Hi! So... not bad! This was actually three episodes! But the next chapter will cover more! Anything to get to our main characters' budding romance! Wink wink! Happy reading!

(I do not own this Novela!)

Chapter 28

The brothers had already known that Fernando Escandon had always been a despicable human being, but from what Franco and Juan witnessed, their thoughts of him grew immensely distasteful. When the following day arrived and Franco's worry for Sarita's well-being increased. He hoped that she wasn't being mistreated in any way, but something told him that she is able to fend for herself at her own home. She's a very tough woman, despite her demure stature. Franco smiled to himself, his amazement at her valor increasing even more. No matter how many times he tells himself, Sarita would never seize to surprise him.

On that following day, Franco managed to make some business calls regarding a couple of certificates he had ordered and asked a comfortably seated Oscar to go downtown to fetch them. Oscar only complained and much to Franco and his delight, Eva offered to help since she informed them that she may have to stop by Leandro's fashion boutique for some shopping. It peeved Franco though, because Eva still insists on asking for permission.

"Eva, you don't have to keep asking for permission." Franco reminded her. "You're the lady of this house."

Eva only shrugged, ducking her head in embarrassment. She then relaxed and excused herself, gathering the files from Franco's hands as she went.

Oscar eyed her with great suspicion and confessed to Franco that Eva had been acting so strange lately, particularly with anything that had to do with Leandro's younger cousin, Ruth Uribe.

Franco scratched his chin, recollecting all the times Eva would get uncomfortable whenever she sees the young woman who resembled their lost sister.

Eva came back later that day, broken. It pained the brothers to see her that way and they asked her what was bothering her, but she was so reluctant to tell them anything. They were at the dinner table, eating the delicious meal Quintina had cooked for them when Oscar couldn't take it anymore and persisted to force Eva onto telling them what exactly went wrong in Leandro's shop.

Eva, through her nerves, finally gave in.

"I had a run in with Mrs. Raquel Uribe at the shop." she informed them rather sadly. "And she threatened me to stop seeing Ruth."

"Don't tell me that old hag kicked you out.." snarled Oscar, dropping his fork.

"She doesn't trust me." admitted Eva, her shoulders withering in defeat. "I don't blame her. She has her reasons."

Oscar glanced at his brothers, who in turn looked at him and then back to a sorrowful Eva.

"She's Ruth's mother." she uttered so softly as her eyes brimmed with anguish. "She has every right over her."

"Rights?" scoffed Oscar, his gaze now intense with anger. "What rights? That's bullshit! You have more rights than that witch!"

Eva threw him a wary look.

"Oscar…" she pleaded, her eyes now pooling.

"Enough, Eva!" shouted Oscar. "Let's end this mystery right now! I know you're Ruth's real mother! Admit it!"

Juan and Franco were speechless, Quintina's excellent supper ignored as the three brothers watched a stunned Eva bolting from the table to her room. They followed her to discover her packing away her belongings in a small suitcase.

"What on earth are you doing, Eva?" asked Juan.

She ignored him and his brothers and continued on with her packing. Oscar stops her when she tries to collect the rest of her things from the closet.

"Eva, please answer." Oscar calmly ordered.

"I can't stay here." she sobbed. "Not anymore. You had no right to meddle with my things! You don't know anything!"

"Eva, please." Oscar went on, laying his hands on Eva's shaking shoulders. "How could I not know? I'm not a fool. A lost daughter who looked exactly like our little sister? The way you act whenever you see Ruth?"

He gestured a hand over to her dresser.

"And the picture of a little girl you keep in your drawers? Eva, please, a blind man could've figured this out." Oscar told her, his tone softer and a lot more empathetic.

Eva walked past him to her bed, where she had her suitcase open.

"You had no right to uncover my secret." she sniffed. "They are mine, understand? They're mine. Now I don't want to see you anymore."

She let out a pained sob when she began to fix the stack of clothing spilling from her suitcase.

"I don't want to talk to you. I don't want you to keep asking me questions. And please leave me alone, I want to leave."

