When Renato and Diego walk into the kitchen, Edelmiro reveals Renato’s true identity to all. Renato tells them that Edelmiro is confusing him with someone else and Victoria tells him that’s not true and tells him not to play innocent. Victoria turns to Diego, “Diego, don’t trust this guy. What reason did he give for coming to your ranch?” He says, “He came to buy my ranch.” She tells him that Renato is Isabela’s uncle and was sent there by the Monteros to make an offer on his ranch.
Gladys tells Christa that she wants Renato to destroy Victoria, saying, “I want him to destroy her after…” She catches herself from revealing her plans with Victoria to seduce Gonzalo. Christa is suspicious and asks her what she’s hiding from Renato. Diego confronts Renato and Renato tells him that he’s not a Montero spy and only came because he wanted to know what he and Victoria were plotting to do. Victoria tells him that Diego has nothing to do with her plans. Renato tells her that he’s discovered that they’re accomplices and that he learned it from Gladys. Diego tells him that they are accomplices and Renato tells him that he just came to tell them that whatever they’re planning won’t work. He tries to leave, but Diego stops him, telling him that he’s not going to abandon “his plan” and vows to follow through with it. Renato tells him that he’s not going to get the Montero fortune because it’s going to be his. Diego comes to the realization that Victoria only wants the Montero fortune.
Gerardo takes Don G the work that Bianca helped him do and Don G is impressed, telling him that he learns quickly. Ruben preens from the sidelines. Don G asks if Gerardo did it all himself or if Ruben helped him, reminding him that he admires his honesty. Gerardo can’t lie and tells them that he did have help, but it wasn’t Alex or Ruben. Don G asks him who else could possibly have helped him. Gerardo reveals that it was Bianca. Ruben is livid. He shoves Gerardo and asks him how that’s possible and why he let Bianca get involved in men’s issues. Don G is more than a little surprised with Gerardo’s confession.
Diego tells Renato to do whatever he has to do, but tells him to leave and warns him never to come back onto his land. Renato tells him to calm down and offers him an alliance. Diego is insulted by his offer, telling him that he’d never take something that wasn’t his and is about to storm out of the kitchen when Renato asks him why he’s Victoria’s accomplice--”Is it because she’s such a delicious lover.” Diego turns around and is about to attack him, but Victoria beats him to it, slapping Renato hard and calling him a pig.
Gladys asks Rocio where Victoria is and Carolina arrives asking her what she wants with her mother. Gladys tells her that Alex will soon grow tired of her and they’ll never get their hands on the Montero money. Carolina tells her that she doesn’t want their money and vows never to lose Alex. As Carolina leaves, Gladys insults her, saying she’s as insolent as her mother. Renato asks Victoria who she thinks she’s fooling and Victoria tells him that she’s nothing like him and his nieces. “That’s enough!” Diego says, and orders Renato out of his house. Renato tells him that he can see that he’s very ambitious but doesn’t want to share. Claudio asks if he’s deaf or simply doesn’t understand, then asks Diego if he’d like him to remove Renato by force, pulling out a piece of cloth which he wraps around his hands, intent on choking Renato with it. Diego tells him not to and Victoria tells Renato to do whatever he wants against her but she’s not going to let him do anything to Diego. Renato laughs and says, “Defending your lover again…” Diego punches him the stomach and German holds him back, telling him that‘s enough and physically taking Renato out of the house. Outside, German shoves Renato and Renato falls. German tells him to stop bothering Diego and that Diego doesn’t want a cent of the Montero fortune. He leaves Renato, face-down on the ground.
Victoria quickly announces that it’s best that she leaves now, too, turns to go, but Diego grabs her arm, saying, “No, ma’am. You’re not going anywhere.” She tells him that she has to go back to work and he tells her, “No. You and I need to talk right now.” Angrily, he pulls her out of the room.
Diego takes Victoria to his office. She tells him to let her go and that he’s hurting her. He lets go of her arm and asks, “You think it doesn’t hurt me that people think I’m ambitious and it’s all your fault?” She tells him that Renato thinks everyone is like him. He calls her a gold-digger and she tells him not to insult her. He tells her he’s not insulting her, he’s only speaking the truth. He tells her not to play innocent anymore because he now knows her big secret: she’s trying to get the Montero fortune.
Ruben assures Don G that he’s going to take care of Bianca and put her in her place, and assures Don G that no one is ever going to help Gerardo with his work again. Victoria, on the verge of tears, tells Diego that she was always honest with him and always told him that they could never be together. He tells her to shut up, “Stop telling me lies. What do you want? If you‘re not after the Montero fortune, what is it you want?” She tells him she’s sorry but she can’t tell him, even though he hates her for it.
He tells her that he hates and abhors her, “Ya te odio. Ya te aborrezco.”
She says that she doesn‘t want to hear anymore, “Basta. No quiero seguir escuchando.”
He grabs her arm and stops her from leaving, saying that she’s not going anywhere until she tells him the truth.
