The beginning of the end

Tonio accused Camilla of helping to set Raquel up; Raquel had told him she hadn't noticed her earring was missing, as she hardly wore the particular pair, which meant someone must have taken them from her jewellery box. Camilla was furious that he chose to believe his 'lying wife' over her. (BITCH!!!)

 Raquel, at this point, came downstairs, wondering what they were talking about, catching only half of the discussion. She got annoyed at Camilla's persistence and turned to Tonio for support, but he only glared at her, not helping at all. Later on, Camilla phones Max about their progress, and Claudio warns her to stop with the intrigues; it won't get them anywhere, but Camilla was determined to cause a divorce.

Raquel is told about the farce, but Daniel and Chucho begged her not to tell Tonio. She, however, was not prepared to lie to her husband again, especially since it would mean a reconciliation- so, despite impassioned begging from the two men, she phoned the office but was told Tonio had stepped out. Daniel pleaded on Meche and Gabriel's behalf. True, Tonio was tricked into paying for the operation, but it was a small amount compared to the wealth he possessed. Raquel was adamant, her husband WILL know of this; that way, their lives would be back to normal, and they could start over, NO MORE LIES. Chucho and Daniel looked at each other in despair.

Tonio went to Meche's house but found a neighbour instead, sweeping. He introduced himself as a friend, and the neighbour praised him for helping Gabriel out. It was a terrible thing, being hit by a bus.

P.S.: In the English dubbed version, the neighbour said 'bus', in the original Spanish version, it was 'truck'. 

Moving on...

 Tonio was startled. How could it have been a bus?! A car had hit Gabriel.

No, said the neighbour, surprised. It was a bus, some months ago. Tonio's face turned into a mask of fury.

 Tonio later went to the hospital to confront a very frightened Gabriel, saying he was going to jail as soon as he was discharged. He now knew it wasn't Martha who caused his accident, but a bus. Who told him and his sister to lie? 

Trembling, Gabriel said it was a man called Roberto Aguirre. Tonio's face darkened further. Roberto  Aguirre again.  'Are you sure?' he asked. 

Gabriel said yes, that Aguirre paid Meche to make the report. 

How did Aguirre know about Martha's accident? 

Gabriel said he didn't know; only Meche knew, and he didn't know where she was. She stepped out. He pleaded with Tonio; their deception was out of necessity. Aguirre had assured Meche that no one would get hurt. Tonio questioned him further, and Gabriel said he's never met Aguirre and that Chucho and Daniel knew about the deception, Raquel too. Tonio is shocked. Raquel knew, too? Did she also know that Aguirre was the one who paid them to lie, and Gabriel said yes, Meche told him. The stupid idiot  (Meche) thought she now knew, because Daniel said he was going to tell her. 

Tonio, remembering Julia's call to Aguirre asking for the rest of her money, demanded to know who Julia was and if she was the one who came up with the scheme. Gabriel said she was Meche's friend but didn't know her part in the scheme. Tonio should talk to Meche. Tearfully, he swore he never wanted to be part of the whole thing.

Tonio coldly told him to inform Meche to come to the mansion and explain herself, and then he would decide on both their fates. They must not even think about leaving town. 

At the mansion, Andres asks Alejandra, who is jamming to some music on her headphones in the living room, if she's seen Martha that day. Alejandra teases him over his interest in her, which makes him smile. 

Eww, Andres, you can do better than that materialistic skank. 

Alejandra reminds him that Camilla, Maura and Carla hate Raquel and Martha. Andres pointed out that those three bitches were capable of inventing lies and intrigue to hurt Raquel, which Alejandra agreed with. 

Andres is surprised that Alejandra agreed with him so swiftly, since she has been hanging out with them. Alejandra felt they were that way because they were envious of Raquel; they were always dissing her.  Speaking of which, did he know who Roberto Aguirre was? Carla kept asking her about him. 

Andres said it was someone who kept making prank calls to the house, asking for Raquel. Alejandra told him he had called the house recently, and hung up, and Carla seemed very interested and curious about him. Andres felt his BF was in the middle of a very weird scenario, but did not confide in Alejandra. Instead, the subject moves to Alejandra's questionable boyfriend, and Alejandra gets angry; he was still a bone of contention between them. She loves the man, but Andres, like her parents, knows the truth about him. 

Martha meets with Luis at a restaurant. Fool. She tells him Tonio finally bounced Max out of the house, and Vicky hasn't been well.

