As promised, Lucrecia was not cruel to Maya. She just told her that if she said something about what she saw to anyone, it would destroy Valerio and unleash wrath of their father. She knew Maya was very aware of how their father treated Lucrecia and how he treated Valerio. She managed to get Maya to be afraid for Valerio's future and that's how she got her to be silent. Lucrecia was about to leave the kitchen when Maya spoke.

''Miss Lucrecia, I will not tell anyone about what I saw… But…It's a sin… You and Valerio live in one of the greatest sins…God will…''

''What? Punish us?''

Maya lowered her gaze.

''I don't think he will…''

''You doubt Him?''

''If there is a God and he wants us to follow his path, then I don't see how we would be punished. I never understood how religion basically based on incest and murder can convict anyone living in that way.''

''Did you and young Valerio commit murder?''

''No, not yet…But someone in our school was killed…by one of our friends…''

''If your father ever learns…''

''He knows… But I don't know yet what he would do about it. Before he got to share any idea with us, this happened.''

''Miss Lucrecia…''

''Yes?''

''Protect him… Your father has always favored you… Use it to protect my boy…''

''I will.''

With that she left the kitchen and went to dining room to have something to eat. Valerio was already at the table pouring them hot chocolate.

''It's taken care of. She will not say anything.''

''What did you do?''

''Nothing, I just pointed out how you would get in trouble with dad if she said something. She has this soft spot for you and knows our dad is a dick.''

''Everyone knows that.''

''Not everyone… My mother still worships him.''

''I cannot comment on that Lu… Marta is probably one of the few that doesn't see him for who he really is.''

Just as they were about to finish eating, Sara and Tomas arrived with their two children. They had twins that were a year older than Lucrecia and few months older than Valerio. Alex and Stefan were very pretty boys who were apple of Sara's eye. She loved them a bit too much and thanks to that they got away with a lot of things. Both Valerio and Lucrecia noticed how Alex was looking at her and Valerio really didn't like it, but knew he has to keep his mouth shut due to their very particular situation.

''Well, well… What do we have here? ''

He came and took Lucrecia's hand and kissed it.

''I am Alex Sandoval and this is my brother Stefan… And who are you? Please don't tell me you are dating our cousin… It would be such a shame for a beautiful girl like you to waste time on him. No one wastes time on him…Including his own family. That is why no one is actually here.''

Valerio was trying very hard to stay calm. He knew he had to. But in his mind he was really beating the shit out of his cousin.

''Well, nice to meet you Alex. I am Lucrecia Montesinos Hendrich. I don't believe we met when I was here before visiting my dear brother.''

She could have sworn she heard Valerio mumble beside her.

''Half- brother.''

That got Alex by surprise. Someone was here for Valerio after all.

''Oh, so you are the sister?''

''Half sister Alex… But, yes…I am her.''

''Is your father around?''

''No, but I am… Daddy is in Japan currently. He had some summit to attend.''

''But not the funeral of mother of one of his children?''

''No, I don't think he would even attend his own funeral if there was something in his agenda… Now, please excuse me and Valerio. We have some calls to make.''

She got up from the table and Valerio followed. She took his to his mom's study and locked the door behind them. She checked every corner of the room to see if someone was hiding there and after she established that the room was ''clear'' she hugged him.

''I am sorry your cousin is an ass.''

''He was hitting on you and they came to talk about my mom's funeral… What an idiot?!''

''For hitting on me?''

''No, for doing it at this moment… My mother is dead and he is looking to score.''

''We had sex this morning.''

''That's not the same… We haven't met a day after his mother died and I didn't try to flirt with you over his mother's dead body thinking you are his girlfriend.''

''That is true…and really idiotic.''

''I know.''

In next two days, Lucrecia was Valerio's rock and always there to pick up the peace and take care of him. Including having an eye on his aunt and uncle who tried to scam him out of his inheritance. He was close to signing the papers when she pulled them out of his hands and said that their dad's friend will look over all the legal things. Their dad never showed up, but at least he sent his friend who was a lawyer to see the papers and tell them what to do. Sara and Tomas were beyond angry at Lucrecia, but she stood her ground in not letting Valerio sign anything or be alone with them at any point when there were legal matters involved. After two weeks in Santiago, they were on the way back to Spain. Lucrecia got Maya a new job. She would work for one of their dad's friends. Maya was a valid asset and even their father couldn't say anything negative about her. She was working for the family when he met Sofia, she knew everything that happened, and yet every time he came she was respectful and never even gave him a look that the rest of the staff did. He had to give it to Maya. She had working for the rich and rotten made into art of being invisible and not showing her real opinions or emotions. Sofia's house was sold and they bought small apartment for Valerio when he comes to Santiago to visit. Apartment was in the buildings that belonged to friend of their father's so everything went as daddy wanted. Sara and Tomas hoped they would get their hands on Sofia's house, but it didn't work out for them. House was under Valerio's name since it was house his father bought Sofia when she got pregnant with Valerio as some sort of compensation for not divorcing Marta. They arrived early in the morning and Marta had driver wait for them at the airport. When they got to the house, Marta was up and waiting with the breakfast served. She gave Valerio a hug and said she was very sorry for his loss. Valerio thanked her. She did look honest. He knew they didn't like each other and that Marta had many reasons to be bitch to him and his mother, but her words seemed honest to him. She was sorry for his pain and loss not that Sofia died.

