In the luxury car, Bernarda changes hurriedly, she takes out her designer clothes from the exclusive line and puts on a simple shirt, with an office worker-style pencil skirt, she changes her custom-made shoes for square-heeled pumps, takes off her fine jewelry and puts on her wedding ring.

For a year now, she has been married to Alexander, a hardworking 30-year-old man, he has two nieces whom he cares for as if they were his daughters, Alexander's older sister died of a fulminant terminal illness at the age of 30, and a negligent and womanizing husband left the girls helpless: the precious and shy Belle, 6 years old, and the mischievous and tempestuous Samira, 3 years old at that time.

Alexander, considered a single father, taking care of his nieces at the age of 25, had not thought about getting married until a year ago. However, being a well-known mechanic in the area, he was always coming and going from his small workshop that had cost him a lot to put together piece by piece. In addition, he had managed to study electromechanics thanks to his older sister, which helped him to support the girls later.

One day, in a storm, he saw a car stranded on the road. The storm was so strong that he could barely make it out. Inside he could see a woman crying silently, she was young and very beautiful, but she looked desolate.

Alexander approached to rescue her, that area flooded easily and she would be in big trouble, he stopped and touched the driver's side window making her wake up, she seemed lost in her thoughts, as soon as they looked at each other, they both felt a little uncomfortable in different ways.

Alexander blushed a little at the sight of Bernarda's beauty and she was a little scared to see him in the middle of nowhere. Alexander is a rough man, with broad shoulders, several tattoos on his arms and very handsome, manly in every sense of the word. However, the poor man who was looking at her from the other side of the door, was the softest and sweetest being that could be on the planet; in any case, Bernarda was a danger to him.

Alexander explained that he could help her, tow her to a higher place where she could take a taxi or leave her car in the workshop.

Bernarda, who at that moment felt like she was dying of pain, just nodded to what he said, if they murdered her at that moment, she would agree.

*_*

Bernarda was 24 years old when she met Alex. Two years ago, she had married her great love, engaged since she was 18, dating since she was 15 with Arnold Davis, a rich young man who was at the top of business, Bernarda Monterrosa, is a daughter of a millionaire family, more than millionaire, in love she married only to find out later about a great betrayal.

Her love had a childhood friend who always bothered Bernarda, because on her wedding night, she found out that she had been cheated on countless times, so much so, that her newlywed husband, escaped on the wedding night to have his little romp with the childhood friend.

In love and with her self-esteem broken, Bernarda tried to win her husband's heart and make him leave his lover. No one believed her when she told them that Sisi was her husband's lover and blamed her for being jealous and insecure about Arnold's friend. So a year passed, and the straw that broke the camel's back, was that Bernarda became pregnant, something unforgivable for Arnold, who was furious. Sisi was in a sea of tears, she always wanted to give him his first child and for her to be the one to give him that joy.

One night, Bernarda was dragged out in the early morning and forced to have an abortion.

Bernarda that dawn died in life, her soul had been transformed into a black hole that harbored hatred and revenge, the pain had consumed her. She was just an entity that barely ate and slept only hours. Both families were angry with her, they reprimanded her for that dramatic attitude, they never believed that she was pregnant and even less what Arnold had done.

Almost a year had passed, and Bernarda could not stand Arnold's presence, she hated him, she did not want him to touch her anymore and he did not want to be near her either. Maybe it was Bernarda's cadaverous appearance or the remorse, but he could not force her to fulfill her responsibilities as a wife.

All this was, until an uncle of Bernarda died, without knowing how, she was notified for the reading of the will. The man, who was single and without children, had named her as his universal heir, however. The only condition he set was that she had to travel the northern perimeter avenue, for a year, in a simple and very old car, and the main thing, she should not be married to Arnold Davis.

This was what she had to fulfill to inherit his company, his shares in large companies in the country and also have 47% of the shares of the Davis company.

Bernarda, who was skin and bones, suddenly felt a wave of vitality and warmth in her heart. That uncle who hardly participated in her life, who was always away from the family, had lent her a hand in such a difficult emotional and mental moment for her.

She left the place determined, hired a detective and asked for proof of her husband's affair with Sisi.

After having all the evidence in her power, she went to that bastard's office and made things clear, divorce, or she would disseminate that material everywhere. Her beloved Sisi would be nothing more than a lover in everyone's eyes and he, a wretch, would talk about her abortion and she is sure that people will believe her.

Arnold was furious, ignorant of what was happening with his wife's deceased uncle, he decided to accept. Anyway, he was tired of seeing her as a ghost all the time, he had already fulfilled the family commitment, so he could marry Sisi and be happy.

However, as the frivolous and egomaniacal man he was, he told her that he would sign, but she would not take anything, not a penny.

