THE LION'S BACK IN TOWN!!!

A few days later, Raquel came home, still weak and supported by Camilla's hand on her shoulder; Daniel carrying her vanity case. Vicky warmly welcomed her back and she and Daniel helped her up the stairs. According to Oscar, Minerva will be home in 2 weeks as she was getting stronger in the incubator. Max sarcastically comments on how Camilla was all chummy with her sister-in-law. Camilla’s cold reply, she now liked Raquelas much as she now hated him. Max asks her if it was because of Raquel’s wild stories. Camilla said it was because of all his atrocities, calling him a coward and a murderer before storming out. Max realises Camilla is no longer his ally.  

Claudio is very fortunate; in Guadalajara, the judge had just returned from a long vacation! Claudio gets down to business.

Back in Acapulco, Pamela is startled at the sudden loud pounding on the door and goes to answer it, gasping at the bearded, sweaty stranger. It was Tonio! She lets him in after he identifies himself, telling him Pablo isn’t home when he asks for him. 

Claudio tells the judge he needs him to conduct a false wedding as he’d done before. The judge was offended at the insinuation until Claudio told him it was to take place in Acapulco and assured him the reward was very huge. The judge agreed to do it!

At the mansion, Andres and Pablo go up to Raquel’s room to see her and inform her of the recent developments, including Claudio’s trip but not the phone call, not wanting to raise her hopes. Andres advised them not to call the police, at least until Claudio got back with enough evidence- the judge. Raquel is worried about Gabriel, who is still missing, but alas, they have no proof that Max was holding him. When Raquel suggests she go to the police and tell them everything about Max,  Andres refuses. He reminds her Tonio didn't report Max in the first place, to protect her. If she went to the station now, she might end up detained there. Tonio will not forgive him and Pablo when he gets back, for letting her so much as set foot in a jail cell. 

Raquel sat up, frowning and was like, hold up... they speak as if Tonio is alive. 

Washed and shaved, his arm redressed, and in a borrowed robe, Tonio and Pamela waited for Pablo to get home; Pam served him coffee, offering to call a doctor since he still seemed to be in pain, but Tonio refused.  He asked for news about Raquel, and Pamela told him Raquel had given birth via caesarean, but the baby girl was in the incubator for now.

Tonio is overjoyed to hear he is now a father. ‘A  girl?’ he asked, stunned but very happy. 

(To tell the truth, I was very surprised at his reaction, I thought he was the typical rich guy who preferred sons).

 He was also pleased to hear that Andres was still around but NOT pleased that Max was living at the mansion, under the same roof with his precious Raquel and handling the business! He asked Pam to call the house, he had to speak with Pablo. Ramón answered the phone, Max nearby. Pam asked to speak with her brother. Pablo was still upstairs with Raquel and Andres, so Ramón dialled Raquel’s extension. Max asked who was calling but Ramón ignored him. He told his mistress that someone wanted to talk to Pablo. Pablo picked the other receiver when Raquel told him to. Max wanted to listen in but Ramón violently turned off the extension- it was none of his business who was calling Pablo! Max glared at him.

Pablo asked Pamela what was wrong and she handed the phone to Tonio. Tonio identified himself, warning him not to react if Raquel was nearby and to come over immediately with no one except Andres. Pablo managed to control himself- somehow-  and hung up. Pablo told Raquel it was Claudio, he had some news but needed to talk to him in private. Raquel was puzzled- why private? Pablo assured her all would be explained to her in time and dragged Andres out of the room, whispering that Tonio was waiting for him at his apartment! They hurried out; Max and Ramón watching them. After Ramón went back to the kitchen, Max phoned Pam to find out if she’d be the one to call Pablo, and why. But Pam,  wiser now,  hung up on him. 

Raquel slowly came down the stairs and confronted Max again; he had killed her husband, Gabriel probably too. He couldn’t insult her intelligence, she also knew why he wanted her locked up in a mental home- to get everything! She should never have given in to his foolish mother’s emotions but she was rectifying THAT mistake. She was calling a meeting of the board of directors very soon- she was bouncing him out of the company and hiring someone else to represent her. And she wanted him out of her house. Max warned her she could go to jail for Tonio’s murder if he decided to accuse her. Raquel, however, gave him a nasty smile;  and dared him to.   She walked away, leaving Max burning with fury.

Raquel is puzzled when Ramón tells her Pablo’s sister, Pam, has called to speak with Pablo, not Claudio. What were they playing at?

MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

Andres and Claudio listened in amazement; Pam was almost sure it was Tonio’s voice but he’d hung up all of a sudden. Ramón then told them about the conversation he’d heard between Max and Luis about Gato; Pablo had already pierced together the pieces- Gato was Rod’s employee, suspected of being the one who’d been making the crank calls to Mrs. Raquel. Ramón also told them about the jewellery Raquel had found in Martha’s room; jewellery given to her by Luis.
Which obviously meant Luis was a paid accomplice to be able to afford such gifts. Ramón finally mentioned how Max grabbed the phone that morning when it rang and had looked shocked at whoever was on the other line; he had asked, ‘is this Gato?’

It was finally clear; Max, Rod and Luis were accomplices in Tonio’s disappearance; it also proved beyond reasonable doubt that Raquel’s earlier accusation about Max pretending to be Tonio in Guadalajara was true- and Max’s second attempt on Tonio’s life. Ramón tentatively asked, did it mean that Tonio and Raquel weren’t married? Andres firmly set him straight- Raquel WAS Tonio’s wife, and as her husband’s best friend, he was going to do all he could to help her. Claudio finally told him the secret he’d been keeping out of fear; Rod’s proposal to him and how he’d planned on framing Raquel.

