EPISODE 137

 

Sometime later,

Elsewhere at Martin's house,

Marianna is talking to her cousin. Renata tells her that she is lucky to have Martin help her after everything that has happened. Marianna agrees. She says that Martin is a very nice person. She tells Renata that she did do a lot of bad things but she didn't kill Emma. Renata holds her hands and tells her that she believes her. Marianna smiles. Marianna says that her life is a mess and she doesn't want to complicate their lives. Renata says that's not the case.

 

She says that she is happy to have found her and she is sure that Thiago will be happy to find out he has a cousin. Renata tells Marianna that her mistakes aren't important. She adds that what is important is that she has realized she wronged a lot of people and that she wants to turn over a new leaf. Marianna says that she is scared of what she will tell her daughter in a couple of years. She says that she knows Dianna will hate her and starts to cry. Renata puts an arm around Marianna.

 

Back at Montes De Alba Inc.,

The board (including Helena and Carlos), the twins, Adrianna, Antonio, and Aranza were there. This was the day they discussed the future of the company. Helena as the current head of the company began. She says that with both Gabriel and the twins returning, that means a lot of changes for the company. She subtly glares at Gabriel and the twins. She then says there has been a lot of public interest in what all of that means for the company and they need to ensure the stability of the company.

She adds that as the head of the company (emphasizes on it) she has its best interests at heart. Hernan says to himself that he can read through Helena's fakery. He says that her plans probably are to give him, and his family token positions.

 

He then looks at Gabriela. Helena further adds that she and Carlos are innocent and will prove their innocence in court when the trial begins. She continues and says that the twins and Gabriel will be included in the board but she will remain at the top of the company because she is innocent until proven guilty. She adds that as happy as they all are that the twins and Gabriel are back, it is unprocedural to kick her and Carlos out based on that and rumors. Gabriela folds one of her hands. She says to herself that Helena's hypocrisy is sickening. She says that one way or another they will find a way to kick Helena out. Antonio who is sitting near her squeezes her other hand.

 

Back at Martin's house,

Marianna has calmed down a bit. Renata says that the whole family, Adrianna, and Martin will always be there to help her with Dianna. Marianna reminds Renata that Martin wants to adopt Dianna. She adds that he said that regardless of anything else happening or that might happen, he wanted to do it. Renata says that Martin loves Dianna like she was his daughter. Marianna fidgets. Renata asks her what the problem is. Marianna says that Martin has been very nice to both her and Dianna and she doesn't want to be a burden.

 

Renata says that Martin seems like a nice person and whatever he is doing, he is doing because he wants to. Marianna says that she feels like Martin is giving up too much for her and Dianna and that if he adopts Dianna, it will interfere with his dating life. Renata tells Marianna to relax. She adds that Martin wouldn't voice the idea of adopting Dianna out loud if he wasn't sure. She adds that anyone who would find Dianna a problem, probably isn't what Martin wants or needs.

 

Elsewhere at Montes De Alba Inc.,

Martin is inside the washrooms when his phone rings. He picks it up from his trouser pocket. The number is unfamiliar. He ignores it and returns it to his pocket. The phone rings again. He ignores it but it keeps on ringing. He eventually picks it up. He greets the person on the other end. When he hears Alejandro's voice, he frowns. He then asks Alejandro what he wants. Alejandro sneers at Martin. He says that he can see that he has no standards and will take someone else's waste.

 

Martin's free hand clenches at the derogatory words Alejandro has used on Marianna. Martin tells Alejandro to respect Marianna if for no other reason than she is the mother of his daughter. Alejandro tells Martin that he will treat Marianna however he wishes. He then says he didn't call to talk about that. Martin rolls his eyes. He tells Alejandro to stop wasting his time and get straight to the point. Alejandro says that he wants to know if his daughter is well.

 

Martin says that he doesn't owe him (Alejandro) any information about Dianna. Alejandro says that as Dianna's father, he has a right to be concerned if somebody is using his daughter as a pawn. Martin asks Alejandro what he means. Alejandro says that he (Martin) wrongfully believes that he killed his pregnant girlfriend and is using Dianna as a replacement for the child he lost. Martin clenches his hand again.

