Christian left the house to walk, immersed in his thoughts. He felt both excited and terrified by Isabella's visit. He wasn't sure if it was real, but he had sensed her scent."Sir, what are you doing here?" he heard the voice of a security guard. Without realising, he had wandered to the entrance."Emilio, by any chance, has my wife been around here?" he asked hopefully."How do you know?" came the question in return."Was she here? Did you let her in? I gave precise orders not to do so!" he said furiously, thinking he had been disobeyed. "Why wasn't I informed?""No, no, sir. Mrs Isabella came in the morning, and we didn't let her in. She waited on the street for a while, but then she left and didn't return," the guard clarified, observing him curiously."Are you certain she didn't come back or somehow enter the house?" he asked again. He had smelled her perfume; he was almost sure it was her in his room, that she had seen him and taken the divo
Isabella stared at her grandmother for a moment, then burst into tears again, inconsolable. Tania, not understanding, came to her side and hugged her tightly, trying to comfort her."Come now, darling, surely it can't be that bad to make you cry like this. What is it? Does Christian want a divorce?"At hearing the question, Isabella broke down crying again, as if her heart was aching unbearably. At that moment, her father Santiago entered, followed by her grandfather. They stood there, not knowing what to do, watching as Tania tried unsuccessfully to console her. Santiago approached and embraced her tightly."What's wrong, darling? Why are you crying like this?" he asked, concerned."It's nothing, Dad, it's nothing."Isabella tried to wipe away her tears and compose herself. Grandfather Sardino touched his son's shoulder and told him to leave her alone with her mother. Despite wanting to know what was troubling his daughter, Santiago understood it was best t
Marta cried out, her eyes wide open, as she read aloud the message Mrs Elmira had sent. "She says he had a tumour in his head, and they operated on him the day we were rescued. Lucy was right, it was Chris on that stretcher! He was critically ill in hospital for six months, and he went blind. God! It's true, Christian is blind!""No! It's not true, no, no, it can't be true!" Isabella's scream made them jump, as she had heard everything. "No, no, Chris can't be blind, he can't be, he can't be!"She snatched the phone from Marta's hand, reading the message Mrs Elmira had sent over and over again, repeating the same thing."No, no, it can't be true, it can't be true! Why didn't he tell me? Why?""Calm down, Bella, you won't gain anything by getting like this," Grandmother urged, taking her and leading her away as she saw the children, Santiago, and Grandfather rush into the kitchen upon hearing her screams."What's happening?" Grandfather asked, and Marta
Christian has sprung to his feet, only to immediately crouch down and tightly embrace his two children, who shower him with kisses."Mum didn't come, Dad, she went to work," Lucas tells him."Yes, Dad, it's just that I asked her to bring me to see you. Are you alright, Dad?" Lucy asks, stroking his face.Christian is so overwhelmed that he doesn't know what to do or say, he just manages to hug and kiss his children over and over again, wishing with all his heart that he could see them."Mum…, Dad…, Christie…"He calls out to everyone, trying to get them to come and help him, so the children don't realise that he can't see them. His sister immediately rushes out to see what's going on and why he's calling her with such desperation."Auntie!"The children shout when they see her running out of the kitchen door and they run to meet her, hugging her happily."Lucas, Lucia! How did you get here?" Christie asks, look
Isabella had left almost at dawn, feeling that she had to fight a tough battle to win back her husband, Christian. Now she felt regretful for having been away from him for so long. So, the next day, she decided to send the children to spend the day with their father again. And she sent a message with Lucas."Dad, Mum's asking if you can pick us up from school every afternoon?" Lucas asked anxiously. "Say yes, Dad.""Every afternoon?" Christian asked, concerned."Yes, she's got a lot of work with Grandad, and since you're at home, she thought you'd like us to come and be with you here. Say yes, Dad, please," the boy pleaded."I like it, I like it, that's not it. I also have work..." Christian said, trying to refuse, because he knew that if they came every day, they would eventually realise what was happening to him. He was blind. "I don't know if I can do it every day.""Say yes, Daddy," his sweet little girl Lucy asked, sitting on his lap and showering him w
On the other hand, Christian was somewhat doubtful after waking up, he still smelled Isabella's scent on the bed sheets and on his body. Was it a dream or had his wife come to sleep with him? He went down to the kitchen to talk to the security guards, who told him that they hadn't seen anyone come in or out, that only the servants would be around. Mrs Elmira also assured him of the same."That's because you miss her a lot, now that the children have come," she said, trying to get him to reconsider and call his wife. "Why don't you ask her to come back?""No, I can't condemn her to live with a blind man," Christian gave the same answer he gave to everyone."That's the least of it," Elmira dared to say. "Mrs Isabella truly loves you.""Elmira, I don't want you to tell my wife anything about my situation," Christian warned fearfully, knowing that they got along very well."Don't worry, sir, but it would be nice if she came back, she's very good," El
