-Mr. Santangel, what can I do? -Ruben entered and was surprised to see Umberto’s face.
-Where did my mother go after the company left? -Umberto looked up with a stern look.
Ruben hurried to have someone check and soon got an answer, looking at Umberto cautiously:
-It seems that the lady had someone find out Miss Espina’s address and went straight there, she just left and I heard she left in a huff.
Umberto gave a violent knock on the table and got up at once, picking up the clothes from the back of the chair and going out.
-Where are you going? There’s a meeting later.
-Stay, preside over the meeting for me.
With that, he left without looking back.
Within two minutes, Ruben saw through the window that his he was driving away in his car, leaving at high speed. He sighed, already knowing in his heart that only Albina could make Mr. Santangel so unfriendly.
Ruben calmly asks for a new steel desk to be sent to him because he saw a dent in the solid wood desk.
Albina is about to drink some water when she hears another knock at the door. This time it was much softer, with just a hint of tension and anxiety.
-Dr. Eagle? -She walked over to open the door and froze for a moment, surprised to see the person at the door.
There in the doorway was Miguel, and she was surprised by his current state. Whenever Miguel had appeared before her in the past, his clothes had always been neat and tidy.
But now, Miguel looked different to her than anything she had seen before, still wearing the same suit he had worn at the banquet, wrinkled, with some dust stains on the pant legs, looking very sorry for himself, as if he had not slept all night.
-Dr. Aguila, come in! -Albina poured him some water. “What’s wrong with you, why are you so haggard?
Miguel took the glass and took a quick sip of water, his throat finally became comfortable, and he hurried to grab her wrist, his voice was anxious:
-Umberto didn’t do anything to you last night, did he?
He had been locked in his room all night by this Camillo, as if he had forgotten about him, and it was only half an hour since the door had been opened by a maid. Fearing that something had happened to Albina, he hadn’t even changed his clothes and had driven in a hurry.
Albina had forgotten about it, but when he mentioned it, she suddenly remembered the scene when Umberto had warmed her feet, sent her home very carefully, and had looked at her with burning eyes in the little clinic, begging her to give him a chance.
She looked a little uncomfortable and blushed slightly.
Michael was watching Albina and, seeing her expression, was very surprised, thinking that really Umberto had done something to Albina, he gritted his teeth and hit the table hard,
-That beast!
The sound brought Albina out of her thoughts and she hurried to explain:
-It’s not what you think, he didn’t do anything to me. I hurt my foot, there was no one else on the road, and he drove me home. That’s all.
Albina deliberately left out some of these details.
-It’s good that nothing happened,” Miguel finally sighed with relief. He noticed her foot wound and hurried to help her sit up.
-What’s wrong with you? -Albina pointed to the clothes she was wearing.
Miguel’s expression changed, he couldn’t say that his brother and Umberto were in cahoots to lock him up, or he would look stupid and incompetent.
-Something happened last night, I just found out that Umberto sent you back and, in my haste, I forgot to change.
Suddenly an idea came to his mind, the man smiled,
-The clothes I’m wearing are too dirty, can I use your bathroom? I’ve had someone bring me my clothes later, can you pick them up for me?
Albina looked a little hesitant, she was about to say that it didn’t seem appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone. But Miguel had been nice to her, and had come in such a hurry because he was worried about her,
-All right. I’ll get you a new bath towel.
-Sorry for the inconvenience, I just can’t stand the dirt…..
-It’s okay. Most doctors seem to have some problems with cleanliness, I’m the one who should be thanking you, for taking care of me.
Miguel was in a good mood, he had a smile on his face. He went into the bathroom and soon there was the sound of water running in the bathroom.
Albina was a little embarrassed, honestly it was the first time a man had showered in her room other than Umberto and she felt really uncomfortable.
As she was thinking about it, there was another knock at the door.
Albina got up, remembering Michael’s words and thinking it was the man who had brought her clothes.
She went to the door, not bothering to look through the peephole, and opened it right away. What met her eyes was Umberto’s cold, indifferent face, and when he saw her leave, the man’s eyes lit up,
-Albina…
He was about to speak when, suddenly, Albina tried to close the door.
A pair of large hands pushed the door and Umberto’s voice was low with a hint of pleading:
-Don’t throw me out yet, can you hear my explanation?
-Don’t say anything, I don’t want to hear it -Albina, with a cold expression, struggled to close the door behind her.
But Umberto’s strength was so much greater than hers that the door didn’t even move.
-It’s useless, better save your strength and listen to me,” Umberto let out a laugh, and even gave her a free hand to stroke her hair.
-Go ahead, I’d like to hear what you want to say! -Seeing that she really couldn’t do anything, Albina gave him a stern look.
-I just found out that my mother came to see you, actually, she came to my office first and asked me to stay away from you, I refused, that’s why she came to see you. Albina, don’t worry, from now on the two of us will be together and I won’t let her bother you.
-How nice you are -Albina snorted coldly-, it’s not the first time, in the past, when you and I were married, even though we didn’t live together, your mother called me and insulted me every time, for three whole years, do you know that?
-I know -Umberto lowered his head and looked at her with pained eyes.
-Did you know? -Albina was surprised by his answer.
How could Umberto know if during those three years she had not said a word to him for fear of causing him trouble?
-After you left, I kept looking for you at the river and when I came back, I found that my mother and Yolanda had thrown away all your things, I searched for a long time and recovered nothing, I went to the restaurant and took what was left of your things, including your phone.
Countless text messages and phone recordings, all evidence that your mother hated Albina and verbally abuses her. He hadn’t heard about them for three years, and only after Albina disappeared did he find out about them. This information was like a slap in the face.
Umberto had always known that his mother did not like Albina, and from the day she married he had gone out with the family, thinking that by separating her from his mother he could keep her away from his criticisms and accusations.
However, his mother had too many ways to get Albina’s contact details.
-So, Umberto, do you think I would dare to be with you after this experience? -Albina’s eyes were reddening and her voice was trembling.