Lucrecia took a walk after her meeting and went to Central Park. There was one bench that she always sat on when she was making some big decisions and choices and she didn't want to break that tradition. She got her phone out and she dialed Valerio.

''Hello my queen.''

''Hey Val.''

''What can this humble servant do for you today?''

She smiled at that.

''I am coming back to Spain soon… I took the internship…''

''I am very glad to hear that.''

''When are you coming back?''

''Three weeks….''

''Do you need me to send you a ticket?''

''If you want to.''

''I do…And I will get someone to wait for you at the airport in case my day is one of the crazy ones.''

''You can also help me find a place to live.''

''I have that covered. I am staying at Carla's apartment and you can stay with me until we get you your permanent home.''

''My permanent home?''

''Don't spoil the surprise Lu…''

''Ok…''

There was moment of silence.

''I can't believe you are really coming back.''

''Me too… I am scared, I am happy… ''

''I can only imagine.''

''I know dad is coming back too.''

''Yes, he is.''

''Do you have any contact with him?''

''No, he was not interested in me when I was his son. Why would he be interested now that I am not?''

''There was still some hope in me that he would change his mind.''

''He will never do such a thing. We are sick, we are disgusting… And it's only his loss…and our mothers' loss too… Look how far we came LuLu…''

''Further than he believed we would.''

''Lu… He never cared about us enough to believe anything…''

''I guess you are right.''

''You know I am… BUT I want it in writing when you come home.''

She smiled at that.

''Over my dead body.''

''That can be arranged… I will make sure that my people take care of it.''

''Your people?''

''Yes, I am a dangerous man young lady. You are messing with the wrong one. You will pay young lady…''

''I dare you Valerio!''

''Oh, challenge accepted…''

She could imagine his smirk and his eyes glistening. She could see him with that smug face she loved and she couldn't wait to see all those things in person. She knew he will annoy her from the moment they see one another, but she was excited.

When Lucrecia came home she found Nadia crying on the sofa. She took a seat beside her and took her hand.

''Why are you crying?''

''I told my parents that I will marry my cousin… I have no courage to call Guzman and tell him.''

Lucrecia didn't know what to tell her. She understood the pain.

''If you need me, I am right here.''

''Thank you, but I think this is what I have to do alone.''

''Ok.''

Nadia remembered that Lucrecia had a meeting about internship.

''How was your meeting?''

''It was…eventful… I took internship back in Spain.''

Nadia was surprised by this.

''What?''

''He offered it to me and I had to take it…Something in my gut told me it's time to go back home. I am ready.''

''Valerio?''

''No, it's not about him… There is so much more than him… I will not allow myself to be ashamed of who I am and feel less worth. My parents made me feel so worthless for years. I am ready to go back home and reclaim who I am.''

''And who are you Lucrecia?''

''I am young and capable woman… I didn't use his name or connections to graduate, to find this internship. He gave up on me and abandoned me, along with my mother… And I made it… I am proud of myself.''

''I know you did it by yourself and I am very proud of you… You came long way from Lucrecia I first met when I arrived to the school.''

Lucrecia nodded.

''You are right. I am not that girl anymore.''

''No, you are not. You are strong, capable and incredible young woman whit all the possibilities to succeed at anything you set your mind on.''

''Thank you Nadia.''

They hugged and sat in silence for few moments.

''Maybe you are right… