The Talk

Miguel took a deep breath before telling his mother that Alondra had lied and that the child she was carrying wasn't his, but another man's.

"Mom, I think you're misunderstanding the situation. The child Alondra is expecting--"

Before Miguel could finish, his mother cut him off.

"I'm not misunderstanding anything. Alondra called us a moment ago and told us about the argument you two had."

"Miguel, how can you be capable of saying that child isn't yours?"

Miguel pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. It was unbelievable how his mother would turn her back on him and take Alondra's side.

"Mom, let me explain how things really are. Alondra is lying."

"Miguel, I thought I raised a man!"

After those words, his mother hung up. Miguel started the car and drove to his best friend's company.

He needed to blow off some steam. He also needed advice -- someone who truly knew him and would listen.

When he arrived at Madrigal Enterprises, Miguel got out of the car and headed straight for the CEO's office. He didn't even knock -- he walked in as if he owned the place.

At that moment, Antonio was spending some family time with his son Fernando and his wife Virginia. When they saw Miguel walk in, Virginia smiled and greeted him.

"Hi, Miguel, how have you been?"

Miguel forced an awkward smile, since he hadn't expected to find his best friend's family there.

"Hi, Vicky, I've been fine. Can't you tell?" Miguel joked halfheartedly.

"Glad to hear it, Miguel." Virginia greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

"Uncle, you look older," little Fernando declared from his father's arms.

Miguel narrowed his eyes, staring straight at Fernando.

"Antonio, did you hear what he just said to me? You should teach your son better manners."

"Fernando didn't say anything that wasn't true. You do look older every day," Antonio teased.

Miguel turned to Virginia -- of the three of them, she was the most sensible.

"I'm going to head out. I just remembered I have things to do."

"Come on, sweetheart. Say goodbye to your father."

Antonio set Fernando down on the floor. The little boy took his mother's hand, and before leaving, he added:

"Grumpy Uncle, when are you going to have kids? I want to play with my cousins. I get so bored at home with Grandma Elizabeth."

"What are you saying, you little rascal? Uncle Miguel is never having kids. So you'd better go find some friends to play with."

Virginia and Antonio both shook their heads.

"Let's go, sweetheart." The two of them left Antonio's office.

Once they were alone, Antonio looked at Miguel.

"You really don't plan on having kids. Let me tell you, you're missing out on something truly wonderful."

"Blah... blah... blah..." Miguel muttered.

"I honestly don't plan on going through the same thing I went through years ago. So forget about me ever becoming a father," Miguel said.

"What happened between you and Sarah was a misunderstanding. You should have gone looking for her instead of marrying Alondra."

"Now you're in serious trouble. She's not going to just hand you a divorce," Antonio said, knowing Miguel and Sarah's story better than anyone.

"If we're looking for someone to blame for the misunderstanding between Sarah and me, you're the one to blame."

"If it weren't for the fact that I helped you that night with Matilde, Sarah would never have left the city," Miguel said, clearly irritated.

"Don't pin that on me. I just asked you for a favor as a friend and you agreed. I had no idea about your relationship with Sarah."

"On more than one occasion, I warned Sarah not to get involved with you, because the only one who'd end up getting hurt was her."

"Whether you believe it or not, I cared about Sarah a great deal. She was without a doubt the best secretary I've ever had in my entire career," Antonio said.

"You had the nerve to badmouth me to Sarah behind my back?" Miguel whispered.

"No... I only warned her that you weren't the right man for her. That if she didn't want to get hurt, she should stay away from you."

"Nobody knows you better than I do. Sarah was my best employee. Even though she made some mistakes, it hurt me deeply when she left without saying goodbye."

"For me, it was a total disappointment that she abandoned her job and left the city."

"All you ever care about is your precious work!"

"It hurt me deeply that she didn't have the courage to tell me she was pregnant with my child."

"I had to find out from other people that I was going to be a father. And the worst part is that she terminated the pregnancy, as if she'd made that baby all on her own." Every time Miguel revisited the past, he felt his blood boil inside him.

"Neither you nor Sarah were right for each other. She needed a different kind of man in her life. All you ever offered her were empty promises."

"Would you have changed your entire way of life for her?" Antonio whispered.

Miguel fell silent, running his hand over his neck again and again. It was hard for him to admit that Sarah had been the only woman who ever truly won his heart.

The one he had shared more than just a single night in bed with. The one he had imagined building a family with. The only one for whom he would have changed his entire lifestyle.

"The past is behind us. Sarah made the decision to leave and to abort our child."

"And I made the decision not to go after her. We both took different paths," Miguel said in a cold tone.

Silence fell over Antonio's office. Even though Miguel denied it, he was still in love with Sarah. That was precisely why he had never tried to love Alondra.

"Just answer me one question. What would happen if Sarah reappeared in your life?" Antonio watched his best friend's expression closely.

Miguel's face contorted. He had imagined that scenario many times. But he would never forgive Sarah for killing his child. That was something he could never forgive.

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