Episode 52: The Next Door Rival

Birds of the same feather, they say, flock together. Alfredo, the scheming Psychiatrist, yesterday got an opportunity to practice his cunning ambition to befriend Luisa Fernanda. He got a ready and vacant platform from a lonely and bitter GuadaLupe. As soon as Lupe mentioned that she had a vacant room in her house, and Pedro confirmed that she was his next door neighbour, he latched on to the opportunity because he taught, it would bring him closer to actualising his love ambition for L.F.

The camp of the hateful schemers is swelling by the day. Lupe is on a plunge into that camp. She is bitter and disappointed that Marissa wont support her crusade to abort the wedding plans of Caesar and Clarita. This would spill-over in the nearest future, into conspiracy with her "new tenant"- Alfredo, against Marissa's son, Carlos Eduardo. She would seek vengeance by colluding with Alfredo to thwart Carlos-L.F relationship. In this contest, I doubt very much if the 'conspiratorial schemers' could win against the cupid goddess.

She Is Amelia's Daughter!
Consuela didn't waste time to prevent L.F. from introducing her full name to Don. She desperately does not want the "FERNANDA" aspect of it to be mentioned, so that Don and Rigo would not draw, or jump into conclusion about L.F's true identity. She introduced L.F. as Luisa Perez. Don hit it off right from the very first minute with L.F. He even choose to call her a pet name, 'LUICITO' as a mark of his instant fondness for his unknown grand daughter. L.F. later acknowledge and recalled that indeed he had met the old man before. She related the incident of when Don was lost and wandering on the streets and how she found him and handed him over to the police. At that point, ever-poignant Rigoberto chipped in a piercing observation that: "... it must be destiny that made both of you to certainly bumped into each other again"

Consu was very uncomfortable, particularly when Don replied L.F's question about the job offer, he said that the job is already approved as hers. This is contrary to the tortuous delay tactics of Consuela. She quickly administered the sleeping tablets which she disguised as Alzheimer-delaying drug to Don. Immediately, Don began to yawn of for sleep. As soon a Don was led to his bedroom, Consuela came back to have a private session with L.F. She told her that she (Consuela) shall be the only one to handle her father's 'medications', and because of a recent heart-attack that the man suffered, "... you should not tell him any sad news about your father or mother." This obviously is to prevent any intimacy between L.F and Don, that may lead to the true identity of L.F as the grand daughter of Don.

Rigoberto became o agitated with this new girl, he kept spying on her until he rose up with conviction, saying to herself: "... that girl is a splitting image of Amelia when she was a young girl. She could be Consuela's daughter, but Consuela told me that Amelia and her daughter died in a car accident." She prepared her food and wisely interacted with her. She had a hunch that the girl is Amelia's daughter. This was further confirmed when Camilla told her that she saw Consuela in deep amorous kissing session with Luis Alejandro.

Rigoberto hijacked Consuela as soon as she returned and took her straight to her room. She first confronted her with the report card of her amorous affairs with L.A. and warned her not to even think of sacking Camilla for it. A Consu was angrily marching out, Rigo grabbed her and delivered the second "lethal punch", saying "... how could you lie to me, Amelia is not dead, I know you better than yourself, you are twisted and envious... I know for a fact that girl ... she is Amelia's daughter!" Consuela looked shocked with the bold declaration of the old Rigo. She looked like someone who wished that the ground would open and swallow her shame up.

The Primary Suspect
The noose seem to be tightening around the wicked neck of Consuela. The detectives have zeroed down on her strange fingerprints on the Safe where 200,000 thousand dollars was stolen recently. In a second interrogation, they wondered what her prints were doing on a Safe she does not have the combination to? She told them that she comes to the office everyday and often times cleaned the body of the Safe. They were obviously not satisfied with her lame excuse, o they told her that they were be investigating her personal bank accounts. She flew into a rage and insulted the detective saying that they were intimidating her, and that she would call her lawyers to sue them for defamation and abuse of authority.

Later, after the detectives have gone, she told Heriberto that they would not meet any money in her account, as she had cleared her account after paying the blackmail ransom to Solozano. What a folly! The past withdrawals are enough to point out that she was involved in a racket with Solozano.