Andres is furious with him but Claudio insisted he would never have done it and asked what he could do to put things right.

Vicky of course cannot believe Raquel’s accusations so Raquel desperately turned to Camilla; begging her to believe her. Andrea, Claudio and Pablo convey at Pablo’s flat and Pam told them again about the phone conversation. Maura kept giving sleeping drugs to render him too weak to escape. Daniel entered the room as Vicky, Oscar and Max discusses Raquel’s admission into a mental hospital and he’s outraged. His daughter was not crazy! Vicky assured him it was to help Raquel but he angrily brushed her excuse off, he guessed it was Max’s doing. Max tried talking to him but for once the old man refused to fall for it. At the bungalow, Meche cried over Gabriel, afraid for her brother. Daniel realised they were both tied to a corner; Raquel and Gabriel were in danger. Camilla told Claudio about what Gabriel had told Raquel.

Oscar’s son and Raquel’s friend, Humberto is against the idea of Raquel placed in a mental hospital, he knew she wasn’t crazy and argued with Oscar about it, it was absurd! Oscar said it was for her own good and she’s upsetting Vicky with her accusations and he wasn't going to let Raquel continue. Humberto leaves in disgust, seeing how Oscar was far more focused on Victoria's feelings. 

Daniel cautions Raquel to play for time, warning her that Evil Max could have her put in an asylum if she opens her mouth. Humberto enters and assures Raquel he's on her side; but it was best she let the matter rest, at least until she's discharged. He  promised her once she's strong enough to go to the police to give her statement, he’ll go with her. She thanks him.

Claudio s given the task of going to Guadalajara and see if the judge that Max paid to conduct the false wedding was back and lure him to Acapulco to confront Max once and for all. Claudio willingly agreed as it was a chance to redeem himself and help his sister-in-law. He tells Camilla but warns her to be careful of what she says around Max. 

TIME TO TAKE COVER!

Raquel is sedated and Oscar meets with Evil Max; he's concerned about Raquel's state of mind. Max suggests she's checked into a mental asylum.
Meche is very worried when Gabriel doesn't come back; exasperated at how stubborn he was. Pamela listens to Pablo and Andres' conversation; the phone call and what Raquel had told him. After they left the flat, Pamela called the mansion but Max wasn't home so she left a message for him to call her back. Oscar and Max get back and discuss the possibility of Raquel receiving treatment at a mental asylum  because of her wild rantings against Max. Ramon asked Meche where Gabriel was; he still wasn't back. Ramon overhears the discussion and is dismayed, he didn't believe Raquel was mad. Andres asked Daniel if it was true what Gabriel had said about Max and he reluctantly confirmed it, telling him all he knew and why they'd kept it from Raquel. Max told Meche he had her brother and if she wanted to see him alive again, she had to keep her trap shut!

Meanwhile Gabriel is locked in a storeroom in Luis's apartment building. Martha paid him a visit, wanting to get info about Max from him, giving him a few days to comply. Forced by Max, Meche told everyone that Gabriel was mistaken and went back to the kitchen. Max looked very uneasy when Vicky said a Pamela called. Pablo looked at him suspiciously.

 
Meanwhile, Tonio struggled to regain his strength Maura continue to ply him with pills and lies about Raquel. Max is cross with Pam for leaving a message for him, she hung up as Pablo entered the flat. He coldly asked her what was her relationship with Max. After telling him everything, she admitted she was in love in him and got a slap!

While Maura is not around, Tonio called the house, but instead of Ramon, Max picked it instead, thinking Gato will call back. Tonio hesitated then asked, 'who is this?' Max went cold, then asked, 'is that you, Gato?'
Tonio hung up. Then he called Pablo's flat but alas, he wasn't at home, Pamela said. Before she could ask who was calling, Maura appeared and cut of the extension, scolding him for walking about when he was still weak. She got him back to bed and gave him another pill. But Tonio had only pretended to swallow it!

Raquel and Daniel watched  Baby sleeping in the incubator; Raquel cried and  prayed her child should live, she'd already lost her husband. At the rented house, Rafael wished Maura good luck with Tonio and took his leave.
Camilla visited  Raquel; explaining she'd bought baby clothes and other stuff for Baby from Rome. Her manner towards her sister-in-law is no longer hostile but wary. Raquel asked her why she looked broody but Camilla said nothing was wrong then asked if Raquel had chosen a name yet for Baby. Raquel already had. She was naming the child Minerva.
'My mother's name?' Camilla asked in surprise. Raquel nodded and said, 'Tonio would have wanted it.' 

At the house, Claudio told Andres, their doctor had told them Camilla can't have children but they were closer now. Andres filled him in on what's been happening. Pablo barged in and told them both that Tonio had called his flat!
Luis is told by Max about the second strange caller. Max prayed it wasn't Tonio... or he was finished this time. Luis scoffed at the idea , it's  impossible- Tonio Lombardo is dead.

Wishful thinking on your part, asshole.

A CHILD IS BORN AND A HUSBAND FOUND...

Raquel is wheeled into the operating room; Vicky, Daniel, Martha and Max wait anxiously. Claudio called the house and was informed that Raquel was at the hospital. The trip did the couple a whole lot of good; they were able to spend quality time together. Claudio was more sober, Camilla as well but was currently depressed; just as she was set to try motherhood, she was told by the doctors she was reproductively challenged.

