Albina and Umberto guessed correctly.
Mrs. Leoz spent the night in the hospital and it was indeed proven that it was the fabric of the clothes that caused her skin irritation.
She sent the garment for testing and the results came back.
When Yoli released the dress, she stated that she had used natural dyes and that the color was especially nice.
Ms. Leoz ordered the dress because she liked the color.
However, test results showed that the fabric of the dress was made with poor quality dyes, with more than a dozen chemical additives. Some was used to cover up the smell before it was sold, but those ingredients were actually harmful to humans.
Mrs. Leoz’s skin was prone to allergies. Although she knew the Carballal Group was already in trouble, Yol”‘s reputation was so good that she thought Yolanda would not have tampered with the fabric, even if she was short of money.
When Ms. Leoz saw the results, her face twisted at the thought that she had worn something like this on her body.
These rashes on her body might not heal for a while, and if she scratched them, they could leave scars that would be difficult to remove.
Mrs. Leoz’s body was very itchy, but she could not relieve it, so she had to ask people to rub her with medicine over and over again.
Her temper became even more irritable because of this.
When Pedro Leoz arrived at the hospital, he saw his mother’s somber and painful face and anxiously asked:
-Mom, what happened to you?
When Mrs. Leoz saw her son arrive, she felt so sad and aggrieved that tears welled up in her eyes.
-Pedro, it’s all because of Yolanda’s company dress. I have suffered so much, you have to do justice for me!
She showed Pedro the test results and her medical records.
Pedro was furious when he finished reading them. But when he learned that Yolanda was the guilty one, he thought for a moment and said to Mrs. Leoz:
-Mom, do you know why Yolanda had the audacity to give you such an inferior dress, knowing that you were involved in the bidding?
Mrs. Leoz froze for a moment:
-Do you mean she sold me this shoddy dress on purpose?
Pedro scoffed:
-You and several other ladies have auctioned dresses, but none have been in your situation. The only possibility is that Yolanda deliberately sold you this shoddy dress.
When Mrs. Leoz heard him say that, she also felt it was odd.
It had been many days since the launch of “Yoli”. She had met some of the ladies with whom she had bought some dresses the other day, and they had all worn the dresses. However, they did not have the serious health problems she had.
Maybe there was something fishy going on.
Her face filled with anger at the thought. She fought the strange itch in her body and clutched at Peter’s arm:
-But I don’t have any problem with Yolanda, so why are you doing that to me?
Pedro looked at her and made a doubtful face, saying:
-I’m not sure if my assumption is correct. I have heard that Yolanda and Jaime are very close. The reason the Dry Group supported Yolanda earlier was because Jaime had interceded with Grandpa. But that is just my suspicion, there is no hard evidence.
Hearing this, Mrs. Leoz froze for a moment, and then clenched her teeth in hatred:
-Jaime stole the position of heir from you, even if it’s not enough, how dare he stab me in the back. He has grown so much, he even dares to lay a hand on me, his aunt. I must speak to my father about this, to get justice for me.
Peter was alarmed and rushed to stop her:
-Mom, you can’t do that. We have no proof. If you go directly to grandfather, he may think you have bad intentions and that you want to slander his beloved Jaime.
She said, with an aggrieved look:
-Since Jaime returned to the Dry Group, Grandpa only wants him and not us. He must be partial to Jaime, like this time, when he asked me to come back, but Jaime stayed in Sogen City. After that, he kicked me right out of Grupo Seco.
Mrs. Leoz thought of Alfredo’s affection for Jaime, and then she looked at Pedro’s aggrieved look and felt hatred and annoyance.
-So we’re not going to do anything?
Pedro hooked his lips and whispered in her ear:
-You just have to help me stay in the Dry Group, and when it’s done, I’ll help you deal with Yolanda.
Mrs. Leoz thought for a moment and nodded solemnly:
-All right.
When she said yes, Pedro was a little more relaxed. But it hurt to see the rash all over his face and neck.
His mother had always loved him. Even though it made him feel bad to use her, she was the only one who could change his grandfather’s mind right now.
Pedro thought as he helped Mrs. Leoz apply the medicine.
“Since my uncle left the family, what Grandpa loves most is my mother. This matter came at the right time and I can take advantage of it.”
“Although I understand that Yolanda did not intentionally sell such poor quality clothes to mom. The ladies wore the clothes too, but they wore them for a short time before changing them because the fabric was uncomfortable. Also, their clothes do not have as many colored dyes and their skin is not too sensitive to have such severe allergies. Because of this, mom’s and their results with the dresses were very different.”
“I didn’t want to take advantage of my mother, but that grandfather gave me too much of a chill. He even moved me out of the Dry Group after hearing Jaime. Jaime’s leg is no longer curable and that he, a cripple, does not deserve such favoritism. Before he came back, Grupo Seco was mine. It is Jaime who has stolen it from me.”
Pedro thought, not feeling so guilty, and was much calmer.
He stayed with Mrs. Leoz at the hospital until just after dawn, when the two left for the Seco family.
As soon as the car stopped, Mrs. Leoz rushed to the door, screaming for Alfredo Seco to do her justice.
Her voice was shrill and she was crying her eyes out. Because she felt truly aggrieved, she seemed sincere.
The planton saw her face covered in rashes and thought it was something serious, so he sent someone to alert Alfredo Seco.
Alfredo woke up, heard about the incident and ran straight to the living room without even changing out of his pajamas.
As soon as he came downstairs, he saw Stephanie and Pedro sitting on the couch.
Stephanie couldn’t stop crying and Pedro was whispering words of comfort next to her.
Alfredo frowned distracted by the crying:
-Stephanie, what’s wrong, why are you crying so much? You’re so old, how can you not control yourself in front of young people?
Stephanie raised her head at these words.
The rash all over her face frightened Alfredo.
-What’s wrong with you? Why is your face like that?
Stephanie’s original cry was just an act. Seeing Alfredo so scared and hearing his words made her much sadder.
-Dad, it’s all your fault!
Alfredo froze as he heard these words.
-How can you blame me for that? I haven’t seen you for a few days. Don’t be ridiculous.
When Stephanie heard this, tears streamed down her face. Because Alfredo adored her, she had no qualms about crying in front of him.
-I bought her a dress from Yoli because you asked me to support her. Last night I wore that dress to the party and soon after I got a bad allergy and made a fool of myself in front of everyone. That made me want to die.
Stephanie said, remembering her miserable appearance, shame and anger surfacing on her face.
-They tested me at the hospital and the dress uses a lot of chemical dyes. The doctor told me I was severely allergic and if I hadn’t caught it in time and sought medical attention, I could have died.
Worried that Alfredo would not believe her, she handed him the report of the clothing tests directly, as well as the report of her own physical examination, so he could see for himself.