Bernarda agreed, but reminded him that the shares of the Davis company were hers, it was a gift that Arnold's father made to her before the marriage as an engagement gift, so she would not give that up, the man could not object, since that was true, but he would only give her that and nothing else.

Bernarda looked at him as one would look at a piece of shit, she hated him with all her being, so she accepted leaving Arnold disoriented.

Of course, she didn't need that money now, nor her family's money. Her mother could yell at her all day, her father could disinherit her if he wanted, her brother could lecture her about how daughters should put up with infidelity, but Bernarda, she only wanted one thing: her freedom from all of them.

That's how the divorce was finalized, with long faces on both sides. However, Bernarda's eyes were bright.

She only had to complete the trips, although she didn't know the reason, she would continue with that task. Part of the inheritance had been given to her, although she was happy, the most important thing was still missing: the shares of the Davis group.

That day, Bernarda received a visit from Arnold and Sisi, the woman with a small belly that she provocatively caressed. The malicious woman looked at her with amusement.

Arnold, on the other hand, urged her to attend their wedding. If she wasn't there, everyone would speak ill of him and Sisi. Her presence would give the impression that their relationship was healthy even after the divorce.

However, Bernarda had a pain in her heart, not for Arnold, that love had broken long ago, but for the child they forced her to lose, whom they murdered so that another woman could be happy, an innocent who was not to blame for that war of hyenas.

That's how she left her office and went home devastated by the dream of the child who never came. She realized too late that she hadn't done the route. She had a GPS in that old car, so the lawyer would count the times she did the route.

In comfortable clothes from home, she hurried out, unaware of the storm that was brewing.

On the way, she saw how large, heavy drops fell around her, turning into a storm of great magnitude.

She ended up getting scared, even more so when the dilapidated car stopped and turned off.

That day was definitely not her day, so, in the silence of the vehicle, listening to the furious storm raging outside, she couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears. She felt so alone and helpless, sometimes she felt that the middle-aged lawyer was warmer than any of her family.

It was at that moment when she felt those knocks on the car window. They made her turn and there was a man who looked like the most handsome gangster she had ever seen, looking at her with wet hair and thick drops rolling down his handsome and angular face.

The handsome Alexander hooked Bernarda's dilapidated car to his workshop. It was a fact that that beauty was more dilapidated on the inside than that old car.

Bernarda got out, timidly looking at the huge man who took out a towel and handed it to her.

While she looked around, very distrustful and scared, she heard the man's voice trying not to look at her much, although it was impossible.

"Miss, your car is really in bad shape. It would be good if you left it in my workshop, I can fix it, and you're going to catch a cold. I have some clothes to lend you, don't worry, actually I..." But before the man could continue, a precious 11-year-old girl entered the workshop with shyness and tears in her eyes.

"Daddy..., my stomach hurts, and I'm bleeding, I think I have my first period. They talked to us about that at school the other day," she said softly and flushed with embarrassment, and there was no one else to ask, although Alexander's stepmother is always around, the girls didn't feel good near her, she always criticized them and bossed them around as she wanted and they were always scared.

The beautiful Belle realized the presence and turned pale. The beautiful woman who was standing there with a confused face was truly imposing, but at the same time made her feel happy, she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

Alexander, on the other hand, scratched his head, he had read about it, but saying it was more difficult until he saw the woman smile sweetly.

"Hello precious, you are very pretty, my name is Bernarda, and you?" she said with a soft voice, a little cold, but it seemed trustworthy.

Belle looked at her father asking permission to speak, the man nodded, after all, that beautiful woman would stay for a while until the roads clear of water and she can call a taxi or he takes her home.

"Hello, I'm Belle, he's my dad," she said while blushing, she remembered that she had entered talking about something so intimate.

Bernarda, on the other hand, immediately rummaged in the car, she remembered that she had her period not long ago and had things that would help Belle, in addition, she should talk to her about this if she wanted to.

"Belle, look, I have here an electric heater, if you put it here, under your stomach, it hurts less, and here I have some pills for pain and swelling, also, I have some sanitary napkins, they are very thin, but comfortable, they are made of fabric and will not cause irritation," said Bernarda while holding the things in her hands making her look like a juggler.

Belle looked at her and lowered her head, she approached without making eye contact with her and said softly while taking her by the sleeve of her sweater, pulling her towards the house and out of the workshop.

"Aunt, Bernarda, can you help me? please, I don't know how to do it," she whispered while Bernarda had a happy face, that almost broke her mouth from smiling so much.

Bernarda entered the house and saw that everything was simple, but very clean and cozy. She felt happy, just seeing the colors, the dolls that decorated the shelves.

She helped Belle with that issue, told her what she should do and that, if it hurt a lot, she should talk to her father so that he asks for permission at school. She couldn't go so sore, it could be worse.

