Episode 5

" That wasn't the deal, Thomas." Santiago couldn't let Luisa go.

" Of course it is. My father called me to tell me he had accepted the deal you proposed, exchanging one of your daughters for the debt. You didn't specify which one.

" No, I didn't." I didn't let him speak.

" Now be a good negotiator and give me what's rightfully mine.

" But Mr. Thomas, what can you do with such an insignificant and tasteless girl like Luisa?" Priscila intervened.

" With all due respect, ma'am, this business is with your husband, so stay out of this." He turned his gaze to Santiago. "I'll be back for Luisa in a month.

" But the deal was that you would give me two months to repay you.

" That deal was canceled as soon as you spoke with my father." I didn't let him respond and walked out of the office.

Upon leaving the house, he encountered Luisa, but didn't pay much attention to her and left.

In the office, Santiago and Priscila had a discussion.

" You never do anything right." Priscila reproached him.

" I'm not here for your complaints, Priscila, so leave. I need to think." He sat down in his chair.

" I hope you solve this." She warned before leaving.

Santiago didn't know what to do. He cursed Ricardo for dragging him into this. Resigned, he began to prepare everything for Luisa to go with Thomas. It was either that or face the wrath of the Italian.

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" I can't do that, Dad," Agustín was worried. "I love her."

" That's not love, son. Just a simple attraction," Ricardo said calmly.

Santiago had called him to prepare a plan where Luisa wouldn't suspect anything and they could give her to Thomas.

" I'm not asking you, I'm ordering you," Ricardo declared.

" You're despicable," Agustín said.

" It's up to you, Agustín. Either you do it or forget about all of this." He gestured to everything around them. "Remember, we're on the verge of bankruptcy, and this is the only way out. So think about it."

Agustín didn't say anything and left his father's office. He loved Luisa deeply, but he couldn't abandon his family to the streets. He didn't know what to do; he wished he could disappear.

Days passed, and Agustín was visibly worried. Luisa noticed.

" What's wrong, my love?

" Nothing, why do you ask?

" Because you've been acting strange for days. Is there something you want to tell me?

" No, well yes." He sighed. "I want us to leave, Luisa. Let's leave everything behind and run away." He took her hands.

" Why are you asking me that?" She was a little confused.

" Because I love you, Luisa, and I don't want anyone to separate us." He kissed her.

" That won't happen because we'll fight for our love together. Besides, what you're asking is very dangerous. You know my father well." She lowered her head.

" Just think about it, okay?" He lifted her head and kissed her again.

When Luisa arrived home, she kept thinking about Agustín's proposal. She liked the idea, but she couldn't risk it with her father. She only had one month left until she turned 18, and then she would leave with him.

" What are you thinking about, my girl?" Carmen asked sweetly.

" About my future, Nana Carmen." She sighed. "What awaits me once I leave here?

" You're thinking of running away," Luisa denied.

" No, not like that, Nana. When I turn 18, I will walk out through the front door with my head held high." She said proudly.

" And how do you plan on doing that if you have nothing?" Priscila interrupted the conversation. "You're just a lowly and opportunistic girl."

" Funny, you describe yourself well." Priscila looked at her with hatred.

" I won't allow it, Luisa." She slapped her, and Luisa slapped her back.

" Neither will I." She slapped her again.

In the doorway, Santiago witnessed everything. With one slap, he separated Luisa from Priscila.

" Don't ever touch her again.

" Please, sir." Carmen intervened to defend Luisa.

" Don't get involved, Carmen." He pushed her away.

He grabbed Luisa by the hair and hit her in the face again.

" You have no idea how much I hate you." He grabbed her by the neck. "You shouldn't have been born. It's your fault my parents left me with nothing." He squeezed her neck with force.

Luisa tried to get her father off her but she didn't have much strength left. Nobody helped her as Priscila had Carmen held tightly to prevent her from assisting.

"Let her go!!" Matías arrived just in time and with a punch, he knocked Luisa's father off her.

Luisa started coughing desperately, her neck was in pain.

"You're crazy, Santiago. How far have you gone?" Matías embraced Luisa, who couldn't stop crying. "I'm going to take her away."

"You know you can't do that, I'm her guardian until she turns 18," he mocked.

Matías knew perfectly well that he couldn't take her yet, and this saddened Luisa, who continued crying in her brother's arms.

"You have to get out of here, Luisa, you can't continue like this," Matías told her once he brought her to her old room.

"It won't be long, brother, before we leave this place."

"No, Luisa, you have to run away before Santiago completely loses his mind."

Luisa thought about the proposal Agustín made, and she made a decision.

"Don't worry, little brother, I'm leaving here this weekend." She smiled.

"Count on me for anything," they said their goodbyes and Luisa called Agustín.

📲 Hello, Agustín, I've made up my mind.