EPISODE 131

 

Back at the restaurant,

Martin and Marianna are back in their seats. Marianna takes a few sips of her juice then stands to leave. Martin asks her where she is going. Marianna says that she doesn't want to bother him and so she will give him his space. She says that she will move closer to Dianna or swim. Martin says that he hasn't said she bothers him or acted like it. He asks her if she thinks like that because of something someone said. Marianna says that those are her own conclusions.

 

She adds that she has come into his life like a hurricane with her mistakes and problems and she doesn't want to be too much of a burden on him. Martin says that he doesn't regret deciding to help her despite everything that has happened. He then asks her to follow him to the pool. Marianna is unsure about everything. She asks Martin why he is being so stubborn and refusing to hear her concerns. Martin says he has heard all her fears, but for the day at least they should relax and leave everything for the next day.

 

Marianna looks around then agrees. Martin smiles then he holds out a hand for her. When they get to the pool area, they turn back to check on Dianna. She has put herself in charge of the games the children in the pool are playing. Some are at least two years older than her. Martin smiles. He says that she is sassy and bossy just like her mother. Marianna glares at him then pokes his ribs. Marianna notices how many of the women are looking at Martin and her with envy. She says to herself that if only they knew.

 

Elsewhere,

Alejandro is in his house alone. He receives a message and he opens it. It is a picture of Martin, Marianna, and Dianna at the restaurant (before Martin and Marianna took Dianna to the pool). Alejandro throws the phone away. He says that he will never allow Hernan and Adrianna to be happy or Martin and Marianna to be happy either even if it's the last thing he does. He asks himself what his two women saw in those two darn cousins. He says he is going to think of something that will destroy any chance of happiness that Martin and Marianna might have with each other.

 

Much later that night,

At Antonio and Gabriela's house,

Antonio is in his study. He has a lot on his mind, between his grandmother's accident, Gabriela's lack of discretion, and what to do about the secret concerning Marianna's family. He sips a glass of water then puts it down. Just then Gabriela comes in. He barely looks at her. Unaware that he is angry at her, Gabriela assumes that his mood is because of his grandmother's health. She asks him when he is coming to bed. Antonio doesn't answer her. Gabriela takes a deep breath and then says that they need to rest because they have a long day ahead the next day at the hospital. She adds that they need to be alert so that they can help his grandmother in case of anything.

 

Antonio asks her if she thinks that it’s only his grandmother's health that is bothering him. Gabriela says that as far as she knows there isn't any other immediate concern. Antonio finally says it. He says that he heard her talking to her brother about Marianna's case when he was going to the car to pick his wallet. Gabriela is momentarily shocked. Antonio says that he told her to keep it a secret until they can tell Marianna and her family. Gabriela says that she is sorry. Antonio tells that it’s not a matter of giving a simple apology. He says that it bothers him that she can lie to him for years without batting an eyelid while keeping a secret from her brother for a few weeks is impossible.

 

Elsewhere,

Adrianna comes back into her and Hernan's room. She finds him busy lost in his thoughts. It is only when she taps his shoulders that he comes back to the present. She asks him what he was thinking about. Hernan says that it's not anything important. Adrianna gives him an I don't believe you look. She says it would be strange for him to be busy quietly thinking about nothing. Hernan smiles. Hernan tells himself that he had told his sister that he wouldn't tell anyone else.

 

He then looks at Adrianna. He says (to himself) that Claudia's accident has changed everything because Antonio can't be expected to take charge of revealing the secret to Marianna or her family. He says that it will have to be upto him, Adrianna, Gabriela, and maybe Martin to tell Marianna and her family the truth. He takes a deep breath then tells Adrianna that he has something very important to tell her. She says that she's listening.