He left a once anxious, but now comfortable and calm, Belle in bed, putting on a video of comedic movies so her mood wouldn't drop.

As she was leaving the place, a small earthquake collided with her, little Samira looked at her and, unexpectedly, said...

"Are you my daddy's girlfriend? Are you coming to live with us?" she said smiling, while Bernarda was speechless.

Poor Alexander rushed to cover the girl's mouth, but before he could, she decided to finish off dad's honor.

"My daddy doesn't have girlfriends, he's never had a girlfriend, I think he's a virgin..., he should be a great catch, right?" she said laughing as Alexander's hand achieved its goal, it was truly embarrassing.

Bernarda almost burst out laughing at such an offer, she was really amused by the energy of the precious Samira.

"Hello, I'm not your dad's girlfriend, but, thank you for the offer, it's really irresistible," she said smiling, until she realized what she herself had said.

Maybe the girls' mother was around, while she was speculating about a marriage proposal.

Alexander cleared his throat and clarified so she wouldn't be scared.

"Miss, I'm sorry, she's a bit of a talker, her mother passed away when Samira was 3, and Belle was 6, it was very hard for Belle, I'm her mother's younger brother, I have custody, they are my daughters legally and also in my heart, so don't get angry if they get intense about the possible future mom thing," said Alexander putting a pot on the stove, it was a soup he had prepared for the girls' dinner, he knew it would rain and be cold, and he didn't want them to eat greasy things, their little bellies cooled down easily.

She looked at him attentively, he was truly an excellent uncle, a great father, a man with values ​​and commitment, how can there be men like that in the world and one falls in love with ogres? she wondered silently.

Alexander turned around and went to a room, took out dry clothes for the woman, gave them to her and showed her the bathroom.

She only nodded, it was when she realized that those clothes must have been her sister's, the girls' mother's, she felt very flattered to be treated with such affection.

After being dry, she took out her cell phone and called Dr. Roman, the lawyer who handles her uncle's inheritance, making the delivery according to what was established.

She asked him to pick her up and sent him the address, without knowing that, on the other side, the middle-aged man had a smile from ear to ear.

Bernarda had dinner while talking with Alex and Sami, who had a very calm interaction. When Dr. Roman had already arrived, Bernarda never imagined what would come with that situation.

"Berni, I'm glad you called me, I see you know Alexander Ferrer, your uncle loved him very much, he was always talking about him, but this stubborn man never wanted to agree to be closer, but, well, now that you know each other, I want to talk to you two, you know, adult talk," he said looking at a little head peeking through the door. Alex understood and took Samira to bed, checked on Belle who had already fallen asleep and returned to the living room.

Bernarda was very confused, but she was sure she was in for a surprise, it seemed that her uncle had a very dark sense of humor.

Everyone sat down, so Dr. Roman began to speak, and he had to clarify this.

"Well, I must inform you that, now that you have met and it seems that you get along well, well, Alexander, as you know, this house and the Workshop are in the name of Leyton Marin, Bernarda's uncle, in the will, it indicates that he will transfer the house to you with one condition, and that is that you marry his niece Bernarda Monterrosa, and Bernarda, that thing you long for so much, that thing you want so much, will be fully fulfilled when you marry Alex, he is a hard-working man, of course both must live in this house for a minimum of one year and can divorce in three years, but I don't think they will have any inconvenience," said the Lawyer while Bernarda and Alexander looked at each other without understanding, or rather it seemed that they had understood all too well.

Alexander frowned annoyed, he didn't expect this until he heard the man speak immediately.

"Alex, I know you're worried about the girls, but they need a mother, I know you can do this alone, but it would also be good to have support, that stepmother of yours is wanting to get in here anyway and take the girls away."

"She believes that this house was bought by your useless father and wants this house for her stupid daughter," said Roman leaving Alex speechless.

That same day he had had that topic with Belle's menstruation and he felt lost for a moment, although he had read about that topic. Even so, he felt out of place. His Samira will soon be in that stage, and now he was taking care of her more than before. His Belle was becoming more and more striking, he saw how other children looked at her, but the worst thing was that he had also seen how men older than her, by far, ended up looking at her.

Bernarda, on the other hand, was processing. A wedding was feasible, those girls are lovely. She needed those shares of the Davis consortium, she wanted revenge, she wanted to see him cry in pain when he lost everything.

"Bernarda?" said Dr. Roman, looking at her seriously.

"Eh?, we…, well, I…, I want to think about it, Alexander also, I think he has to weigh things, but I can say that if this materializes, I promise that I will help the girls in any way I can, I don't want to be a replacement for their mother, but a good protector and friend," she said softly, at that moment, she didn't look as cold as she used to be in her usual life, and it is that this house overwhelmed her with unknown feelings that had awakened at that moment.