Author's notes: This chapter has mild violence and heavy kissing. Although not explicit, it is implied. So if you are underage or don't feel comofortable reading this chapter, I suggest skipping to the next chapter.

The minute Ernesto led Imelda into their house, he shut the door and turned to her with a glare.

"All right you sneaky woman," he said, bitterly. "What the heck were you and Padre Luis talking about?"

"Nada!" Imelda shook her head. She turned away and put her handbag down on the small living room table. She headed toward the kitchen only to yelp in pain when she felt two big arms grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to sit down on one of the dining chairs.

"Let me ask you one more time," Ernesto growled, sitting down across from her at the dining table. "What were you and Padre Luis talking about? What were you asking him about? And you better not lie!"

Imelda sighed, "Fine." She took a deep breath and looked straight into the eye. He doesn't love her, and she doesn't love him. They had tried and tried to make the marriage work but it became a waste of time. Imelda tried on her part but Ernesto never did. If he wants the truth, why keep it from him?

"I want a divorce."

"QUE!?"

"I had asked Padre if the Pope could give us a divorce and he said he would do that," Imelda said, coldly. "He hasn't heard back from him but the letter should be arriving anytime soon." That should ruin his ego! she smirked to herself.

Big mistake.

Ernesto's face turned a dark shade of red and steam came out of his ears. He stood up from his chair so fast and before Imelda could process what was happening, Ernesto punched her in the face!

Imelda fell backward along with her chair,

from the impact of the punch.

Pepita ran from the couch to scratch Ernesto's leg for doing that to Imelda, only to be kicked by the bulky man. Pepita was thrown against the wall, flat as a pancake.

Imelda attempt to stand up but was struck again by the muscular man.

"HOW DARE YOU ASK FOR A SUCH A VILE THING!"Ernesto screamed. "ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN MY REPUTATION?" He slapped her again in the face.

"Why are treating me like this?" Imelda yelled as she stood up. She backed away so he wouldn't slap her anymore. "You were never a good husband to me! We never loved each other! At least, I tried to be loyal to you! But you didn't care! You were too busy sleeping around with other women!" She received another slap in the face and fell down. Before she could get up, the man pinned her down.

"You are my property!" He barked. "I may not love you. I may prefer the company of other women, but you are my property. I own you!" When he was sure his wife was too weak to move, he got off of her, and recompose himself.

Imelda had to grab onto the arm of a couch to help her stand up.

"What's the point of being married to someone who wants nothing to do with you?"

"I am keeping you around to do my chores and to be my backup whore in case I get bored of other women!" Ernesto snarled. He picked up his guitar and put his sombrero on. "Why is that you can't do anything right!? Stinks to be you! Now if you will excuse me, I have a trip to attend."

"What trip?"

"Oh didn't I tell you?" he said, in a mocking voice. "I am going on a tour with my band and with a traveling agent. Leaving today! I will be gone for a dia or two. And when I get home by the end of two weeks, there better be a home-cooked meal ready for me, or else there will be hell to pay!"

With that said, Ernesto opened the door and slammed it.

Imelda plopped down on the couch and sniffled. Tears cascade from her countenance. Oh, she was not upset that Ernesto had left. She's upset about how he reacted toward her. With no letter back from the Pope soon, how would she ever escape?

She gave a small smile when she felt her cat (who had sucked up air back into her lungs), climbed on top of her and leaned against her arm. "Oh Pepita, I feel trapped! I wish Héctor was here!"

This gave Pepita an idea. When Imelda fell asleep from her crying, the cat climbed up to the window and left for the hotel.

Hector heard a tapping on the door. The sounds sounded rapid. "Coming!" He called coming out of the bathroom, putting a robe on. "That's funny, I don't remember calling for room service," He said to himself. Nevertheless, he walked over to the door, thinking that the poor hotel employee didn't know he had the wrong room. When he opened the door, it wasn't room service. He saw the cat coming inside.

"Pepita?"

"Meow!"

"What are you doing here?"

He knew pets weren't allowed in but he took her in and pet it. "Is something the matter?"

"Meow!" The animal nudged her head to the door.

