Hector’s pupils trembled and his eyes were shocked with disbelief.
It was a long time before he said:
-A small number of maids from back then have left the Espina family.
-There should be records of who the Espina family servants were the year Albina went missing, so go and investigate those people and see if there was anything unusual about them after Albina went missing, also check to see if there was any large unexplained income in any accounts.
Hector’s eyes sank and he whispered:
-Good.
After a moment, Umberto asked again:
-Did the nanny show resistance when she was fired?
-How do you know? -Hector unconsciously asked aloud.
Umberto let out a light laugh.
-You seemed upset when you answered the phone, so I guess she resisted.
-It’s Diana. Doria took care of her since she was adopted by the Espina family, and it’s been over twenty years now, so a bond was formed long ago. I’m afraid that in Diana’s heart, Doria is a very important presence,” said Hector, looking in the direction of the house, where Diana could be seen through the window shaking Bianca’s arm.
There was coldness in his eyes.
-Then let her stay.
At Umberto’s words, Hector froze for a moment.
-Doria was the one taking care of Albina then, and Albina was lost from his hands, which made her more suspicious than the other servants.
Hector frowned.
-That said, surveillance showed that he did go to the bathroom, came out, found Albina missing and immediately told my parents. He didn’t have time for me to do anything.
-That he didn’t have a chance doesn’t mean he didn’t have an accomplice.
When Umberto finished, Hector paused for a moment.
-Okay, then I’ll let him stay.
-Well, I’m hanging up….
-Wait! -Hector stopped him anxiously -When are you going to tell Albina about the Espina family? My parents already know about Albina’s existence, and if you take longer to come, I’m afraid they won’t be able to resist visiting Albina and then we’ll lose the initiative and Albina will get annoyed with me.
Umberto stood still for a moment, a little annoyed inside.
In fact, he was quite upset that Albina was going back to the Espina family.
He hoped Albina would have him and the Santangel family, who loved her quite a bit. Besides, who knew what else the Espina family would have done to tarnish her?
Hector was a good brother, but he wondered if Antonio and Bianca would be biased in their attitude toward Albina and Diana for missing so many years.
He did not want to subject Albina to any aggression.
-These days.
His voice was slurred, and then he simply hung up the phone.
Hector looked at his cell phone screen and was furious. This Umberto was really “arrogant”, just because Albina liked him.
He put the phone away and went back to the living room.
Diana was still remembering how nice Doria had been to her, and Hector looked at Doria as he listened.
Doria felt his gaze, looked at him for a few seconds, and lowered her head again.
Hector withdrew his gaze without a trace, fiddling with the phone in his hand, waiting for Diana to finish and sighing suddenly before his mother could speak:
-Doria sure has worked hard for so many years in the Espina family.
Just as Diana was on guard, thinking he was about to turn the tables and was planning to push Doria away, she heard him say:
-In that case, let her stay.
At those words, everyone present froze.
Diana and Doria looked at each other in disbelief.
Neither of them could believe that Hector would accept him.
Hector also knew that he had changed his attitude too quickly and was afraid that they would be suspicious, so he pouted and said:
-But since Diana has said she will pay Doria’s salary, Doria will limit herself to serving her alone, and we will not take advantage of that.
These words dispelled the suspicions of both women.
Diana felt a little aggrieved. She said she would pay him, but she only said it so that Doria would stay.
She knew Antonio and Bianca would not ask her to pay him.
Perhaps because she was used to being poor as a child, she was so attached to money.
But under Hector’s forced inspection, Diana could only nod.
Diana pursed her lips, her face pale and resigned, and Adrian caught her gaze.
His manly spirit exploded and, as they all left the room, he rushed towards Hector and tried to give him another hammer blow and a kick, but Hector grabbed his arm and almost lifted his whole body.
-What are you doing? Let go of me!
Adrian, like a calf, struggled desperately as he looked defiantly at Hector.
He was handsome, with fluffy curly hair, big eyes and long eyelashes, so even when he made an angry face, he looked cute.
But Hector was indifferent.
-Adrian, you’re trying to pull a sneak attack on me again.
Adrian made an embarrassed face.
-I didn’t!
-You did and you didn’t admit it, Shame on you,” Hector sneered.
The boy’s face was red with anger and his little feet flapped to kick him, but Hector was quick to pin them down.
He sat down on the couch, squeezed his brother in his lap and slapped his butt twice.
It didn’t take much force, but the flesh of the buttocks was thick and the slap made quite a noise.
Adrian immediately exploded, letting out a high-pitched scream.
Diana could not hold back and ran to him and said:
-Brother, Adrian is still young and is playing with you. He will feel humiliated if you hit him like that.
Hector looked up and gave her a cold look.
-This is a sibling thing.
Diana made an awkward face and lowered her head nervously and sulkily, not daring to look him in the eye.
But she felt a pang in her heart and her fingers curled tightly.
“Hector is calling me an outsider!”
After all these years, she had long since considered herself part of the Espina family, and neither the servants nor Antonio nor Bianca had ever mentioned it in front of her.
But Hector kept reminding her that she was not of the Espina family, but an adopted daughter.
Diana repressed the hatred in her heart and spoke in a trembling voice:
-I, I, I am only worried about Adrian.
Adrian, who was lying on Hector’s knees, became even angrier when he saw his sister crying for being harassed again by her older brother, and his whole body rushed at him shouting:
-Leave me on the ground! You are not allowed to bully my older sister, let’s fight one on one if you can!