I return to the real estate agency, hand Rúbia's car keys back, and then walk towards Suarez's office. I open the door, and he is on the phone, chatting animatedly. I place my hands on his desk and speak up:"Pass this client to the other girls. I can't attend to him.""Dália, I told you, he specifically asked for you," Suarez says, putting the phone on the receiver. "So, you will be the one attending to him.""I don't care, Suarez. I won't do it.""Listen, let me explain it more clearly. This client gave me 20 million euros in advance so that you could attend to him and choose the ideal house for him. So that's what you're going to do.""Well, then, return the money to him and tell him I have too many clients...""That's not an option. I've already used a good portion of the money to pay off my debts and keep your job secure. So, I can't give back 20 million. Therefore, I'm asking you to do your part. Besides, it's your job, whoever the client is...""Then, you can fire me, or rather

"What are you doing here?" I ask, angrily."I'm here to check on you, as I was concerned about your sudden exit from the table," he replies calmly, hands in his trouser pockets."What are you doing at my family's dinner? How dare you show up here like this?""Your father invited me. I told you that Ramón and I are close. I couldn't refuse an invitation from such a dear friend like him.""What do you want? To harm me? Do you want everyone to find out about us? For my husband to discover what happened between us?" I shoot, nervous, looking around, afraid that someone might see us. "Do you want to destroy my marriage just because yours didn't work out, you think you have the right to ruin mine?" I finish, walking past him."Dália, I've already told you that I'm here to help you," X says, holding my arm and turning me to face him. "I'm trying to do you a favor...""Here's a favor for you, X: stop talking to my father and leave me and my family alone. Go away from here!" I say, irritated,

All those in the hallway stared at me, surprised by the scene. I compose myself and walk towards the bathroom. Gripping the sink, I take a deep breath with my eyes closed. I know I've crossed all limits, but I'm desperate. Then an idea comes to my mind. I check all the restroom doors and enter one, closing the door behind me.Sitting on the toilet, my trembling hands open my purse again, and I take out the medical certificate and my pen. I smile when I see that he only filled in the number of days off, making it easier for me. I prop my phone up and carefully turn that number 1 into a five. Holding up the certificate, I inspect it to see if anyone would notice anything different.I put everything back into my bag, flush the toilet to disguise my actions, and then walk towards the sink, washing my hands. In a few minutes, I'm already entering the waiting room where my husband and children are anxiously waiting for me. I take the certificate and hand it to Carlos, saying, "Five days.""

I arrive at my parents' house and find my mother and Valéria getting out of the car with shopping bags in their hands. They look at me, not understanding why I am there with the children. I take my kids out of the car and approach them, feeling nervous."Is Dad home?" I ask."He must be in his office," my mother says as I hand Marisol and Juan to her. "What's going on, daughter?"I enter, opening all the doors until I reach my father's office, where he looks at me, surprised. He even stops talking to his visitor, who turns around, and, of course, as expected, it's X. I approach the two and stare at X and then at my father, serious and straightforward."What is he doing here?""Hello, my daughter. I'm fine, and you?" my father demands good manners from me."Does this man live here now?" I ask, pointing at X."Not for lack of invitation," my father looks at X. "I've told him that the doors of our house are open for him, but...""Ramón, thank you, but the hotel has been serving me well u

I arrive home with the children and find Carlos sitting on the sofa, his head resting on one arm and a glass in the other hand, which surprises me since my husband has many habits, but drinking during the day has never been one of them. He looks at me, and I can tell the interview didn't go as well as it should have. I approach and give him a light kiss on the lips before leaving the children to play on the carpet and sit beside him."I have another one tomorrow," Carlos says before taking another sip. "If it's not canceled at the last minute. How was it at the bank?""If we want a roof over our heads, we need three million euros, and we have four days to do it," I say, taking the glass from my husband's hand and taking a sip. I grimace and then hand it back to him. "Wow, what's in there?""Brandy and a little desperation," Carlos says, looking at the glass. He then turns to me sadly and takes my hand. "I'm sorry for putting us in this situation.""It's not just you. If I hadn't press