EPISODE 176

 

One month later,

As they have done, over the past month, Gabriela's family and friends, come to visit her daily. Everyone stands expectantly, as the doctor approaches. Gabriel asks how his daughter is. The doctor smiles and says that finally, she is awake. Everyone is happy and rejoices. The doctor adds that she is still weak and she won't be released from the hospital, any time soon.

Antonio asks how long that will be. The doctor says anything from a few days to several weeks. He then says that she requested to see her brother. Hernan walks upto the doctor. The doctor reminds Hernan that Gabriela is weak and he shouldn't stress her. He then adds that he shouldn't stay for long either. Hernan agrees. The doctor then tells Hernan to follow him.

A short while later,

Antonio is sitting in the cafeteria quietly. Someone asks if she can sit down. Antonio looks up at his grandmother and says that she can. He sips a glass of juice. Claudia sits and folds her hands. She then looks at Antonio in a serious tone. He asks her what's wrong. Claudia says that he is the one who should tell her. Antonio smiles. He says that she is the one giving him the looks she would give him when he was younger and he broke her flasks. Claudia shrugs. She says that he should be with the others and should be waiting to visit his wife and talk to her, now that she is finally awake.

Antonio shrugs. He says that he will go back. He says that he just stepped out a little. Claudia says that she passed by the waiting area before coming there. She adds that she heard that Hernan went to see Gabriela. Antonio frowns and sips some juice. Antonio asks Claudia how she knew where to find him. Claudia says that Aranza told her where he was. She then adds that she now knows what is bothering him. Antonio asks his grandmother what she means. Claudia tells him that he is jealous. Antonio frowns at his grandmother.

Elsewhere,

Hernan opens the door of Gabriela's room. He slowly enters. Hearing some noise, Gabriela turns her eyes towards the door. She smiles when she sees her brother. He walks towards her. She tries to sit upright, but Hernan tells her to relax and rest. Gabriela asks Hernan how the children are. Hernan says that they were both traumatized and shocked by everything that happened, but they will be okay. He adds that they have been seeing a children's counselor and psychologist, to help them with the trauma.

Gabriela asks him if they are still seeing the counselor. Hernan says that they still have sessions, twice a week. She then asks him how everyone else is. Hernan says they were all scared after what happened but now that she is getting better, they are all fine. Gabriela asks him how their father's health is. Hernan remains quiet. Gabriela asks him if their father is sick. Hernan tells her to relax and that they will talk later. Gabriela frowns at her brother. She tells him that if she wasn't sick she would wake up and pinch him. Hernan smiles. Gabriela tells him not to worry about her and just tell her how their father is.

Back to the cafeteria,

Antonio asks his grandmother why she thinks he is jealous. Claudia says that she knows him well enough to know that he is bothered that Gabriela wanted to see Hernan first. Antonio doesn't bother to deny the obvious. He tells his grandmother that he is Gabriela's husband and instead of her wanting to see him after waking up from a month-plus long coma, she asks to see her brother. Claudia says that as he said, Gabriela is his wife and it is him that she will go home to.

Antonio says that sometimes he gets jealous of how close Hernan and Gabriela are. Claudia tells him that Gabriela loves and respects him as her husband. She then adds that no matter how hard he tries, he will never be his wife's best friend, because her twin brother already has that position.

Antonio frowns and tells his grandmother that she is harsh. Claudia says that she sees no point in lying to him. She adds that Gabriela is a very loving person with a big heart.

She also reminds him that Gabriela gave her a second chance and even decided to name their daughter after her despite what she (Claudia) did to her in the past. Antonio smiles and agrees that Gabriela has a huge capacity for love. Claudia says that there is enough space in Gabriela's heart so he doesn't need to compete with his wife's brother and father for her love and attention. Antonio stands and hugs his grandmother. Claudia smiles.

Back to Gabriela's hospital room,

Gabriela tells Hernan not to keep things from her. She says that she can handle it. Hernan frowns but says okay. He says that their father got a little sick on the day of their rescue, and twice since, but otherwise he is fine. Gabriela then asks Hernan how he is. Hernan smiles. He says that it has been a difficult few weeks, but he is getting better. He says, now that she is awake, he is happier. Hernan kisses his sister's forehead. Gabriela asks what happened to Helena.

