Chương 18: CHAPTER 17

The next day on Thursday,

Clara comes with Ramon. Adrianna, Antonio, Aranza, and Emma, accompany Hector, Gina, Aurelio, and Martin to receive Clara and Ramon. He is admitted in hospital. After Ramon is settled in, the kids take Clara to her hotel room. The room is large and airy. Clara looks around and sits. Martin asks her if she needs anything. She waves him away and says she is fine. She says she needs to rest but asks to speak to Antonio alone. Gina rolls her eyes, what is Clara upto? Antonio is surprised, what is Gina's grandmother upto?

Clara looks at all the others and gives the grandma means business smile. Clara says she is not an ogre, and they should all remove those looks from their faces. Antonio is uncomfortable under Clara's unwavering gaze. She makes him feel like a little boy who was caught eating sugar by his mother. Clara looks at him, then tells him to relax, and says, he looks like he has been caught doing something he should not be. She says she wants to talk about Gina. Clara says Gina might not be her blood grandchild but she loves her as such.

Clara says Gina was the only girl growing up with three boys (Hector, Aurelio, and Martin) and was thus, the princess of the house. Clara continues and asks him if he loves Gina (or as Clara calls her, my princess) Antonio says he does. Clara says she trusts Gina's judgement because she believes Gina is a good judge of character. Clara adds that she can tell that he is a good person, a little rough around the edges but he has a good heart. Antonio smiles. Clara may be forward, but he can tell she loves her grandchildren, and he thinks how he would have loved to have a grandmother like her.

Later, they drop everyone off. As Antonio is about to go, Gina says she would like to talk to him. They go to his car. He asks her if she has missed him already. Gina says that is highly unlikely. He looks at her face, then holds up her chin to face him, and tells her not to worry too much, because her grandfather is in the hands of some of the best doctors in the state. Gina says she isn't too worried about him but is more worried about her grandmother, and what she could have said to him. Antonio says Clara is an angel.

Gina stares at him then says she is an angel, but she is a nosy one. Antonio says they talked. Gina asks what they talked about. Antonio says about her. Gina looks horrified and then asks what embarrassing childhood stories, her grandmother was telling him. Antonio says none. He adds that he was just getting to know his grandmother-in-law. Antonio watches her for her reaction. Gina knows he is watching her. Antonio smiles and says there is nothing to worry about. He kisses her, then reluctantly pulls away from her, and tells her goodbye.

Meanwhile, Isabella and Marianna are at a club, meeting for drinks. Marianna tells her Alejandro's suggestion that the three of them and Horacio team up, to break up, Gina and Antonio, and Adrianna and Hector. Marianna agrees. She really likes Hector, and because he is too loved up with Adrianna he has paid little attention to her. Marianna says they should be meeting to start planning things. Isabella adds that Alejandro will tell Helena that Aranza was with Aurelio the whole weekend.

Marianna says that she doesn't see the relevance of that to their plan. Isabella says it is simple. To create a dislike in Helena for Gina, Hector, and Aurelio, so that she wants them to stay away, from Adrianna, Antonio, and Aranza. Marianna says she now sees the logic and it is brilliant. Isabella adds that the four of them have a common goal and it is better if they work together.

The next day on Friday,

Clara is taken to hospital in a taxi, to visit her husband. Meanwhile, at Montes De Alba Inc, it is business as usual. Alejandro asks Helena if she knows where Aranza spent the whole of last weekend. Helena says Aranza spent the weekend with a friend. Helena adds that Aranza can be difficult to handle when Antonio and Adrianna are away, so her having plans means she is less of a nuisance around the house. Alejandro says so she wouldn't mind if Aranza spent the weekend with a boy. Helena looks, at him shocked. Helena says that is unlikely, because Aranza is more interested in cameras, designing things, and cooking than she is in boys. Alejandro says she (Helena) would be surprised.

Helena tells him to not keep her in suspense and to get to the point. Alejandro reveals that Aranza spent the night with Aurelio Ortiz. Helena is shocked. Alejandro sees her reaction and seizes on the moment, to tell all. Alejandro says that's not all. Helena asks what else there is. Alejandro tells her about how Hector introduced her to photography and even goes with her on most weekends to take photographs. Alejandro also reminds her of Aranza's accident and says Hector introduced Aranza to the wrong crowd, and she could have died.

Alejandro then adds that he will not deny that he still wants Adrianna back, but it is not just about that, but it is also about, keeping Aranza safe. He says that Aranza is the heiress to the Montes De Alba fortune, and is a target, for many fortune hunters. Alejandro says it is quite fishy that the three Ortiz's, fall in love with Adrianna, Antonio, and Aranza. He says that it seems like a well-planned arrangement. Helena says she will deal with the matter. Alejandro leaves, confident, he has begun his plan of working to break up Adrianna and Hector.