Max turned up at the house, accompanied by Alejandra's boyfriend, Raphael. She flew at him joyfully while Max went upstairs to Tonio and Raquel's room, where she was reading, or trying to read a book. 

She's furious to see Max,  accusing him of making Camilla tell lies about her and setting her up using her missing earring. As usual, he denied it, and she left the room in disgust when he refused to. 

 A big mistake, because Max opened a drawer and slipped a cheque book into his pocket.

 

Downstairs, Alejandra begs Raquel to talk to Tonio and Andres on her behalf, concerning the young man she wants to marry. Watching Max leave in silence, Raquel feels she's not qualified to give her opinion on the matter, but Alejandra is certain she could influence Tonio and Andres all the same; her parents respected them both. Raphael assured her he and Alejandra would not force her to do anything she's uncomfortable with. 

Andres suddenly enters and, with harsh words, sends Raphael away. Alejandra flees in tears, and Raquel is deeply distressed at the violent scene. Andres angrily tells Raquel what sort of man Raphael really was: he slept with rich women, and he was only after Alejandra for her money. She should NOT take Alejandra's side. Raquel sadly felt her young friend's situation was almost like hers, but at least she had Raphael; she wished she still had Tonio's assurance. 

 Then she got her own dose when her husband came in and called her the worst type of liar! 

Raquel and Andres looked at him, shocked at his harsh words. Raquel, of course, had no idea what he was talking about. Tonio accused her of knowing all along that Gabriel was not the victim of Martha's accident after all and of Roberto Aguirre's involvement in the scam. 

Before Raquel could explain herself or ask him to explain his very weird statement,  Daniel walked in. Disgusted with Daniel for deliberately keeping quiet about Gabriel and Meche, Tonio is very rude to him, saying he thought he had some decency in spite of his flaws.  

Raquel angrily turned on Tonio; he had no right to speak to her father in such a manner, no matter what he’d done. Timidly, Daniel points out that Tonio's anger was justified, no thanks to what they kept from him about Meche and Gabriel. Tonio confronted Raquel, did she or didn't she know about their lie?  She said she did (not bothering to add she JUST found out), but that she had been waiting the whole time for him to come home so she could tell him. Alas, Tonio was tired of hearing 'I was going to tell you' from her. 

Turning to her father, Raquel demanded to know what the hell was going on and how Aguirre was involved. A confused Andres listened as Daniel explained that Aguirre paid Meche to lie, and Gabriel wasn't the actual accident victim. He kept it from Raquel because she would have told Tonio. Well duh!!! 

 Just what sort of father is this simple-minded old man? You put your friends before your own daughter and her husband.  He winced at the judgmental look on Andres' face. 

 The second round of the fight was moved to the study, which turned out to be the couple’s WORST  fight ever. Tonio refused to listen to whatever Raquel had to say. Raquel maintained she was going to tell him the moment he got home, and she didn't know about Aguirre's role in the matter. But Tonio sarcastically pointed out how she'd formed the habit of telling him things at the last moment.  Raquel said if he loved her like he said he did the previous night, he would believe her. But it seemed he didn't love or trust her. Well, Raquel, it is sort of your fault. 

Very harsh, hurtful and bitter words came out, with Toino stating one can fall in love with the wrong person, like she did with Max. Very upset he would bring that up or compare her with Max, Raquel reminded him she stopped loving Max the moment he revealed his true colours that fateful night. Tonio, in turn, said that maybe true, but it didn't motivate her to tell him the whole truth until the night he forced her. That's unfair, Tonio. 

Raquel accused him of being so privileged (ouch) that he couldn't understand the feelings of others or put himself in their shoes, plus acting like he didn't have flaws of his own. Her father had flaws... but still. She was tired of being treated like an erring mistress instead of a wife, tired of being in a house full of intrigues and people conspiring against her.  She's LEAVING HIM! 

To our distress, the only reply Tonio gave was, ‘I don’t care, just go away.’ Antonio, YOU FOOL!!!

Raquel left the study in tears, and Andres and Daniel watched her run up the stairs. The old man retreats when Tonio comes out. Andres informed Tonio what Daniel told him, adding that he begged Raquel not to tell him, but she had stood her ground. But Tonio refused to believe that, thanks to Gabriel's stupid mix-up at the hospital, convinced that Daniel and  Raquel knew the whole time. 

