At the Rivera's, Valentina stands in the doorway of David's room, motioning to Esteban to look in. She saw David in there lounging on the bed, but of course, Esteban sees nothing but thin air. He tries to reason with her, reminding her David died in a terrible accident, but Valentina's past reason. She derides Esteban for even imagining he can know the pain of losing a child. Esteban tries to sympathize, also reminds Valentina he came there only because she called to talk about problems with Andres. But these thoughts only lead her to wonder how she can go on living, when her child is dead. Valentina orders Esteban out.
Over at Joaquin's bachelor pad, he's serving Sandra a drink and having a good laugh at Valentina's expense, describing the events of his last meeting with her to Sandra. Their plans are progressing! However, Sandra's worried that Valentina's lost faith in her as a friend, because she hasn't heard from her lately. When Joaquin adds that Valentina was worried because Andres returned to Mexico from Miami, but not to their house, Sandra wants to go call Valentina immediately. Joaquin puts the kaibosh on that, though, since Valentina confided in him about it. He reminds Sandra that they are in this together -- never doubt it! She smiles like a crocodile, and you get the feeling as soon as one or the other of this pair isn't useful anymore, he/she will be wearing cement overshoes at the bottom of the swimming pool.
Over at Julia's, Lolita is lounging on the sofa trying to read a magazine while her mother grouses about that Sergio being out with Victoria. She doesn't understand why Victoria gives him the time of day. Lolita tries to play it down, saying they're just friends, but Julia's sure it's going to lead to trouble with Luis. Lolita reassures Julia that Sergio's just going to "help" Victoria, and this sets off an alarm in Julia's head. She prods Lolita until she admits Victoria thinks Sergio has information about the ruination of her father. Victoria warned Lolita to keep mum about her vengeance plans to Julia, but Lolita's like an open book. Sure enough, Julia's upset. Julia thinks this obsession is just going to hurt Victoria.
At a restaurant, Victoria is getting more disgusted with Sergio by the moment, because he doesn't actually have any information, even though that was his pretext for getting her out with him. All he knows is that somebody is planning an office complex on the spot where her family's ancestral home was. She's angry with him and just wants the name! Who is it, ok?! He's making mealy-mouthed excuses for why he came there and insists he'll find out when he goes home. He wants her to go with him, too! What a nut. Victoria's got to work, like normal people, and he thinks this is outrageous, deriding her job as a "secretary." Victoria's proud of what she does and points out emphatically that she, not her godfather, is responsible for her solid reputation for efficiency.
Over at the circus, Andres talks to his friend, the owner, in his trailer. His friend's been trying to convince him to forget about Victoria, mentioning she's got a boyfriend -- who's coincidentally an unmarried man -- and that Andres has been married a long time. Andres agrees, but can't shake the feeling that his marriage has gone permanently sour on him. He intends to get a separation from Valentina, to his friend's dismay.
Back at the vecinidad, Sergio jumps out of the car trying to head off Victoria, who's livid with him by now. She only wants the damned name! That's all she wants to talk to him about, but he wants to talk about "us." Sergio makes a big mistake, suggesting that she can only be using a guy like Luis to get back at himself. Victoria starts shouting at him. Sergio, you are so STUPID!! Luis is a man in a million! Brave, generous, helpful, dedicates his life to saving others! HE'S A MAN!! What's up with you, belittling my feelings, eh?! Sergio's waving this off, shouting, too. Say what you will, this guy is NOT FOR YOU!! He's not in your class! Whew, Victoria is so furious now. I don't care about that! And so you are?! When I needed you most, you were nowhere for me! They are both screaming their fool heads off now. Sergio yells, It was a mistake! Silence. They regroup a moment. He wants to make ammends, but she is only interested in one thing. You promised me to see me as a FRIEND! Sergio says I can't believe you have changed so much. Victoria says to believe it! I only want to know the name of the person who ruined my father, she shouts right in his face, and stalks away. Whew.
Upstairs in Luis's apartment, Dona Lydia is talking to Maru about going to Queretaro. Maru thinks her dad's bluffing. Luis, standing just outside the door, hears Maru say her dad doesn't love her any more. (I don't know how her little-girl brain works this out, since she's sure he's bluffing, but never mind.) Luis looks dejected and sad when he hears this and comes in, asking Lydia to give them a moment alone. Tears streaming down his face, he kneels beside her to assure her that he does and will always love her. You can't imagine how much. But that doesn't mean giving in to a whim that's wrong. You don't understand as an adult does, but you're very intelligent, and could understand that the way I love you and the way I love Victoria are two separate things. But you refuse to understand, so I have to respect your decision to go. I want more than anything for you to be happy. Maru is starting to cry now, seeing that she may really have to leave him. She doesn't want to, but her pride prevents her staying. Maru tries once more to talk him out of keeping Victoria, but he maintains he loves Victoria -- Victoria loves Maru, too -- that she's part of his life and that Maru has to respect others' positions, too.
