Mafalda Alcazar, 25, was watching the time on the wall clock in the office of the publishing house she worked for, and couldn't understand why her boss, Joshua Ravelo, 32, had made her work overtime that day.

"Boss, I need to leave," Mafalda said with concern.

Joshua lifted his face and looked at Mafalda sternly, and had to admit that she looked very glamorous with that look.

"Are you finished?" Joshua asked sarcastically.

Mafalda shook her head because it was very difficult for her to finish all the work that Joshua had assigned her at the last minute.

"I'm sorry, boss, but it's impossible for me to finish."

"Then you can't leave," Joshua said emphatically.

Joshua watched her with a very stern expression, which made her feel intimidated.

"I really need to leave," Mafalda said with a very contrite expression.

Joshua's attractive face distorted with annoyance at that moment, and he pronounced each word sternly.

"Why do you have to leave so early?" Joshua asked.

Mafalda played with her hands and was very nervous because Joshua's dominant personality made her feel very intimidated.

"It's my sister's engagement party today," Mafalda replied.

Joshua Ravelo did not hide his expression of displeasure at that moment because he deliberately made her work late so that she could not attend her sister's engagement party.

"I assumed you wouldn't go to that party," Joshua said indifferently.

Mafalda knew that her boss was right and that she shouldn't go to that place, so she lowered her face feeling ashamed because she didn't want to go to that party, the problem is that her mother begged her to attend and guaranteed that nothing would happen.

"I promised my mom," Mafalda murmured with resignation.

Joshua shook his head because Cecilia de Alcazar always manipulated Mafalda so that she would end up giving in to the incessant manipulations of her sister Lilly, and he realized that the time had come to intervene before something serious happened to her and with much regret decided to execute the plan he had planned for Mafalda for some time.

"Mafalda, would you be willing to go to the new headquarters of the publishing house in my name?" Joshua asked.

This was a very difficult decision because the idea of Mafalda living in another country so far away from him terrified him, however, when he thought that she would end her contact with her toxic family members he felt relief, and although he loved her, he had to let her go and it was lucky that she had never realized his feelings.

"Are you serious, boss?" Mafalda asked in amazement.

Mafalda put on an astonished expression because of his words, but when she realized that Joshua was watching her impatiently because he was serious, she smiled very excitedly because this was an excellent job opportunity and she couldn't believe that her bitter boss offered her that vacancy because since she worked for Joshua he was always very stern with her.

"Do I seem like the type of person who makes jokes?" Joshua asked angrily.

Mafalda shook her head and shuddered when she saw the expression on Joshua's face as if he didn't like her.

"No boss, you are a very serious person and never make jokes," Mafalda replied with a regrettable expression.

Internally, Joshua laughed at her regrettable expression and wondered how she could look so adorable at that moment, he wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be alright and that no one from that family would ever hurt her again, but then he remembered that he was only her boss and that they were not close beyond being neighbors in the past.

"If you need to think about it, I'll give you until tomorrow to tell me what your answer is," Joshua suggested.

Mafalda didn't need to think about it any longer and made her decision immediately because staying in this city was to continue experiencing the same humiliations over and over again, because even though she was not responsible for the mistake that the hospital made when they switched both her and Lilly at birth, however, they turned her into the scapegoat as if it were her fault.

"It's not necessary, boss, I already have my answer and I'm willing to move to the new headquarters," Mafalda said.

Joshua was very happy, although his expression didn't show it, so at that moment they both began to discuss the details of the proposal without realizing that time was passing and it was getting late.

"Everything is ready for your transfer to the new headquarters next week," Joshua said, flashing a smile.

Mafalda was impressed by the speed with which Joshua acted because it was as if everything was already ready and he was simply waiting for her to accept.

"Boss, thank you for the opportunity and I promise not to disappoint you," Mafalda assured.

Mafalda and Joshua were talking very animatedly about what her functions would be in the new headquarters when the incessant ringing of Mafalda's phone broke the good atmosphere and when Mafalda realized who it was, she put a fearful expression on her face and by instinct could not help but answer it.

"Mafalda, why haven't you arrived yet?" Mafalda's father asked impatiently.

Mafalda heard the stern tone in Velasco Alcazar's voice and shuddered because it was easy to notice his impatience, and she tried not to be affected because she was aware that no matter what she said, Velasco would always think his fake daughter was acting badly.

"I'm sorry dad, I was late, although I'm already waiting for a taxi to take me to the party," Mafalda replied.