Héctor didn't understand.

Annoyed, Pepita walked to the door and tapped on it.

"You want me to follow you?" Héctor asked.

"Meow!" Pepita answered before running out of the door.

The tall man followed close behind. He may not understand what the cat wanted but he figured that she was trying to lead him somewhere. Does it have anything to do with Imelda? I hope she's okay. He thought. Please Lord, let her be okay!

As soon as Héctor and Pepita reached Imelda's house, the man knocked on the door. He wouldn't need to because lucky for him, the cat opened it by pushing the door open with her paws.

The musician hurried inside, thinking that his friend was hurt.

"Imelda!?"

"Héctor!?" Imelda sat up from the couch.

Hector gasped when he noticed her appearance. Her hair was disheveled. There was a black right eye and red marks on her face.

Relieved that he came back, Imelda stood up and rushed over to him.

Héctor held her in his arms without hesitation

as she sobbed in his chest.

"Imelda, what happened?"

"Oh," the woman sniffled, wiping her tears. "Ernesto-he...became angry. I-I told him I was asking the priest to grant us a divorce and he-he hit me. That's all. Nothing to worry."

Héctor couldn't see how he could not be worried.

"It's my fault," Imelda concluded. "I'm to be blamed for asking him for a divorce."

"No, no, Imeldita," Héctor hugged her gently. "It's not your fault! You are not to be blamed!"

"He said that I am his property and that I can't do anything right."

The musician's cheeks flushed with anger and steam came out of his ears.

"Now I am steamed! This has gone too far! I am going to have a long talk with Ernesto about this!"

"No, don't!" Imelda pleaded.

"Imelda, I have to do something!" Hector protested. "Nobody deserves to be abused!"

"Héctor, it would be a waste of time anyway! He has left for his tour!"

"Tour, what tour-oh!" the musician was confused at first until he quickly remembered what the woman referred to. " He and the band left already!?"

"You didn't know?"

"I knew they were going, but I didn't think they'd be leaving today!" He groaned, running through his hair. "Ay caramba, you would think they would say goodbye! Had I known that they would leave today, I'd give them going-away gifts. This is another behavior I don't expect from Ernesto! Ah, I suppose that shows how little he thinks of me." The composer gave his secret crush a wry smile. "You know? That is something we have in common besides our mutual love for music: Ernesto thinks little of us! Then again, his brain is so small that it barely contained any thoughts!"

"Héctor, can you please stay with me?" she whispered. She had been burying her nose into his shirt, sniffing the cologne that smelled masculine and wonderful. "Por favor, necesito

usted!"

"Por supuesto," Héctor nodded, rubbing the back of her head, gently. He wiped away all her tears. He led her up to her bedroom. He would have gone back to his old guest room but he was so exhausted from today, that he laid next down to her.

At first, the woman was suspicious of her friend. But his loud snores and breathing body softened her fears.

Héctor woke up and studied Imelda's sleeping form. Her black eye and red marks were less severe than they were yesterday.

His heart went out to her. The musician knew that Imelda was having trouble with Ernesto but he didn't think that their marriage was that bad! The songwriter's thoughts turned sour at the thought of his friend. If he ever saw Ernesto again, he'll let his fists do all the talking!

But he knew Ernesto to be stronger than him. And besides, he was gone along with the band and their talent agent, and their new songwriter. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against her cheek very softly. Imelda made a sound and he leaped back quickly and fell out of the bed with a clunk!

Imelda woke up and giggled at the sight of tangled-up arms and legs.

Héctor untangled himself and crawled back into bed.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"I am feeling better now," the woman smiled. Probably because she's with Hector now. "What are your plans for today?"

"Nada," the man said in a casual voice. "Just want to pack for my trip home. Actually, I will check if I had left anything at the hotel. What about you?"

"Oh nothing interesting," Imelda shrugged. "Just run errands, that's all."

Then they heard a knock on the door. Imelda went downstairs and opened the door. It was a man in uniform.

"A telegram for Señora De La Cruz!"

"Gracias, Señor!"

The telegram read:

Good news Imelda! I have an answer from the Pope! Come today and I will tell you his answer!