Meanwhile, Helena decides to call Hector to talk about Aranza and Aurelio. Hector, is in his cubicle working, when he is called by the head of their department, and told to report, to Madame Helena's office. He is worried, what does the viper; want to talk to him about? Hector is terrified as he enters the lift.

Meanwhile, Emma who had gone to the marketing department, to take some files there, tells Gina, about Hector.

Elsewhere, When Hector enters, Helena tells him to sit down. She studies him. There is something about him and his cousin; she can't quite put her hands on. She asks him if he knows why he is there, and he says no. Helena says she would like to talk to him about Aranza. Hector, is a little surprised, why would Helena want to talk to him about Aranza? Helena says she has just learned that Aranza spent a whole night with Aurelio, something which displeases her.

Meanwhile, Gina calls Antonio. He asks her what's wrong because he can sense it. Gina looks around and sees no one. She tells him, about Helena summoning Hector, and asks him if she has heard about it. Antonio says he hasn't but he will ask around.

Meanwhile,

Back in Helena's office, Helena tells Hector, that she has raised her daughter to be a lady, and will not be allowed her to be misused. Helena adds that she has also learned that he is feeding Aranza's interest in photography. Helena tells him, that because of him, Aranza almost died. She says that Aranza's life was put at risk, because he fed her interest in photography, which is a phase, and put her in contact with those riffraff colleagues of hers, whose recklessness almost cost Aranza her life. Helena pauses and says that before she continues, she will be fair, and give him the chance to defend himself. Hector says that as for the situation with Aranza, it was Aranza who invited herself and made Aurelio agree to her plan to spend the weekend.

Hector adds that Aurelio is a good kid, and he is not saying that just because they are cousins, but he is, and he would never disrespect Aranza. Hector adds that Aurelio always treats her with the respect she deserves, and protects her as well. He further adds that Aranza has been treated well by both him and his cousins and that will not change.

As for the photography, Hector says Aranza is really good and is a natural. Hector adds that Aranza is much better than he was at her age. He also says that with the opportunity and exposure she has, she has a future, to fully grow her hobby and maybe even make it more.

Helena looks at him, over and over, like one would look at an insolent servant. Hector is seething inside and says (to himself,) that if only the viper knew that he and Gina are two of the rightful heirs to Montes De Alba fortune, she would not be so rude. Helena studies him. He did show a bit of surprise and shock at the beginning but not outright fear, which she had expected. He also had a similar presence to Gabriel. That same presence, that exudes, confidence, and authority, that makes people notice you when you enter a room. Looking at Hector felt like looking at a mini version of Gabriel.

Meanwhile,

Martin calls Clara to check on Ramon. His condition is still critical and has not changed. Clara tells him and then asks him if the kids are coming to the hospital. Martin assures her, they are. Clara, asks him (sweetly) if his girlfriend (referring to Emma), is coming with him. Martin runs his hand through his hair, what a grandmother he has.

Elsewhere,

Antonio goes to Helena's secretary, a jovial, nice 30-year-old woman, and asks her if Helena has had many visitors today. The secretary, Lucretia, looks at him, then at her records, and shakes her head. She tells him, he can have a quick check. Antonio smiles and does. Most are heads of different departments, there's also his father, who is the deputy chief executive and is on the board of directors, and neither visits are out of the ordinary. There's also Alejandro. Antonio thanks Lucretia and leaves. He WhatsApp's Gina, Hector, and Adrianna for a lunchtime meeting.

Meanwhile, back with Helena and Hector,

Helena tells Hector that she is monitoring the situation, but does not want the situation between Aranza and Aurelio repeated again. Helena says she wants more for her daughter and does not think Aurelio is good enough for her. As for the photography, she says he should work towards discouraging Aranza from it. Helena says that there are consequences to disobeying her and that he should keep this conversation secret.

Meanwhile, Gina looks at the message. What does Antonio; want to talk to her, Hector, and Adrianna about? Adrianna is also surprised.

Later, at lunchtime,

Gina says before they start, Hector should tell them all what happened with Helena. He does, and Gina, Antonio, and Adrianna are all shocked. Antonio tells them about the people who visited Helena's office, and says of them; only Alejandro would have enough spite and pettiness to bring up non-issues. Adrianna says all of that raises questions, like how Alejandro knew about Aranza and Aurelio since the only people they told were Emma and Martin, who would never tell. They are all quiet for a few seconds as they ponder this.

Back at the mental institution,

John, is in his room, with colors. He is drawing pictures and has plastic food containers. A nurse comes to give him his food, and he says that he has to work, so that he can get his children from the witch. He says he misses his children. The nurse nods her head sadly. The poor man has lost many years stuck in the mental hospital.

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