Gossip spread very quickly.
The next morning, Mrs. Santangel learned that Albina had gone to the Aguila family party and that her son had confessed his marriage to her at the party. She was so furious that Ruben could not stop her when she rushed into the office.
-Mom, why are you so angry? -Umberto was reading a document and when he saw her enter, he put on an indifferent face.
-You don’t know why I’m so angry? -Mrs. Santangel scolded him, “The blind woman is back? I can’t believe she’s not dead.
-Her eyes have healed and I don’t want to hear the word “blind” in the future.
Mrs. Santangel saw how he defended Albina and it was clear that what had happened at the party was not a rumor.
-Did you really admit in public that you were married to her? -Mrs. Santangel seemed anxious, for three years she hadn’t let any information about Albina slip out, but it had all come out at the party.
-Yes, besides, I hugged her in public and sent her home, and everyone present saw it -Umberto flipped through a page of papers.
-How crazy, now you’re engaged to Yolanda, what are you going to make her think?
-I’ve said before that I don’t like Yolanda, you’re pushing me again and again. I am your own son, why do you have to force me to marry a woman I don’t like? -he answered indifferently.
-After all, Yolanda is smart and pretty and has a good family. She did everything for you.
-All for me? What’s the use if she’s pretty and smart and has a good family if I don’t like her? You say it’s for my sake, but you’re really only looking at the fortune of the Carballal family, aren’t you? If Yolanda hadn’t been born into the family, would you have let me marry her?
Of course not, if Yolanda wasn’t from the Carballal Group, she wouldn’t have let her son marry her.
-But what does Albina have? She can’t offer you any help, a year out, she showed up at the party, tries to get in touch with you, exposes your previous marriage in front of all the people. If you ask me, that woman only comes for the greed of wealth.
-Really, I’m afraid she didn’t want anything, then there would be nothing left in me to attract her, and since she wants my money, I have to run the Santangel Group properly, I have to stay rich -Umberto laughed.
-Mom, go away and leave me alone at work, in case you influence me to make some bad decision and the company goes bankrupt, Albina will leave me -he looked at his mother coldly.
-You are really bewitched, fascinated by that bitch,” Mrs. Santangel pointed at him with a trembling hand.
-Ruben, show the lady out.
Umberto ordered indifferently, and Ruben immediately entered through the door and gestured to Mrs. Santangel.
-I’m your mother, and you’re kicking me out? -Mrs. Santangel’s face twisted in anger.
-If you weren’t my mother, I wouldn’t let you out so gently,” Umberto raised his head.
-You bastard! I tell you, if you dare remarry Albina, you think I’ll hang myself in front of your company.
It was the same as with Yolanda, the same old trick over and over again. Life was theirs, they didn’t even appreciate it, and they wanted others to appreciate it for them.
-Use this, it’s faster -Umberto opened a drawer right away and took out a dagger and threw it on the table -But Mama, if you kill yourself, I’ll find my father a younger and prettier wife, sitting in your Mrs. Santangel’s place, with your couture clothes and your collector’s edition jewelry, and without interfering in my personal affairs. Isn’t it the best of both worlds that I marry Albina and you don’t see it?
-Umberto! -Mrs. Santangel growled angrily, but her heart was fluttering, she knew Umberto meant what he said.
-Mom, I’m going to give you two choices, either stay out of my marriage and keep on being your Mrs. Santangel, or, as I just said, take your pick! -Umberto continued to leaf through his papers.
Ruben tilted his head to his side, unable to suppress a smile. It was Umberto who could treat her.
Mrs. Santangel was so angry that she left with a pale face.
-Don’t worry, Albina, this time I won’t let anyone meddle with us -Umberto looked at the screensaver on his phone and said to himself.
Mrs. Santangel went out, but she wasn’t going to sit idly by. If she couldn’t get Umberto to give up, she could get Albina to quit and everything would be fine. She found out where Albina lived and went straight to her door.
***
Albina had sprained her foot and Ariana had forced her to stay home to recover.
Since her father and Rafael Atenas were old friends, she grew up learning to draw from the old man and, preferring fashion design, she enrolled at Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduating, her mother missed her, so she opted to return home, but before she could work, her father died and she lost her sight, and for four whole years she never touched design drawings again.
Albina used this time to practice her skills. According to her research, Yoli, the premium women’s clothing brand, is the Carballal Group’s most influential and profitable business.
To dominate the market, the Carballal Group often resorts to underhand methods to steal designers from rival companies. Thanks to these famous designers, the “Yoli” brand is increasingly influential and has gained some popularity.
But Albina has seen their latest collection, and perhaps because the Carballal Group has spent all their money on poaching designers, the new collection lacks creativity and is not at all as sophisticated as before.
Albina thought so, but her pencil didn’t stop, concentrating on the lines.
A sudden knock on the door brought Albina out of her concentration and she looked at it in confusion. She and Ariana were newly moved in and no one else knew they lived here except Miguel.
There was a steady and very vigorous pounding on the door, Miguel definitely would not.
Albina, with her things in hand, slowly approached the door and peered through the peephole, and was very surprised by the person outside.
It was Mrs. Santangel.
Then she realized that Mrs. Santangel must have heard about what happened last night. Although it was scary to see the anger on her face, Albina opened the door, she was no longer the person who had been humiliated by her. She wanted to see what Mrs. Santangel could do.
Mrs. Santangel was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened and she stumbled and almost fell inside.
-Why did you open the door so suddenly, if I fall, you can pay for it?
-What do you want?
Mrs. Santangel frowned at his lack of response and looked into her eyes. Those eyes were bright, and it looked like the bitch’s eyes had really healed. He pushed Albina aside and entered the house, eyeing the furnishings with distaste.
-This is the kind of place you live in, it disgusts me.
-Madam, you are no longer my mother-in-law and you have entered my house without the owner’s permission, I can sue you! -Albina heard the sarcasm and closed the door behind her.