There's a brief silence as he listens to the employee moving away into the stables, only to emerge later with a horse."Noel, have you seen my wife around the farm in the last few days?" he repeats his question."No, no, lad, it's just a figure of speech," the man hurries to clarify. "You seem like a lost soul, it must be because of her, even though the children come every day. You've got her under your skin, you should go back to her. Mrs Isabella is a good person. Think about it, she's still waiting for you, don't delay too much or when you want her back, someone else might have taken her.""You too, Noel?" he asks, disappointed."What do you mean?" the old man asks as he prepares the horse Christian requested."Elmira keeps saying that someone's going to steal her away. I hope she finds a healthy man who loves her like I do and makes her happy! You're right about what you say, Isabella is a good woman, that's why she doesn't deserve to be tied to a blind
On the other hand, Marta is sitting across from Christie, in the office that used to be Christian's."Is it necessary for you to do this, Marta?" Christie asks very seriously."Yes, I'm going to work with dad, I can't stand being here anymore, where no one talks to me and they whisper when they see me pass," Marta states firmly. "Besides, it's for my safety.""Your safety?" Christie asks, intrigued."Yes, I have a madman chasing me," Marta confesses, knowing she can trust Christie as she stands up. "Thanks for everything, Christie. When I finish writing the story of my sister and your brother, I'll bring it to you to publish. Say hello to Chris for me, a kiss, if you need my help with anything, just call. You know my number."And she turns her back, leaving to meet the security guard Rodrigo, who is waiting for her with two other men."Let's go to my office, so you can help me pack my things to leave," Marta asks, and walks past them towards the l
Two cars were hidden opposite the Sardino mansion. In another, further away, Eva, in disguise, supervised the operation. They had initially planned to go directly to Christian's house, but after learning that Isabella took the children there every day, they decided to follow her and kidnap all three on the way."I say, Ruan, doesn't this house look familiar from the telly?" asked one of them who had never been to the place before."From the telly? What do you mean by that?""I reckon this house was on the telly. It belongs to the Sardinos.""Which Sardinos? The millionaires?""Yes, those very ones. Are you certain that woman isn't deceiving us? Whose children did she say they were?""Now that you mention it, she's never told us whose children we're nabbing. She just keeps saying the family has enough money to pay a hundred million for them without batting an eyelid. That she'll give us fifty, and the rest will be hers. Are you sure it's the Sardinos'? Haven't they sold it?""I don't k
Everyone was deeply shaken by what was happening. It was something they hadn't expected."Spare no expense," Mr Thompson interjected, embracing Christian. "I'll give my entire fortune if necessary, but they must return them alive, do you understand? All I care about is saving my grandchildren!""Unfortunately," Grandfather Sardino said, "we haven't yet received any news from the kidnappers. We've alerted all our contacts and police agencies. However, no one knows anything, no one saw anything. It happened in a very strategic location near the house, where there are no traffic cameras. It was fortunate that Bella managed to call before she lost consciousness.""Dad, it looks like the doctors are coming out. Let's go," Santiago said, walking to meet the doctor emerging from the operating theatre. "Well, doctor, how are my daughters?""The operations went well," the doctor began to explain. "Marta had some severe fractures in her legs, but we managed to reconstruct them. Fortunately, the
It was Saturday, and Christian sat with his family in the living room, sharing happy stories about the children who often stayed with them. Christian's eyesight had improved slightly; he could now see light and some blurry shapes."Hey Chris," his sister called, "why don't we ask Bella to let Lucas and Lucy stay tonight and pick them up tomorrow? It's quite late now. She said she'd bring them after the supermarket, but they haven't arrived yet. It's dark already; perhaps she changed her mind about bringing them.""No, Marta warned me they might be late, but said they'd come even if it took an hour. The children say they have a surprise for me. It's a good idea, though. I'll ask Lucas—he's the negotiator. I don't know where he gets his intelligence from.""Ha ha ha," Mr Thompson laughed. "Listen, dear, did you hear what your son said about not knowing where Lucas gets it from? Don't our grandchildren remind you of those two when they were little?""That's right, love. Chris, when you w