Finally, Oscar came out and announced that the operation was a success and that both mother and child would pull through. To everyone's joy (except, of course, Mad Max's), the baby was a very beautiful baby girl! But as she was premature, Baby was to stay in the incubator for a few days, and Raquel had to get her strength back, so she was staying for a while, too. 

At the house, Chucho and Meche pray for Raquel to pull through. Max angrily burst in to know which among them had told Raquel the truth, punching out Chucho when he challenged him. Ramon was pleased to hear that Raquel and the baby were fine and would be home in a few days; he informed Vicky that  Claudio had called.  The telephone rang and Ramon answered it.
It was Gato, shaved and washed at his apartment. He asked to speak with Mrs Raquel Lombardo, saying he was her hairstylist. Ramon was just telling him that Raquel was unable to come to the phone when Vicky asked who it was and Ramon handed the phone to her. Thinking it was Raquel, he identified himself as Roberto Aguirre. Stunned, Vicky angrily said she  was Victoria Lombardo and asked him, 'Where's Antonio, what have you done with my son?!'
Abruptly, Gato hung up. The plan was to tell Raquel where her husband was in exchange for a lot of money. 

At the hospital, Raquel regained consciousness and worried about her baby but Oscar said the baby was fine. Max entered the room and she began screaming at him,  calling him a murderer... he killed her husband! She begged Oscar to call the police. Oscar sent everyone out and tried to calm her down.
Max angrily told Daniel and Martha that Raquel was crazy; he was innocent, but Daniel and Martha eyed him suspiciously. Oscar came out and asked if what Raquel said was true; it was a very serious accusation. Meanwhile, Gato picked the next best thing- MAURA!

Max threatened Meche, Gabriel and Chucho if they dared support Raquel in her accusations.
While Vicky was pondering over the sudden call, she received a sudden visitor, Andres! She warmly hugged him; he was in Acapulco on business and wanted to see them. He immediately asked after Raquel and was told she was now a mother. She also told him about the weird phone call and she'd been waiting for Roberto Aguirre to call back. Max entered, not pleased to see Andres and stunned to hear that 'Roberto Aguirre' had called, asking for Raquel. Who else could it be but GATO?
(HA! Your day of reckoning is around the corner, bastard!!!) Vicky wondered if the man wanted to tell them that Tonio was alive or not.

Raquel is very anxious for Tonio's death to be avenged. She's angry with Daniel for what he hid from her, that Max was Roberto Aguirre. Daniel, remorseful, explained Max kept denying he was Aguirre and how he'd warned him, Meche and Gabriel, that no one would believe them if they made their accusations. 

Meanwhile, Gato meets Maura at a restaurant. She handed over a cheque to him and he told her where Tonio was. Maura is amazed to hear that Tonio is alive. 

Luis couldn't believe what Max told him; Gato was dead, how could it be him? Rod refused to believe it too. But Max was very sure it was him, he had a lot to gain by wanting to talk to Raquel, probably to expose them. They decided to check Gato's old apartment. Meanwhile, Andres paid Raquel a visit at the hospital and she begged him to help her... Max was Aguirre - she didn't care about the scandal; she wanted Max punished! Andres told her about the phone call at the house; if Max was Roberto, who was the caller? Aguirre couldn't be Max, as he had seen the shocked expression on his face when Vicky told them about the call. Raquel thought perhaps Max made Luis pose as Aguirre to confuse them.

Max informed Maura and Carla about the call, and Carla was confused. Maura made her excuses and rushed out. Carla picked up the phone to call the mansion. 

Luis got to the mansion and informed Max he had searched Gato's place and had found hair in the bathroom sink, it WAS Gato who had called. But it was still impossible that Tonio was alive. Unknown to them, Ramon was listening!
Maura, accompanied by Alejandra's ex-boyfriend, gets to the shack. Raphael went in first. Tonio lay unconscious on a mat,  alone and injured. Raphael told Maura she could come in.

Gabriel paid Raquel a visit at the hospital and apologised for not telling her sooner, but she brushed it off. Gabriel promised to stand by her. Max enters the room and is furious to see him there. Raquel pressed her buzzer for the nurse, she wanted Max thrown out of her room. He left but dragged Gabriel with him; to her horror, Max would kill him!

But Gabriel is defiant; Max had done his worst, so he was no longer scared of him. Oscar asked what the commotion was all about and Max shouted that Gabriel had been telling lies about him. Gabriel said it wasn't a lie and he'll tell everyone. Max ordered him to go home and signalled Luis to follow him and make him disappear.

Andres paid Raquel a visit at the hospital and she begged him to help her. Max had killed Tonio- she didn't care about the scandal; she wanted Max punished! Andres told her about the phone call; if Max was Roberto, who was the caller? It couldn't have been Max, as he had seen the shocked expression on his face when Vicky told them about the call. Raquel thought perhaps it was Luis, to confuse them.

Max informed Maura and Carla about the call, and Carla was confused. Maura made her excuses and rushed out. 

Meanwhile, Tonio is being treated at a hospital, the bullet removed from his arm. Gabriel is pounced on by Luis.
Maura and Raphael take Tonio to a house she had rented. She wasn't planning on telling Raquel Tonio was alive, as far as Maura was concerned, he belonged to her, not Raquel Lombardo. Tonio suddenly groaned and Maura rushed to his side, calling his name. Delirious, he said, 'Raquel?'
Maura said no, it was Maura. Not wasting time, she started slandering Raquel, saying that she had planned with Max to kill him. Tonio is silent...

ON THE WAY HOME!!!

