Tonio asks Raquel for a divorce

Ramon is surprised when Raquel hangs up all of a sudden. Vicky asked him what Raquel wanted and was outraged to hear she'd asked for Max's address. Evil Max urged Raquel to let him help her out financially, even if she was angry with him. Raquel flatly turned him down, preferring to wait for Humberto. However, to carry out her trap, she asked him to meet her at a nearby bar for drinks later. Max was very pleased, thinking things were heading his way at last (yeah, SURE...)
Vicky angrily told Camilla what Raquel had asked for, wondering how she had the nerve to ask for it. While Tonio is still discussing the divorce and possible financial settlement, Camilla calls to tell and tells Raquel's call.  Tonio was silent, but his expression said it all.  

 Daniel feels Raquel is wasting her time and they should just go home instead, but Raquel is adamant about clearing her name with Tonio first. She was going to prove that Max was Roberto Aguirre. 

 There's a knock on the door; it's Rodrigo, he wanted to see how she was and take her out, but she claimed tiredness. Max interrupted their conversation and jealously asked her what Rod wanted. 

Raquel went back to the hospital and obtained Meche's address from Gabriel. Max, angry that Raquel refused to let him help her, spitefully told Oscar that Raquel was planning on asking Humberto for money. Raquel got to Meche's house and told her of the plan. Max was going to meet with her that evening, and Meche would hide at the back and get a good look at him. They are suddenly interrupted by Tonio, who dragged Raquel out with him for a private talk, to Meche's distress. Tonio tells her to come to the house that evening. 

 Rod confabs with Claudio on his plan to frame Raquel for Tonio's murder. Claudio is uncomfortable with the idea, and Rod warns him of the consequences if he tries to double-cross him by telling anyone.  

Oscar calls Humberto to delay his return to Acapulco by asking to handle some business. 

Back at the hotel, Tonio and Raquel have another fight. He demanded to know what she was doing at Meche's house, and she told him it wasn't his business; he couldn't order her around. Tonio felt they could reach an amicable arrangement if she told him the truth; she wouldn't go to jail if so.  Raquel, who doesn't seem to understand that lying to Tonio and keeping things from him caused his distrust, is immediately defensive. What she told him about Max's plot from the beginning WAS the truth. But Tonio simply wanted to force her to say what he wanted to hear, that she was Max's accomplice the whole time and she'd been sleeping with him, or that Roberto Aguirre was her other lover. None of it was true. 

To make matters worse, Daniel comes in and drunkenly asks if Max is around, then leaves.  Furious, Tonio accuses Raquel of still cheating on him with Max. Why else did she call the house to obtain his number?  Raquel is tired of arguing with him- he can believe whatever he chooses and do what he chooses.  

Tonio said he had started divorce proceedings, and she wouldn't get anything from him. Raquel proudly said she was prepared to sign the divorce papers; she didn't want a dime of his money and ordered him out of her room.  

Later, Raquel called Humberto's place again, but the house staff told her he was still not back. Daniel and Martha are alarmed when Raquel suddenly goes pale and collapses, stressed out from her fight with Tonio and weak from malnutrition. 

 Maura gleefully tells Carla that Tonio and Raquel are getting a divorce. 

Daniel and Martha got Raquel into bed; Martha said Raquel looked frail and very pale- she hadn't been eating. They try to get her to go out to dinner, but Raquel opts to rest instead. 

Tonio angrily gets back to the mansion and tells Vicky he and Raquel are definitely over; the divorce is now in motion. Max suddenly enters the living room, and it is the last straw; Tonio orders him to get out of his house! Vicky is very distressed as Max walks out. 

Meche is on her way to the house to tell Tonio the whole story and what Raquel was planning, in the hope it would bring the couple back together. 

Oh, dear... Max saw her and roughly dragged her to a dark corner, demanding to know why she was there. 

Raquel's new mission

Raquel's first line of action was to clear her name before she went back to Guadalajara, which meant finding out who Roberto Aguirre was. At their hotel, Raquel gives Daniel and Martha money to get a meal, reminding them to be prudent with spending, and refusing Martha's offer to buy her something. Back at the mansion, Tonio tells Ramon he didn't want dinner, and no one should disturb him for anything. However, if Martha called, she should be put through. Ramon asked if Raquel had called, too, and after hesitating, Tonio said she should be put through as well. You're still in love with her, Tonio.  Ramon tells Meche that Tonio couldn't see her. 

Martha is furious that she went to jail for an accident that didn't happen. Daniel (silly old man) made excuses for Meche and Gabriel. Martha phones Luis and tells him to meet her at the diner they are in. 