Mafalda didn't want to share the good news of her promotion with her father because she knew him and knew that she would only receive reproaches from him, making her feel as if it was something insignificant.

"Mafalda, how can you arrive at your sister's engagement party by taxi?" Velasco asked with irritation.

Mafalda felt a lump in her throat because she always hoped that her dad would love her at least a little and care about issues such as her safety, however, after so many years the hard heart of this man was not moved and the only thing that worried him is what his friends would think.

"Dad, I don't see what I'm doing wrong," Mafalda replied, justifying herself.

"Do you want my friends to think that I don't take care of my adopted daughter?" Velasco asked with annoyance.

Mafalda finally shed a tear ruining her makeup and that image broke Joshua's heart because he wanted to help her, while she was a strong woman being constantly harassed by these hyenas would eventually destroy her.

"I'm going to arrive soon dad, so don't worry because I'm not going to make you look bad with your friends."

Joshua handed her a handkerchief and she gave a bitter smile because now she had also humiliated herself in front of her boss.

"Mafalda, you shouldn't go to that party if you don't want to," Joshua insisted.

Mafalda did not answer Joshua, she simply returned his handkerchief and went to the bathroom from where she called for a taxi to go to the place and when she left the bathroom after touching up her makeup she noticed that Joshua was still waiting for her.

"See you tomorrow boss," Mafalda said coldly.

Joshua reached out to hold her and tell her to stay because he had a bad feeling and unfortunately he was very assertive when that happened to him and that she should not attend that party.

"Mafalda, why are you so stubborn?" He said to himself.

Joshua watched as Mafalda got into a vehicle from a well-known taxi company, which gave him a little relief, so he went to his office, where he made a couple of calls. Then, impatiently, he straightened his suit and took the keys to his car to prevent whatever Lilly was trying to do from succeeding.

"I hope I get there in time," he said to himself.

Mafalda was silent in the taxi, and despite the bitter moment before, she was happy because this would be the last time she would give in to her family's wishes. The reason for coming was because she needed to say goodbye and put an end to this stage of her life.

"We've arrived at your destination, miss," said the driver.

Mafalda looked at the place Lilly had chosen to celebrate her engagement and felt chills. Besides, the sky was cloudy as if it was about to rain, and she was afraid of lightning.

"Even the sky knows that all this is a farce," she said to herself.

Lilly Alcazar, 25, looked at herself in the mirror and smiled smugly because, in contrast to her adopted sister Mafalda, she was a woman with very white skin, green eyes, curly brown hair. In general, she was very beautiful and sophisticated, and that pale blue dress she was wearing that night made her look very delicate.

"What do you think, Mom?" Lilly asked.

Cecilia de Alcazar watched her daughter and thought she looked so beautiful that night, and she looked so much like her that it was undeniable that she was her biological daughter.

"You look gorgeous, Lilly," Cecilia replied, very moved.

Lilly turned around, full of pride, while her mother watched her, and the reason for feeling so happy was because that night she would finally achieve her goal of making Mafalda be rejected by her parents, expelling her from the Alcazar family forever.

"Do you think I'm prettier than my sister?" Lilly asked.

Cecilia frowned slightly because Lilly always made comparisons between her and Mafalda, and she didn't like it. After all, she had raised Mafalda and also considered her daughter, although she never defended her properly because of her cowardice.

"Yes," Cecilia replied.

Cecilia knew she was acting wrong, the problem was that she was a weak woman, of character, and she didn't like to contradict her daughter. After all, it was her fault that she missed those first years of her life and gave her care and love to a daughter who was not hers.

"I hope my sister doesn't play one of her tricks tonight," Lilly said, feigning innocence.

Cecilia wasn't comfortable with this conversation and was about to tell Lilly that if she was so afraid of Mafalda's reaction, she shouldn't have pressured her so much to attend the party. However, at that moment, Velasco entered the room with an expression of disgust on his face and decided to remain silent.

"Can you believe that Mafalda is not only going to be late, but she's going to take a taxi?" Velasco asked angrily.

Lilly flashed a slight smile on her face because her sister wouldn't disappoint her. However, when she felt her mother watching her with a little annoyance, she changed her expression to one of regret and looked at her father, who, seeing her so aggrieved, couldn't help but feel very moved.

"Dad, I'm sure Mafalda doesn't have bad intentions," Lilly said in a soothing tone of voice.

Velasco softened the expression on his face and smiled at Lilly, who, unlike Mafalda, was delicate and well-behaved.

"Lilly, you don't need to justify her," Velasco replied disdainfully.

Lilly approached Velasco and hugged him in a very childish attitude, which this stern businessman loved.

