Ximena already knew every stain on the walls and every crack in the floor. She felt suffocated within those four walls; the despair threatened to tear her apart. If it were not for her baby, she would not resist that situation. She remembered the Yoga classes for pregnant women; she sat in the lotus position to meditate to try to calm down; she even imagined that she was talking to her baby, who was telling her,“Mommy, please be strong, the same way you have been all these years.”“Yes, my baby, we are going to get out of this; Daddy is coming to rescue us.”She imagined that with her breath, she was absorbing light that purified them. She felt that she was already out walking in Sicily with Angelo and her beautiful baby in a golden stroller. Where they were walking, roses of various colors were growing, and the wind carried their scents. At this moment, she heard some murmurs. She concentrated on them; surely they were coming from a room next door, where a man was talking to another
“Angelo, the doctors say it's time to wait; they already took out the two bullets, but it's a matter of time before she recovers; they had to put her in intensive care; we must be patient and pray; I'll go and make my round of donations so that everything goes well.”“José, it's up to you to postpone it; we'll leave now for the beautiful patio; we'll hunt down the whole family of the capo; the guys headed by Cancan are ready; we're going to erase them even from the memory of their neighbors.”“Sir, I expected nothing less from you; it will be an honor.”When they arrived in that neighborhood, Cancan received them with his characteristic grimace and an undeveloped smile and led them to a carpentry shop, where several men were making closets and beds.“Don Angelo, don't be guided by appearances; that's just a facade. The real merchandise is kept in the basement, and the family lives on the upper floors that look like factories.”“Do you have anything planned?” asked José Luis“Yes, sir,
“I want you to sign the divorce.”“For what reason, my beloved Ximena?”“Angelo, I don't want to be married to a gangster, to a mobster like the ones who killed my real parents. I don't want to always be in danger. Not knowing at what moment we will be killed or that you will leave me alone with how many children when you are captured by the authorities or killed by your enemies. I don't want that life; I prefer to live quietly with my son, no matter if we don't have money to spend on luxuries.”“Love, please forgive me.”“What, love? You said you weren't going to lie to me.”“It was a white lie; I didn't want you to leave me; I knew this could happen; I was cleaning up the business.”“That hurt me; it was a beating you gave to our love. I trusted that you loved me, but it was all a lie. I don't know why you hurt me by deceiving me like that; did you have something to do with my parents' deaths?”“It's okay; I'll tell you the truth. Yes, we had something to do with it. Your parents we
Ximena left the hospital, sent for her belongings, and her sister bought a house on the outskirts of the city, where the fresh air would be good for the baby. She must be transported by ambulance due to her precarious health.“Sir, it's not this way.” Emily was worried because she already knew the way to her new home very well.“Ma'am, we're taking a shortcut; there's a traffic jam,” answered the paramedic.“You're lying; we are heading south, and the house is in the north; sir, stop, or I'll call the police.” Emily pulled out her phone, so he could see that she was serious.“You know what, Miss? Stay still, or we'll have to strap you to the stretcher too.” The paramedic pointed a gun at her, and his mask came off.“You are Max, or Leonel; whatever your name is, you want to kill me to take revenge on Angelo. What you don't know is that we are nothing.” Ximena shouted, trying to get loose from the stretcher.“According to what Vivian told us, you are the only woman he has sincerely fal
“Love, please open your eyes. I promise, we will get married. The baby is safe. Please wake up. I don't want my son to grow up without a father.” Ximena was crying for her beloved, who had been in a coma for four days.“I hope that your word is true and that these are not promises to a dying man.” Angelo opened his eyes.“Of course we'll get married; I'll finish my studies soon; it won't be long before I graduate, you know that.”“Ready, my love; that's how we'll do it. Ximena, please come with me to my house; let's live together again.”“Yes, my baby of one, I agree.”They spent the following months at home under the care of his doctors until Angelo recovered completely. He had to go back to business to make up for the empty demand for Max's poster. It was an exhausting few days until he talked to his grandfather.“I no longer want to continue with the illegal business, grandfather; please understand me.”“It's that the illegal businesses are the ones that leave the most money; consi
Ximena seemed to burst; her face colored, the veins in her neck became pronounced, her cheeks puffed out, and she threw the bouquet at the fat man. Like a lioness, she let out a growl.“Get out, uncle; I don't want to see you, and I don't believe his lies; you're on fire because of me taking you out of the company.”The fat old man put his right hand on his heart, and with the other, he extended his hand in a stop sign to continue with his explanation.“Please, I know you hate me, and you are right. I am a despicable being, but not as despicable as this family of mobsters. It's one thing for you to leave me practically on the street. I put up with it because I deserve it, but I can't keep putting up with you being with the people who murdered my only brother and my dear sister-in-law.”“Get out, or I'll kick you out!” Angelo loosened his tie and went down the stairs to the altar. At the same time that he took off his jacket to try not to let the heat of his body make him explode, he p
“Was it just a nightmare?” Ximena asked when she woke up and found a thousand mute faces. “Where am I?”“Daughter, we are in the church; please try to calm down. I know it is very difficult to understand all these revelations.” Her mother answered her, blowing air with a piece of paper, while the others helped her sit up.“Ximena, please listen to me; I swear I didn't know about your parents.” Angelo was trembling in despair; he kneeled down to cry but was pushed away by Emily.One of his bodyguards approached him and murmured, “Boss, the police are here; apparently someone called her; let's get out of this place; if you stay here, they will catch you in jail or maybe even make you disappear.”Angelo pushed him, snorting, “You don't send me. I can't leave without my wife forgiving me.”Ximena threw one of her heels at him, although her words hurt him worse: “Get out; I don't want to see you anymore. Forget about me and my children. We want nothing to do with murderers.”The bodyguard
The party was excessive, full of luxuries and eccentricities. The singers of the moment provoked a thousand sensations, no matter that some sang differently live because of the musical arrangements, but it didn't matter; even at the end, there was a war of drinks. Everyone ended up bathing in whiskey; it was something memorable. Ximena tried to dance, occupying her mind so as not to think about her misfortune, about her second ruined wedding, about the lies of the man she loves, and who knows how long she will love him. Because love is not a garment that can be taken off and put on at will. For example, there was Erik, who did not leave her side all night, looking for the opportunity to kiss all her lips.The mariachi show was like one of those balls with which they demolish buildings; it went through Ximena's fortress and caused her to burst into tears. No one said anything to her, but how could anyone try to cheer her up? The poor girl seemed the worst off, even though her bank acco