At that moment, David was blocked by some men in an alley. He looked at the men around him with a distrustful expression and asked:
-Who are you? Who sent you? Why are you chasing me?
The leader of the group smiled at him and said with a kind expression:
-Don’t be afraid, we won’t hurt you. We were sent by Miss Carballal, who has been looking for you, because you were guarded by Umberto’s men and we couldn’t get you out. Now that you have escaped on your own, only Miss Carballal can protect you from being captured by Umberto again.
-In all the years I’ve worked for the Carballal family, how come I’ve never seen any of you? -David was suspicious, looking at them defensively.
The man sighed:
-Because the people in the Carballal Group were all known to Umberto and Miss Carballal came to us. If you don’t believe me, I’ll call her.
With that he dialed Yolanda Carballal’s number directly.
The call was quickly answered and Yolanda’s voice was heard:
-Did you find David? Is he safe now?
David’s body relaxed greatly at her words. Especially Yolanda’s last words made him less defensive. Since she cared whether he was safe or not, he supposed she must bear him no ill will.
-Miss, I am safe, I have escaped from Umberto.
Yolanda was silent for a moment and then said with surprise:
-Really! Great! I’ve been afraid he would do bad things to you. If anything happens to you, I’ll blame myself.
-It was my fault,” said David, feeling a little guilty remembering that he confessed so much about Yolanda.
But he didn’t say anything about it, fearing that Yolanda would get angry. He merely said that Umberto had asked him to accuse Yolanda, that he had falsely agreed, and that she had run away.
Yolanda looked dreadful as she listened.
“No wonder Umberto didn’t rush to bring down the Carballal Group. He had set a bigger trap for me. If David were to charge me, I’m afraid I’d have to serve three years in jail for my crime. He really is cruel.”
Yolanda gritted her teeth, her face was grim and twisted, but her voice was soft:
-David, it is not convenient to speak there, for I fear Umberto has sent someone to fetch you. You will follow the men I have sent, and they will bring you to me.
David suspected nothing and accepted it. After hanging up the phone, he eagerly got into the car.
***
They drove to the door of a villa on the outskirts, where Yolanda was waiting at the door.
She was wearing a long-sleeved white dress, with delicate features, and her hair fell softly behind her, looking serene and gentle.
David was very happy to see her:
-Miss, at last I see you again. When I was stopped by Umberto, I thought I would never come back.
Yolanda led him towards the villa, saying as she walked:
-David, I have settled your mother in a safe place. I’ll buy you a ticket to go abroad and I’ll give you a bank card with 100, 000, which will be enough to cover your expenses for a while. You’d better leave the country as soon as possible and not come back soon.
David frowned:
-Miss, after all I’ve done for you, I’m afraid that only 100. 000 euros is not enough.
Yolanda stopped in her tracks and turned to me with a calm expression:
-Does that seem insufficient to you?
David looked down and smiled:
-Let’s see, I would spend it all in a few days abroad. I don’t know anyone abroad, I don’t speak any foreign language and it would be very difficult for me to live without enough money. Then it would be better to stay at home,” he looked at Yolanda, “don’t you think?
-Are you threatening me? -Yolanda raised her eyebrows, her friendly look replaced by a somber one.
David shook his head,
-I wouldn’t dare, I’m just telling you the truth.
-How much do you want? -Yolanda took a deep breath and asked.
Hearing her commitment, David seemed a little more relaxed:
-At least half a million? Oh no, a million. If I get a million euros, I’ll never come back, I’ll never show up again and I won’t give Umberto any testimony.
-No, it’s too much. I don’t have that much money -Yolanda shook her head.
David smiled:
-Only one million, of course you have it. She is the only heiress of the Carballal Group. Miss, I was caught by Umberto, and I was beaten to death without betraying you, at the most critical moment I escaped to find you. Isn’t this loyalty worth a million?
Yolanda gave him a fixed look and opened the bag she was holding in her hand:
-Okay, all right. Come here.
David was very happy, he quickly approached her and said:
-I know the lady is very kind to me, I have been with you for so many years, she is not going to…..
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. David opened his eyes wide, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. When he slowly lowered his head, he saw a pair of thin white hands holding a dagger to his chest.
-Miss… -he muttered incredulously.
-David, you have followed me for so many years and know so many of my secrets, how could I let you leave alive?
Yolanda Carballal’s fingers trembled slightly, but she firmly pushed the dagger into David’s chest.
David’s expression was grim, his voice weak as he lost his strength:
-You didn’t want to send me out of the country ever, you’re so cruel…..
Yolanda pulled out the dagger. His face was white and his lips trembled as he fell to the ground, dead.
Over the years, she had instructed others to kill many people, but this was the first time she had killed someone with her own hands, let alone David, who had been with her for many years.
Yolanda was unable to support herself on weak legs for a while and sat straight down on the floor.
David’s eyes were fixed on her, looking terrified. She forced herself to look away. Before she could wipe the blood from her hands, she called out for Jaime.
The doorbell rang near her and Yolanda looked up and saw Jaime. She quickly got up and ran to him:
-Jaime… I… I killed David.
Jaime took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his fingers.
He looked so calm and Yolanda calmed down too.
-Don’t be afraid. Yolanda, you are doing the right thing. David knows too many of your secrets and he almost went to the police to denounce you, so killing him is the best solution to avoid future problems.
Seeing her pale, he hugged her by the shoulders and looked at David’s body on the floor with a somber expression.
-Just by killing him, Umberto won’t get any more information out of him and you’ll be safer. Yolanda, you don’t want to go to jail, do you?
-No, of course not. I don’t want to go to jail,” said Yolanda immediately.
“If I go to jail, my reputation will be ruined. Emma already spent a few days in the police station and has been ostracized by all the people, and still is now.”
“If I go to jail, not only will my own reputation be ruined, but I fear that the Carbal Group’s reputation will be damaged as well. More importantly, the Santangel family would not accept a daughter-in-law who had been in jail, let alone marry me to Umberto.”
-Good.
Jaime stroked her hair. His face was kind and his voice soft, but for some reason it was disconcerting to listen to him.
Looking at him, Yolanda shuddered involuntarily. She tried to calm herself,
-What about the body?
-I’ll take care of it. You go back first.
After Jaime said this, Yolanda left almost impatiently.
David’s incredible gaze kept reminding her of her and she shuddered in fear at the thought.
***
That same afternoon, Ruben returned to Umberto’s office with embarrassment and his first words were:
-Mr. Santangel, we found David. But only his corpse. He was found one step ahead of us.