Raquel visits Gabriel at the hospital, who tells her he told Tonio the truth, assuming she already knew about it. He's very sad and guilty when Raquel tells him she and her husband fought over it, and she left him. She asks for Meche and is surprised to hear she went to see Tonio. 

Meche and Chucho enter the room, and the latter is overjoyed to see her; he'd assumed she and her family had already returned to Guadalajara. Meche said she waited ages for Tonio but was later told he didn't want to be disturbed.  Raquel needed their help to clear her name before heading back to Guadalajara for good; she needed to find Roberto. 

Martha and Daniel have lunch with Luis, and she tells him about Tonio and Raquel's falling out. Luis offered to help them out with some money he had just come into. Hmmm. 

Raquel asked them to describe 'Roberto Aguirre', and Meche's description fitted Max. Raquel strongly believed Max had been posing as Roberto Aguirre. Chucho agreed, which was probably why any time she was to meet with Roberto, only Gato showed up each time. 

Andres finds  Tonio lying on the empty bed (how come after Raquel moved out, you now choose to sleep there???) and points out that since Raquel didn't take his money or her designer clothes, she was not the opportunist Tonio believed her to be; therefore, he made a mistake, letting her go. Tonio did not know what to think. 

 Raquel isn’t pleased to find Martha talking to Luis at the hotel lobby on getting back. Luis salutes her, but she gives him an icy reply. 

Upstairs in their room, Raquel scolded Martha for still hanging out with Max’s thug, who’d gotten her into serious trouble; probably because of what he could give her, ill-gotten money. Martha coldly told Raquel she had no control over her life; she would see whoever and whenever, and she wasn’t planning on going back to Guadalajara. She left the room, spitefully urging Raquel to eat the sandwich she’d brought for her, as she hadn’t eaten all day. Later, Meche paid Raquel a visit and promised to help her; it was the least she could do. 

At the office, Tonio consulted his lawyer about starting the proceedings and how to avoid paying a huge sum of alimony to Raquel. (I HATE you, Tonio)

Raquel called the house, and Ramon answered it, very pleased to hear her voice. She asked for Max's address, and before Ramon could reply, Evil Max walked into the lobby saying, 'I finally find you!' (Luis's handiwork)

Stunned, she hung up...

Not knowing who you had until she's gone

Tonio came out, looking miserable. Mummy Vicky told him Raquel didn't take the tickets, and she and Daniel left with Rod. Refusing to answer, Tonio instead went upstairs to the room he used to share with Raquel.  Andres tells Vicky the reason why Tonio and Raquel quarrelled. 

True enough, on opening the closets, all of Raquel's designer clothes, shoes and accessories were still there.  The realisation that his wife has really left him finally sank in, and he buried his face in his hands, upset. Ramon entered, and Tonio asked why all her clothes were still there. Ramon said the bags she took were the ones she and Martha had when they arrived. Tonio reminded him that he had told him over the phone that Raquel took the money. Ramon said she did, but refused to take the tickets. 

What's the point of asking him that... you FOUND the money on your desk, she took it but didn't LEAVE with it! 

Ramon also told him she had refused to allow any of the drivers to take them to the airport, but instead went outside to wait for Martha. He had taken their bags to the gate for them. 

At Rod's place, over coffee (or tea, whatever), Raquel refused Rod's offer to stay at his place. A furious Martha arrives with Claudio. 

Maura and Camilla are obviously very happy, although they tried to hide it, while Alejandra and Andres looked sad.  Tonio asked Camilla if she saw Rod when he came, but she said she didn't. Vicky followed him to the study to ask what really happened and his next line of action. Alejandra insists Raquel is innocent. Max arrives and immediately goes to see Vicky. Chucho and Meche are shocked to hear from Ramon that Raquel and her family have moved out. 

Meanwhile, Martha complained about the small hotel they checked into, declaring it was even worse than their apartment in Guadalajara. Raquel, looking very tired, had more worries in her mind; finding a way to clear her name and managing until Humberto came back so that he could assist her, as she'd refused to take the money and tickets Tonio had left for her. Martha felt her sister was full of stupid pride. Raquel felt she was able to retain the last shred of her dignity. Yes o.

Max was still in the house, and Vicky told him Tonio and Raquel were now separated... of course, the bastard was happy about it, and started planning on how to find her and get her back to his side (in your dreams, THUG!) Max made a phone call on his way out to Rod, asking where he dropped Raquel and her family, Tonio watching him from a corner. 

Rodrigo had deliberately not assisted Raquel financially as he'd decided on a new plan with Max: to kill Tonio and frame Raquel for the crime. He wanted to keep her in Acapulco for the plan to work. He asked Claudio to be a part of it, as the reward would be great.  Claudio asked for time to think about it.

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.