Episode 17

After talking to my grandparents, we agreed that I would live here. They agreed that Tania could stay too, as they understood her situation.

After several days, we were moving. Tania and I already had everything packed. We were waiting for my cousin Victor, my uncle’s eldest son. A while later, he arrived in a white van.

He and the driver were helping us carry our things to the van. After a while, we were on our way to the house.

When we arrived, everyone was waiting for us outside. I feel so good with them. They are a very close family. I had never lived with so many people. It had always been my parents and me, and the people who worked for us.

The only one who doesn’t live with them is Victor, since he has his own life now. He is married and has two beautiful daughters. My uncle Tomas also used to live apart, but after the death of his wife, he decided to return to the mansion with his three children.

After the welcome, we all went to the garden to spend some time as a family. Victor took the day off to spend time with the family, since he was in charge of the family business. My uncle left him the position when he decided to get married.

I never imagined feeling the warmth and peace that being in a family gives again, let alone with a family I just met.

Nicolas:

We are only one day away from the New Year’s Eve party. After New Year’s, I will return to New York, since there is a lot of work to do there. There is work here too, but I will leave Alex in charge. It is time for him to take responsibility for one of our companies.

I was sitting at my desk reviewing some papers when I heard a knock on the door. I gave permission to come in.

“Good afternoon, sir,” says Amelia, the one who is in charge of looking for Alice.

“Some news.”

“You really haven’t changed. You are so rude. You are lucky that we have been friends since we were very young, otherwise I wouldn’t even help you,” I said with a disgusted look on my face.

“Well, hello Miss Amelia, what news do you bring me today?”

“No, you better keep acting the way you always do, formalities look terrible on you. Well, what I came for—“ she says as she sits down in the chair in front of my desk.

“I have new news about your wife.”

“Yes, you found her?” I asked, turning my attention back to her.

“Mmm, let’s say yes, but no. The information I had about her was that she was here in Russia. She was living in an apartment in a somewhat luxurious area, so I think she is fine.”

“What do you mean, ‘you think’? I thought you already found her. Give me the address of that apartment.”

“I just sent you the address, but you will go in vain. It turns out that she moved today and it is unknown where to. I asked one of the neighbors about her, but it seems she changed her name.”

“But I know it was her from the description the man gave me. The description fits her and her friend perfectly, but the man didn’t know her name.”

“Didn’t they tell you where she moved to?”

“No, they left this morning.”

“That brat is giving me a headache. Keep investigating.”

Amelia left my office.

“Damn it, Alice, where have you gotten yourself into? If I didn’t have so much work in New York, I would stay here and look for her myself.”

Alice:

The day has arrived. In a couple of hours, we will be celebrating New Year’s Eve dinner. Tania, Emma, Lucia, and I are getting ready for dinner.

After a while, we were ready. We left the room and went down to the living room, where they were already waiting for us.

After a few minutes, one of the maids came to let us know that dinner was ready. We entered the dining room.

Dinner passed with laughter and chatting. After finishing dinner, we went to the living room to wait for the New Year.

There was little time left. We all went out to the garden, starting the countdown.