Chapter 202 Caught in the Act
Chapter 202 Caught in the Act
The witch glanced at the cards and her face fell right away. Her voice turned serious. "Just like I thought. This reversed Bond card shows you've wronged your own blood in this life. You turned your back on family and, for your own selfish reasons, pushed the person closest to you into a corner. She died full of hate, and her anger won't settle, so she's been haunting you day and night."
Every word hit Ava right where it hurt.
She was Linda. Back then she'd ignored her daughter Samantha, hit her and yelled at her over nothing. Later, for money and to get back at Olivia, she'd used and tricked her own daughter, watching Samantha head straight toward ruin and a horrible death.
That guilt had stayed buried deep. Now the tarot cards and the witch had said it out loud, and it broke through all her lies.
Ava's eyes turned red. Her fingers dug hard into her palms. Her voice shook.
"Master, I know I was wrong. I really do. I'm willing to make it right. Just tell me how to fix this and get rid of her anger."
The witch looked cold, with no pity at all, but she still spoke.
"The cards are clear. Her anger stays because the dead still have unfinished business. No one has honored her or put her to rest. If you want to end this, there's only one way. You have to find the personal item she cared about most while she was alive, bring it back here, and I'll place it for you. That will break the tie and let the anger fade."
"An item?" Ava froze.
Where was she supposed to find something of Samantha's?
"That's right," the witch nodded. "The obsession clings to that item. You have to go to the old White family house yourself and bring back whatever she kept closest and valued most. Remember, you go alone. Don't tell anyone. If someone else gets involved, the karma gets messed up and there's no fixing it. After that, her anger will just torment you until you're dead."
Ava kept every word in mind and felt a small spark of hope.
If she could just get Samantha's item, she could escape the nightmares and stop living in fear every day.
She didn't want to stay longer. She settled the payment account with the witch, promised to pay in full that day, then got up quickly, said goodbye, and drove away from the cabin outside the city, heading straight for the long-empty White family house.
After Sam went to prison, Samantha died horribly, and she herself had to flee overseas, no one had lived there.
The gate was locked, the yard was full of wild grass, and everything looked run-down and empty.
Ava pulled up to the front gate, made sure no one was around, took out the spare key she'd kept from years ago, and turned it in the lock.
Click. The gate opened.
When she pushed it open, a stale, dusty smell hit her face.
The furniture in the living room was covered in thick dust. The sofa, decorations, and random stuff still sat exactly where they'd been left, just dirty and falling apart from years of neglect.
Ava frowned, covered her nose and mouth, and walked straight upstairs to Samantha's old bedroom.
She remembered that when Samantha was young, she always wore a crystal pendant and never took it off. It was the only thing she really cared about. If there was any item to find, it had to be that pendant.
Ava walked into the bedroom like she knew the place by heart. The room still looked the way Samantha had left it.
The pink wallpaper had yellowed and peeled. Makeup and little trinkets were scattered on the dresser. The closet and nightstand hadn't been moved.
She went straight to the nightstand, bent down, and pulled open the drawer. She searched for a while but didn't find the crystal pendant Samantha used to wear.
She checked the closet next, going through pockets and boxes, but still found nothing.
Ava started feeling anxious. Her face looked worse and worse.
She clearly remembered Samantha always kept that pendant in the most hidden jewelry box in the bedroom. How could it just be gone?
Had someone taken it over the years?
Not ready to give up, she searched the dresser, under the bed, and every corner of the bookshelf. She got covered in dust but still found nothing.
Just as Ava was spinning in circles, ready to quit and leave, the bedroom door suddenly clicked.
A cool evening breeze slipped through the gap and stirred the dust in the room.
Ava went stiff. She stopped everything, her back tightening on its own. She whipped her head toward the door.
In the dim light, a thin figure stood quietly in the doorway.
A pale face appeared out of nowhere!
The woman had heavy makeup on. Her face shape, body, and the way she stood looked almost exactly like Samantha.
Her long hair fell over her shoulders. She wore the pink dress Samantha had loved most. She just stood there, not saying a word, her eyes empty but full of sharp hate, staring straight at Ava.
Ava's pupils shrank. It felt like an icy hand had grabbed her heart. Her blood seemed to freeze.
Without thinking, Ava stepped back until her back hit the cold wall. Her legs started shaking and going weak. Her throat tightened and breathing got hard.
The person in front of her—the face, the body, the look—was completely Samantha.
The daughter who haunted her nightmares every night, demanding her life.
She was supposed to be dead!
But now she was standing right there.
Was she a person or a ghost?
Pure fear flooded over Ava.
Her face went white as paper. Her lips kept trembling. Her knees gave out and she dropped straight to the floor.
"Samantha… Mom was wrong. Don't come closer. Please don't haunt me…"
"I know I let you down. I shouldn't have used you or treated you so coldly. I'll give you anything you want. Just leave me alone… stop scaring me…"