The worst thing that can happen to a mother is to know that her children are in danger. From that moment on, your heart always beats rapidly. You have to convince yourself that your children are fine. You lose trust in everyone around them. You become obsessive. You believe that the only person who takes care of them well is you.If up until that moment, they occupied ninety nine percent of your daily thoughts. From then on, they take up all your time. Your thoughts. Your breath. You stop being yourself, to become their shadow. That's what I'm going through right now. And even though I see everyone taking care of them. Only when I have them under my gaze, do I truly feel calm.Flashback.The children are very happy because they are going to start school. We have enrolled them in a very good private school. Christian has hired bodyguards for them. Because he says that his children will always be in danger because of who he is. At first, I thought it was exaggerated. But with Luis's thr
"I don't know, Abu, I'm terrified. I have nightmares that my children's hands are being cut off every night.""Bella, I'll say it again. That will never happen! They would have to kill all of us to get to them!""What if I go abroad, to a place where no one knows me?""You're not going to do that! They would be in more danger! I couldn't protect them like I do here!""But Abu, what if we do it right?""Bella, are you going to be running and fleeing for your whole life? Is that the life you want for your children? For them to grow up fearful and scared? Because they will feel and realise what's happening! And that fear you feel will embed itself in their hearts!""No, I don't want them to feel what I'm feeling, Abu!""But it's already happening. Look at them, they don't want to play outside the house! They only look at you, worried and scared. They know something is happening. Children can sense it!"I look at my children, lying on the floor not far from me playing, but calm. Neither o
After spending the entire morning at the court with the lawyer and going through many procedures, they finally manage to complete the registration of the children under Christian's name. He couldn't calm down until he had all the paperwork done and changed in the national system to reflect his surname. Not content with that, he went with the lawyer and in front of a notary, made them his universal heirs. Isabella protested, saying they didn't need to do everything in one day, but he didn't want to miss the opportunity. He made his wife promise that they would wait until the children were adults to tell them that he wasn't their biological father."At last, Bella, I can't believe it, my children are truly mine now! Thank you, Bella, thank you so much!" Christian exclaimed, holding his children's identities and other papers in his hands, continuously calling all the places that, according to him, needed to know he had two children. Isabella had given up on him, but now, witnessing his h
"Are you sure, Chris? Was I that girl?" Isabella asks excitedly, her father-in-law had already said so, although honestly she didn't believe it. But as far as she remembers, Christian is different. "Are you not mistaken, my love? Do you really remember?""Yes, Bella, I dreamt about you! About seeing you every Sunday, in your treehouse! I remember it very clearly, Bella! Always in those dresses with lots of frills and your hair with the pink bow on the right side that I used to switch to the left! Do you remember how mad you used to get about it?""It's true, Chris, you remember me!" It's now Isabella who excitedly shouts, also recalling that moment he describes. "I always wore that bow, I loved it! Oh God, Chris, you really remember me, it's not a lie anymore, you really remember me! Congratulations, my love! Do you remember anything else?"And she jumps up without caring that they are in the middle of the parking lot, surrounded by guards and curious onlookers, showering him with kis
When she was eighteen, her parents went bankrupt. They were not millionaires, but they had a good life. She had everything she wanted, and she was not ugly, but she was not the most beautiful girl in school either. That title belonged to a charming girl who treated everyone equally and believed that everyone around her were good people and treated her honestly for who she was, not for her money or beauty.Her beauty was such that all the boys in the school were after her, but in her life there was only love for the most handsome and bad boy in the institution, Santiago Sardino, and to top it off, he was the one with the most money and spent it recklessly. No one understood how she, the beauty queen at every year-end event, the most educated and refined girl. She was the girlfriend of the bad boy, who didn't think twice about getting into fights with anyone, who had a reputation for being involved with the mafia, and to everyone's surprise, was faithful to her.Since she could remember
Her friend Susan was terrified of her parents, but trusted Santiago madly. She had arranged to meet him to ask to move up the wedding before her parents found out what she had done. Eva bought two tickets and told her she would be going abroad with her mother. She asked her to accompany to the airport, and with the help of a friend, they planned to drug her.But the night before she was supposed to leave, on which her friend was to meet her boyfriend, she sent a message to Santiago breaking up with him. He got drunk at the same bar where she was waiting for him. He kept calling Susan, who was asleep due to a sleeping pill she had put in her tea. She answered the call and went to meet him at the bar in a hotel. They went up to a room together. She lay naked next to him after undressing him.The next day, she put on a whole show crying, saying he had taken advantage of her and that she had lost her virginity to him, something that the bloodstain she had taken from a cu