Marta stared at her now-sister for a moment. Bella seemed to go through life without understanding anything, which is why she said, somewhat irritated:"Do you still call her mum? That woman isn't your mum, Bella. Goodness knows who she stole you from!""Look, Marta, even though Dad showed me that paternity test, I don't believe it. And do you know why?""Why?""Because if Eva isn't my mum, then who is? How could Dad not know who my mum is?" Bella asked very seriously and added, "That's why I suspect he wants me on his side against Mum in the divorce mess. That's why he wants me to think I'm not her daughter, so I won't object to him leaving her with nothing.""Bella! How can you believe such a macabre thing about Dad? Listen, and I'm telling you this for Lucas and Lucy's sake! Wake up, because that woman is wicked and capable of doing anything to your children and to us! Dad isn't capable of deceiving you like that. Just look at the way he looks at you and loves you; he wouldn't do s
Christian lay on his bed after emerging from the bathroom, where he had indulged in fantasies about Isabella. He was seriously considering visiting his psychologist, as he believed his current state wasn't normal. Could he truly not live without her? It had all seemed so real-her body in his hands, how he had plunged into her repeatedly. Was Isabella actually visiting him, remaining silent so he wouldn't realise it was her? Did she know he was blind and accept him as he was?At that moment, the bedroom lights switched on as his mother entered. He sat up abruptly."Mum, I think... I think I saw the light when you turned it on. You did turn it on, didn't you?""Yes, son, I just did. Are you regaining your sight as the doctor said? David... David... come and see Chris, David!""What is it, Mother-in-law? I'm here," David said, rushing into Christian's room, followed by his wife Christie and Mr Thomson, who had come in response to Mrs Thomps
After all the commotion surrounding Marta and Rodrigo's relationship, everyone in the house is delighted that they are a couple. They hold the young man in high regard and know he is very responsible. They are particularly pleased that he respected her throughout and that, had Marta not essentially won his heart, he wouldn't have pursued the relationship.The following day, Mrs Tania invited Augusto, her lifelong bodyguard, and his wife Leila for lunch. She wanted to quickly formalise Rodrigo and Marta's relationship, as the couple couldn't stop gazing at each other happily. Since Marta's arrival with Isabella, she had initially remained very quiet, and although everyone loved her and made her feel like family, they could sense that she felt inhibited in many ways.Now she is brimming with happiness, constantly smiling and allowing others to embrace her, something she didn't commonly do before. This is especially true after managing to have Rodrigo assigned as her bo
Santiago and his father stared intently at the girls, who were at a loss for what to do or say. Despite her earlier words, Marta had quickly released Rodrigo's hand, and he too seemed unable to react. Isabella looked at her father and, seeing his reproachful head shake, hugged her grandmother, hiding behind her."Seriously, Bella? Are you going to pass your sister off as Rodrigo's girlfriend?" Santiago asked, trying to coax Isabella out from behind her grandmother."Dad, it's not what you think!" Marta stepped forward, attempting to defend Isabella, who was silently pleading for help. "Dad, it's not Bella who's with Rodrigo... it's me!""This is the limit, Isabella," he said, to the astonishment of all three women. "Now you want to pass Marta off as your lover's girlfriend to deceive me?""Dad!" Isabella exclaimed, emerging from behind her grandmother, who was chuckling at the mess unfolding before her. "Dad, I swear on everything sacred that I have nothing to do
He didn't know that I couldn't cash the check here. Although, about Eva's money, I think you're right. I remember hearing my father saying that Santiago's company is frozen, because it's going bankrupt. If the Sardino patriarch doesn't step in, he'll be left with nothing. So it's true what you're saying. Where's Eva going to get money from? Although, she might have her own stash hidden away."Now I understand why Eva is so agitated, although it seemed she didn't know. She says she has a good plan, it might suit us, what do you think?""Do you trust her, Luis? I don't like Eva one bit. When have you ever heard of a mother plotting to kidnap her own daughter's children? I don't like that woman, I don't. Let's hear what she's planned. But if we don't like it, we're leaving, agreed?""I don't trust her either, but she's still someone we can get money from, and right now I'm going to cash this cheque Santiago gave me to pay for Luisito's hospital bill, we can't get him out
After rescuing Adele, they had decided to leave the country for good, but to their surprise, upon returning to the house that belonged to Luis' maternal grandparents, they found a surprise. Upon opening the door, there was Vivian and her mother with the child."Mum! Vivian! What are you doing here?" Luis asked, genuinely surprised."We're so sorry, son, but the little one didn't take to the climate and had been unwell since we arrived. The doctor advised us to return to a warmer one. As we had no idea where to go, we came to stay here for a few days, so you could help us find another place. And by the way, as we couldn't send money, we collected them to come with us.""Mum, you shouldn't have done that. Dad found out about everything and he's fuming. You should have called me and explained, I would have sorted everything out from here.""Luis, it's just for a few days. Besides, I need to sort something out with my account, it won't let me withdraw the money Santi