Evil Max continued pestering Raquel but there was no way she could ever love him like she once did until the night she discovered he was a  vicious  liar. She  loved Tonio and missed him very much. Without realising it, her husband was on his way home to her... he and Gato were rowing their way back to Acapulco on a makeshift raft!

They finally get to the mainland, a remote part, but Acapulco all the same! Gato pleaded with Tonio not to turn him over to the police, but Tonio promised to put in a good word for him. As they move further ahead, they saw a shack; outside it sat an old man and a young woman. Gato ran ahead, shouting for help, lying that Tonio wanted to kill him. Before he knew what was happening, Tonio was  shot at by the old man and down he went, shot on the arm!

Max informed Raquel that Camilla and Claudio were arriving from Rome that day; Raquel hoped Camilla won't give her more beef, but Max assured her he wouldn't allow it. Raquel looked at him warily. Max begged her to give him another chance and earn her pity but she remained firm; it could never be the same between them, ever. Later on, as she sadly looked at Tonio's framed photo, Ramon came in to report Martha again- she was still receiving phone calls from Luis and going out with him. Suspecting she was probably still receiving gifts from him, Raquel decided to search Martha's room.
Raquel and Ramón found the jewellery in Martha’s closet, wrapped in a silk scarf. Furious, Raquel ordered Ramon to call her. Meanwhile, Gato had escaped and the young woman tended to Tonio's wounds, despite her grandfather's angry words; he was a fugitive running from the police and now Gato might lead the police back to him. Tonio weakly pleads with her to get help while she tends to him. He tells  her how he's been  away from home for months, he has a wife and she's expecting their child... he can't die now. The woman urged him to save his strength. 

Raquel  accused Martha of lying to her and asked for Luis’ address because she wanted to personally return his ‘junk’ to him and tell him to his face never to come near her sister again. Martha snapped that Luis was her friend and Raquel had no right to tell her what to do, especially since she was enjoying a dead man's money when she didn't formally marry him.  Walking  away angrily, she went to find  Gabriel, thinking he was the one who split on her as he had eavesdropped on her conversation with Luis.

Gabriel is in the kitchen and denies telling Raquel about her meetings with Luis. Martha calls him a liar , further accusing him of spying on her ever since he and Meche came to work in the mansion. She was going to pay him out by going to the police and report him and his sister for making them all believe she ran him over. 

 Raquel followed her and said it hadn’t been him who told her and she should stop blaming other people for her behaviour.  

Unable to hide his guilt any longer, Gabriel tells Raquel Martha was right; he and Meche were liars and cowards, and have behaved badly.  Raquel asks what he meant by that. 

 Gabriel finally tells her the Roberto Aguirre who had convinced he and Meche to lie  that Martha caused his accident was actually Max. He wanted to tell but Max had scared him and  Daniel and Chucho knew it. 

Filled with rage, Raquel stormed out; it HAD been him, ALL ALONG!!!

 She saw Max just entering the living room and flew at him, despite being heavy with child. She slapped  his face, ignoring the sudden pain coming from her tummy; calling  him a murderer and vowed to get him jailed for killing her husband. Max tried to calm her but she violently beat him off, screaming with anger. Then all of a sudden she clutches her stomach again and faints.

Max grabs her before she hits the floor and called for Vicky and the servants. At the hospital, Raquel is wheeled into the operating room. Her case is dangerous- she hasn’t completed her 7th month!

ALONE

Claudio has his suspicions but doesn't share them with Camilla who believed Raquel was involved in Tonio's disappearance. On the island, Tonio yearns for his wife.
Rod informs Maura and Carla about Tonio's disappearance. They are both uneasy; they had made up the name Roberto Aguirre. At the mansion, the family are gathered in the living room on the next course of action. Evil Max informed Raquel he’ll take over Tonio’s affairs at the office and got a big, flat NO! There was no way she was allowing him to do that, nor live in the mansion. Max asked who was going to handle the company on her behalf, her father. He protested that he needed to be around his family, while she needed a protector. Raquel snapped that she didn't need his protection and vowed she would kill him if she ever found out he had something to do with Tonio's disappearance. 

Vicky is upset at Raquel’s hard-heartedness, but Andres is on Raquel’s side- as Tonio’s wife and heiress, she has the right to say who could run the company. Oscar bitterly said, ‘Yes, unfortunately.’ Old goat.  Who cares what you think? Just shut your mouth already!

On the island, Tonio got a lot of information from Gato, finally fixing the pieces of the puzzle together. Raquel stands up to Camilla when she is unpleasant to her, informing her she is going to pave the way for Tonio's son or daughter, who will eventually take his place. And she will remain in the mansion and wait for Tonio, for as long as it took. 

 Vicky begs  Raquel to allow Max to run the company on her behalf. Raquel refuses, reminding Vicky what Max is guilty of. Tearfully, Vicky tells Raquel not to expect her to believe her son is the monster she insists he is because he's not. And at this trying time, the family must forget the past and be united. Still weeping, she tells Raquel that once she becomes a mother, she will be more understanding about her position. 

 Raquel, filled with grief over Tonio's disappearance and upset by Vicky's tears, reluctantly agreed at last.

Max is pleased to hear from his mother that Raquel finally gave in and asks how she convinced her. Vicky tells him Raquel accepted because she's a good person. Which was why she now had doubts about Max. Max insisted Raquel is pregnant, hence is not in the right frame of mind. All that matters is that she gave her consent,   

Chucho and Daniel consulted Meche about telling Raquel about who Roberto Aguirre was but she's far too scared. Gabriel, however, tells Daniel.  Max suddenly arrives at the house and warns them all to keep their mouths shut; he has nothing to do with Tonio's disappearance. To add the icing to the cake, he offered Meche and Gabriel jobs at the house- Gabriel as a houseboy and Meche as Raquel’s maid.
Months pass.

