The Ancestral Witch

A cab pulls up to the grand entrance of the Sunset Tower Hotel, its sleek exterior gleaming under the golden rays of the afternoon sun. The hotel's majestic billboard, adorned with the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel logo, proudly stands guard over the entrance.**

"Sir, we've arrived at the Sunset Tower Hotel!" A soft, calming voice filled the air, courtesy of Ethan Sinclair, the taxi driver.

His words gently broke the steadiness that enveloped the luxury establishment.

"Thank you," the stranger replied, a hint of relief in his voice. "Could you please help me with my luggage out of the trunk?"

"Of course," Ethan responded promptly, exiting his cab and assisting the stranger in retrieving his belongings.

As he closed the trunk, the stranger inquired, "How much do I owe you?"

"Two hundred bucks!!" Ethan replied, referring to his standard fare.

"Here, I'll give you five hundred bucks for the extra effort I put in for you today!!" the stranger said, reaching for his wallet. However, upon examining its contents, he realized he had insufficient cash and only had his credit card.

"Would you mind if I used my card at the reception desk to get you some change?" the stranger asked apologetically.

"No problem, I'll wait for you in the cab," Ethan replied, settling back into his driver's seat.

He used that moment to glance at his wristwatch, and he noticed it was 5 minutes past.

His mind raced with concern as he remembered that his workday was almost over, and he needed to leave for his mother-in-law's birthday preparations this evening before tomorrow's celebration.

Ethan took a deep breath, gazing at himself in the rearview mirror.

His fingers danced along his lingering mustache, contemplating its fate.

"I should get rid of this beard," he muttered.

Lost in self-reflection, his attention was abruptly drawn to a black-covered phone left behind the passenger seat.

He was taken aback, not anticipating the stranger's forgetfulness in this situation.

Ethan's mind raced with frustration, thinking to himself, "Not again! Where could he possibly be? I've been waiting for so long!" Glancing at his wristwatch once more, it read 6:30 p.m.

A wave of disappointment washed over him as he realized that the stranger had kept him waiting.

This made him worried because he knew his grandmother-in-law would discipline him for being late.

Ethan frequently found himself on the receiving end of her harsh words, labeled as a worthless son-in-law, a designation that deeply hurt him.

As Ethan stepped out of the taxi, his determination remained steadfast in his mission to return the phone and receive the payment he rightfully deserved.

As he entered the lobby, his eyes fell upon a receptionist, a young woman with short black hair, neatly arranging her tops and blouses behind the counter.

He approached her with a polite demeanor. Ethan explained, "Excuse me, I just dropped off a passenger of mine, who mentioned he wanted to use his credit card to settle my fare. However, he left his phone in my cab, so I've got to return it."

The receptionist, her voice tinged with concern, inquired, "Yes, he's been waiting for you in his room, sir." she nodded her head slightly before her hand reached for her Motorola.

"Hello, sir, he's here," the receptionist's voice conveyed a professional tone.

At the other end of the call, the man responded, "Allow him to my doorstep!"

The receptionist dropped the Motorola and turned to Ethan.

"He said you should come to his room," she said, her voice trailing off slightly. After a momentary pause, she added, "Is room 093?"

Ethan replied with a sincere smile. "Thank you!" he exclaimed, his gratitude visible.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ethan proceeded towards the guest room, his footsteps resonating in the grand lobby.

The anticipation of finally obtaining his payment and returning the phone propelled him forward, adding a spring to his stride.

Ethan, who was dressed in his typical taxi driver's uniform, approached the door of the guest room and knocked politely.

“Come in!" a voice echoed from inside.

As Ethan's hand made its way toward the doorknob, the door swung open, exposing a scene that shook him to his core.

In the room, Maya Reynolds, Ethan's wife, is sleeping with a stranger on the same mattress, engaging in a prolonged romance.

“Just drop the phone and get out of here?” the stranger said, not making eye contact with Ethan.

Ethan's tear-filled gaze remained fixed on the scene before him as he exclaimed, "What about my payment?"

“Wait for me outside the corridor!" the stranger said.

Ethan's mind reeled as he struggled to process the unexpected sight before him. He had been preoccupied with returning the phone and receiving his payment, unable to move away from his spot.

He never knew that he could come across his wife face-to-face in these circumstances because she had mentioned going to her mother's house for birthday preparations.

How was it possible that he encountered her here? Was this a setup? For him to encounter her? Because a five-star hotel like this will not allow a stranger into their guest room, not even a taxi driver like him!?!

The realization hit him with a wave of shock and confusion. His grip on the phone loosened, and it slipped from his hand, falling to the ground. The sound of it hitting the floor grabbed their attention.

Clang!

Maya's reaction was immediate and filled with shock.

She exclaimed, "Jesus!!! What the hell is that?!" in disbelief.

She never expected what she saw in front of her.

During that period, the stranger's gaze scanned Ethan's body for the source of that sound.