Chapter 16 - The Ghost at the Funeral
The grand ballroom of the Mensah mansion had been completely transformed into a solemn, black-draped memorial hall. Dozens of tall white candles flickered in the dimly lit room, casting long, eerie shadows across rows of black velvet chairs filled with high-society guests, corporate board members, and news journalists holding quiet camera equipment.
At the front of the hall sat two beautiful, polished mahogany display tables covered with white roses, framed photographs of Amina and young Kofi, and burning incense.
Samuel Mensah stood near the front row, wearing a solid black mourning suit. He played his role with heartbreaking perfection—his head bowed, his shoulders slumping, wiping away fake tears with a black handkerchief.
Sitting two rows behind him was Victoria Mensah, dressed in an exquisite black lace mourning veil, accompanied by Julian. Beneath her dark veil, Victoria was fighting with all her strength to hide a triumphant, arrogant smile.
"Look at him," Victoria whispered to Julian, gesturing toward Samuel. "The old fool is practically broken in half. He won't survive another month. The company will fall right into our lap."
The family's chief estate attorney, Mr. Arthur Pendelton, stepped up to the podium at the front of the room, clearing his throat solemnly into the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests," Mr. Pendelton announced in a low, somber voice. "We are gathered here today to mourn the tragic loss of Amina Mensah and young Kofi Mensah, who were lost at sea during the storm in Ada. In light of this terrible tragedy, and according to the emergency bylaws of the Mensah Family Trust, we must now read the asset reallocation clause..."
Victoria sat up straight, her sharp eyes gleaming with insatiable greed. This was the moment she had spent ten years waiting for.
"According to section eight," Attorney Pendelton continued, reading from a thick legal parchment, "in the tragic event that the primary heir and his trustee pass away without secondary designation, the entire thirty percent voting share of Mensah Global Enterprises shall instantly transfer to..."
"Shall instantly transfer to my husband, Marcus Mensah!" Victoria interrupted loudly, standing up from her chair and pushing her veil back with an arrogant flourish!
The entire room gasped at her sudden, disrespectful outburst!
"Victoria!" Elizabeth cried out from the front row, looking horrified. "Have you no shame? We are mourning our children!"
"Oh, spare me the fake tears, Elizabeth!" Victoria scoffed loudly, stepping into the main aisle and looking around at the gathered news cameras and corporate executives. "We all know why that village peasant was here! She was an interloper who dragged this family through the mud! Now that she’s gone, the proper bloodline takes control! Attorney Pendelton, execute the transfer documents immediately!"
"I wouldn't sign those papers just yet, Victoria," a crystal-clear, razor-sharp voice echoed from the back of the grand ballroom.
The heavy double doors of the ballroom slammed open with a thunderous crash!
A collective, deafening gasp erupted across the entire room! Several corporate executives jumped out of their seats, while news cameras frantically swung around, flashbulbs exploding like a thousand lightning strikes!
Walking smoothly down the center aisle, flanked by Captain Ray Knox and six armed federal police officers, was Amina!
She was dressed in a stunning, immaculate white tailored suit, her dark hair styled perfectly, holding ten-year-old Kofi tightly by his hand! Kofi was wearing a matching crisp white suit, looking healthy, vibrant, and completely unbothered!
Victoria’s face turned completely, ghostly white. Her champagne glass slipped from her fingers, shattering into a hundred pieces on the marble floor!
"No..." Victoria shrieked in absolute, blood-curdling terror, backing away as if she were looking at two risen ghosts! "NO! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE! YOU DROWNED! MALONE THREW YOU INTO THE ESTUARY!"
The entire room went dead silent.
Amina stopped right in front of Victoria, looking down at the hysterical woman with a look of supreme, terrifying triumph.
"You should have checked the Coast Guard reports, Victoria," Amina said, her voice echoing across the silent hall like a tolling bell. "And thank you... for confessing to the crime in front of forty news cameras and twenty federal witnesses."
Victoria froze, realizing with a wave of sickening horror what her terror-stricken tongue had just blurted out.
Captain Knox stepped forward, holding up a sleek digital tablet. "Victoria Mensah, you are under arrest for attempted double murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and hiring a fugitive mercenary."
"Julian!" Victoria screamed, grabbing her trembling son’s arm. "Tell them! Tell them it wasn't me!"
Julian broke completely, collapsing onto his knees on the marble floor, weeping hysterically. "It was her!" Julian sobbed, pointing a shaking finger at his mother. "She planned it all! She paid Frank Malone two hundred thousand dollars to drown Kofi! Please don't arrest me! I was scared!"
"You cowardly little rat!" Victoria screamed, lunging at her own son before two burly federal officers grabbed her arms, pinning them behind her back!
As the police slapped heavy steel handcuffs onto Victoria’s wrists, Amina stepped closer, leaning in to whisper directly into Victoria’s ear.
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"You called me a village peasant," Amina whispered softly, her eyes cold as steel. "But this peasant just took your home, your fortune, and your freedom. Give my regards to Marcus in prison."
The grand ballroom erupted into thunderous, wild applause as Victoria and Julian were dragged out of the mansion in shame, surrounded by the blinding flashes of news cameras that would broadcast their downfall to the entire world!