Eva picked up her phone and called her husband Santiago, but he didn't answer. She was worried, it was the first time this had happened. She would have to go back home again, she thought. She only had a few thousand in a bank account in her name. She didn't want to spend that money. Damn it! I have to delay everything now. She continued towards her room when she received a call."Hello.""Hello, Mrs. Eva, it's Luis.""Luis? What do you want?""I was wondering if you have time to meet with me and Adele, I came up with another plan that you might be interested in.""Luis, I can't right now, I have something else in mind. I'll call you later, let me know when you're going to do what you told me.""Don't do something like what Adele did, we have to be very well coordinated. We are facing a very powerful enemy.""Alright, I'll let you go now, I have something to figure out."She continued moving towards the room, still thinking about and anal
When he realised she would be useful for something, he took her out of school. But once again, things had not gone as expected. Luis, in his stupidity, had ruined the job that had cost him so much to accomplish. And Isabella, instead of calling her father, making it possible for her to find out in time and prevent her from escaping.Isabella had asked for help from her grandfather, who annulled her marriage and disappeared her from the country, thwarting his plans to acquire the old man's fortune. Not even her husband had helped in his effort to find his daughter. It seemed more like he was glad she had gone with her parents. And now that she had returned, she thought she could sell her to a higher bidder. She was married, no less, to the most sought-after heir in high society. Christian Thompson. And not only that, she had two children with him!How did the foolish Isabella manage to catch him? That, for sure, had been the work of the old Sardino. She remembered he
Afterwards, she followed Susan abroad. She made her suffer as much as she wanted, taking revenge for Santiago's rejection. She managed to hide her well throughout the pregnancy. She claimed to be a surrogate mother, then staged the whole suicide spectacle, and the rest was easy. The hospital where she had Susan confined, apart from not knowing her real name and origin, was full of heartless people. When she returned, she was carrying Isabella in her arms.She had made her friend believe that the child was stillborn. Susan suffered a nervous breakdown, but she made sure it worsened by swapping her pills for ones that caused hallucinations. Susan was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Eva ensured, by paying a doctor, that she would never be released and would remain ill. She visited annually to pay the doctor and make certain they wouldn't let her out.Old man Sardino never liked her from the first time he saw her. He accepted her after the paternity test proved Isabe
She took another long sip from the wine glass in her hand, emptying it, and refilled it as she reclined, inexplicably recalling her life. Was it because she had managed to acquire her parents' house when they first came to her for help? It was the only thing left of their entire fortune.At fifteen, her parents went bankrupt as the debts she had caused them to incur were too much for mere merchants. They weren't millionaires, but they had a good life. She had everything she wanted, everything! If they didn't buy it willingly, she'd get it herself, pawning or selling anything she could behind their backs. All that mattered was maintaining her status among the high society crowd.Her best friend, silly Susan, as she called her. After Eva put on quite a performance about her parents abandoning her on the street and disappearing with all their wealth. She played the part well, even saying she'd decided to end her life.She knew Susan would immediately take pit
He stood up, fetched her a glass of water, and made sure she drank it all. Then, he sat beside her and embraced her tightly, still without saying a word. Only when he felt her relax did he speak."Isa, you're not to blame for any of this. It was they who did this and killed your parents. As Rodrigo told you, how could you have known they were planning to plant a bomb on your parents' yacht to murder them and take everything?" Santiago tried to make her understand and stop crying and feeling guilty. "It's true that you should have told me from the beginning so I'd know what to expect, but I still understand your situation."Santiago paused, seeing that Marta was crying more, and embraced her affectionately again. Then, wiping away her tears, he told her that regarding taking advantage of Isabella, he didn't believe that was the case. She was the sister that Bella needed to move forward in Paris. Despite being with her grandparents, they were often absent due to Tania's illn