"I'm not justifying her, Dad, it's just that I think my sister must be very sad because I'm getting engaged to her childhood sweetheart," Lilly said, on the verge of tears.

Velasco Alcazar was a 52-year-old man, with classic features, very attractive, and always had a very severe expression on his face. And to everyone around them, they had a perfect life.

"Stop talking nonsense because feelings can't be forced, and Joaquin loves you," Velasco said.

Joaquin Guzman, 25, was Lilly's fiance, and he is Joshua's cousin and neighbor of the two sisters. Since the beginning of university, he courted Mafalda, and when she agreed to be his girlfriend and they were just starting their relationship, Lilly, true to her nature, interfered between them, causing them to break up.

"This is not the time to talk about that," Cecilia said impatiently.

Velasco and Lilly looked at Cecilia with a touch of anger because they disliked her supporting Mafalda even though they were not right.

"Mafalda behaves in such a shameless way because you support her," Velasco said.

Lilly noticed the tension between her parents and realized that this was not good for her plans, so she decided to intervene to mediate between them.

"Mom, Dad, tonight is a time to celebrate as a family."

Lilly urged them to give each other a family hug and was happy because her efforts of so many years would finally bear fruit.

"Let's celebrate," Lilly said.

The Alcazar family had rented a colonial-style house on the outskirts of the city for the celebration, which had the peculiarity of preserving much of the charm of those old buildings with basements and cellars for the preservation of wine, and all the decoration was chosen personally by Lilly.

"Congratulations, Lilly, because everything turned out beautifully," Cecilia said.

Mafalda arrived at that moment and caught the attention of the people in the place not only because she had arrived by taxi but because it was evident that she did not belong to that family, after all, she was a fake daughter, although that did not diminish her exotic beauty in the slightest.

"Finally, you arrived," Velasco muttered annoyedly.

Velasco approached Mafalda to give her a hug because after all, he had to show an image of a loving father.

"Dad, you wanted me to come, so here I am," Mafalda replied in a low tone of voice.

"Try not to ruin things for your sister," Velasco warned her.

Velasco greeted the guests in the company of his two daughters, showing himself as a proud family man.

"Velasco, you make me a little envious, you have two such beautiful daughters," said one of his business partners.

The obese man looked lustfully at Mafalda, which did not go unnoticed by Velasco, and he smiled complicitly at his lewd friend.

"Now that Lilly is going to get married, I suppose it's time for Mafalda to do it too," Velasco replied brazenly.

Mafalda rolled her eyes, which did not go unnoticed by several of the guests, causing reproaches in some and smiles in others. Joshua, who had arrived, heard Velasco's comment and clenched his fists angrily.

"Stubborn woman, I warned you not to come to this place," Joshua muttered.

Joshua had no reason to attend this party because his relationship with his cousin was terrible, besides, he couldn't stand the shameless Lilly and everyone was surprised when he made his appearance in that celebration.

"I assumed you wouldn't come," Joaquin said.

Joaquin always felt envy of his cousin, who despite becoming an orphan when he was eight years old and moving as a refugee into his parents' house, was always an outstanding student and is currently a very successful businessman by his own merit.

"And miss the free food and drinks," Joshua replied sarcastically.

Joshua resented his cousin a lot because he treated him very badly while growing up in his aunt and uncle's house, and especially when he began to court Mafalda because he knew that he would never take her seriously and would play with her because the heiress of the Alcazar family would obviously be Lilly, and for Joaquin, a second-generation rich man who needed a wife with strong backing, Mafalda would only be a toy that he would soon tire of.

"It's not like you're short on money either," Joaquin said with a touch of envy in his voice.

Joshua was the owner of a very influential publishing house in the city and was currently expanding his business to another country.

"You're right, Joaquin, I'm not short on money, I just want to see how much of a sycophant you can be."

Joaquin wanted to hit his cousin, unfortunately, he knew that he couldn't do it because he feared the reprisals that he could take against him, part of Joshua's success was not due to the publishing house but to the fact that he had associated with very dangerous people from the city's underworld.

"Are you envious?" Joaquin asked sarcastically.

Joshua burst out laughing because Joaquin felt triumphant due to his imminent marriage to Lilly, although he decided that for Mafalda's sake he would not be very severe with the Alcazars, it was good that they were now enjoying so much prosperity because in the future he would make things more and more difficult for them.

"No, because nothing good can come from the union between a serial cheater and an intriguing woman," Joshua replied indifferently.