"Gracias Padre," Imelda smiled, gratefully. She was sitting in the Padre's office. As soon as she had read the telegram, Imelda wasted no time paying a visit to the church. She was delighted to hear that not only did the Pope wrote back but also gave her permission for a divorce. "I didn't think it would be possible but this is the best news that I have ever heard!"

"De nada Señora De la Cruz," answered, kindly. "Usually the Pope doesn't grant couples a divorce unless it was a case of abuse or unfaithfulness.

Just sign these papers and then you will be free!"

"Okay, but wouldn't you need Ernesto's signature, too?"

"Sí, usually I would have a divorcing couple sign it, but since this is the case of a man abusing you (verbally and physically), I say only your signature is acceptable."

Imelda signed the divorce papers and gave them back to the priest. "All done!"

"Fantástico!" The priest smiled, taking the signed papers back. "It's all settled!"

After walking out of the church, Imelda felt as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. For once, she was free! She had never felt so free before! She was so happy she could dance! Maybe she and Hector could be together forever and forever! Imelda's logical side caught up with her emotional side. Héctor is leaving about tomorrow, there is no way he'd take her with him! Besides, what if he won't marry her? Imelda had heard sad tales of women who had left their mean or boring husbands for their lovers, only for their lovers to betray them! Either they already had a girlfriend or worse, were married. What if Héctor had a girl back in Santa Cecilia? Imelda shook her head. If that were true then, Héctor would have told her. But he hasn't told her every single detail of his life to her and she didn't want to get her hopes up for nothing.

"I may as well make my last night with Héctor a night to remember!" She thought of how to make her night special with him while stepping into a boutique shop.

When Hector came back (he had retrieved his stuff, bought a train ticket for tomorrow, and a few gifts for his tío and tía.), He went upstairs to his bedroom. When he reached there, there first thing he spotted was rose petals that traveled from his feet all the way to the bed. On the bed, was Imelda wearing her new light pink dress. Her hair had been undone, showing off her long wavy curls.

The musician's jaw dropped and his suitcase landed with a thud. "Imelda?" he asked breathlessly. Was this what he thought it was?

"I have been waiting for you," Imelda said in a flirty voice. Oh, she had been anticipating the night that was about to come.

Héctor pinched himself on the arm. "Am I dreaming?" He had a couple of dreams of making love to Imelda before, but he didn't think any of them would actually come true. "This has to be a dream!"

Imelda gently took his hand and kissed it. "This isn't a dream," she said kindly. "This is real." She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his mouth.

Héctor gasped at the feeling of her lips. They were so warm and soft that he couldn't pull away. So lost in the kiss, he barely noticed Imelda slipping his jacket off of him.

"Come to bed with me," she whispered into his ear, after breaking off the kiss. The way she said it made it impossible for Héctor to disobey her.

On the bed, Imelda unbuttoned his shirt while Hector watched. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. This woman whom he had dreamed of many times, was showing him her love. After the shirt was unbuttoned, Imelda rubbed her hands up and down on Hector's bare chest. He moaned at feeling her delicate hands slowly caressing him. Her hands traveled down to his abdomen.

But when Imelda attempt to pull his pants down, he stopped her before she could do anymore.

"Imelda, no we can't!"

"Por que?"

"You're married!"

"Not anymore, I signed the divorce papers!"

"You did!? What about Ernesto?"

Imelda only resumed kissing her secret lover.

"Imelda..," Héctor said, his breath feeling shallow again. "We...can't..do this."

The woman took a while to catch her breath and cupped her paramour's face. "Mi amor, you don't have anything to worry about. I don't belong to Ernesto anymore. I am free! Free to be with you!"

Before the musician could say anything reasonable, his lover planted her lips onto his. He gasped at the sudden feeling of Imelda's kisses, trailing from his jaw to chest. His heart was now thumping like a drum. The more she kissed him, the harder he found it hard to resist her. Héctor wrapped his arms around her, sighing happily into her mouth. Imelda felt her heart soaring when he kissed her back.

The wind blew the candles. Only the moon and the stars witnessed the lovemaking of a forbidden match.