Franco, watching everything quietly dissolving in front of him, finally spoke.

"Where will you go?" he asked her. "If this is your house?"

"I don't have a home and I don't have anybody." she said through her sobs. "It doesn't matter. I'm leaving as soon as possible."

Right before she made a move to close her suitcase, a disgruntled Juan stopped her in her place and tore her suitcase away from her shaking fingers.

"You're not going anywhere!" he shouted at her, causing her to gasp and stagger back. "You're staying here, damn it!"

Eva stayed put and watched as Juan regained himself.

"I can't believe this." he exasperated, running his thick fingers through his wild hair. "You need to calm down because we're going to have a serious talk."

It took a couple of minutes to finally calm Eva down. Through soothing words, the brothers had to convince her to stay, for they explained that leaving would not solve anything. Leaving would only make her more miserable than she already had been. Franco began to put the pieces together as he listened to Eva and his brothers speak. From the first moment she sided with them, he knew there had to be a reason why she'd helped them. Seeing Libia reminded Eva so much of her own daughter, Ruth, who Gabriela had forced to give away to a barren elderly couple. Eva had been in constant pain ever since and this motivated her to help the Reyes brothers seek revenge the moment they stepped foot on the Elizondo Ranch.

The more they got to know Eva, the more they started to view her as more than just a loyal friend, but a mother. They didn't want her to leave. Eva's place was with them and they loved her.

Even though she was nervous about her secret being out in the open, Eva was more at peace. Franco couldn't be happier. Without Eva, he wouldn't be where he is and his brothers wouldn't have agreed to finally live with him. Things couldn't be better...until Dinora's sour visit the next day.

He greeted the troublemaker, who was pestering a feisty Quintina and a calm Eva at the front of his house. He didn't like how Dinora spoke so lowly to Quintina and Eva so he politely scolded her for doing so, telling her that the two women were not servants but respectable women who had every right to his house. Dinora pouted her lips as he welcomed her inside the house, only so she could pester Juan and invite the three brothers to a small gathering at her house. Juan was so relieved when she left but Franco and Oscar spent the remainder of that morning teasing him.

When Dinora left, other unexpected people came to visit. The elderly and grouchy Mrs. Raquel Uribe and her glutton of a nephew, Benito Santos, who's favorite words seemed to only be "annoying" and "what's for dinner?". Franco and his brothers couldn't stand that old woman. They learned that she had been against them along with Gabriela and also played a great benefactor on almost ruining their friendly relationship with her adopted daughter, Ruth.

"I came to speak with Eva Rodriguez." Mrs. Raquel demanded through gritted teeth as her beady gray eyes glowered at Juan, Oscar, and Franco in their living room. "Alone."

Regretfully but under Eva's approval, the brothers granted Mrs. Raquel's request while Benito accompanied a generous Quintina to where the other employees ate. Much to the brothers' surprise, the grouchy elderly woman left even more grouchier, clutching her cane as she ordered a belly-aching and manured Benito to quickly drive them back to her house. Franco, Juan, and Oscar wondered what was said to the old woman to make her leave so suddenly and riled up like that.

That very day, Juan was so determined to seek any news of Norma and his son and sought out on his horse to ride out into the open fields. He returned, his broad shoulders tense when he told his brothers he'd spoken with Sarita, who had coldly promised to deliver his message to her sister. Juan kept eyeing Franco suspiciously when he got defensive after telling him that she was accompanied by Fernando Escandon and some of their employees. Juan assured him that Sarita had everything under control by defying Escandon's refusal of her approaching Juan. Franco relaxed and smiled to himself, picturing her haughtily talking back to that bastard. He missed her.

Much to his pleasure, she came by. This time, not unconscious but of her own free will. She came with the baby. When Eva informed him of her arrival, Franco was overwhelmed with so much happiness. He gave Eva a grateful and enthusiastic kiss on her forehead before bolting down the stairs. His excitement calmed when he finally reached the bottom steps, but his heart thumped rapidly once he saw her.

Sarita was so precious. He could tell she was nervous when she sensed him. Her porcelain cheeks were doing that thing again he loved so much. He can't get over how beautiful and innocent she was despite her tough and hard demeanor.

