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Tadeus enters the apartment to find that most of the furniture is gone. He checks the folder he keeps under the mattress to make sure his documents are still there. He takes a suitcase from inside the closet and gathers several items that belonged to his mother, such as her diary, some jewelry, and a photo album, but the wedding dress was no longer there. He thought that maybe his bastard of a father had let Elena do whatever she wanted with the place. "That serpent was probably here" he thinks when he sees a still-warm pot of coffee in the kitchen. The photographs are still on the dressers or hanging on the walls, so he decides to grab them and leave quickly, but he stops when he hears the phone ringing in the kitchen — Tadeus, are you there?
— Why are you calling this number, Gustaph?
— I paid the security guard to let me know if anyone came to your apartment. When he told me a man had arrived, I assumed it was you.
— It's good to hear from you, but…
— Do you have time to talk? In person, preferably.
— I've been under surveillance ever since Alexander found out I had something to do with the attack on his house a year ago.
— Don't you think it's too risky to stay with him?
The memory of Alexander's hands around his neck or near him on several occasions makes his stomach churn – No.
— You have to…
— We're leaving the country, Gustaph. It's all over; I have nothing left to discuss with you. You should also take advantage of the fact that he's weak and injured to escape his grasp. Go to your daughter. Start a new life with her and her mother; it might do you good. — After a few more minutes of listening to him insist, Tadeus hangs up, leaves the residence, puts the suitcase in the back seat, and sits next to Alexander. Who remembers the first time he sensed his beloved's affection, when he could take his feelings as mutual: "I think I'm in love with you." The response was a kiss, physical contact, just like now, when Tadeus puts a hand on his arm — Are we leaving?
— Yes, of course — Alexander buckles his seatbelt and remains silent. When they arrive at the house on the outskirts of town, this lack of attachment takes up more space as the hours pass.
The tension is palpable in his lungs as he takes a sip of water at dinner — Why aren't you eating? — It's easier to say that than "Why are you crying?"
— I don't have an appetite.
— I only have a couple of weeks left before I go back to work. My leave is almost up.
— I know — Alexander looks up from his food to meet Tadeus' eyes — Do you still want to go on a trip?
— I'm not sure this is the best time — Tadeus notices the half-smile he usually makes when he shuts himself off mentally to control his anger.
— I just want to make you happy — says Alexander — I think it could be a fresh start for us if we stay there… forever.
— I'd like to visit my mother's grave one last time.
Alexander takes his hand across the table and nods. Tadeus is surprised to receive a touch after so many days. He certainly didn't expect a kiss that night between the sheets.
The afternoon was cloudy and cold, but the boy was still excited to go for a walk among the trees — Hyacint, Hyacint, come over! — he heard the voice, so he peeked out from the stairs — Where's your mother?
His mother had fallen asleep after having a few glasses of wine while sitting in the armchair in the baby's room — I don't know — he said, coming down the stairs.
— Help your mother; Mrs. Dove will be back tonight to serve dinner — said Sylvester. He combed his son's hair back to reveal more of his eyes — I'll be busy with a visitor. Do you understand?
— Yes, Father.
At that moment, the teenager returned to the baby's room to find her asleep on her back, while her mother's neck was stretched out with her head lolling to the left and her hands flopping at the sides of the armchair. He covered his mother in with a blanket, picked up the empty wine bottle and the glass, and left them in the kitchen before heading out. He peeked into the basement, where he could see the door ajar and the light on in the maid's room, so he assumed the housekeeper had arrived early.
He ran into the woods to climb the rope ladder to the treehouse — Why did you take so long?
— I'll have to go back soon; my father told me to look after Josephine — After getting upstairs, they both sat down on the little balcony.
— My grandfather thinks the best thing for me is the military academy.
— We won't be able to see each other at school anymore. So what? We still have the weekends.
— You don't understand — he says, gazing at the trees.
— How many years will it be, two or three? I'll still be here when you come back — Then he takes his friend's hand and smiles before kissing him on the cheek.
The drive home turned gloomy as gray clouds suddenly began to cover the sky and specks of ash danced their way to the ground. His eyes reflected the flames consuming Josephine's room, which was right above the kitchen.
Alexander puts the suitcases in the trunk and lights a cigar by the driver's door before getting into the car. After an hour on the road, he says — I don't think I ever told you how my mother died.
— I thought an illness took her life.
— The little house burned down in a fire, but my father rebuilt it. It used to be a wooden mansion as big as the hopes he once held.
— It must have been horrible.
— I remember my father coming from the smoke with my mother in his arms and the look of disgust when he saw me. My mother underwent hating me until she killed herself with a blade — Alexander sighs heavily — And all of that for what? For a kiss with my neighbour… I was supposed to take care of them.
— You would've been another victim of the fire if you'd stayed.
— Ha! — Alexander smiles between the tears that suddenly slide down to his chin — Of course he would have preferred that.
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Yenedith is in the offices located above one of her father's clothing stores. The design managers are presenting their projects to her so they can align them with the marketing plan — The theme should be "fun at the beach" or "comfort at home" during heat waves. I think that if we focus on swimwear, sleepwear, and lightweight clothing this summer, we can boost sales by ten percent, especially if we launch more styles for plus-size customers.
— Of course, we'll work on that. But what do you think of the designs?
— It's rare to see these kinds of patterns and textures, but they'll work quite well if we can guarantee their quality — says Yenedith — We're not a fast-fashion company.
— They'll last more than seven years with proper care.
— Perfect. Well, it's time for lunch.
— Aren't you coming with us, Miss Windmill?
— No, I'll stay behind to contact the modeling agencies. I'll leave early.
When she sees the accountant leaving his office, she approaches the cleaning lady. — My father needs a folder he left in his office; you must have the spare keys.
— Yes, miss. Here they are.
— I'll return them before I leave. Thank you.
Yenedtih enters her father's office, where she doesn't find much. She tries several keys until she manages to get into the human resources department, where she prints copies of various contracts. She goes into the accounting department, where she manages to take the accounting books from the past two years to avoid arousing suspicion. She puts everything in her leather briefcase, returns the keys, and leaves the building a few minutes before the staff returns — Where to, miss?
— Just drive, I'll tell you — she replies, holding a sheet of paper in her hand. She calls the modeling agency for several minutes without getting an answer from the receptionist — I need you to take me to 125th Street, number 13, 60.
After a few minutes, they enter a government housing project — We're here, miss. Are you planning to visit someone?
Yenedith confirms the address using her real-time location, gets out of the car, and looks around, expecting to see a building with advertisements among the houses, but she only comes across a house with a more modern facade than the rest and a sign that reads "For Rent, Call: 310597748." A woman is coming out of the house — Excuse me, I'm interested in seeing it. Do you have time to show it to me?
— Of course, come on in — they introduce themselves as soon as they enter the place.
It looks like an ordinary house, with a large living room and two spacious bedrooms on the second floor — Thank you very much, Gladys. Did you ever rent this place to this woman?
— No, I don't think so.
— She's my aunt; she recommended me this place.
— Yes, I remember her — Gladys says with a smile — Mrs. Eugenia. Did she mention the rent? She asked for only six months and offered to pay more to use the place as an office because she'd have a lot of visitors, but don't worry about that. If you're just looking for a place to live, the price is way lower.
— Thanks, I'll give her a call.
— Well, you're welcome. Have a good day.
— You too.
Yenedith returns to the car with a knot in her throat and flooded eyes.