 

Back at Antonio and Gabriela's house,

Gabriela says that she knows that she made a mistake and she knows that apart from Adrianna, her brother is unlikely to tell anyone else. Antonio says that may be true but she should have discussed the issue with him before telling her brother. Gabriela says she should have but now that it has already happened, they need to think about how the secret will be revealed given his grandmother's accident. She adds like she told her brother, one thing she has learnt from the tragedies of her own life is that life is too short, and she would want Marianna and her family to get to know each other.

 

Gabriela continues and says that she may sound a little crazy but because of Mr. Santiago's age and Marianna's court case, she would like them to use all the time they have to the maximum. She says that Marianna will need all the support she can get with taking care of Dianna. Antonio thinks about what she has just said and mellows a bit. He says that his priority now is his grandmother's health. He says that she and her brother can take care of revealing the whole thing. Gabriela agrees. Antonio says that he is very sure that her brother has told Adrianna and she can help them.

 

Back at Hernan and Adrianna's house,

Adrianna can't believe it. Marianna is the daughter of one of the men her aunt killed and is Santiago's granddaughter. Hernan says that Antonio was supposed to talk to Mr. Santiago but given his grandmother's health that will likely be more important to him. Adrianna agrees. She then says that she can talk with Marianna while he and his sister talk to Mr. Santiago and the rest of the family. Hernan says that's an idea. He adds that it's sad that Helena and Carlos' plot to kill his father caught innocent people who were just doing their jobs. He also adds that Marianna's father, for example, was murdered at the prime of his life.

 

Adrianna says that he never got to meet his daughter and they have to do all they can to help Marianna and her family. She adds that Santiago will be thrilled to know about his granddaughter despite the circumstances of Marianna's case. Hernan agrees. He says that he will talk to his sister and see what she has to say. Adrianna asks Hernan about Martin. Hernan thinks about it then says that they will tell him given the circumstances and how everything is.

 

One week and some days later,

It is Monday and it starts like any other normal day.

At Montes De Alba Inc.,

Police investigators arrive to question Helena and Carlos. Two teams arrive. One team goes to Carlos office and the other to Helena's. Helena and Carlos know the police are coming but they don't know why. Helena calls Carlos to try and get a picture of what is going on. He tells her he has no idea of what is going on either. She asks him if he thinks that new information has turned up concerning Alejandro's and his friends' cases. Carlos says that it could have but they aren't involved in that issue. Just then the investigators coming to interrogate Helena arrive first and she tells Carlos that they will talk later.

 

After introductions, she asks the officers why they are there. The leader of the team shows her their warrant and says that they are here to investigate the authenticity of the death certificate that was issued when it was believed that Gabriel Montes De Alba was dead. Helena is shocked. She couldn't have anticipated this not even in her worst nightmares. The officers note her reaction. To her credit, she quickly manages to regain her composure. She asks why she would be a party of interest in the issue.

 

She says that bodies were found after the tragic accident and after DNA tests were carried out, she was told that one of the dead men was her husband and they received his body and had a funeral. She adds that it was a shock to the whole family to find out that Gabriel was alive after so many years. One of the officers says that it is quite suspicious that a death certificate was issued and Gabriel turns up alive. He adds that either there was an error or gross negligence or someone committed fraud. He adds that if foul play led to the mix-up, it could suggest that the accident wasn't an accident.

 

Elsewhere at Montes De Alba Inc.,

Carlos is also being interrogated by a team of two officers. One of the two officers says that the issues they raised concerning the authenticity of Gabriel's death certificate considering he is alive raise other suspicions. He adds that for example, it is quite strange that Gabriel's children disappear when they are eight only to turn up as adults suggesting that they feared for their life. Carlos says that it is insulting that they would suggest that he would want to harm Gabriel or his children. He adds that Gabriel was his close friend and associate.

 

He adds that if he wanted to harm Gabriel or his children, he would have harmed Aranza as well. The other investigator says that Aranza had her mother to protect her. Carlos says that he doesn't know anything about the death certificate and he certainly wouldn't be able to know why the twins went away as children or came back under hidden identities. He adds that it is only Hernan and Gabriela who would be able to fully explain their motives. The investigator says that they cannot rule out the possibility that an attempt was made on Gabriel's life to gain control of his company. Carlos manages to look insulted.

