At Julia's apartment, in her bedroom, Victoria reads to Lolita a juicy part of Luis's letter, but keeps the business part to herself. He hopes she will think about their future happiness and forget about getting back at Andres. He pleads with her to not go to Rivera Enterprises anymore.
At the station, Luis is leading the company in a ready drill. He's tough on them. After the drill, the alarm rings, and it's the real thing. They all take off on the trucks. After while, they return, and turns out the call wasn't anything serious, thank goodness. Luis, Benny and Samuel discuss the sad state of fire department funding in the city. They wish there was a firefighter school. They're underfunded, but the department is always on the spot in an emergency nevertheless.
Esteban comes into his office at the store and tells Maricarmen he's got to make a trip over to Victoria's. She's surprised Victoria's back, because she just talked to her evening before last. Esteban's demands to know exactly what she told Victoria, and Maricarmen mentions Victoria seemed fascinated about her work on the Quintana files. Esteban looks worried, and the evil theme plays.
At the beauty salon, Alma must have told her boss, Estella, that she slept with Roberto, because Estella is very agitated. Don't you know? The moment you do that, guys lose interest in you! But Alma doesn't believe it and assures her that won't happen with Roberto. Uh-hmm. Meanwhile, over at Manuel's workplace, he's following Roberto into his office. Roberto thinks it's a lovely day. I guess he does, after last night. And Roberto at first thinks Manuel wants to talk about that, but turns out he just wants to borrow some money. Roberto happily hands over a wad of cash, calling Manuel his father-in-law. After Manuel leaves, Roberto gets on the horn to his real future father-in-law and confirms he's going to accept the new position he offered him.
Esteban goes to the vecinidad and runs into Don Abel. Don Abel duns him for the money again, but Esteban puts him off. He leaves and just as Esteban's knocking at Julia's door, she walks up. Esteban blesses her out for letting Victoria leave the hospital, and then Luis walks up, hearing the tail-end of this. Esteban is in a rotten mood (Don Abel didn't help) and rudely insists that he's there to collect Victoria and take her to live with him. He should have known better than to let her live here! Whew, this gets Luis upset. He informs Esteban that Victoria is an adult and totally able to make her own decisions, including about where she wants to live!
Over at the circus, Raul sits alone in the big tent. Surprisingly, Elena walks toward him and sits down closeby. She pleads with him, telling him she laid out her life's story because she wanted them to start clean. She loves him and doesn't want to live without him. When Raul turns to her, we see he's crying. He just orders her to get out. Get out of my life forever, he says, and rises and walks away from her. Elena's crushed.
Valentina is at Dr. Reyes's office, and he gives her the news that she was incorrect -- she's not pregnant after all. Valentina's shaken and won't believe it. You're lying! Of course, I'm pregnant! He offers another test to prove the results, but she's not interested. I know what's going on with my body, and I am pregnant, and I'm going to have this baby!
Over at the store, Victoria's walking down one of the aisles when Andres stops her suddenly, demanding an explanation for leaving the hospital. She thinks this is the height of prying, and demands in turn to know why he should care. Andres just flat out tells her it's because he loves her! She is thoroughly flumoxed and incredulous. He wants to sit somewhere and talk about it, and when Victoria tries to walk away, grabs her arm. She jerks it away, biting out Let me go! But he convinces her to take five minutes in the cafeteria so he can explain.
Back at the vecinidad, Esteban takes off in a huff, leaving a furious Luis in his wake. What right does he have to decide this and treat people like this! Julia tries to make excuses, saying he's a caring godfather, but Luis is agitated and going to the store to seek out Victoria. On his way out, Luis passes Rufino, greets him, and continues out. Rufino has a present for Julia. He's brought some (I think) 78-rpm recordings of old-fashioned favorite songs and even found an old windup grammophone to play them on. Julia has always wanted one, it turns out, and she's just delighted. I can't tell exactly what Queta's response is, but when Julia pecks Rufino on the cheek, there is some reaction from her -- was it jealousy? disapproval?
In the cafeteria, Victoria and Andres sit in a more private area than Lolita usually goes to. Victoria just tells him that she doesn't believe he loves her. An unscrupulous guy like him doesn't have feelings; plus he's married and can only be after one thing. He pleads to know why she's always taking this critical tone with him. He thinks he doesn't deserve it. If he doesn't like her tone, tough. She stands up and walks off. He's confused.
At the salon, Alma notices Manuel loitering around the front of the shop. She goes out to him, followed by Estella, who doesn't like him at all and warns him not to keep Alma too long. Manuel now asks Alma for some money, threatening to ask Roberto for it if she doesn't hand some over. Alma doesn't want this and gets Estella to advance her some of her pay. Estella doesn't like doing it, but because it's for Manuel. Alma gives it to him, and he's very nice to her and kisses her.