 

Back at the board meeting,

Everyone looks at Gabriel, surprised as he stands up and readies himself to speak. Gabriela asks herself what her father is upto. Hernan says to himself that his father is upto something. Gabriel says that as they all know he is about to get his legal identity back and he too has been thinking about the company. He says while he has made a remarkable recovery, he doesn't feel he can go back to how he was initially or to heading the company.

 

He adds that it was a different time, decades ago. Helena says to herself that at least Gabriel has realized that he is old and sick. Carlos says to himself that things will only be easier going forward. Gabriel looks around the room, then his eyes stop on Hernan. He calls him to move near him.

No one is more surprised than Hernan himself. What is his father upto? Helena has a flashback in which she had asked Gabriel how he managed to pull a fast one on competitors who were trying to outsmart him.

 

Gabriel told her that the element of surprise is key and that he had always found it satisfying to let people think that he was stupid and that they had the upper hand, then pull a fast one on them. Helena comes back to the present and asks herself if Gabriel is about to pull the same move on them. Hernan stands by his father's side. Gabriel tells him to wait and continues.

 

Back at Martin's house,

Renata asks Marianna if she and Martin have ever gotten involved with each other. Marianna frowns at her cousin. She then says that nothing has happened. Renata seems shocked. Marianna asks her why she is so shocked. Renata says that it’s impossible to believe that, with the way Martin looks at her. Marianna tells Renata that she is imagining things. She says that Martin doesn't look at her in any special way. Renata insists and says that it's only her who doesn't think so.

 

Marianna says if that were true Martin wouldn't be trying to keep his distance from her. Renata asks her what keeps his distance means in this instance. Marianna says that Martin hasn't ever shown that he is interested in her. Renata asks her if he has a girlfriend or goes on dates.

Marianna says that she is sure he is single and doesn't think he has been on a date in a while. Renata says there is more evidence. Marianna says that doesn't mean anything.

 

She says that maybe Martin feels that he needs a break from the dating scene or still hasn't found the right person after Emma. Renata says or maybe he is attracted to her and is fighting it. Marianna rolls her eyes. Renata says that she is serious. Marianna says that a lot has happened in the past and there is Dianna to consider. She then adds that all the bad things she did to Hernan and Gabriela are precisely why she and Martin couldn't be.

 

Back with Martin,

Martin tells Alejandro to leave him, Dianna, and Marianna to live in peace. He then tells Alejandro that he is sick in the head and not everyone is like him. He adds that he loves Dianna and would never use her as a replacement. Alejandro tells Martin to drop the sentimentalism, and be realistic. He tells Martin that the only reason he wants Dianna is that she is his daughter. Martin takes a deep breath. Alejandro is trying his patience. Alejandro asks Martin if he is involved with Marianna. Martin tells him that it is none of his business. Alejandro sneers. He says that he wouldn't be surprised considering how loose Marianna is.

 

Martin clenches his hand and tells Alejandro that he is lucky that they aren't in the same place because he would have beaten him up. Alejandro snickers and tells Martin that he isn't afraid of him. Martin hangs up the phone and runs his hand through his hair. He remembers the day he kissed Marianna. He closes his eyes for a second and says that he cannot get involved with Marianna no matter how much he wants to. He says that maybe if he starts dating again, he can get Marianna out of his system. He thinks about it and says that it will be hard because she lives in his house. Alejandro meanwhile says that he will not allow them to happy.

 

Back at the board room,

Gabriel says that after how long he has been sick, he has a much longer journey ahead and he cannot put the company at a standstill because of himself. He says that as he continues recovering, he will be a part of the company and will sit in meetings and follow the progress of the company but he cannot be involved in the day-to-day running of the company. He looks at Hernan and says that he is proud of him and could not ask for a better son.

 

He then says that in the meantime he would like him to begin getting ready for his future role by taking more responsibilities in the company, as soon as possible. Hernan is surprised. Gabriela frowns. Antonio smiles. He knows that if she was alone with her brother, she would argue with him. Gabriel continues and says that there are many things to be sorted especially legal issues, but they must look forward as a company. He then calls Gabriela and Aranza.