“What truth?”
He wants to know if she’s with Gonzalo just so she can get his money.
Gonzalo finds Amalia straddling Macario’s lap and Macario ripping off her clothes. He apologizes for interrupting them and tells Macario he’d like to speak to him alone. Gonzalo calls Amalia a savage and she grabs her clothes, telling him that she may be a savage but at least she’s not a drunk like him. He laughs and she leaves. Gonzalo tells Macario that he wants him to clean out the abandoned cabin again so that he and Victoria can use it and Macario reminds him of what happened last time with Gladys. Gonzalo isn’t worried.
Victoria tells Diego that she’s not after Gonzalo’s money and he says, “Ah, no? Then why? Are you in love with him?” Angrily, he yells at her, “Come on, answer me! Be honest for once in your life!” Upset and angry, she tells him that she’s told him a thousand times and that if he doesn’t believe her, he can go to hell because she doesn’t care anymore. She tells him it’s her business and doesn’t want him getting involved. He tells her that her reputation might not matter to her but his matters to him and doesn’t like that fact that, “….Renato and I don’t know how many others think I’m ambitious like you.” She tells him that she’s not the one who told Gladys they were accomplices and reminds him that it was him who did that. He tells her he only did that to help her because he wanted to be with her and never imagined that she just wanted to get her hands on the money. She tells him that she doesn’t thinks she’s capable of convincing him that what he says isn’t true.
“Then, what do you want me to think?” he asks.
Still fighting back tears, she says, “Think whatever you want to think. I don’t care anymore. I’m tired. Think whatever you want to think and I’ll do the same.” She turns to leave, but he grabs her arm again.
“All right, Victoria. Go be with Gonzalo. I don‘t care.” He tells her that every time she kisses Gonzalo, she’ll be thinking about him (Diego), because she loves him.
He tells her to admit it, admit that she’s in love with him. She asks him how he can be so sure that she loves him and reminds him that he thinks she’s nothing but a liar. He tells her that he knows because he can see it in her eyes and that her lips are screaming, begging for “un poqito de amor.”
He kisses her. He finishes the kiss and repeats that every time she kisses Gonzalo, every time she goes to bed with him, she’ll be thinking of him (Diego) and that maybe the day will come when she’ll beg for a kiss from him, “…un besito verdadero, del que tu y yo sentimos.” He walks out, leaving her crying.
Don G tells Gerardo that once again he’s surprised him with his honesty, and Gerardo thanks him but tells him that his honesty is going hurt Bianca. He tells his grandfather that he can’t stop worrying about his sister and his mother and that Ruben will beat them. Alex and Carolina go fishing and he gives her roses. He makes her promise never to leave him and tells her how much she means to him. He tells her that they’re problem was that they didn’t communicate with each other and that’s how Isabela managed to break them up and they both promise to consult each other more often. She thinks about the secret she’s hiding from him.
Amalia asks Victoria why she’s crying and offers to help her. Victoria tells her that no one can help her. Amalia tells her to tell her what happened and assures her that she’d never betray her or Carolina. Victoria tells her that she’s sacrificed so much to get to this point in her life: her youth, my right to fall in love, to be a mother…”You’re right to be a mother?” Amalia asks, “What about Carolina?”
Constanza and Florencia don’t know what to do about Lucrecia and Florencia is worried about losing Martin. Constanza declares that she would be happy if Ruben left her, assuming he left her alive after beating her for what she did. Lucrecia thinks about the kiss Diego gave her. “My God, how can I forget him? Who is this woman that he loves so much?” She says that the whole world knows the woman’s name but won’t reveal it and wonders where the woman lives and comes to the conclusion that the woman must be very rich and educated. Her sisters enter the room
Constanza and Florencia confront Lucrecia about her destructive behavior and can’t understand why she wants to ruin all their lives by revealing their secret. Lucrecia is upset and can’t believe that they’ve given up on their daughter. They remind her that Luisa ran away with Mariana and there’s no way to find her. Lucrecia is still bitter and reveals that Florencia is the baby’s real mother.
Diego goes to Martin’s gallery and they discuss his art but the conversation quickly turns to Victoria. Florencia begs Lucrecia not to be cruel when her sister throws in her face the fact that she never had any children after Mariana and only has Patricio, another woman’s son. Florencia thinks that she’s been punished by God because she abandoned Mariana and now she can’t have anymore children. Lucrecia doesn’t seem affected by her sister’s tears and asks what she would do if Luisa showed up on her doorstep with Mariana. Diego gets a miniature art lecture from Martin and they go to get coffee.
Constanza defends herself and Florencia. Florencia tells her that she doesn’t know what she’d do if Luisa showed up on her doorstep with Mariana and asks Lucrecia why she wants to ruin her marriage by telling Martin that she gave birth to a baby all those many years ago. Diego tells Martin what he thinks he’s discovered about Victoria.
