Episode 16

It goes without saying how unusual that conversation was; Lucy thought Leonardo was joking and began looking all around, wondering if someone had a camera in hand. She was on the verge of tears due to Leonardo's words, but he smiled and said:

"I'm not some madman who goes around ordering hits for nothing, I've already completed my revenge and because of that, my soul is a bit lighter. Daniel did wrong when he hurt you, it's true, but he doesn't deserve to die for it. Love is a war we enter unarmed, every man for himself; it was just one battle, you lost this time, but it doesn't mean you'll lose forever. I'm sure God has something better prepared for you, just believe."

Hearing those words, Lucy breathed a bit easier; her life had turned into a big mess, but having grown accustomed to chaos, Lucy just gave a small smile. After that strange talk, Leonardo planned to go up to his room, but at that moment, Lucy interjected, saying:

"Okay, so that story was really bizarre and scary too, but all I know is we're alone here, we have to look after each other, so I'm going to make some changes, not just in the house, but also in my life," Lucy said with a smile and then went to give Leonardo a hug.

"You have carte blanche, tell me, will you take over my position or would you like for me to find you a job in one of New York's top hospitals?"

"Don't start with suggestions, haha. I'll live one day at a time; being part of the Navarro group terrified me, I need some time."

Lucy said calmly, showing that despite the shock being substantial, she wasn't upset because deep down she knows Leonardo is just another victim. After talking for a while longer, Leonardo and Lucy went to have dinner, always chatting animatedly about which paths to take from here on out. Lucy had one certainty: Daniel's absence was causing her a great deal of pain. When they finished dinner, each went to their respective rooms. Lucy was so tired that she just took a quick shower, brushed her teeth, slipped on a simple nightgown, and collapsed into bed planning to sleep, but no matter how exhausted, every time she closed her eyes, it was Daniel's image she saw.

While engrossed in her thoughts, Lucy was startled when her phone suddenly rang. She looked at the caller ID and furrowed her brow upon realizing it was Carol, surely wanting to explain herself, but Lucy was not in the mood.

"Grandpa today crossed the line with the huge load of bizarre info he dumped on me; let's talk tomorrow," Lucy whispered to herself before trying to sleep.

Meanwhile, Daniel was distracted. Juliana had been speaking to him for a while, but the man hadn't responded. The woman, with her lovely figure, red hair, bright eyes, and angelic face, was about to lose her patience but couldn't afford to show it.

"I don't know why you called me over; I see you're sad and really in need of love and care. But all you've done since I arrived is cry and look at pictures on your phone; maybe I should leave," Juliana said, then sat down beside Daniel. Using a somewhat sugary voice and puckering up, she really wanted attention. Daniel, who had been all the while looking at Isabel's photos and reminiscing the past, put his phone away, managed a smile, and said:

"Sorry about that; actually, I called you here to tell you that I'm divorced from Lucy; she's gone to an unknown place."

"I should be happy, but I'm not, for some reason, I'm missing her," he thought as he watched Juliana's reaction. The young woman beamed with warmth and then sat on Daniel's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck:

"That's wonderful, my love, now we can get married," Juliana said enthusiastically and leaned in to kiss Daniel, but he turned his face away, dodging her lips.

"What did I say wrong?" Juliana wondered as she stared intently at Daniel.

"Nothing, darling, I just think you deserve the best. I smell like whiskey; I'll go take a shower, be right back," said Daniel and swiftly left the place, in need of a shower but also because he was thinking of Lucy, and did not feel it was fair to kiss his beloved while thinking of another woman.

Daniel raced upstairs and immediately entered his room, again overcome by an endless sadness. Therefore, he decided to change rooms, fearing this to happen every day.

"Well, I won't deny what I'm feeling. I love Juliana, but I also miss Lucy. However, I think spending more time with my girlfriend will eventually make me forget my ex-wife, at least that's what I want, for it makes no sense to feel what I'm feeling right now," Daniel said to himself, trying to stay calm.

He then took a shower and brushed his teeth, after which Daniel donned only a pair of black sweatpants, spritzed some cologne, combed his hair and returned to the living room. Juliana was lying on the couch, speaking to someone on the phone. She ended the call quickly and said:

"A man's shower is on another level; if it were a woman, she'd spend at least 20 minutes just washing her hair," she said, smiling. Daniel did not engage in the conversation but said:

"I'm sure there's a huge hole in my stomach, I'm starving," Daniel said, hoping that Juliana would offer to cook for him, but that didn't happen. The woman also said she was hungry and even suggested ordering a pizza.