He grinned when she felt him approach her as she watched her nephew play with Juan and Oscar by the coffee table.

"I'm glad to see you here." Franco said, his gaze looming over her. "Especially when you came with Juan David."

She offered him a smile as her eyes stayed focused on the babbling baby.

"How are you, Franco?" she muttered, blushing a little more.

"Very good." he answered, his eyes never leaving her. He smiled widely at her when he saw her nervously balling her hands into small fists at her sides. He was very happy to see her. More than happy, he was overjoyed to finally have her close. He really missed her.

She glimpsed back at him and shyly bit her bottom lip before looking back at Oscar and Juan, who were having such a grand old time playing with the baby.

"Seriously, it's getting late." she suddenly said. "The baby and I need to head back."

"Stay just a little more longer, don't be impatient." he told her, desperately wanting some time with her. "In the meantime, why don't you and I go for a walk?"

He didn't wait for her response because he knew she'd say no. Instead, he walked over to her and wrapped his fingers lightly around her closed hands, which trembled at his touch. She muttered to him not to hold her hand in front of his brothers when he led her out the house.

He finally had her all to himself and he took this time to interlace her fingers with his as they made their way to walk around the house. She froze when she saw Manolo and Miguel unpacking a load of bags from their pickup truck and quickly withdrew her small hand from his. Franco felt bad but he was determined to respect her modesty. Instead he placed a comforting hand on her tensed shoulder and continued to lead her around his house, showing and telling her how things were running on his ranch.

Once they were truly alone, he took her hand again and grinned when she didn't refuse his gentle caresses.

"I can see you're taking great care of your ranch." she tells him as they walk hand in hand to a nearby pond, to which she gasped in admiration. "It's very pretty, Franco."

"We're trying to compete with yours." he joked, earning a smile from her and he nearly felt his heart stop at its radiance. "It's a healthy competition though."

He stops in front of her and takes both of her hands in his, his fingers grazing its softness as he stares into her now worried eyes.

"We've been having some problems at home." she told him. "I'm sure you've noticed."

Franco lightly gives her hands a comforting squeeze.

"Because of Escandon, right?" he asked, never forgetting that bastard who dared to violently touch her.

"Mainly." she answered, giving him a small but sad smile. "But my sisters and I are determined to keep the ranch going forward. "

"I'm sure you can achieve that." he assured her. "Especially you, Sara. You're so efficient and hardworking."

She smiled bashfully up at him and lowered her gaze.

"I got angry when that man laid a hand on you." he confessed, trying to convince her of how much she means to him.

She uncomfortably cleared her throat and looked up at him again.

"Thank you for defending me." she said, lowering her eyes.

"I should be thanking you." he said, his heart warming at how her cheeks would tinge so beautifully. "You brought the boy."

She sighed.

"I didn't do it for anyone's approval." she confessed. "I wanted to avoid any more problems with your brother and.."

Her blushed darkened when she looked at their intertwined hands.

"You shouldn't be holding my hands like this…" she said, prying them from his. "Your workers could see and say something."

Franco chuckled at her nervousness and caught himself lingering on her full bottom lip and how she timidly bit it. It's been a while since he'd kissed her…

"I'd do more than that, you know?" he said, bringing his hands to gently cradle her neck as he began to lean down to kiss her.

She gasped and pulled away from him. Franco felt very rejected.

"You shouldn't do that either!" she chastised him, her cheeks glowing with more color.

Franco gave out a frustrated sigh.

"You don't want me to send you flowers and you won't even let me kiss you." he sighed, his desperate eyes boring into her nervous ones. "Tell me, Sara, what can I do to let you know what I feel for you?"

She looked at him, her eyes gleaming like two precious fireflies. She blushed harder and gave him a small but tender smile. He felt his heart growing warm inside him. Sarita was truly beautiful, he mentally kicked himself for not having noticed her before.

"You don't have to do anything." she told him and then nervously bit her lip.