Playing "Hide & Seek" With Destiny
Carlos Eduardo walked into a surprised reception in Don Fernando's house. He looked up and saw L.F, so he expressed his surprise by asking her: "... What are you doing here, sweetheart?" L.F. was lost for words. Rigoberto helped her to announce to Carlos that the young lady is going to be working here. At that point, the old man Don woke up and came downstairs, saying "... my boy, good to see you again". Carlos announced to the old man that he came to break the good news to him that, he has passed his final examinations today and has become a full-fledged medical doctor.

Rigo and Don embraced him and rejoiced with him. Don aid proudly: "... You did it, son! congratulations". As L.F. congratulated him, the observant old man asked if they knew each other, L.F. did not allow Carlos to answer, she said it was Vanessa who introduced Dr. Gomez to her. She took excuse to close for the day at 6 p.m. and Carlos also abruptly took his leave, offering to carry L.F home and promising the old man to come and see him tomorrow.

After they had left, Don suspected that Carlos had taken a liking for L.F. Rigo also confirmed it by saying that as soon as Carlos came in, he called her 'My Sweetheart'.

Carlos pleaded with L.F. to come out to a dinner with him to celebrate his examination success, but L.F seems to be turning down the offer. He also told her to top pretending in public that she had no relationship with him, saying: "... how long are you going to hide from Vanessa that you have a relationship with me?" He made her realize that Fernando was his confidant and has been eager to know his girlfriend whom he (Carlos), had told all that has been happening between them.

Marissa did what was noble tonite by telling Dr. Alfredo that she would have to reconsider being his patient because of the animosity between him and her son, Carlos Eduardo.

L.A was angry when Andreina came back from Cancun. He called her a whore and asked what she was doing in his apartment.

Pedro went into another state of violence when he discovered through Lupe that L.F. has stopped going to the university but has started working to sustain his hospital bill. He demanded to be discharged from "... this expensive hospital"

Episode 51: Her Days Are Numbered

Virginia has suddenly gone prophetic, partly because of her tribulations in the hands of Consuela, and also because the overwhelming evidence that has begun to cumulate against this emotional obstacle to Virginia's Matrimonial dreams. While Heriberto was telling her about the new legal adviser appointed by Don. Virginia was surprised, asking what would a husband of Marissa Gomez, the President of Metropolitan Bank be coming to do with a steel company. Heriberto disclosed to her that the marriage has crashed and the woman has thrown him out.

She used this information to justified why Heriberto too must divorce Consuela. She said even the most perfect marriage can crumble, therefore his traumatic marriage to Consuela should not stand a minute longer. She further declared saying: "... I'm warning you, that her days are numbered..." She corroborated her prophetic claim with the thorough work of investigation by the police. She said the detectives took the fingerprints on the safe, and was sure that apart from Heriberto and her, the real culprit's finger prints would also be identified. Heriberto was uneasy with this revelations, because he knew that Consuela would have a tough time with the police in the nearest future because of her prints on the safe and because he too was an accomplice.

Time for reckoning draws near. Luisa Fernanda's appearance almost caused a heart attack for Consuela. She later, in her room where she rushed to recover from the jolt, admitted that this "Vanessa's friend was a "carbon copy" of her dead sister Amelia. She must have thought she saw a ghost of Amelia. After meditation she recalled that she had seen the girl's picture in Amelia's house in Episode 10. She now knows for a certainty that this must be Amelia's daughter, the heiress to Don's fortune. She said: "O God, help me, that girl is the exact image of Amelia ..."

Meanwhile L.F and Vanessa could not but noticed that Consuela suddenly grew pale on sighting L.F. Luisa said may be the lady is pregnant. Vanessa laughed, and said that Consuela is a frigid woman, and can never be pregnant.

Consuela came downstairs again to interview L.F, after recovery from her fright, to confirm her suspicions about Luisa Fernanda's background. She asked after her relatives from her mother's and father's side, or even grand parents. When she was satisfied that L.F. has no inkling about being related to the Alcantaras, she heaved a sigh of relief, saying: "... I am at peace with what I know about you..." L.F. replied asking if that implies that she had gotten the job? Consuela told her that she can't give her an answer right now, she would to talk it over with her husband and father.

L.A. was desperate to get out of the clutch of poverty, he began to think of a way out, then he suddenly stood up saying: "... I got it! It's Mr. Fernando's Will, it could be my salvation..., I have to find my daughter". He went straight to Consuela's house, on entering, he saw his unknown daughter chatting with Consuela. He was furious and shouted: "...what is this thieving girl doing here?" L.F. boldly replied: "... Mr. Montero, it's none of your business, what I came to do here".