 Raquel's tummy is bigger and more assertive than the lady of the house, but every day brings more sorrow to her.  Max constantly pays Rod and Luis hefty checks without arousing suspicions from Raquel. Camilla and Claudio, meanwhile, were in Rome on vacation.  Luis starts to buy Martha expensive jewellery to win her over. Oscar proposed marriage to Vicky but she gently turned him down. They were too old to be thinking of romance and she had a grandson on the way.

 Oscar still didn't like nor trust Raquel, but Vicky warned him against antagonising her because she was afraid of offending Raquel. She didn't want a situation where Raquel would get angry with her and not allow her near the baby.

On the island, Gato asked Tonio why he was looking so down. Tonio replied it was because he was very worried about Raquel and their baby.
Gato asked, ‘You have a son?’
Tonio explained that Raquel was expecting their first child, and he wished he could be there when he/she was born. Max persisted in trying to get back into her good graces as Raquel was the principal heir at last, but Raquel kept keeping him at arms’ length, filled with disgust when he kissed her shoulder from behind. She still nursed the hope that Tonio would come home to her. But  Max is more persistent and annoying every day.

Meche is happy with her job, but Gabriel is very uneasy; he feels Raquel does know who Roberto Aguirre is. Unfortunately, Max overheard him telling Meche he was going to tell Mrs Raquel the truth. He punished him by mercilessly breaking his arm and leg with a stick. As Gabriel cries in acute pain, Max yells at him not to breathe a word of what happened to Raquel. If he told her or anyone else who hit him as well as his secret, Gabriel should wait and see what he would do to Meche... he'll break all her bones! 

Ramón informed Senora Raquel that Martha was receiving phone calls from Luis and a diamond bracelet had been sent to her. When she confronted her sister over this, Martha pointed out that Raquel wore very expensive jewellery too.  Raquel, however, reminded her that all her jewellery was a gift from her husband.  If she didn’t return the bracelet and stop talking to that criminal, Luis, she would throw her out and send her back to Guadalajara. Martha sulkily promised to comply. Daniel, more relaxed in his attitude because of Raquel’s standing,  persuades her to let Chucho's nephew, who is on a visit, stay as his personal servant, but Raquel said she was not involved with the servants' matters, and Ramon had already pointed out there were more than enough servants in the mansion. 

Gabriel is attended to by Meche and the other servants; he lied that he'd fallen down the stairs and Meche is exasperated he was so careless after recovering from the accident he previously had. Victoria and Raquel come to a sort of understanding as they prepare for the baby's arrival. Raquel's hopes grow faint as she asks Victoria if she really believes Tonio is dead and not coming home.

A few more months pass. Raquel misses Tonio every day, and one night,  dreams of the day she'd first met Max so long ago.  Max persists in his pursuit of Raquel but still secretly dates Pamela, Pablo's sister, who- alas! Is in love with him. At the island, Tonio and Gato begin making plans to leave the island once and for all. How? By building a raft!

WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?!?

The men sail back to Acapulco, satisfied their mission was complete ( or so they think)  and called Rod and Max to give them the 'good news'.
 Vicky called the house and Ramon told her Tonio has'nt been seen all day. At the hotel, Raquel weeps, very worried. She sprang up when there's a knock on the door but it's only Pablo. She told him what had happened that morning and Pablo asked her to follow him to the office to make an identity check.




Daniel and Martha had gone ahead to the mansion, chatting with Andres. Vicky and Max show up later and are told that Tonio still wasn't back. At the office, several assistants are paraded in front of Raquel but none of them was the man who had taken her to the house that afternoon; adding to her despair. Meanwhile, Tonio and Gato swim towards land. Vicky is worried about Tonio; Max just managed to hide his elation at the success of his plan (BASTARD!!!). He went to the hotel to see Raquel, pretending to be neutral when she lamented over her missing husband. Tonio and Gato managed to swim to land, onto an island several miles away form Acapulco. They lay on the wet sand, completely exhausted.
At the house, the whole family is very worried. Raquel talked to Andres over the phone asking if there was news about Tonio and he said no; Raquel is more upset and alarmed- where was he? She told him of the visitor who'd taken her to the house Tonio wanted to buy.Andres assured her that Pablo was carrying out investigations, they would get some news soon. Martha has dinner with Luis. Honestly that girl was a stupid fool, how on earth could Raquel have a sister like that?

Later on as the family waited- Claudio walked in, leading Raquel by the arm. Andres and Ramon welcomed her back home and she was made to sit down;  still mindful of her poor health. Pablo entered with bad news, the police had found Tonio's car at the docks but no sign of him! Raquel is stricken with fear for Tonio. 


Meanwhile, Tonio and Gato try to get their bearings. Raquel felt Tonio had been kidnapped and Camilla taunted by saying her opinion wasn't important, Max silenced her. In the study, Pablo told Andres about his discussion with Tonio the previous night. Luis officially asked Martha to be his girlfriend, assuring her that the benefits were many.

The following morning, Raquel is more worried, where could Tonio be? Ramon told her about the phone conversation Tonio  received before he took off suddenly. Max warned Pablo to stop interfering so much in the family's affairs. Tonio seeks vital information from Gato.