 

They quietly come, unaware of what else their father is upto. He says that they too should take bigger responsibilities in the company. He says that while they don't know how long the transition will be, they have to prepare for the future. He says that each one of the three of them has different gifts and strengths but together they make a power team. Helena narrows her eyes at Gabriel and his children. Carlos clenches his hands with barely contained fury. Gabriel is however not over, he calls Antonio and tells him to call his cousin and Martin. Antonio agrees but he too is shocked.

 

Back at Martin's house,

Renata asks Marianna if she is attracted to Martin. Marianna sighs and says that she would be lying if she said she wasn't. She adds that Martin is handsome and has gone out of his way to give her a second chance when even she wasn't willing to give herself one. She says that she won't build castles in the air. Renata says it's not far-fetched that Martin would be interested in her. Marianna says that her life is messed up. She says that she doesn't know for how long she will be sentenced and she can't expect Martin to wait for her. She says that he should start going on with his life. Renata says that it is Martin who should make that decision.

 

She then adds that life is too short for her to dwell on that. Marianna rolls her eyes. Renata tells her that she made mistakes, but she admitted them in time and she deserves a second chance not only with her daughter but in life. Marianna skeptically asks her if that includes a second chance at finding love. Renata asks her why not. Marianna shrugs and says that it could happen but not with Martin. Renata tells Marianna that she understands that she is hesitant because of what she did to Hernan and Gabriela, but despite it initially being awkward for everyone it is not a hurdle that can't be crossed.

 

Some minutes later,

Helena, in front of everyone, asks Gabriel why Aurelio and Martin need to be there. She says that they are just like any other staff and don't deserve any special treatment. Gabriel looks around the room and apologizes to everyone. He says that he is sorry for taking their time and extending his speaking time, but as he said earlier, he is interested in the company's growth and progress just like everyone else. Carlos says that while that is yet to be seen, neither Aurelio nor Martin are of any importance to the meeting and shouldn't be there.

 

There is a knock on the door and Martin and Aurelio come in. Gabriel calls both them and Antonio to the front. He emphasizes that he won't be coming back to his former position and that Hernan will do that, aided by Gabriela and Aranza. He then points to Martin, Antonio, and Aurelio. He says that they are some of the brightest minds in the company and they are some of the people whose talent the company should plug into more. Carlos looks at Gabriel fuming. Aranza looks at her mother and smiles.

 

Meanwhile,

Juan Patricio is in his home office. He was going through some paperwork. He stops and remembers, the day he found Antonio in his grandmother's room with the door locked. He asks himself just how much Antonio knows. He says that if anyone knew that Paulina and Adrian (Adrianna's parents) were murdered, he, Carlos, and Helena would be in deep trouble. He says that he can't stop until he finds the documents and destroys them. He says that meanwhile, he has to follow Antonio and make sure that he is not upto anything.

 

Sometime later,

Adrianna and Martin were at the cafeteria. Adrianna asks Martin if he is okay. Martin says that with the bombshell that Hernan's father decided to drop on them he is not sure if it is the right time to talk about Dianna. Adrianna says that it doesn't really matter what else is going on because Dianna will always have a special place in her heart and will matter to her. She again asks Martin if Dianna is fine. Martin says that she is. He says that he had been thinking about something for some time and he has come to a decision. Adrianna asks him what decision he made.

 

Martin says that he would like to adopt Dianna. Adrianna looks at him shocked. She asks him if he is sure. Martin says he is. He insists that he has thought about it enough. Adrianna says that it is surprising to hear that because it's a life-changing decision that shouldn't be entered into lightly. Martin assures her that he has thought about it very well. Adrianna asks Martin what Marianna thinks about it. He says that she was also surprised by his decision but she will support him.

 

Martin says that after everything that has happened, Dianna needs some stability and love and he wants to continue offering her that. Adrianna asks him what will happen to Marianna if that were to happen. Martin sighs. He says that he made it clear to Marianna that he will love Dianna and take care of her regardless of what may happen. He adds that they discussed and agreed that he can stay with Dianna until Marianna's sentencing is over, regardless of how long it will be, and then they can share custody once she is out.