EPISODE 172

 

At the Montes De Alba mansion,

Gabriel is outdoors with Ricardo and Ramona. Ricardo is a little over eight while Ramona is a little over three. Ramona is a beautiful little girl who resembles a three-year-old Gabriela. Under Gabriel and Anna Patricia's love, Ricardo had healed from the trauma inflicted on him by Isabella and Horacio's attempts to mess with his mind (when they were trying to get at Gabriela). Ricardo loved Ramona to bits and was very protective of her. His phone rings. He tells Ricardo to hand it over to him. It is Antonio calling. He picks it up.

Gabriel quickly notes the tone of his voice and asks him if there is something wrong. Antonio remembers something, Gabriela had told him, a few years back. She said that despite the injury and being mistakenly sent to the asylum, her father remained sane. She added that he only got worse after reading the article that presumed her and Hernan dead, even though because of his amnesia he couldn't remember who he was or who they were. Gabriel gets him back to the present by again asking him if anything is wrong.

Antonio sighs and while calling him father, asks him to sit down, wherever he is, and to remain calm. Gabriel looks at both Ricardo and Ramona. They are playing with a ball. He then sits down. He tells Antonio that he is beginning to get worried. Antonio runs a hand through his hair and takes a deep breath. He then says that it seems that Hernan and Gabriela left to go and rescue Hannibal and Gisela. Gabriel clutches a hand to his chest. He then asks Antonio why he believes that. Antonio says that Gabriela left and told their daughter that she had to go somewhere. He adds that Hernan told Armando, something similar. Gabriel shakes his head and says, my crazy children.

Shortly after,

In the forest,

Helena goes into the room where Hannibal and Gisela Paulina are. Both children are terrified of her. Gisela moves near her cousin. Helena looks at both of them with utter disgust. Hannibal says that he wants to go home. Helena looks at them again and says that they will go, but only when she says so.

Back at the mansion,

Gabriel is in his home office. He has just come off the phone after making a few calls. He takes a deep breath. He says that he hopes that the twins haven't done anything foolish. Just then Anna Patricia comes into the room. She looks at his worried face and asks him what is going on. He sighs and says that the twins went to rescue the children. Anna Patricia frowns and says that hopefully all four of them will be rescued before Helena harms them. Gabriel says that he hopes so too. Anna Patricia asks him if anyone else knows. Gabriel says that he isn't sure but Antonio and Adrianna have probably told other people as well.

Anna Patricia asks him if he has talked to Aranza yet. Gabriel says that he hasn't. Anna Patricia tells him that he should. She adds that maybe she knows something that could make the search quicker. Gabriel says that he has to call his daughter. He adds that he has to find out if she knows anything about where her siblings went. He says that he would be very annoyed at her if she played a part in that ridiculous plan and is keeping quiet about it. Anna Patricia tells him to first remain calm and then wait until he is face to face with her.

Meanwhile,

At Claudia's mansion,

Aranza and Marianna are in the garden. Marianna is carrying Diego. Just then Claudia comes in looking worried. Both of them greet her. Marianna asks her why she looks so worried. Claudia sighs and tells her that Hernan and Gabriela went to rescue Hannibal and Gisela. Both Aranza and Marianna are shocked. Marianna says that she understands why they would want to go and rescue the children but it is still a risky move. Aranza agrees and says that Helena probably threatened them.

She adds that was probably her game plan all along. 

Marianna asks Aranza what she means. Aranza says that Helena used the children as bait to get Hernan and Gabriela. She adds that she plans to torture the twins. Claudia says that it is heartbreaking for something like that to happen, just when they thought that they were going to all be happy after the tragedies of the past. She then asks Marianna and Aranza if they can go over to help Adrianna and Antonio with the children, despite the short notice. Marianna says that she will. Aranza also agrees.

Back at the Montes De Alba mansion,

Gabriel tells Anna Patricia that calling Aranza would be faster. Anna Patricia says that while it would, it is easier to lie over the phone. Gabriel looks at Anna Patricia and asks her if she thinks that Aranza would lie to him about knowing where her siblings were. Anna Patricia shrugs and says that she doesn't know. She adds that siblings often cover up for each other in front of their parents, so anything is possible. She adds that she and Armando would often cover up for each other in front of their parents. Gabriel says that they should go and check up on Adrianna, Antonio, and the children. He adds that Aranza will be there to see how she can help and he can talk to her.

Sometime later,

Hernan and Gabriela arrive at the location Helena provided. It is deep inside a forest. It is in the same region where, years, earlier, they were abandoned as children. Gabriela looks around and sighs. Hernan holds her hand. They look at each other. Hernan hugs her. Gabriela tells him that she is scared. Hernan tells her that he is too, but they have each other. He adds that they should have faith that God will protect them and the children from harm. Hernan and Gabriela hear some leaves rustling and they both become quiet. They hold each other. Armed men appear from the bushes. Hernan and Gabriela look at each other in fear.