 
Back at the mansion, Raquel sat in the room she shared with Tonio,  crying;  very frightened at what could have happened to her husband. She begged Chucho to tell her who Roberto Aguirre was, he was most likely the one who had kidnapped Tonio but Chucho said he had no idea who the man was, he'd never seen him before. Meanwhile, at the island, Tonio is thinking about Raquel- about their last discussion- and missing her very much...

BOPE FANS: ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

I really, truly DON'T  understand the anti-Carly/Bo bashing I keep reading here and there in the Net, despite the couple having more than a sizeable amount of supporters, the Carbo/Barly team (yours truly, a member). They make Carly sound like some kind of husband-snatching she-devil while Hope Brady is an angel wronged and Bo himself a confused wreck of a man. It's not like the romance between Bo and 'princess' is an entirely new thing; they loved each other so VERY MUCH several years ago and currently history is repeating itself- Carly bringing light and warmth into Bo's life, this time made dark and cold due to  Hope's unfair behaviour towards him after their Ciara's kidnap, something the Bope fans ALWAYS seem to overlook! I'm not being biased; Carly is as stubborn as Hope and she had her own few faults back in the day but she's far more mature and hardly ever questioned Bo's methods of doing things; I really find it hard to picture her leaving Bo with their child if she'd been Mrs. Brady- she who has always regarded Bo as her knight in shinning armour, her saviour and protector.

As for Bo, I admit... I still have my fears. He has a very protective streak especially when it concerns the people he loves. When he strated helping Carly after she got back to Salem, I assumed it was the old protectiveness he had for her but after the first Christmas kiss, I was'nt so sure. To be honest, I was dismayed because he had taken advantage of her vulnerable state and besides... I did'nt want the Salem idjits to resume their suspicions about Carly wanting to break Bo and Hope's marriage(like it was even steady to begin with)but Bo was the one who kept insisting they had'nt done anything wrong and made it clear he wanted her around, despite obviously still in love with Hope. Then came the episode when, out of no where and NOT premeditated they made love and even after Hope found out about it and raged at them both- he made it clear to Carly he REALLY wanted her around in his life, insisting she was'nt to blame for his rocky marriage and not knowing what will happen to them in the future. Carly is now living withhim, he's doing all he can to ensure that Vivian is punished for what she tried to do to Carly and Melanie, dare I hope... love talking??? He still has'nt said so to Carly but then again she has made no demands to know his feelings towards her, unlike years ago when she made him admit his feelings after accusing him of only wanting her body and not love from her. Because he'd been slow in admitting his feelings then, he very nearly lost her but after he got her back, could not voice his feelings enough.Besides 'princess', he had called her his 'precious gem', 'the strongest person he knew' and in a recent episode he said she made him 'smile', which he had'nt been doing often these days and asked her to let them work on their relationship; which she agreed to do after some hesitation.

Bope fans don't want to see it, but Carly is the best thing that's ever happened to Bo; she lightened his darkness years ago, she's doing it again. They should stop defending Hope who really brought the whole mess on her head in the first place- I do not condone adultery but it would'nt have happened if she'd reconciled with Bo when she had her chance, instead she spent the whole time pointing out his faults and accusing Carly of returning to Salem to steal her husband- she drove Bo into  Carly's arms and two lonely people rediscovered each other... and how!

Face it, Carly is Bo's light and he glaringly sees her as such. Enough of the slandering, it's not like some of the other couples don't have sins on their heads;  like John and Marlena betraying Bo's brother Roman by sleeping with each other and the result being Belle, now Bo and Hope's daughter-in-law. Lay off Bo as well, because now I really feel he knows what he wants. If you Bope fans still want to hate the princess, then GET STUFFED!!!

Max strikes again!

Like I said in my last post, Max wasn't planning on going out like that; Tonio was more determined than ever to prove that Max tried to kill him; the stakes were higher now- he and Raquel were going to be parents in 9 months and he trusted her completely again.(Tonio definitely learnt his lesson on that one!!!)
Max went to Rod's house to inform him on the recent development; he needed his help. The following morning, a group of thugs, including Luis showed up at Rod's house to get their instructions. At the hotel, Raquel was already parked and eagerly waiting for Tonio to come. There's a knock at the door and she opened it; it's Gato! He introduced himself as an employee at Tonio's office- he was sent to take her to the real estate agent  handling the sale of the house Tonio wanted to buy for both of them, Tonio would meet her there. Raquel agreed and asked him to wait outside. At the lobby, Gato make a call Rod, who told him where to take Raquel. One of the thugs called the mansion and Ramon gave the phone to Tonio. The man said he was Roberto Aguirre and he had kidnapped Raquel. If he wanted to see her again, he must not inform the police and he was to meet at the docks. Meanwhile, Gato was introducing Raquel to the real estate agent and she was escorted inside the house.
Tonio called the hotel and spoke with Martha, asking if Raquel was there. Martha said no, that someone from his office had taken her out, on his instructions. Tonio hung up abruptly and hurried out of the house...
 Rod's thugs, along with Luis and Gato waited for Tonio to show up, all of them aboard a ship. Tonio arrived and he was told to climb up.
'Where's my wife?' Tonio asked, coldly.
He was told not to worry, Mrs. Lombardo was safe and they were taking him to her. The boat sailed off...
Meanwhile, Max and Rod waited by the phone anxiously. Raquel called Tonio's office and was told Tonio wasn't there. She then called the house and Ramon informed her Tonio had gone out. Raquel assumed he was on his way. But the hours dragged and no sign of her husband...
Raquel got back to the hotel and told her surprised father and sister that Tonio didn't show up and he wasn't at home or at the office.
In the ship, Gato and Luis talked and laughed; Gato remarked  that Raquel was  the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, Luis  agreed and said her sister Martha was pretty too. Tonio walked by and overheard Luis say that once they got rid of Tonio, he'll finally have Martha and Max will finally have Raquel. Tonio silently went up deck facing  a terrible dilemma: stay and face death or jump overboard. He comes across some oxygen tanks...
The thugs assemble and their leader says it's time. Tonio is above them and he overhears the leader say that Rod gave instructions for them to get rid of Gato as well, he knew too much. Tonio silently dragged out an oxygen tank without being seen, tied a rope to it and threw it over the railing, He TOO was NOT going out like THAT! Gato saw him and asked what he was doing. Tonio told him his life was in danger, his friends weren't his friends. Gato believed him after the leader asked him to surrender his gun. Gato went to look for Tonio inside and asked what he had in mind. Tonio asked him where Raquel was and was told she was back at Acapulco, explaining the trap. Back at the hotel, Raquel is more and more worried, where was Tonio??? There's a knock at the door but to her great disappointment, it's only Rod. Raquel told him she was waiting for Tonio; they had made up and he was supposed to pick her and her family.
Tonio and Gato brace themselves for a face-off. Raquel called the house again and Ramon told her Tonio still wasn't home and had'nt called. Pablo showed up at the house, as Tonio did not come to the office. Raquel is very miserable, where was her husband??? Camilla paid Vicky a visit.
The thugs, now armed, ordered Tonio and Gato to come out and they took them to the deck. Tonio saw that Luis was among them and calmly offered him money but Luis spitefully told him he wasn't interested. Tonio and Gato suddenly jumped overboard after kicking away two of the men. Under the water, they take in turns using the oxygen tank Tonio had stashed away. From the ship, the men fired into the water, then wait for them to surface, not knowing about the oxygen tank.  The hotel  manager said Tonio didn't call again after talking to Martha. Raquel went back to her room and started to cry...

