Episode 3

East of the mansion was consumed by silence and tension. Only the sound of the machines filled the environment.

"Grandfather..." he murmured, looking at the man lying in the hospital bed.

Dom Enrique's effort was visible, even so, his eyes still had the intensity that the world learned to fear.

"Fernando… you… came..."

"Of course. I'm here."

The old man tried to give a smile, but it was just an involuntary twitch at the corner of his mouth. A doctor approached, observed the vital signs, then walked away in silence. Everyone knew that time was short.

"You… need to be strong..." the man whispered, with difficulty.

Fernando held his grandfather's bony hand, feeling the cold skin. Like a film, he recalled when he left his grandfather's presence and slammed the door without looking back...

"We can still talk. You can recover... there are doctors here, everything will be fine..."

Don Enrique closed his eyes for a moment, as if seeking strength deep inside. When he opened them again, the sparkle was already weaker.

"I saw you grow up... be molded... for this moment. Don't throw it all away for a woman. The family... always... first..."

The last words came out with effort.

"Grandfather?" Fernando moved closer. "Grandfather, I'm here. Stay with me. Don't go now..."

But it was too late.

The continuous, high-pitched sound of the heart monitor cut through the silence of the room like a blade.

Don Enrique Lopez had departed.

Fernando felt his legs fail. For a moment, everything spun. His grandfather's hand was still in his, but the warmth was gone. He lowered his head, and tears, which he had refused to shed since his parents' death, finally escaped.

Not just out of longing, but for everything that was left unsaid. For everything that was never understood between them.

Don Enrique Lopez's body was laid out in the mansion itself, as was the tradition...

A silent crowd passed through the main hall decorated with white flowers and the varnished coffin in the center. Politicians, businessmen, leaders of other families...

All came to pay homage to the man who, for decades, was feared and respected in equal measure.

Fernando remained by the body the whole time, standing, in silence. His siblings and his grandmother, the matriarch of the family, divided their time between staying by the coffin and circulating among the guests, receiving condolences.

Valeria Garcia... Valeria was the opposite of Elena, who was present, discreet, sitting next to her father, Arturo Gutierrez. Dressed all in black and with her eyes lowered, at 20 years old, she was a young woman molded for marriage.

Fernando Lopez's girlfriend, on the other hand, was radiant in her contained grief. She greeted important people with the naturalness of a first lady. Behind the scenes, she was already being treated as the future wife of the new head of the organization. She spoke firmly, smiled elegantly, as if she already belonged in that position. She seemed, finally, in her habitat.

Fernando watched everything, in silence, bound by his pain.

The morning after the funeral, Maria Del Pilar called Raul, the personal secretary of her deceased husband.

"When Fernando wakes up, bring him to me."

The matriarch was in the library with a cup of soothing tea in her hands, her face drawn, when Fernando closed the door behind him. His grandmother signaled for him to sit in front of her.

"He loved you, you know that, don't you?" she said, breaking the silence.

Fernando nodded, with a slight head movement.

"In his way," he replied, in a murmur.

Maria Del Pilar observed her grandson for a long time before speaking:

"It's not time to decide anything yet. The councilors are waiting to know what the future of the organization will be."

"I have already abdicated the leadership..."

"Shh... don't be so hot-headed. You know that Alejandro is not fit to be the boss, he is not ready and does not want it."

"I will not marry Gutierrez's daughter!"

The matriarch took a deep breath, then said firmly:

"I want you to talk to Valeria. Tell her you won't be taking over the leadership. Be firm. I want you to see with your own eyes what she does with that information."

"Grandmother, that's..."

"A test," she interrupted. "I need you to know, once and for all, who you're dealing with. Your grandfather tried to warn you until the end, now it's your turn to see for yourself."

Fernando was silent.

Part of him already knew the answer, but part still wanted to cling to some hope.

Two days after the funeral, Fernando left the mansion and went to the luxurious apartment where he kept Valeria, the same apartment where they had so many disagreements, but also reconciliations.

He had always loved her and she loved him too, he was sure of that, but seeing her drinking champagne in the middle of the afternoon made him accept his grandmother's request.

Valeria got up from the sofa and went to him, excited, wearing a tight dress, high heels and the same perfume that he always found too sweet.

"I thought you'd come sooner," she said, coyly, giving him a light kiss.

Fernando did not reciprocate. They sat down on the sofa. He kept his tone controlled.

"The councilors will meet in the next few days. But I've already made my decision."

Valeria leaned forward, interested.

"And what is it?"

He took a deep breath, inwardly afraid of being disappointed.

"I won't stay with the leadership. I don't want to follow that path. I'm going to step away from the family business for good.

Her smile froze on her face. Her eyes sparkled for a moment... Not with emotion, disbelief.

"What do you mean? Are you... kidding?"

"No. It's final. Grandma will take over until Alejandro is ready. I want another life. Without involvement with the organization. A life just for us, simple and true."

Valeria Garcia stood up, walking to the window as she had last time. But now it wasn't for contemplation, it was disguised panic.

Do you want me to live with you as... as what? A common man? Away from everything?"

"We love each other, that's enough..."

She didn't answer immediately, but when Fernando approached, trying to wrap her in a hug, she moved away from him.

"Thank you for being so enlightening," she said mockingly. "Now get out. I need to think... Come back tomorrow."

Fernando felt like he was going to lose his footing. His grandmother couldn't be right. He was sure that his girlfriend was just nervous... Maybe she was on her period...

He just kissed her forehead affectionately and left, he would come back the next day and everything would be resolved...

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