Consuela was frightened when she saw that they knew each other, but was later relieved when she remembered that L.A. never knew L.F as his daughter, but the girl that sued him and won in court, for running over her in a car accident. She explained to L.A that L.F was Vanessa's friend who came for interview as a companion to Don. After L.F. left, L.A. pleaded with Consuela that if she had any respect for him, she not allow that girl to be employed here.

L.A further pleaded with Consuela to stop the chicanery of deceptions and tell the truth to her father that Amelia is dead and only the granddaughter is alive. Consuela warned him not to provoke her with his insane plans, and that, it is not possible.

Lupe declared to Clarita: "... If you truly love my son, then stay away from him." Rosario angrily told Lupe that she is a selfish single-mother who never want his son to marry. She even accused Lupe that she would prefer her son to be a homosexual living under her roof, than marrying any girl. Lupe was heart-broken by the insult Rosario poured on her head, she left in shame. Marissa met Clarita weeping, when asked what was the cause of her sorrow, Rosario interjected, saying it was because she could not afford a new wedding dress. Marissa assured them that was small thing, promising she would buy her a brand new wedding dress.

Caesar came to quarrel with his mother for disgracing herself by insulting his fiancee Clarita. In the heat of argument Lupe denounced Caesar, saying he is no longer her son, if he goes ahead to marry Clarita.

L.A. was ejected from the office accommodation, and he was furious with the lawyer that came from Marissa to supervise the eviction, calling him names: "puppet of my wife", "errand boy", etc. When Marissa was briefed about the eviction, she was more anxious about how L.A. took it than the success of the operation. When she was told that he felt bad, she broke down weeping.

Carlos and Alfredo almost got into a fight at the hospital when Alfredo announced that Marissa is his new patient and refused to disclose to Carlos, what the reason was that brought his mother for a psycho-analytic treatment. Carlos objected to him being his mother's physician, because he feared that Alfredo would manipulate his mother against him, just like he is currently doing, with the manipulation of L.F. It took the intervention of another super-manipulator in the person of Jennifer de la Vega to diffuse the tension between them.

Dr. Serrano later warned Alfredo to steer clear of L.F, he said , on the contrary, that L.F. might be the only girl to make him belief in love again! He would not allow Carlos to ruin his chances with her. Promising that he would not allow Carlos to separate him from the woman he liked!

When Carlos got home (Jenny followed him, of course, looking for any loophole that her serpentine schemes may crawled into, in the Gomez Ruiz fort). They met Marissa heart-broken and weeping profusely, she told them that she can not remain indifferent to the plight of the one she still loved: Luis Alejandro Montero! Carlos tried to comfort her, saying she does not need to cry over a man that does not deserve her.

Carlos left her and Jenny and went to wait for L.F. On seeing her arrived he told her that he had come to share his burden and sorrow with her over his mother. He was surprised that L.F already knew about their separation (L.A. and Marissa). He honestly confessed his confusion about the worst condition of his mom because of a worthless man. L.F. put her hands on his shoulder to comfort him, he held her hands there with his neck and cheek, pleading with her: "...promise me that we wont let that happen to us. Dont put me in torture of not having you when you are mine. I am lost without you, please come back to me my love..." from thereon they slipped into gentle and tender kisses of lovers... until L.F recalled the gossip of Vanessa that, Jenifer told her that she had gotten back with Carlos. She cut the kisses abruptly and declared she would have nothing to do with him again... BACK TO SQUARE ONE!

In the evening when Heriberto came home Consuela told him of L.F and her true identity. When Heriberto was worried of "an enemy" being brought into the house by his daughter, Vanessa, Consuela caught an idea that she would allow that "enemy" to be in the house so she can monitor and plan against her.

Next day when L.F came to ask for their response, as she was chatting with Vanessa and Consuela, Don Fernando arrived with Rigoberto. Immediately, Consuela impulsively jumped forward in a fraudulent but failed attempt to cover or block L.F. from being seen by Don, but she was not fast enough for Don's recognition of L.F. Don shouted with excitement saying, "... I think know you, ... I know who you are..." L.F. too recognized the old man she saved from wandering about the streets some months back in episode 27 of this telenovela. Would Rigoberto recognize her either by her name and by facial looks as Amelia's daughter that Consuela had lied to her had been dead in a car accident? Next episode would tell.