That Dammed Letter!

The secrets of men (and women) are in their stories. Behind the full story of Catalina and Sebastian is a letter written by Matilda, the late wife of Don Guadalupe. In that letter written on her death bed, were poured out the secrets of her reckless and shameful whoredom. This is what dominated this episode 10.

The whole village knew she was a rich slut, as there were few men in town who did not go to bed with her. She was a terrible disgrace to her rich husband who regretted the day he met her. In that letter, she cleared the air about the paternity of her children Martina and Sebastian. The letter was also speculated to contain secrets about the paternity of Carmelo (whom I personally suspected to be the her illegitimate son by another 'customer' from her roaring prostitution).

Palpable fears were also being felt that some secrets of Madame Antonieta (her best friend), may also be contained in that letter. The letter was given by Matilde to the old priest of the village church, who himself is now late. It is popularly suspected that Petra may be in custody of that letter, but she has always denied it.

Meanwhile, after accomplishing the first phase of her scheme, Adela organized her discharge from the hospital, on the pretext that her disease was incurable, so she wanted to go and 'die' at home.

Adela's pretensions were however exposed when Catalina's sister, Luisa, eavesdropped and knew that Adela feigned her illness so at to trap Catalina and Sebastian into wedlock. (I am amused at what force would break this matrimonial padlock contrived by Adela).

Luisa threatened to expose the truth to Catalina but Adela countered her threat by warning her that she (Luisa), had much to lose if Catalina should know the truth, because she would stop going to school as there would be no money coming from Sebastine to pay her school fees.

Emilia refuse to cow and vowed that she would break the marriage of Catalina and Sebastian. She went to propose an irresistible deal to Carmelo, telling him to help her win Sebastian's love, and she would help him find information about his paternity from Antonieta.

Carmelo set to work on Sebastian by telling him that it would be a great loss if he ignores a ravishing Emilia for any city girl.

Antonieta too proposed a deal to Emilia that she would help her to win Sebastian if she gives her the first child from her conjugal union with Sebastian to raise. She wanted to raise the child to hate Lupe. The stage for thriving intrigues is now set.

Carmelo too, eaten up by doubts about his paternity, he went to Petra to ask her why she was alway kind to him. The old woman told him that that she was only the last wish of his mother whom she claimed was her sister, who also worked in the ranch for Lupe before she got pregnant and died some few years after giving birth to Carmelo.

He wondered aloud if his late mother was carrying Lupe's pregnancy. Petra denied that and told him to stop imagining that he was Lupe's son, because it is not true

Matrimonial Bribe

Now the torment of Sebastian has begun, because he did not keep the word of a Mendoza. For failing to heed his father's warning and, by allowing himself to be tricked by Adela Negrette to marry Catalina, without letting his father have a prior notice, as he had promised him.

At about the same time, Eduardo and Silvia were also being joined together at a marriage registry. When they got home, Silvia presented a wedding gift of a brand new sports car to Eduardo. He was ecstatic.

Sebastine went back to the ranch and got himself drunk because he was afraid of telling his father that he had betrayed his trust. Lupe too traveled to the city with Martina with the hope of meeting Catalina for the first time, but unfortunately missed Sebastian. Sebastian fell ill with feverish high temperature because of the torment of confessing his error to Lupe.

When Lupe phoned the ranch, he was told that Sebastian was ill with fever. Emilia was about to throw one of her tantrums when she was told by Carmelo that she has been beaten to the finishing line in the game by Catalina. She rushed to find out from Sebastian who also told her that she should forget about him because he is now tied to Catalina. She was desperate and confused, so she had to travel to the city to confirm from Catalina, what Sebastian meant by saying he was tied to her.

Catalina smiled and told her that she just got married to Sebastian. Emilia was crestfallen and angrily ran to tell Lupe and Martina, but they would not listen to her because they had to rush back to the ranch to look after Sebastian who was ill.

As they got to the ranch, Emilia followed on their heels and opened the can of worms, by exposing to the family that Sebastian had secretly married Catalina in Mexico earlier in the day. Guadalupe Mendoza flew into a rage as Sebastian confirmed his worst fears. He walked out of the mansion and went to the forest to pour out his disappointment.