Franco smiled at her and relished her purity and sweetness. He never would have thought he'd meet a woman like her. For once in his life, he's finally met a woman who didn't seek him out for any selfish interests. Sarita was so different, he respected her even more. And he was going to act on it. He was going to do something he knew she had never done with any man. He was going to make sure he treated her with the utmost respect she deserved. He's going to ask her out and lavish her to demonstrate how much she meant to him.

"I'd like to ask you out." he said, smiling at her as he took a step towards her. He saw her lashes flutter in astonishment and before she could answer, he placed a finger on her soft lips, causing her to giggle. He internally swooned at that precious sound.

"Don't say no." he begged, smiling at her. "Please tell me when we can see each other again."

She didn't give him an exact answer, instead she told him that her time was running out and needed to be back home with the baby. Franco was a bit upset that she didn't abide by his question, but sadly respected her wishes. He and his brothers regretfully watched as Sarita drove away with Juan David. Franco immediately felt lonely and his brothers, particularly Juan was saddened by his son's departure and took his grief out an a horse ride to the open fields.

Franco followed suit later on in the afternoon and found his older brother staring longingly out into the Elizondo's estate by the fences.

"Why so lonely, Juancho?" called out Franco, signaling his horse to stop once he met with Juan.

"I got bored in the house," he responded. "While you were in your study and Emperor Oscar in the damn bathtub."

"Well…" laughed Franco. "It's Saturday and we're getting ready for Dinora's dinner party."

Juan glared in Franco's direction and groaned.

"Dinora's damn invitation." he grumbled.

"Relax, you don't have to do anything." Franco said, noting the distaste in Juan's voice. "We'll deal with that snake, as Quintina calls her."

"She deserves that name." agreed Juan. "She got me in so much trouble with Norma."

Franco frowned. Juan is still depressed. He guessed that seeing his son wasn't enough.

"You can't get her out of your head, can you?"

Juan smiled softly to himself.

"I thought I would be satisfied with my son's visit, but who am I fooling? I need that woman. I want to clear up this whole damn mess.."

Franco interrupted.

"Well, there's one thing clear, Juan." Franco turned his head to look at his disappointed brother. "She's still into you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sent Sarita with the baby."

Franco wished he had bit his tongue. Juan stopped glowering into the distance and glanced curiously at his younger brother.

"Hm.." he muttered, his dark eyes scanning Franco. "Seems like you're getting along quite well with Sarita, aren't you?"

"She's proving to us that she's a good person." Franco answered nonchalantly, hoping this will stop Juan's prying curiosity. He shifted nervously on his horse when Juan wouldn't stop staring at him.

"Be careful. Don't drop your guard." warned Juan, still eyeing Franco. "Sarita is the most difficult of the Elizondo sisters. Look at me and Oscar. I don't want the same for you."

Here he goes.

"You think I like her?" Franco taunted, knowing damn well he had it bad for Sara.

Juan sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know," he said. "But what I do know is that you're very naive when you fall in love. You tend to lose your mind."

Franco frowned, knowing deep down that Juan had a good reason. He needed him to stop talking though. Franco was feeling very uncomfortable.

"Remember what happened with that bar dancer or singer-"

"Don't ever mention that woman, Juan!" shot Franco, his anger slightly flaring. "She and Sarita are world's apart! There isn't another woman as dangerous as her!"

Juan was silent and gave his little brother a subtle and knowing smirk. Franco swore under his breath, not because of the mention of Rosario, but that he just gave himself away. Juan, as brutishly hotheaded as he was, wasn't stupid. In that moment, Franco had a feeling Juan knew of his budding relationship with the difficult Sarita Elizondo.

Aye! There you have it! Let me tell you how funny I thought that scene between Juan and Franco was. I couldn't stop laughing the first time I saw this Novela. Franco put himself on that hot seat. Juan is smart, he knew what's up. Also... I also loved the tender mother and son moment with Eva and the brothers. I couldn't leave that part out. It was too pure and beautiful... well... on to Chapter 29! That one will be more than three episodes, I know it! My goodness! Thank you for reading and stay safe! Muah!