Tonio asked Ramón to book three plane tickets to Guadalajara, one-way tickets, to Ramón's dismay. Andres asked why, and Tonio said it was Raquel's decision to leave. Upstairs, Raquel packs her clothes, as well as Martha’s, crying her eyes out. At the restaurant, Martha talks about Gabriel with Luis, hoping he'll be better soon. 

Back at the mansion, Tonio silently counts out money from the safe for Raquel, while Andres puzzles over what could have happened to the real accident victim if Gabriel wasn't the victim. And why would Daniel allow Martha to remain in jail if he knew the truth the whole time? It made no sense. Tonio felt there were too many coincidences in the matter, in particular that Daniel and Chucho knew Meche. Ramon is summoned, and Tonio hands over Raquel's money-  asshole- to him; he's to give it to her along with the plane tickets. Refusing to have dinner with Victoria, he left the house with Andres, not wanting to be present when Raquel left. Dressed to go, Raquel asked Ramon if he'd seen Martha, then remembered she had gone out. 

 Ramón sadly gave her the money Tonio had instructed him to give to her, explaining she was to also receive tickets to Guadalajara, and she's visibly sad that Tonio went out of his way to get her out of his life for good. Entering his study, she sat at Tonio’s desk and began writing a letter. Later, she told her very distressed father her marriage was over, and they were leaving the mansion; they would wait for Martha outside the gates. Daniel asked if Tonio had kicked her out. Raquel said she was the one who made the decision to leave. Either way, it's your fault, Daniel. 

Meche is horrified when Gabriel tells her about Tonio's visit and how he demanded she come to the mansion.  Raquel placed a call to Oscar's son, Humberto, but he's not home. 

Tonio called the house and asked Ramon if Raquel was still there, and if she now has the money.  Raquel bitterly listens to Ramon's reply and, after hanging up, refuses to take the plane tickets from him, instructing him to get her bag, Martha's too. She still had a little money of her own left.  Tono informs his BF that Raquel took the money, visibly angry. Andres guessed rightly that deep down Tonio hoped she wouldn't take it. Again, asshole. 

 Ramón escorts Raquel and Daniel to the gate as she refused to use any of the chauffeurs; he sadly says goodbye to Raquel, shaking hands with Daniel. 

Rodrigo pulls up at the gate, surprised to see them there. Daniel explained that she and Tonio had a huge fight, and they were leaving. He offered to take her to his house to wait for Martha. Martha was still out with Luis.  Tonio and Andres discuss what happens next: divorce. Since their marriage by proxy is legal, Raquel is entitled to half his assets. Tonio said he will consult his lawyer. Again, asshole! 

Andres said he could just declare he and Raquel didn't have an actual wedding, but the lawyer would probably question why he didn't report the marriage certificate to him to begin with. 

While Raquel and Daniel wait in the car, Rod tells Claudio what happened, and he is going to use it to his advantage. In the meantime, Claudio is to bring Martha to his house.  In Rod's car, Raquel angrily brushes off Daniel's admonition of not taking the tickets from Tonio. Shut up, you troublemaking old man. Rod returns, telling them Claudio will bring Martha later. 

Victoria is informed by a very sad Ramon that Mrs Raquel had moved out she is amazed, feeling something very serious must have happened between them. No kidding.  

Going downstairs, she finds Alejandra and Claudio in the living room. Alejandra felt Tonio and Raquel fought because she asked for her help with Raphael. Vicky didn't think that would cause Raquel to leave Tonio. 

 She's more puzzled that Raquel refused to use any of the drivers or let him call a taxi, preferring to wait outside for Martha. Claudio checks with the guards at the gate and is informed that Raquel and Daniel left with Rod. 

 Thinking maybe Raquel went to Max (eww!), she called his number. Evil Max is surprised at what his mother told him, including Raquel refusing the tickets and leaving with Rod. Meche arrives with Chucho and waits in the kitchen for Tonio's return. 

Tonio finally returned with Andres in the evening. Wanting to be alone, Tonio doesn't answer Vicky's questions and enters the study. He soon saw that Raquel did not take the money after all. It was on his desk- on it an envelope. 