Amalia continues to question Victoria and asks if Carolina was adopted and Victoria covers her slip of the tongue and makes her believe that Carolina is hers and she was a very busy mother who didn’t have the time to spend with Carolina, so she left her with a nanny. Amalia comments that she could have made time to be with her daughter because she was a rich woman who could have let other people do her work for her. Victoria asks Amalia if Carolina resents that fact that she wasn’t around much when Carolina was growing up as Florencia is upset thinking about the daughter she gave up and never knew. Lucrecia’s stance on the issue isn’t softened by Florencia’s tears.
Amalia tells Victoria that Carolina is very proud of her and happy to be her daughter. Amalia asks Victoria what she’s hiding and Victoria tells her that Diego thinks she’s with Gonzalo and only wants his money and Amalia tells her that it’s what a lot of people on the ranch think. “How can he think that of me?” Victoria asks out loud, and says that she hates Gonzalo.
Gonzalo tells Macario how he wants the cabin decorated as Martina eavesdrop at the door. Macario asks Gonzalo if he thinks Alex is simply playing with Carolina’s feelings and Gonzalo tells him he doubts it and thinks Alex likes Carolina a lot. When he leaves, Martina overhears Macario confess his love for Carolina and vow to make her his. Still fishing, Alex tells Carolina that he hopes his grandfather disinherits him once and for all. Alex tells her that he’s sad to say it but he doesn’t trust his grandfather.
Patricio goes to see Don G and they decide to put their plans into motion immediately. Patricio asks for a favor: that he doesn’t tell Ruben what they’re planning to do. Don G tells him that Ruben would never betray him, but Patricio tells him that he knows that Ruben wants to make Gerardo Alex’s replacement and might try to bring Gerardo into the situation. He tells him that if Ruben tries to bring Gerardo into their plans, it would be a disaster because Gerardo doesn’t have what it takes. Don G asks what he ahs against Gerardo and Patricio tells him he has nothing against his cousin and loves his cousin very much, but comments that Gerardo is too weak to get involved in what they’re doing.
Gerardo is in the kitchen with Rocio when Gladys arrives and tells Rocio to take refreshments to Renato and Christa and Isabela. She tells Gerardo that he’ll never replace her son and that he lacks too much to compare to Alex. In the living room, Gladys overhears Renato talking to Isabela and Christa what happened at the Ibarra ranch. When Gladys tells him it was a stupid idea for him to get involved, he tells her to shut up. Christa tells Renato their plan to make Alex think that Carolina has another man in her life when Martina informs them all that Macario is in love with Carolina.
Carolina and Alex know that they need to be alert because Isabela isn’t going to stop trying to break them up. Alex tells her that if they just talk and be honest with each other about everything, they can overcome all obstacles and Isabela won’t be able to break them up. Carolina thinks about the secrets she’s hiding from him about Victoria and feels guilty about it.
Victoria tells Amalia that she isn’t interested in Gonzalo and Amalia asks her why she pretends to care for him. Victoria tells her that the only man she loves is Diego Ibarra as Diego talks to Martin about her. Martin expresses his sympathy for Victoria and Diego wonders how he could feel sorry for her and tells him that he’s completely disillusioned about Victoria. Martin tells him that he fells sorry for both of them. Martin tells him that Gonzalo isn’t going to inherit anything and Diego prays for the day that Victoria finds that out. “You don’t know how much this pains me,” he tells Martin.
Victoria tells Amalia that she has to go back to work for Gladys. Amalia tells her, “That’s not true.” She tells her that she knows that Victoria controls both Gonzalo and Gladys and only works there to keep up appearances. She tells her that she doesn’t know what her secret it is, but guesses that it must be really important. Victoria tells her that even though it’s really important, it’s not as important as what she feels for Diego. Amalia wonders why she just doesn’t forget about everything and go and be happy with Diego if he’s more important than everything else. Victoria tells her that it’s too late for that, “How am I supposed to be able to convince him that I don’t want the Montero fortune?” When she leaves, Amalia wonders about what Diego might have to say about the situation, then realizes that she’s just looking for a reason to go to the Ibarra ranch and see German.
Claudio asks German if he’s worried about Diego. German tells him that he is and doesn’t know why Diego’s so late. He paces back and forth as Lucrecia continues to antagonize Florencia about the baby she had. Lucrecia wants to blackmail Florencia into helping her, telling her that she can use Martin because Martin is Diego’s friend. She says that Florencia could get Martin to convince Diego to give her a chance or at least learn the name of the woman that Diego is in love with. She tells her that if she doesn’t do what she asks, she’ll tell Martin that she had a baby by another man.
Carolina tells Alex that she has to get back to work and he admires her work ethic as Isabela scowls at them in the background. Macario thinks about Carolina and is surprised when Isabela walks in. She tells Macario that she knows his secret and asks for his help in breaking Carolina and Alex up by making Alex think that Carolina has another man in her life.
Posted on Feb 21, 2006, 5:36 AM from IP address 212.76.33.122
