The rich don't Cry

Chapter 15

Thanks to his vague memories, Diego was able to move through the small streets of San Antonio. The small and colorful shop windows delighted any passer-by, tourist or native. He had been in the village for three days, but as far as Alex knew, he was camping with some of his companions. In spite of having a fixed idea of the reasons that took him there, he couldn't avoid abandoning them and enjoying the town. It was true, as Alex had told him, that everyone knew each other. But as he had gone away so young, no one noticed his presence. He remembered that when he arrived, the first thing he did was to go to the port and meet Old Stories, whom Alex had talked about so much. Diego remembered how Alex called him the father he never had, who helped him learn and clarify the doubts that were emerging as he grew older. Diego wasn't expecting that the man would recognize him as he resembled Alex. Nobody else had noticed the detail since he had arrived in town.

Old Stories told him about the relationship between Alex and Elisa, how they met in the port to see each other, and that it was precisely there where they first met. She arrived with her father to pick up a load when her brother fully fell in love with her and vice versa.

"You know? Not long ago, I spoke about your brother again," said Old Stories.

"Yes?"

"A man came asking about him. As your brother had become important, he wanted to pay homage to him, and for that, he required information from his past. I was astonished to hear that he had married Elisa. In the end, he did find her."

Diego understood Old Stories's confusion. Alex had told him how Alvaro had openly let him know that he had sent a private detective to San Antonio. Obviously, the town people would have advised the private detective to ask all that was necessary to the poor old man. With the information received by Alvaro, he would surely have invented the story of Alex marrying Elisa, managing to deceive the old man.

It was surprising to find out that this man, who seemed not to have a penny, had been taken care of for years by his brother. Alex paid all his expenses and attended to his needs, a house, medical attention, and so on. His brother was in charge of everything. Alex's only fault was the few direct contacts they had maintained. Based on how important the man was to his brother, he dared to reveal the truth and assure him that he wouldn't have to worry, since he had been vilely cheated.

"When are you going to see her?" asked the man, curiously.

"Well... I thought it would be easier, but I've been here long and I don't dare go to the mansion."

"I'm sure she would like to see you. Go and don't waste any more time."

Diego knew that Old Stories was right. The mission of that trip was to see Veronica and talk to her. Thanks to Alex, he found out that his sister-in-law had retired to San Antonio, suspecting that surely it would be nice to get away from all the bad things that had happened. Having said what he had to say, he would leave respecting Veronica's decision to be far from his brother and therefore from him.

***

Veronica loved the mansion's tea room. As a child, she often locked herself in it just to listen to music and to get away from Barbara's reminders. This time, since she settled at the mansion, she used it to drink tea and just think. There was nothing else that could be done, and she didn't feel like changing the routine. While watching the garden, one of the service girls entered the room and informed her of an unexpected visitor. Her heart missed a beat as she suspected it might be her husband. She was especially so melancholic that she didn't want to see him. She knew that precisely at that moment, she would accept any apology, and she didn't feel capable of cheating her family and accepting him again. Veronica looked at the service girl and simply shook her head, asking the girl to tell her husband to leave.