Meanwhile,

The search for the twins and their children intensifies. Everyone fears for their safety and that of their children.

Back to the forest,

The gunmen move towards Hernan and Gabriela. They are pointing guns at them. Gabriela asks them, who they are. One who is clearly the leader says that they are there to take them to Helena. He then tells them to hand over their phones and the car keys. A second member tells them that if they try anything foolish, they will be putting their children's lives at risk. Gabriela looks at Hernan. He feels the fear and dread that she does. The last gunman warns them to be quick about it. He adds that they don't have the whole day.

Much later,

The whole extended family is at Hernan and Adrianna's house. It is a very difficult time.

Back in the forest,

Hernan and Gabriela have been locked up in a tiny room. It is on the farthest corner from where Hannibal and Gisela are. They are sitting opposite each other. It has been a long difficult few hours. To make things worse, they haven't seen the children. Gabriela takes a deep breath. Hernan looks at her. He smiles at her and tells her to be strong.

He adds they need to be strong for the children. She says that the agony of not knowing how the children are is getting to her. Hernan says that he is also anxious to find out how the children are. He says that to make it worse, Helena hasn't come to meet them. Gabriela frowns and says that it's all part of her plan. She adds that Helena is trying to break them.

It is late in the evening, at around 7 pm.

Elsewhere,

Helena goes to the room where Hannibal and Gisela have been locked up. The children are having their dinner. She looks at them with pure disgust and hatred. They both look at her with fear in their eyes. Helena smiles evilly at them. She looks at Hannibal and tells him that his mother is there. She turns to Gisela Paulina and tells her that her father is there. Hannibal says that he wants to see his mother and, Gisela Paulina says that she wants to see her father.

Helena says that won't be possible. Gisela asks her why. Helena looks from Hannibal to Gisela Paulina then says that their parents aren't there to get them. Gisela Paulina starts crying and says that she wants to see her father. Helena shouts at her and tells her that if she cries again, she will shoot her. She points a gun at her, to bring the point home.

Meanwhile,

At Antonio's house,

He is in his and Gabriela's room. He is lying on his bed. He is thinking about Gabriela and Hannibal. He remembers the first time he carried his son in his arms. The love he felt for him was instant. Just then, he hears a knock on the door. Antonio frowns but goes to open it anyway. It is his grandmother. He is a little shocked to see her come up to his room. Claudia frowns at Antonio and tells him that he cannot expect her to stand for long at her age. Despite everything going on, Antonio smiles. He tells his grandmother to come in and directs her to sit at Gabriela's dressing mirror.

After sitting, Claudia tells Antonio he would be better off at Adrianna's house, with her, his daughter, Adrianna, and her son, Aurelio, and Aranza. Antonio shrugs. He says that he just needed a bit of time by himself. He says that having Gabriela and Hannibal taken away from him and being in such danger again, is too much. Claudia moves towards him and hugs him. Antonio looks at his grandmother and asks her how she feels. Claudia tells him that, as he can see, she is fine. Antonio frowns. He tells his grandmother that she knows what he means. Antonio says that it's getting dark and, she has to go back to her house and her husband.

Claudia sighs dramatically. She tells him that he is her grandson, and she also has to take care of him. Antonio tells his grandmother that he can take care of himself. Claudia tells him under the current circumstances, he needs help. She asks him if he has eaten. Antonio says that he ate lunch. Claudia tells him to take a jacket because she is going to take him to Adrianna's house. Antonio looks at his grandmother, a little surprised. Claudia looks at him sternly. She says that he needs to eat. Antonio knows that he cannot win an argument against his grandmother. He doesn't have the energy to argue with her either. Antonio says fine and heads to his closet.

The next day, on Sunday,

At Adrianna's house,

Just as it was the previous day, people had arrived early to help Adrianna and Antonio take care of Claudia and Armando. Aurelio and Aranza had spent the night there.

Aranza is in Gisela Paulina's room when she sees some children's books on a table. They are disarranged, so she starts arranging them. One book catches her eye. She picks it up and turns it over. She then opens it and quickly looks through it. The book is the fairy-tale, Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm. Aranza looks around the room then back at the book. Her eyes grow wide as she realizes something. Just then, there is a knock on the door. She tells the person to come in. It was Antonio.

Aranza smiles at him and puts the book down. Antonio eyes her suspiciously. He then asks her what she is upto. Aranza shrugs and says that she isn't upto anything. Antonio walks upto Aranza and picks up the book she was holding. He looks it over and over and then looks at Aranza again. Aranza glares at him. She insists that she isn't upto anything. Antonio tells Aranza that even as a little girl she had that smile that showed she was upto something. Aranza scowls at him.