Marco departed from the company with Monique, and instructed his secretary to lock his office when she left. He didn't want anyone to spoil the surprise he had planned for Alexa. Hence, after taking these precautions, they went out to lunch together.
Monique, on her part, was annoyed. She disliked the special attention Marco paid that young girl, so in jest, she told him, "Marco, maybe Alexa is your daughter."
Hearing such a preposterous statement, Marco lifted his gaze, looked at her and, with an iciness in his voice, replied, "Don't ever joke about something like that again. Alexander is my brother, and Mariana is like a sister to me. I don't understand why I sometimes can't make sense of you, but I’m telling you now, if you’re going to continue with your nonsense, we'd better think things over, because I'm not in the mood for this kind of foolishness."
"Honey, it was just a joke; don't take it so seriously," she said, apologizing with a wink. She knew she needed to make amends with Marco after lunch, so she decided to take him to her apartment. She couldn't cancel their plans at such a crucial moment…
The next day, Lucio received a phone call that turned his face ashen. Through the line, the wails and cries of a woman who didn't understand what had happened and was screaming for help could be heard.
Lucio immediately took out his phone and tried to call Marco, but his phone was switched off. With no other choice, he reluctantly called Marco’s tiresome girlfriend, so he dialed her number. As her phone began to ring, the two people entwined in the sheets under the covers awoke.
Marco opened his eyes and muttered, "Your phone's ringing," and she just nodded, reaching out to grab it. But when she saw Lucio's name on the display, she was surprised and exclaimed, "It's Lucio."
"Why would he call you? I didn't know you were that close," Marco said, puzzled, so he urged her to answer.
Monique rolled her eyes in annoyance but answered the call. All she heard on the line was the man's voice saying, "Let me talk to Marco."
She turned towards Marco and simply said, "He wants to speak to you."
"Darling, I'll make some breakfast while you talk to your friend," she suggested.
He just nodded, and upon answering, noticed Lucio's voice sounded odd, so he demanded abruptly, "What's going on?"
"It's Alex...our friend."
"What about him?"
"They found him dead in his office; it looks like he committed suicide."
"What? That can't be true. Where are you? I’m coming right now."
"I am on my way to his house. Mariana...she's taking it really badly."
"We’ll meet there," Alexander hung up abruptly, searching for his clothes and phone. Noticing the phone was off, he assumed Monique was responsible. He’d address it later, but for now, he quickly got dressed, left the bedroom even as Monique tried to ask him something. He just told her he'd call her back later and made a hasty exit without looking back.
Furious, she hurled everything she had prepared for breakfast onto the floor while cursing under her breath, "Damn Marco. You'll pay when I become your wife."
Minutes later, Marco joined Lucio outside Alexander's house. They were both filled with a sad and questioning gaze. They knew the moment would be anything but easy, yet as they gathered courage to enter, they found a distraught Mariana. Little Alexa wasn't there, fortunately. Her grandmother had picked her up, hoping to spare her from the tragic scene.
Lucio approached Mariana, and seeing him, she flung herself into his arms, weeping, "Tell me this is a joke, that it's not true."
Marco observed the scene, feeling as if a sword pierced his heart. He and Alexander had been close friends. Marco had skipped grades due to his exceptional intellect—he was referred to as the ‘brainy one’ or the ‘nerdy handsome’ of their trio. Pranks were common among them, but nothing like this tragedy had ever crossed their minds.
Marco spoke to the officer to learn the details. The officer's report suggested suicide, and the case was closed without a full investigation. To Marco, the situation seemed suspicious, especially the hasty conclusion and lack of thorough investigation. His rage intensified when he heard the officer's next announcement.
"We're not here just to notify the family of the death. We're here to evict them. The lady can’t stay here anymore; her husband lost the house. Perhaps that’s why he killed himself—out of guilt for leaving his family destitute. Such an irresponsible man."
Marco looked on with indignation. Furious about the prematurely closed case, the lack of investigation, the attempt to evict the family, he silently resolved to settle the score later, with proper evidence. He didn't want to burden Mariana with his doubts right now. Instead, he subtly approached Mariana and said, "Did you hear what the officer mentioned?"
She looked back at him with red, swollen eyes, "I don’t care about losing the house. I can't bear the thought of never seeing Alexander again."
Her words stirred both Lucio and Marco. Marco was aware that Lucio had always harbored feelings for Mariana. Lucio had stepped aside when he realized Mariana and Alexander were a couple. Mariana had been friends with Lucio first, but he had been too shy to confess his feelings in time, and when he finally did, she was already involved with Alexander. Respecting their relationship, Lucio had given up on his feelings to see her happy with his friend.
Lucio took Mariana home with him that day, and Marco made no objection, knowing that Monique would create drama and the situation could become awkward. Lucio would not hurt Mariana and would look after her and Alexa.
After Alexander's vigil and subsequent burial, everyone was still in shock.
Finding herself in dire straits, Mariana decided to work. She had a daughter to support, even though Alexander's friends offered help. Upon learning that she was job hunting, Marco hired her as his assistant. He was now married to Monique, whose jealous tantrums and outbursts prompted Mariana to resign, to avoid trouble for Marco. He refused to accept her resignation, instead transferring her to another area to keep the peace with Monique.
Monique, a middling model who enjoyed living in the spotlight, had seen her career soar upon becoming Mrs. Lombardo.
Lucio changed his ways over time and eventually asked Mariana to be his girlfriend. She was stunned by the proposal, but Alexa's words surprised her even more, as the child told her to accept "Daddy Lucio." Though Mariana's heart still ached for Alexander, she decided to give love a chance.
That afternoon, Lucio met with Marco and revealed his proposal. Marco hadn't taken it well, feeling as though it betrayed his friend. Still, he realized that Mariana was young and deserved to live her life happily, and with someone, she knew well.
"So Lucio, how did little Alexa react to the news?"
"Well, she's thrilled. She called me 'Dad.' And Mariana agreed to give us a chance. You know it's no secret that I've always loved her. I respected the fact that she chose Alexander, my brother, but I won't continue to hide my feelings any longer."
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