In the letter, Raquel had poured out her heart, telling him he could keep the tickets, his money and the expensive outfits and jewellery he’d given her. She left with what she brought with her, except for one thing, which he took from her. She also said he greatly hurt her with his words and actions; she won't beg him to believe her, but she regretted letting him go that far with her, and he ended up being just like Max: using her and lying that he loved her; he was the deceiver. If he loved her, he would have given her the benefit of the doubt, but chose not to. She deeply loved him the whole time she was with him, but it was definitely over between them now, and she bade him goodbye. 

Tonio, usually so stoical, gives in to bottled emotions- a tear rolls down his cheek to our horror, his fingers crushing the damning letter.  

Andres urges Tonio to give his wife another chance

Tonio told Raquel not to answer to the invitation from Roberto this time; he and Pablo would go instead and see this man once and for all. However, Chucho overheard the conversation and remembering that Meche had told him that a Roberto Aguirre had paid her to lie asked her to accompany him to the rendezvous and see if it's the same guy. Gato showed up the two of them start hitting him as he was the man who had stolen Chucho's money at the bar. Tonio broke up the fight and Gato escaped. At the house , Chucho explained himself and Meche added that he worked at the bar she used to hang out at. Tonio ordered Pablo to investigate the man.

Later, Andres found Raquel sitting in the courtyard, looking miserable. He sat beside her and she poured out her heart to him, narrating her own side of the story- from when she'd first met Max. She loved Tonio, but might lose him thanks to all the intrigues and allegations against her.  Daniel visits Gabriel at the hospital and is dismayed to discover the farce; Meche and Chucho pleaded with him not to tell Raquel, however there was no way he could keep such a secret from his daughter- she and Tonio needed to be told.

Andres told Tonio about his talk with Raquel;  though he'd not known her long, he believed she was telling the truth and urged him not to give up on his marriage. Raquel found Tonio outside the house, smoking. She took a step towards him but then went back in. He however had seen her and went after her. He found her in the living room and kissed her. He still loved her, but deep down... couldn't trust her like he used to. Raquel sensed it and was very sad.

Raquel's battle to save her marriage

Raquel informed her husband of the call and he of course forbade her to go anywhere But  she is determined to go and see  the troublemaker for herself. Chucho insisted on going with her- for fear that the man may harm her. Victoria gets Tonio's permission for Max to be allowed to visit her; Max heard from Vicky that Tonio and Raquel are sleeping in separate rooms again. Pablo gets a call from Julia- Meche's friend who had recommended her to Max. Her husband had been the man who had pretended to be the accident victim originally, Julia had seen the ad and wanted to remind Max of the balance he still owed them! Pablo was of course, confused but had it on tape.

 Chucho entered the restaurant first, but scares Gato away, not knowing he was the man waiting for Raquel. Raquel came in a few minutes later(looking fabulous in a black pants suit and silver jewelry) but of course waited in vain, she and Chucho later went back to the mansion. She told a cold Tonio that the man didn't show up then burst into frustrated tears; Tonio took her in his arms. She begged him to forgive her for lying to him, promising never to lie for anyone ever again- she loved him very much. At first it looked like Tonio was finally mellowing but them the bastard called again! Tonio went cold again and Raquel fled the study in tears. But more was to come, at Max's direction- Camilla held up Raquel's clip on earring and said she'd found it at the greenhouse while looking for plants for her house- insinuating that she and Max had been meeting there. Tonio looked daggers at his wife. Tied to a corner, Raquel phoned Humberto, asking him to meet her somewhere. Humberto is at first reluctant to get involved as a third party but  then closely listened to Raquel's story and advised her not to give up on her marriage since she loved Tonio. Tonio would soon come round, if he truly loved her he wouldn't believe her enemies over her.

On getting home, Tonio asked her where she'd been and wasn't pleased to hear that she'd confided in Humberto about a private matter. Raquel calmly said after everything that has been happening to her, she needed someone to talk to, and Humberto seemed to be an impartial type of friend. She wants to do what he advised but it's hard with Tonio acting so cold towards her and everyone against her. Tonio reminded her none of this would have happened at all if she had been honest with him and it's not like he asked for anything of this to happen, she was the one who unexpectedly came into his life. Raquel admitted she had mishandled things, but he didn't seem to want to forgive her, hence it was better to call it quits. Tonio however said he wasn't a quitter and things would get better between them if he got the truth from her. 

Tonio asked her about the earring and she replied she hadn't noticed it was missing since they were not a pair she wore very often; her designer had brought them along with her dresses and accessories.

TONIO IS SUCH A PIG!!!