''Thank you Marta.''

''I wanted to come and be with you, but Lucrecia was against it. I believe she was right. I didn't want to cause more trouble over there.''

''There was a war when it came to the will and her properties.''

''I can only imagine.''

''Well, good old dad played them well… Nothing was in her name…Everything was in mine.''

'' I had no idea he did that.''

''He did it to hurt her and humiliate her even more. She had nothing…everything she had was because she was a baby mama to a men with a lot of power and problems in head.''

''Valerio, your father is…''

''Marta, I am too tired to listen to you find justification for him again. I get it. You don't want to see him for who he is…and I accept it…''

He turned to Lucrecia…

''We both do… But don't force us to see him with your eyes. I see him for who he really is and I've felt that fatherly love pretty hard Marta… So please, let's not talk about him anymore.''

''Oh, children… Let's get you something to eat.''

Marta was an expert in changing the subject when it came to her husband and his ways. As expected their father was somewhere on official duty and Marta would be joining him that evening. She just wanted to meet the kids and see how they are holding up. After they ate Valerio excused himself and went to his room to sleep. He was very tired and he needed a moment of quiet and being alone. Lucrecia told him to wake her up if he needs something. He thanked her and went away. Now two women were alone and the silence was weird.

''We have to talk about two of you.''

''What is there to talk about?''

''This is not normal Lucrecia… I think you should see someone.''

''Someone?''

''Yes, an expert…''

''Just me or the entire family?''

''Well, you and him too… Your father has no time for things like that so I took it upon myself to make few calls and find an excellent doctor. ''

''As I just asked, only Valerio and I? And not two of you? How convenient?!''

''Your farther has not time for things like that…''

''Of course he doesn't. And it is given I guess that you don't have too.''

''Why should I go to therapy? I am not doing anything wrong…''

''And that is exactly how we feel too mother.''

''Lucrecia, you can't be serious?!''

''What?''

''It's not a healthy relationship.''

''Mother, look around you! None of the people around us have heathy relationships! But at least I am aware of my issues.''

''So, you admit you have issues!''

''Of course I have them! I am sleeping with my half-brother!''

Mrs. Montesinos Hendrich was shocked how Lucrecia could easily say those words.

''If we do therapy, we to it together… There are a lot of things to unpack before we even reach the issue of Valerio and me.''

She got up and left the napkin.

''I am going to my room to shower and rest. See you in a few days mother.''

In next few days, their father came home and as soon as he entered the house he insisted to speak to Valerio. After that conversation, things changed again. He was distant, again back to being self-destructive and when Lucrecia tried to talk to him, he was dismissive and very mean to her. He spent a lot of time out of the house coming home very drunk or high. Their father didn't care much about it. He just cared about the fact that he kept his distance from Lucrecia. He was sure they were not together anymore because of reports he got from the staff. Lucrecia was curled up in her room and Valerio was wasting his life who knows where.

Those days when Valerio acted like that were the worse for Lucrecia. They came back to school and everyone had so many questions for her. They wanted to know how he was? Was their dad with them in Santiago? Is he staying with them or going back to Santiago… All sorts of questions about him when she really didn't want to think or talk about him and their time there. As expected, Nadia had million questions for her. What surprised Lucrecia was the fact that he was avoiding Nadia too. She secretly believed he spent all of his time with her now and she hated Nadia for one more reason. Now, hearing that he avoided her too surprised her and worried her too. She wanted to tell Nadia that she had no idea what was going on, but instead she kept her cool façade and told her that he can die for all that she cared and Nadia didn't get much chance to respond.

In all the chaos about Valerio and makeup work for school, she realized that her period was late… There was horror on her face when she realized that the last period she had was before the benefit. She sat on her bed with a calendar in her hands and she just stared at the numbers…. Shit!