Hernan says that thankfully, she died in the explosion, which she had set up for them. He says that she was unconscious, and the medical team was going back for her when the building exploded. Gabriela asks him where she and the children were at the time. Hernan says that he and the children walked out as she was wheeled out. He then continues and says that one team of responders gave her first aid. He adds that another team took out a second stretcher to get Helena out, but the building exploded just before they could enter.

Gabriela sighs, she says that finally, Helena died, and they can now live in peace. Hernan agrees. Gabriela asks him how Aranza took the news of Helena's death. She adds that as evil as Helena was, she still gave birth to Aranza. Hernan says that their little sister took things pretty well and is okay. He adds that she didn't care. He also adds that everyone especially their father and Aurelio has been there to support her.

Gabriela is released, a month later. Another month passes during which, Gabriela continues her recovery slowly by slowly from home. Surrounded by the love of her friends and family, she recovers steadily. She is now ready to go back to work.

The first Saturday after she returns to work,

At the Montes De Alba mansion,

Gabriel decided to host a party to celebrate his daughter's life and her incredible recovery. The party has been going on well.

Gabriela is taking a walk with her father in a part of the garden. He says the past few months have been difficult for all of them but her being alive is the greatest blessing they can receive. He says that he was so scared especially when she was in a coma for one month. Gabriela smiles and puts an arm on her father's shoulder. After a few seconds she removes it then says that she is his daughter. She adds that she inherited the DNA of a survivor from him. She also says that just like him, she is brave and a survivor. Gabriel hugs his daughter. 

Elsewhere,

Hernan runs into Aranza as they are both walking around the house. He asks her if she is fine. Aranza says that she is. She asks him if sometimes he feels jealous. Hernan asks her what she means. Aranza says that she was curious to know if he ever got jealous of Gabriela. She adds that even though they have a little sister (Ramona) and there is also Ricardo, Gabriela is still clearly their father's favourite. Aranza then says that maybe it was because Gabriela was named after him. 

Hernan shrugs. He says he does sometimes. He then adds that given that Gabriela has been kidnapped and shot, on two different occasions and is still alive, her life is a miracle. He adds that their father treasures every moment their sister, is alive and occasionally it might come out as favouritism. Aranza agrees that Gabriela's life is a miracle.

Sometime later,

Gabriel calls for everyone's attention. He then asks Gabriela to come in front. She smiles as she does. Gabriel then proceeds to give a toast and then thanks everyone for coming. To everyone's surprise, he asks Aurelio and Aranza to come up to the stage. No one is more surprised than Aranza herself. What is going on? Once they are both on stage, Gabriel tells Aranza to stand a little distance away.

She looks like she has questions but she does as her father says. Gabriel and Gabriela move a few steps back. Aurelio moves closer to Aranza. He then gets down on one knee. Aranza places both of her hands on her face. It was finally time. The moment she had been waiting for, for years. Martin who is near Marianna watches the reaction on her face. He says to himself that as soon as she finishes her community service sentence, they will get married.

Days later, on Wednesday,

Martin is waiting in the cafeteria. He is scrolling through his phone when Aranza arrives. She asks him if he has been waiting for long. Martin says that he hasn't. He adds that, when she said she wanted to talk to him alone, he was curious to find out what mischief she was upto. Aranza frowns at him. She says that she is nice and mature. Martin says that it is debatable. Aranza pinches him. She asks him if he and Marianna had ever discussed marriage. Martin stares at Aranza shocked. She shrugs and then sweetly asks him, well. Martin asks her why she wants to know. Aranza says that she is not being nosy.

She adds that she is going somewhere with the question. Martin looks at her suspiciously. Aranza smiles sweetly. Martin asks her if her sister told her to question him. Aranza says that Gabriela has nothing to do with her talking to him. Martin seems to think about it for a few seconds. He then says that they haven't talked about it much. He says that the last time they had such a conversation, was the previous year, when Renata, her cousin got married. Aranza says that she is a little surprised. She asks Martin what their plans are. Martin says that the general agreement between him and Marianna is to wait until her sentence is complete. Aranza taps her finger on the table like she is deep in thought.