 

Raquel's eyes filled with tears when she saw that Tonio wasn't lying beside her. Meanwhile, Tonio's plan to unmask Roberto Aguirre, he asked Pablo to place an ad in the paper, 'anyone who wanted to get in touch with Roberto Aguirre, call this number...'. whoever called would be taped- the machine set in Pablo's apartment, and his sister, Pamela, would monitor the calls.

Tonio misunderstands a conversation he has with Daniel. Daniel had hoped a child would bring  Tonio and his daughter closer, but Tonio concluded that Raquel had seduced him the previous night to deliberately get pregnant! 

Later on, Raquel paid Tonio a visit at the office, and alas, it's very ugly. Tonio accused Raquel of having an ulterior motive for sleeping with him, and Raquel was angry at the way he spoke to Daniel and for cheapening the passionate night they spent.  Hurt at his insinuation and accusations,  Raquel declared she suddenly hated him and marched out of the office while Tonio yelled after her, 'I'M SICK OF YOU!'

Raquel told the chauffeur to drop her; she needed to be by herself for a while, and she would find her own way home. She went to the beach, miserably thinking about the fight with Tonio.

 Maura and Rod see the ad, but he advises her not to fall for it. Tonio is very worried when the security guards inform him that the chauffeur returned without Raquel. Raquel had gone to pay a visit to Gabriel and Meche at the hospital and introduced herself as Martha's sister and Tonio's wife.  After she left, Gabriel was filled with more guilt- he found Mrs Raquel so beautiful and sweet and hated the idea of deceiving her. 

 The first person to call was an amazed Carla, who had made up the name in the first place. Pamela pretended to be Mr Aguirre's secretary and asked her to leave a message, but Carla hung up. The tape is later played to Tonio, who recognised her voice!

As Raquel was walking along, a man called her name. Turning round, she saw it was Oscar's son, Humberto. He is very pleased to run into her and asked her to have a drink with him- she agreed. Carla stopped by the house, and Tonio tried to make her confess, but she denied it and added fuel to the fire by saying that Roberto was Raquel's lover and Daniel had been the one to tell her! (BITCH!!!)

Meanwhile, Humberto and Raquel have a pleasant talk over coffee at a restaurant.
Tonio asked Daniel about Roberto, but of course, the old man said he didn't know what Carla was talking about. Daniel then came across the ad and showed it to Raquel when she got home. Raquel called the number, and when Pamela asked her to leave a message, she angrily said whoever this Roberto was, he was sabotaging her marriage!

When she got to the mansion, Raquel entered Tonio's study, and he berated her for wandering off on her own. Raquel calmly replied that she had coffee with Humberto after paying Gabriel a visit, and Tonio is immediately jealous again, never mind that Humberto was a family friend. Weary, Raquel goes upstairs. Meanwhile, Rod asked Gato to call Raquel again and set up a meeting.

Reconciliation???

What happened next? Much worse for Raquel. Not only did she have to contend with Martha going to jail, but also more crank calls from the mysterious 'Roberto Aguirre'. Evil Max finally gets kicked out of the mansion by Tonio, but the bastard decided to enlist Camilla's help in ruining any chance of reconciliation between Tonio and Raquel. Tonio meets with Meche and pays for Gabriel's operation, but he keeps wondering why Meche never took her brother to the Red Cross, where it would cost nothing. Chucho heard that Martha's 'victim' was at the hospital, and he's dismayed to see that Meche was the one lying to his boss and his wife. Meche begged and begged him not to give her away; she simply wanted her brother to walk again. Raquel received more and more coldness from her husband every passing day- her only friend being Alejandra, who firmly believed she was innocent. Tonio had a sudden idea about how to unmask the Roberto who keeps calling Raquel. Sometime later, Raquel got a pleasant surprise; while with Alejandra in the living room one day, who should come in but the police chief-followed by Martha! Tonio had fought tooth and nail to get her released and not serve time in jail! Raquel hurried to find Tonio, and when she did, she expressed her gratitude by hugging him and kissing him VERY THOROUGHLY, a kiss he returned.

A small dinner party was held to celebrate Martha's return that night, and after everyone had gone to bed, Raquel led Tonio to their room, where they began kissing very passionately and ended up making love. But alas, the following morning, Tonio left Raquel and went back to the guest room. When she opened her eyes and saw he wasn't there beside her, how upset she was...