Umberto looked at him coldly, said nothing for a long time and suddenly walked towards the car.
He didn’t believe Albina was dead. As long as the body was not found for a day, Albina would still be alive.
-Go to the lower reaches tomorrow. You have to find her.
After hearing Umberto’s order, Ruben did not refute it.
It was quite normal that now Mr. Santangel had obsession in his heart, but it was possible that Miss Espina really had died. Perhaps after a long wait, he would give up.
***
Since Umberto left directly from the engagement banquet, no one was able to contact him all day, so the Santangel Family and the Carballal Family were very dissatisfied.
There were many missed calls on the phone, including Yolanda’s and Umberto’s parents, however, he did not feel like answering and went straight back to the house.
As soon as he pushed the door, he saw his mother sitting on the sofa in a great fury and at the same time, Yolanda obediently stood by the side.
Seeing him return, Yolanda’s eyes lit up and then she glanced toward Mrs. Santangel with trepidation.
-Umberto, you still haven’t forgotten to come home,” Mrs. Santangel’s voice was sharp and full of anger. Do you know how much trouble you caused us by your sudden departure at the banquet? So many guests saw you leave Yolanda and go out.
-I’m in a hurry! -Umberto frowned and replied, “It’s already too late. Let them rest. If you have something to tell me, we’ll talk tomorrow.
The mother became angrier at his words:
-What could be more important than your engagement banquet? You went to see Albina, didn’t you? How shameless she is! She even seduced you out of the ceremony. Being a blind woman, she’s still such a slut.
-Madam! -Yolanda pulled her sleeve at once- -Maybe Ms. Espina has something urgent.
Mrs. Santangel interrupted her directly:
-She has nothing urgent. She’s just not happy and doesn’t expect you and Umberto to compromise. She also covets your wife’s position and the wealth of the Santangel Family. She is a scheming woman, so you cannot speak for her.
The old woman looked at Yolanda,
-What a fool you are! Your own engagement feast has been spoiled but you still think of her. You are a very kind girl, but you must have a limit to kindness, otherwise anyone will dare to humiliate you.
Umberto heard this and his face became uglier and uglier. At that moment, it was not true that Albina was alive or dead, nevertheless, his mother was slandering her, insulting her and saying bad things about her.
-Stop it! -I know you don’t like her, but Albina is not a bitch. She didn’t ask me for a penny for the divorce. She’s not like what you say, she doesn’t want the wealth of the Family.
Yolanda understood from his words that he was defending Albina, but he hated her very much, and even felt no pain when he pinched his nails on her palm.
She glanced towards Umberto’s mother and said in a weak voice:
-Madam, I also think that srta. Espina is not that kind of person. You know she has vision problem, maybe she ran into something but she had no choice, so she asked Umberto. Umberto is kind-hearted, it is impossible to leave her like that.
After hearing the words, Umberto always felt very uncomfortable and believed that there was something in his words.
Indeed he heard the following scolding from his mother.
-I know. Being a blind woman, she always wanted to get something, eager to pretend to be pitiful and gain sympathy.
Umberto’s face darkened even more. Albina’s call kept going around in his mind. She told him that Yolanda asked someone to kill her. Earlier at the hospital, she also believed that Yolanda was her mother’s murderer. Her hatred was not feigned.
Was Yolanda doing something behind her back?
-Yolanda, I have a doubt, at the banquet, why didn’t I find David? He is always after you, but where did he go today?
When Umberto asked this, he stared into Yolanda’s eyes. Seeing the panic in her eyes for a moment, he understood everything in his heart.
He thought it was like what Albina said on the phone, that Yolanda was worried that Albina would be with him again and asked someone to kill her to avoid the problem in the future.
Yolanda did her best to control her emotions and not be shy. She smiled stiffly:
-Umberto, why are you asking this? I asked David to do other things.
-Since the fire that year, your parents have been concerned about you and especially sent David to your side to protect you. His responsibility is only to protect your safety, so what kind of things do you have to ask him to do?
Umberto had a stern face, and when he thought she was engaged with him smiling while sending someone to kill Albina, her eyes were full of fury.
-Tell me, what do you need to order your personal bodyguard to do!
His voice is extremely harsh. And Yolanda’s eyes moved and she grabbed Mrs. Santangel’s arm tightly whose tears were falling.
-Umberto, what are you doing? What did I do wrong for you to judge me as a cirminal? -she cried pitifully, her eyes red, which made Mrs. Santangel very distressed.
Umberto frowned and said coldly:
-When we were engaged, Albina was chased by someone and fell into the river. It is not known whether she is alive or dead. It’s so casual that David is always by your side but he didn’t show up all day today. You have to explain yourself clearly.
-What are you saying! -the mother stared at her son and scolded him sharply- Umberto, I think you’re crazy. You treat Yolanda like that just because she’s blind. Yolanda is so kind, she won’t do these things.
-Madam, say no more -Yolanda wiped her tears and looked at Umberto with red eyes full of sadness-. Umberto, I know you don’t trust me and you think I’m going to hurt Ms. Espina, but I really didn’t do it.
-David is my bodyguard, but he is also a free man. I can’t keep him by my side all the time. Like now, he’s not here either,” she said apologetically. Today is his mother’s birthday, so I let him come back to celebrate with his mom. If you don’t believe me, you can do the research to check it out. But if you insist on distrusting me, I have nothing to say.
Yolanda said these words with so much sadness, so the old woman stared at Umberto angrily again,
-The death of a blind woman is not important.
-Stop it! -Umberto suddenly shouted and looked at his mother with red eyes, “From now on, I don’t want to hear the word blind from her mouth. Besides, Albina is not dead!
Then she glanced toward Yolanda, who was leaning weakly in her mother’s arms, and said in a harsh tone:
-I’m going to find out what happened. If it’s not your fault, I’ll ask your forgiveness.
Umberto did not continue speaking, but one could see the great anger on his face. If it was really Yolanda who did it, he would never let her get away.
Without waiting for the two to speak, he went to the bedroom directly.
Yolanda’s face was pale with fear. It’s too horrible the look on Umberto’s face at that moment. If he knew Albina was killed by David, he would never let her go.
She had to find a way not to let Umberto know.
Seeing her pale face, Mrs. Santangel comforted her:
-Yolanda, don’t be sad, Umberto is in a bad mood. You know, Albina has been by his side for three years. Even if it is a cat or a dog, you will miss him, let alone a living person.
Yolanda looked down and pretended to be obedient,
-Madam, I understand and I’m just a little sad. Umberto yelled at me and doubted me for Albina. Three years ago, he hadn’t treated me like that, but why did everything change after only three years?
-Yolanda, listen to me,” the old woman lowered her voice and looked into the bedroom. I think Albina must be dead. The river water is so cold in winter, she is blind, how can she survive? Now without her bother and because of the previous relationship between Umberto and you, Umberto will definitely fall in love with you!
When Yolanda heard this, hatred appeared in her eyes. There was nothing between Umberto and her before and only because she saved Umberto, so she got kindness from him again and again.
They were talking when the bedroom door opened abruptly. Umberto rushed out furiously, looking dark and angry,
-Where are Albina’s things? The clothes in the closet, the jewelry on the dressing table, the cosmetics and daily necessities – why have all her things disappeared!