Oh, Bo... you stupid, STUPID FOOL!!!

Just when I thought Bo could'nt be more dumb, he's done something I never thought in a million years he would do, put his foot in it way too far!
What's been happening...
 he made Carly promise not to tell Melanie she was her mother for both her and the girl's protection. While having a conversation with his younger brother Phillip(who is Melanie's fiance), he realised Vivian was eavesdropping, so when Phillip asked him about his affair with Carly, Bo said Carly had returned because of him and he'd realised they were still in love for a long time since their relationship had ben interrupted. Phillip did'nt believe it at first; everyone knew he and Hope loved each other- he still had his wedding ring on. To my horror, Bo removed it and said his marriage was over!
I was like; what is this man doing- he knows for sure Vivian would tell Hope, everyone would call Carly a homewrecker not  to mention giving Carly false hope! If he truly wanted his wife, that pretence was way too expensive!
Of course what I feared happened: Phillip confronted Carly FOR STEALING another woman's husband, Vivian told Hope and she believed it and Carly soundly scolded Bo for painting her as a scarlet woman, until she heard why he did it. Then I got very confused; he told Abe, Salem's mayor about the lie and said after it was all over he would tell Hope. If he told Hope, then what... ask her for another chance and cast Carly aside? Because so far, the good doctor has'nt demanded to know if he loved her as much as she loved him.
Bo and Hope got into an arguement; she was angry, very angry- saying that their marriage had been nothing but a lie all along. Since then Bo acted rather coldly towards her, even went as far as telling her she made her own bed, thus she had to lie on it. I guess he was angry that she believed it at all.

Now he and Carly are closer, although he has'nt said the L-word to her and she refused to press him. Melanie thawed and invited Carly to her wedding but Bo did'nt think Carly should go or Vivian would suspect something. He then stunned Carly by insisting she moved back into his house; not just for her protection(like I thought initially) but to work on their relationship, she said yes after some hesitation. But alas, Vivian already knew who Carly's daughter was and had come up with a plan to kill her- despite Victor's objection since Mel was marrying his son. Even worse, Hope and Justin found out Carly's secret but before she could tell Bo, she got sidetracked on discovering  Bo's new roommate, not to mention Bo telling her that Ciara had cut some of Carly's clothes with a pair of scissors and they had another fight; she refused to have their daughter around a murderer like Carly(she had killed her sadistic husband) and threatened to sue for sole custody. Carly interceded on Bo's behalf, to deaf ears.

 Bo and Carly were both upset after Hope took the child away; Carly blamed herself and moved to pick up her suitcase but Bo roughly stopped her, saying he could'nt lose HER above everything else and held her in a vice grip.
 Carly was then told by Kate, Phillip's biological mother that Vivian knew her secret. Sending Bo a text, she hurried to the mansion to warn Mel but alas slipped over some ice and was knocked unconcious. She was taken to the hospital but when Bo asked her what happened, she could'nt remember. After he left, her memory slowly came back but then Gus, Vivian's thug, kidnapped her and took her to a darkened room where she was forced to watch a DVD of Vivian showing her what she was going to do to Mel, attach a poisoned comb to her head. Carly overpowered the thug and tricked Vivian to come to the basement. Hope meanwhile, found out Mel was Carly' child and what Vivian was planning; Victor had left a bag behind at the cafe- he'd switched the combs. Just as Carly and Vivian were having a face off, Hope ran in to tell Carly that Mel was safe, and was about to arrest Vivian for attempted murder. But Gus pushed heavy crates on the tow women to enable Vivian to escape. Carly crawled out but the crate Hope was under was too heavy so she called an ambulance for her and left to find the old bitch- taking Hope's gun with her. Bo found Hope and took her to the hospital.
At the mansion, the wedding ceremony of Phillip and Mel was over and Vivian lured Mel to the roof to kill her. Carly showed up to save her child and aimed the gun at Vivian but alas,  hit MEL INSTEAD!!!