At Julia's, Queta comes in and laments about Maru leaving. Victoria's there and is determined to do something about it. She can hardly believe Luis would let her go. She gets to the upstairs walkway and encounters Luis. Victoria's eager to talk to Maru and dissuade her, but Luis sadly says it's already decided -- by Maru. Luis just wants Victoria to help him get through it, be with him, kiss him. He's kissing her, when a few doors down at Luis's apartment, we see Maru come out briefly, look at them with distaste, and go back in. Maru's wearing her little bear backpack, ready to go. A little later at Queta's, Angelica argues to Maru that her dad does love her; he takes care of her, gets her to school, cookes, does laundry. Maru's determined, though, and Angelica's very sad when Maru gives her a slip of paper with her address and phone number and promises to call. While Lydia is waiting for Maru and Luis to come out to the taxi, Victoria comes out, and Lydia reluctantly agrees to take a letter to Maru that Victoria has written.
At the bus station, Victoria comes up an comforts a very sad Luis as we hear a bus pull away from the curb. Inside the bus, Lydia is starting to read Victoria's letter to a crying, whimpering Maru. Lydia starts, but the reader's voice changes to Victoria when there's a fade to the farewell at the bus station. Luis hugs Maru, crosses her to keep her safe, and they tearfully part. Getting on the bus, Maru blows her dad a kiss. Victoria's voice-over relates how when her father died, she thought of so many things she would have liked to do or say. To kiss him and take care of him. But it was too late then. And she doesn't want Maru to make the same mistake. The only thing your dad's guilty of is loving me, my dear, and I just want him to be happy. I tried so many times to tell you, but couldn't get you to listen, so I've written you this letter. I have to convince you we love you. Love, Victoria.
In a change of scene, out at the circus, the circus owner is toting bales of green hay out of a barn for a horse when we see Elena walk up. He's happy to see her, and they go into his trailer. He wants to know if she and her "parents" are working up another act. Elena explains to him that he's such a good, decent guy that they don't want to mislead him about being a parent/daughter act. He's surprised, but so interested in her he doesn't care they made up the story, in my opinion. Later we see them together in his truck, pulling up outside the vecinidad. She tells him how nice to go out with a gentleman like him, and he says he hopes it won't be the last time. He notices Luis and Victoria get out of a taxi and walk arm and arm into the complex, and asks Elena about them. She explains the two of them are always together and that they care about each other a lot.
Andres pulls up in the drive at his house, and two servants rush out, both frantic. Valentina has been taken to the hospital in an ambulance! Andres jumps into his car and rushes away again. At the hospital, Sandra is there and explains that she came in on Valentina in the bath with her veins opened up. (Argh! This was such a horrifying scene, I hated to watch it.) Andres talks to the doctor, asking about some treatment for Valentina, and the doctor recommends loving care. Andres baldly tells the doctor he doesn't love her anymore, producing a grimace on the doctor's face. After while, Esteban's talking to Sandra in the waiting room, and he asserts it must have been hard on her, all of this.
Esteban leaves to go talk to Andres in Valentina's room, and Sandra sits down in a waiting-room chair, nodding her head slowly, with disgust. Yes, it was. She remembers what happened. Sandra went to Valentina's and needled her about Andres and Victoria. Valentina was in a state already, and she's looking really catatonic. Before we know it there's some swooshing sound effects, accompanying segues to various short scenes of Valentina picking up the straight razor, stepping into the sunken tub and doing the horrifying deed. Don't make me describe it! Ackkkk!!!!!! Anyway, the gist of the whole thing is that Sandra did come in on Valentina after she'd fainted in the tub and was happy to leave her there until she was dead. What got Sandra so ultra disgusted was the maid coming in with urgent documents from the bank that Valentina just HAD to see at that moment and finding Valentina. That STUPID MEDDLER! That STUPID MEDDLER! Sandra repeats over and over. (Let me just say that this juncture that Sandra is Evil. That's evil with a capital "E.")
Esteban, looking very different in casual clothes and without glasses, tells Andres about his talk with Valentina about Victoria. I wasn't sure, but I don't think Andres was all that happy to hear that Victoria has strict morals, LOL. Esteban also explained about Valentina's seeing David, and Andres tells him it wasn't the first time. They agree that poor Valentina has gone over the edge.
In Queretaro, Dona Lydia brings Maru into her house. Maru runs over first thing to a nice wedding picture of her mom and dad and admires it. Back at the vecinidad, sitting on the steps crying his eyes out alone is Luis. He's talking to his dead wife, Alicia, pleading for her help -- some sign of what to do. What am I going to do? He pleads piteously. I can't live without Maru, but I love Victoria. After a moment, we see Victoria has been standing closeby, dressed for bed in her robe and no makeup. She comes over to him and sits down. Earnestly and with cracking voice, she vows she can't stand to see him suffer, and she loves him so much that she would make any sacrifice for him to be happy! Victoria wants Maru to come back to him, so she's going to leave him alone for good. Freeze frame on Luis's tear-stained face, music up and credits roll. I can't wait to see what happens next! Less than 12 hours till it comes on again. Set those VCR's.