At this moment, Santiago didn't know what to think. He trusted Humberto implicitly and knew that what he was saying was true. Humberto had lost his daughter to enemies and had since lived solely for Isabella. But how had Isabella become pregnant if she hadn't been assaulted?"Were you, by any chance, in the operating theatre or the recovery room?" Santiago asked hopefully."No," Humberto answered thoughtfully.Santiago sighed, feeling a great pain in his chest. "Do you think it could have happened there?""That would be the only place where they could have done it to her, but she was in a terrible state at that time. I don't think they would have been capable of doing it with so many people around," Humberto said, visibly affected. "But I'll find out, I assure you, sir. If anyone touched young Isabella, I'll kill them, no matter who they are.""Are you certain no one could have done it later in her room?" Santiago repeated the question.Humberto s
Santiago stood for a moment looking at his security guard in whom he trusted more than himself in the care of his daughter. That was why he measured the way he spoke to Humberto, because he knew he had done an excellent job."Humberto, ever since Eva appeared with my daughter, I entrusted you with her care. I asked you to look after her as if she were your own," Santiago began, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Before you even consider deceiving me or lying about what I'm about to ask, I warn you that I know my daughter's entire story. That's why I need you to be honest and tell me the truth. I know you're loyal to her and her alone, and I'm grateful for that. But something has happened to Isabella, and I need you to be truthful with me.""What's happened to young Isabella?" Humberto asked, concern evident in his voice."First, you'll answer my questions before I answer yours," Santiago interjected. "Did you know that Luis had beaten her?""Yes," Humb
Eva leant forward and took the floor, proceeding to explain that Mrs Thompson was the sole heiress of a very powerful family involved in the alcoholic beverage industry. After marrying Thompson and inheriting everything, all the factories and businesses of that family ceased to exist. Some were dismantled or repurposed, and most were sold off."Many rumours suggested that Mr Thompson forced his wife to sell her entire inheritance to advance his own company," Eva continued, "but no one knows for certain what happened to the enormous sum of money she possessed and the proceeds from the sale of all her assets. You might find something there."Néstor remained pensive until he finally decided to investigate the matter. He also agreed that Eva and Oswaldo should leave for another country, as his father was already protesting about keeping them there."Very well," Néstor said, nodding thoughtfully. "I'll look into this. As for you two, make arrangements t
Eva glared at him with murderous intent, but Oswaldo had long since stopped minding what he said to her. He continued, unfazed by Eva's furious gaze."That drug you were giving him was truly potent. Your plan worked out well, but you failed to make the most of it. You devoted yourself to living the high life—well, to be honest, we both lived the high life on your husband's money—instead of squirrelling away funds in an account for when he'd leave you penniless, as he has now. Because I'm certain you knew your relationship with him had an expiration date."Eva remained silent for a moment after Oswaldo finished. Then she took the bottle, poured herself a glass, and topped up Oswaldo's. They both sat down again, with Oswaldo watching her contentedly."You know what? I'll give you that," Eva agreed, to Oswaldo's surprise as he peered at her through the smoke of his cigar. "Though I must confess, I thought I had a few more years before he'd wake up. When
The employee hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing with his report. He knew that every detail could be crucial in his boss's schemes."After he and his sister returned from studying abroad, Christian devoted himself to travelling between his city and the one where they now live, always pursuing his current wife. He would stay at the same hotel, Le Méridien, have one or two drinks, and then disappear. He was always accompanied by his bodyguards.""Blast it! There must be something we can use to trick him," Néstor exclaimed. "Call Eva; she's bound to know some weakness in that family. As for Susan, no one has paid much attention to that, since she herself went on television saying those rumours were false, that she was never kidnapped by the Thompsons and the Sardinos, and that she would soon marry Santiago. She looked happy with her grandchildren."While they were discussing in the office, Eva, in her room with Oswaldo, couldn
Santiago looked at Christian with a mixture of confusion and disbelief, waiting for an explanation."Because in trying to deceive my parents, I deceived myself," Christian answered honestly."What do you mean?" Santiago continued to question him, unable to believe what he was hearing."The paternity tests I had done were with hair from my sister and me. She helped me to avoid marrying Adele, and we managed to fool my parents," Christian explained, smiling as he realised he only needed to do tests with Lucas and Lucia."This is unheard of, absolutely unheard of!" Santiago exclaimed, and then immediately asked, "Are you telling me that all this time you've believed your children weren't yours, and Isabella still thinks that?""Not just her, her parents too," Christian revealed, causing his father-in-law to look at him uncomprehendingly."My parents? What do you mean?" Santiago asked, though he suspected the answer."Grandfather came up with the idea