 

Elsewhere,

It is at the hospital,

Antonio had just come from sorting the paperwork for Santiago's release as well as checking up on his grandmother. He is now on his way to the small chapel in the hospital when he runs into Renata and Santiago. He is concerned and asks Santiago if he feels well. He adds that they are all happy that he is recovering quickly and was released two days earlier but he needs to rest. Santiago assures him that he is well. He adds that he just came to pick up some medicine and get some tests done. Renata asks Antonio how his grandmother is.

 

Antonio looks solemn. He says that her condition hasn't improved much. He adds that it is pretty much the same as it has been since the accident, though they are thankful that she made it through the surgery. Antonio adds that he was even on his way to the chapel to pray. Santiago tells Antonio that he owes his grandmother his life and adds that his family can count on him (Santiago) for anything. Antonio thanks him. Renata suggests that they should all go to the chapel to pray for Antonio's grandmother. Both Antonio and Santiago agree.

 

Elsewhere, at Martin's house,

Marianna is alone as Dianna has gone to school. She is trying to watch something on television but she cannot concentrate. For days now, she has been thinking about the time Martin almost kissed her. She runs a hand through her hair. She had long stopped pretending that she didn't find Martin attractive. He was as attractive as he could be irritating. Marianna takes a deep breath. She says that she needs to keep on ignoring how attracted she is to Martin since she lives in his house.

 

She adds that acting out on that attraction cannot be good for either of them especially because she is a train wreck. She also says that Martin is a nice person and she doesn't want to complicate his life. She then remembers the time Martin kissed her when she mocked him and how good his kiss felt. Marianna throws a cushion against the wall. She says that for her own peace of mind, she should increase the amount of space between her and Martin. She adds that Martin hadn't mentioned the almost kiss and she too should forget it.

 

Sometime later,

At Montes De Alba Inc.,

Adrianna comes in and apologizes to Martin for being late. She had asked him to meet up over lunch. He tells her that it's not a problem. They are in one of the soundproof boardrooms. She says that she needs to tell him something very important. Martin asks her what it is. Adrianna says that while Antonio was helping Hernan and Gabriela with their father's reveal, he found out a secret that concerns Marianna. Martin is curious. How could Marianna be connected to one of the families of the three people killed? Adrianna says that Antonio found out that Marianna was the daughter of one of them. Martin is shocked. Adrianna says that's not even the shocking part. Martin asks her what else there is.

 

Adrianna says that Marianna's father's name was Diego and he was Santiago Holguain's son. Martin is even more shocked and tells Adrianna that he doesn't understand why Marianna knows nothing about her family and vice versa. Adrianna says that Marianna's parents had a fling and her mother never told her father that she was pregnant. Adrianna continues and says that they never met again and Marianna's mother was never the maternal type, and she abandoned her daughter. Martin adds that she had a hard life growing up and her father whom she never met was murdered when she was five. Adrianna nods sadly, then says that's pretty much the summary of it.

 

Elsewhere at Montes De Alba Inc.,

Helena and Carlos are in his office. They are discussing the police interrogation. Helena says that there is a possibility the twins filed a charge against them. Carlos says that it is inconsequential. He says that all they have are suspicions and a death certificate. Helena asks him if he can't see what all that means for them. She adds that is enough to create doubts and lead to an investigation.

 

Carlos reminds her that it has been twenty-two years since Gabriel's incident. He adds that they covered their tracks well and anything they may have missed has withered because of the time that has passed. Helena agrees with him but says that if compelling evidence is found the case might be reopened despite the statute having passed. Carlos takes a deep breath. He tells Helena to stop being paranoid. He adds that no compelling evidence will turn up.