Elena sits on a park bench feeling sorrowful. Soon, Toni runs up, come to meet her because she called him. Elena explains what happened at the circus with Raul and starts crying. Toni does something very sweet, and tells her to put on a good face -- literally. He has his makeup bag with him and starts cleaning up her tears and brushing on some color, all the while chattering cheerful words, and soon Elena starts smiling. She's happy to have such a caring friend, and it makes her feel better. He reassures her she should just trust in herself, in him and most of all -- in time.
Victoria has gone straight to church. In her mind, Andres incredible words replay. She is so upset she prays that the Virgin will help her find the peace that she lost after the death of her father. She prays for the Virgin to cleanse her heart of this poison. Help me to forget!
Valentina goes straight home and upstairs to David's room, even though Laura is calling to her and following her all the way. Valentina slams the door and huddles against it, shivering and gulping with fright and desperation. She begs David to hold her, hold her, and listen to her! The doctor said she wasn't pregnant! Laura opens the door to find Valentina standing there, arms entwined around thin air. Laura goes downstairs and calls Dr. Reyes to report about Valentina. He realizes that Valentina is much worse off than he had thought. She probably hears and sees David. She's not been able to face real life, so she makes up one!
In Andres's office, Esteban explains about his unsatisfactory trip to the vecinidad and how insolent Luis was to him. How dare he question me about my rights concerning Victoria! Finally, Andres tells him that he himself has seen Victoria, and this stops Esteban. I told her I loved her. Esteban can't believe it. Well, I couldn't help myself. And she said awful things back to me! Do you know why she has this terrible attitude toward me? What's that about?
At that moment, down in Maricarmen's office, a very agitated Luis is grilling Maricarmen about where in the world Victoria could be. Nobody has seen her! She suggests he go up to Andres Rivera's office, and he doesn't like the idea, but knows it's the only thing left to do. Luis does so and Andres wants to talk with him privately and gets Esteban to wait outside. Standing in front of his desk, Luis tells him he's looking for Victoria. Nobody has seen her. Andres said he has. He had a talk with her. Well, at least she's alright. Luis takes the opportunity to tell Andres to leave his fiancee alone. Andres doesn't let anyone tell him what to do. Oh, yes? Well, there's a first time for everything. You're used to always winning, but let me just assure you, you'll lose this time!
Victoria is just coming up the sidewalk in front of the vecinidad after going to church. Sergio has pulled up to the curb and suddenly notices her and jumps out to see what's wrong. She's crying. Sergio puts her in his car and takes her for a drive up to a park overlooking the city. (It looks a lot like Los Angeles to me.) He says bringing her there was to suggest she should get an overview of her situation, too. I guess she told him what Andres said, because she's angry, thinking Andres must be contemplating trying to buy her off with his millions. Sergio admits he came to Mexico City to try to help her in her quest, but now is thinking she should try to forget all of this and concentrate on making a happy, new life after her marriage to Luis. Victoria is about at the same point of agreeing.
Esteban is waiting in Aurora's office when he gets a call from Abel. Abel insists on meeting him and talking about the blackmail payments. Turns out he demanded they meet at the store cafeteria so that nothing bad could happen to himself while he was pressing Esteban. These two look and act so suspicious that Beatriz notices them particularly, while she's on duty, waitressing. Esteban keeps claiming that he doesn't give the orders, and Abel gives him a little while longer.
Luis is about to leave Andres's office, when he suddenly turns and asks the fateful question! (I couldn't believe it.) "Do you have anything to do with the business failure and death of Alfredo San Roman?" Andres is totally taken aback. Absolutely not. I never had any dealings with him at all. Luis is listening carefully and especially critically when Andres informs him that Esteban is the one who had dealings with Victoria's father, them being best friends. Andres calls Aurora to have her round up Esteban to corroborate his claim, but Esteban's meeting with Abel just then. Luis is about to leave again, and this time, Andres stops him. Why did you ask me about Victoria's father? Luis says it's not his place to explain. He should ask Victoria. Didn't you two discuss that when you met earlier? No, Andres answers. We talked about me and my feelings for her. Even though I know I don't have a chance, I admitted that I'm in love with her! This gets Luis hot, and he just deliberately turns over a chair getting to the front of Andres desk and as close as he can get to his face. Luis grits out, I am the one who loves her! And respects her! What you feel is something else altogether! Music up, role Televisa logo, and program those VCR's for tomorrow morning!