regretted the choices she made—no matter how noble they had seemed at first—had turned into a bitter cacophony of consequences.
She could feel the weight of her decisions pulling her further from the light.
"Can you pay the price?" The bold man asked, his tone grave yet not devoid of sympathy.
Cindy looked even more confused than she was when she saw Tina's face among the people who pushed her down.
"Wh-what price?" She stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The bold man slowly raised his dark eyes.
"The price for a second chance!" he said.
Cindy, caught off guard, took a small step back, her heart racing with confusion and fear.
"What do you mean? A second chance at what?"
With a measured stride, the man approached her, feet silent against the floor.
"You're at a crossroads, Cindy. There are things you wish to change in your life—things left undone. I cannot take you with me yet, your time on Earth is not due. Instead, you will wander, a restless spirit, until your destined hour arrives. Then I will come for you."