Bo, was forced  to arrest Carly at Abe's orders but Vivian too was arrested, then later released because of lack of evidence. Bo told Carly he'd posted her bail but she was not allowed to see Mel at the hospital, until everything was sorted out, shushing her when she lamented over ever coming back to Salem. Hope woke up to find Justin by her side and she backed up Carly's story about Vivian wanting to kill Mel. She dragged herself back to the station to inform Bo what really happened.
Hope asked him where Carly was and he told her he had paid Carly's bail, which was a lot of money.Hope saw that Bo had sincere feelings for Carly(not the one-night stand she thought), she thought since he cared enough to take her to the hospital after she was injured, it was a sign of reconcilitation. She walked out on him. Now the STUPID THING Bo did (or will do on Monday)...



Bo admitted to Hope that he was in love with Carly again!
I'm in the Carbo team(Bo and Carly supporters), but when I first heard about it I was like, 'Excuse me? Really?' because ever since Carly said she loved him and got no response from him , I was afraid he'll end up hurting her because he still loved Hope. Also, if he really loved Carly, why not tell her? But after reading the whole story, all I could say was, Bo, YOU STUPIDIO!!! Why tell your wife such a thing?! She is Carly's only witness, would she bring herself to help her rival now???
Hope might change her story out of jealousy and revenge- Carly would go to jail and that bitch Vivian would go scot free! Unless he's pretending again for some reason? Personally, I WON'T believe Bo's feelings for Carly UNTIL he tells the lady herself.

I love you, and I NEED you...

Evil Max is amazed when Vicky shows up at his apartment with her bags. Tearfully, she informs him of Tonio and Raquel's  reconciliation and she moving back in. Max is filled with rage- despite all he'd done to keep them apart,  they were back together and both of them will work out the case until they fianlly had proof of his crimes! He however loudly denied Raquel and Tonio's accusations against him once again.

Tonio takes Raquel back to the hotel but not wanting to leave, asks if he could hang out with her for a while. They talked at length; Tonio said she was so   reluctant to move back to the mansion, even though there were several benefits any other woman in her position would jump at. 

Raquel resignedly  agreed she needed the extensive care she would get at home but  they were still not on the same page, with him still having doubts about her. He was doing all this because of the baby only.

 Tonio replied it wasn't the case, a lot of things happened since their seperation and he kept remembering how she'd left everything he'd given her behind including the money she left on his desk. Which convinced him again that Raquel didn't value  material things.  And he didn't want to lose her again.   

 He  promised to seek the truth for BOTH their sakes this time;  and Raquel thanked him. He suddenly asked her if she still loved him. She said yes, she loved him and needed him more than ever. Relief all over Tonio's  face, he assured her he loved her too, very much and that was the reason why he wanted her back, not because of their child, though he loved them both.  

He promised to pick her up in the morning and left but not before they exchanged a passionate reconciliation kiss; that Martha interrupted. She apologised and Tonio took his leave, exchanging one more kiss with his wife.

Meanwhile, Max had suspected that Tonio had placed the Roberto Aguirre ad and was trying to use it to smoke 'Roberto' out. He managed to discover the plan and traced it to Pablo's apartment, where he convinced Pamela to allow him play the tape, recognising Carla's voice. He lied to Pam that Tonio and Pablo were trying to discredit him and made her promise to help him with information. He had also gone to Carla and she'd confessed she'd made him up to annoy Raquel and was scared of what Tonio would do to her if he ever found out.

Daniel was happy that Raquel and Tonio made up, especially now that they were going to have their own home and were having a baby. Martha was not pleased at the idea of Tonio's family treating them like trash at the mansion and hoped that this time around, Tonio will give her and their father a monthly allowance. (Go and work, cow). 

Tonio goes to Meche's place, not knowing Gato, (who came to threaten her) was hiding behind the door. A petrified Meche agrees to take Tonio to Julia's place.

 However, on getting there, the pair find Julia's house  locked up. A neighbour tells them Julia and her husband (the man who'd pretended to be a corpse) suddenly moved out of town, much to Tonio's fury, wondering if this was another trick.

 Tonio then goes  to Pablo's apartment and Pablo told tells he found out that Gato, the man that stole Chucho's money, worked at the club like Meche said and the club's owner was Roderigo.

Tonio began wondering if Gato was Roberto Aguirre, paid to annoy Raquel by Max  as well as wreck their marriage by framing Martha. After he left and Pablo went to bed, Pamela placed a call to Max and told him what she'd heard... not realising she was signing Tonio's death warrant!!! 

Tonio was sorry to hear from Ramon that Vicky had moved out but hoped eventually she would come around. Three people didn't sleep that night.

Raquel kept thinking about Tonio-especially the romantic afternoon on the yacht. 

Lying on their bed, Tonio thought about the night he and Raquel  first made love.

Raquel remembered their reconciliation kiss, smiling. 

Tonio soberly remembered what had happened next that night; the fight with Max.

At his apartment, Max bitterly remembered the civil wedding with Raquel, as he had signed Tonio's name on the certificate, Raquel had turned out to be Tonio's wife and not his since she and Tonio hadn't annulled it after 30 days. Now they were back together, and were about to be parents! 

He couldn't, wouldn't bear it!