Caroline hails a taxi that will take her to the mansion, and the ride feels endless, perhaps because of the fear of knowing she is so far from her children in the midst of a tense situation.
"Sir, is it still far?" she asks, seeing that 20 minutes have passed.
"We're about to enter, ma'am. The mansion is secluded because it has a private beach. Are you going to work at that mansion? They say the employees don't last because the owner is very demanding."
"Yes... Poor thing, my husband must be desperate to run away from that place. I'm not here to work; I've come on an urgent matter."
"That's good, because a young woman as lovely as you-and I say this with all respect-shouldn't be subjected to humiliation. Done, we've arrived." Caroline is surprised to see the mansion; it looks like a palace. "This is the best mansion in Santorini."
"It's beautiful, thank you, sir." Caroline pays the taxi driver, then takes a deep breath before passing through the large, luxurious gates, which are open.
She walks quickly to reach the great door, feeling her heart is about to burst, for the emotions are so overwhelming that if she loses her balance, she might fall into the darkness of pain.
Upon ringing the doorbell three times in a row, she waits impatiently, looking around; it is the perfect mansion, straight out of a princess story like the ones she reads to Aileen.
Perhaps it's her impatience that makes the wait for the door to be opened feel endless, so she rings the doorbell again, but this time twice. "Isn't there anyone to open the door!?" The irritated voice of a woman echoes in the great hall. Upon opening the door, Caroline looks at her with worry. "Why are you ringing the door like that?" The woman looks at her with disdain, then from head to toe, showing her contempt because she perceives how poor Caroline is.
"Excuse me, miss..." she is interrupted.
"Ma'am! For your information, now tell me, who are you? What are you doing here? Oh, of course! By your appearance, I perceive you're the new employee, well, hurry up, you have a lot of work; there's a special dinner tonight."
Caroline, seeing that the brown-haired woman was about to leave her alone, hurries to speak. "Excuse me, ma'am, I am looking for Lisandro Caristeas. I know he is here; this is the address I have. Please call him; I urgently need to speak with him." She looks at her nervously.
But Caroline's request makes the woman stop and turn to look at her with intrigue. She only sees Caroline for the first time, and her presence bothers her. "Why are you looking for my husband?" she asks with arrogance, raising an eyebrow, shooting that sharp look because she dislikes a common woman looking for her husband.
"Husband?" Caroline feels as if she has been slapped on each cheek. "There must... there must be a mistake," she denies with her head and feels like she is running out of air.
"Are you deaf? My husband! I am Mrs. Caristeas," she gesticulates, never ceasing to look at her with disdain because, even though Caroline's clothes indicate she is poor, her natural beauty is something that attracts and eclipses any woman-in this case, Irene de Caristeas.
She feels as if her heart is being grabbed and squeezed. It seems as if the earth is shaking. "Answer! Why are you looking for my husband?" At that moment, a white Ferrari arrives, from which Lisandro Caristeas himself steps out, making the moment even more catastrophic.
The man is dressed very elegantly, nothing like how he dresses when he is with Caroline. He hasn't even noticed the situation. "My love!" Irene runs into Lisandro's arms, and he finally looks at the woman who is standing with her back to him.
Caroline feels the earth tremble, her heart stop beating for seconds as she turns and looks at her husband, the father of her twins, with another woman.
When he looks at her, he turns pale, and they look at each other for a few seconds, knowing that his great facade has been ruined and that Caroline is hurt. "Darling, that woman is looking for you," she points to Caroline, who lifts her chin to prevent tears from welling up and to avoid showing weakness.
"Lisandro..." Caroline says his name with pain as her world slowly vanishes.
"Caroline..." Lisandro cannot believe it; it is her, the mother of his twins.
"Explain to me right now what is going on!" Irene demands, seeing the way they are looking at each other.
Caroline's honey-colored eyes fix on the ring Lisandro is wearing, a ring that indicates he is a married man. "Don't worry, Mrs. Caristeas. I was looking for your husband because..." She swallows. "...because he offered me the job. I need it urgently, but... it's better if I leave."
"Ah, that's it! My husband is very charitable; that's why I love him." She kisses him, and Lisandro does not return the kiss; his gaze is fixed on the woman whose eyes transmit the pain of his betrayal.
"Excuse me, I'll be leaving." Caroline doesn't even know where she got the strength to walk, because her legs were literally failing from how shaky they were, but her children need her, and the worst part is that she has no money to return.
But what she didn't expect was for him to grab her arm to prevent her from leaving. "Let's talk..."