Joaquin wanted to refute Joshua's words, but deep down he knew that he was right, although he liked Lilly very much he didn't mind having relationships with other women and as for his fiancee he knew that she was not someone to be trusted.

"At least I have a beautiful woman by my side and I'm going to take the fake daughter to bed too," Joaquin said smugly.

Joshua didn't show his cousin the anger that overwhelmed him at that moment, although it was very difficult to contain himself, luckily Mafalda would soon leave that place and none of those vicious people would harm her ever again because he would take care of protecting her in the shadows because he wanted her to be happy.

"I want you to be happy, even if it's not with me," he said to himself.

Joshua walked towards the exit because he needed to talk to his best friend Caleb Garcia, who was a chief of investigators for the police and he was trying to convince him that he should send agents to the party.

"Joshua, I can't move my agents just because of a hunch and bother all those people," Caleb said with concern.

"In the past my hunches have been of great help to you," Joshua retorted.

Caleb snorted angrily because the truth is that he owed Joshua many favors.

"Okay, Joshua, I'm going to send someone," Caleb replied with resignation.

Even though the police were on their way, Joshua had brought with him two people he trusted and they usually did reconnaissance work.

"Watch Mafalda at all times," Joshua ordered.

That feeling that something bad was going to happen was very overwhelming and he tried to calm down and told himself that everything was going to be alright.

"Mafalda, I hope everything is alright or else I might go crazy," he said to himself.

Lilly put a very malicious smile on her face because tonight she would disgrace her sister so that her only way out would be to marry Velasco's partner to regain her parents' favor, she couldn't stop laughing as she walked towards her sister Mafalda.

"Sister, I'm so glad you decided to attend my engagement party," Lilly said with feigned emotion.

Mafalda was standing in the farthest corner of the place, with a glass of wine in her hand and the truth is that she didn't want to come to this party because she suspected that Lilly, as always, was plotting something against her, the problem is that her mother insisted that she should be the most mature person and keep the peace, and that this would be her farewell to the Alcazar family.

"It wasn't for pleasure," Mafalda replied impatiently.

Lilly observed her adopted sister with veiled disdain, compared to her, a tall woman, Mafalda was barely 1.60 meters tall, she was mestizo with brown eyes, her beautiful face was framed by long black hair which she wore loose, and because she had vision problems she wore glasses, although that didn't diminish her beauty, and she had to admit that in that vintage style black dress she was very striking.

"Mafalda, you must be very burned up because Joaquin chose me," Lilly said proudly.

Although Lilly's words were filled with hatred towards Mafalda, she remained impassive because the love of a treacherous man is worth less than a pile of garbage, the problem was how to explain that to her stubborn sister.

"Lilly, there's something you don't understand, and that is that a tiger never loses its stripes," Mafalda replied.

Lilly couldn't stop laughing and inciting Mafalda to react with anger because she felt like a winner and from tonight on her sister would only be an annoying memory for the Alcazar family.

"Mafalda, stop putting that smug expression on your face because inside you must be very sad because after Joaquin used you, you were discarded," Lilly mocked.

Mafalda shook her head because she understood her sister's very basic thinking, however, there was something that Lilly didn't know and that is that despite the amount of rumors that were spread among her relatives because of her sister calling her a promiscuous woman, the reality was that she never slept with Joaquin and her virtue was still intact.

"Lilly, what you don't understand is that a cheating man never changes," Mafalda replied.

Lilly watched Mafalda, who had an indifferent expression on her face, and that infuriated her a lot, because they had competed throughout their lives and although it was exhausting, she wasn't willing to give in because in the end she would be the only winner because she was the biological daughter and Mafalda had stolen what was rightfully hers for years.

"That's a lie!" Lilly said impatiently.

"Think what you want Lilly and if you felt so sure you wouldn't have insisted that I attend this party."

"You're wrong Mafalda, I just wanted you to see for yourself that Joaquin loves me," Lilly said smugly.

Mafalda shrugged because she was fed up with this situation, luckily this would be the last time she would have to deal with her insidious sister and her dirty tricks because she had accepted the job offer abroad that Joshua offered her and in a week she would go far away and had no intention of returning.

"Then congratulations to the cheater and the harpy," Mafalda said, raising her glass to toast.

Lilly put an angry expression on her face and took this as her signal to execute her plan, and like the good actress she was, she put on a regrettable expression as if she had received the worst of insults.

"You're going to regret it, slut," Lilly said maliciously.

Mafalda watched in horror as Lilly deliberately tripped over her so that her glass of wine stained her pale blue dress as she began to cry.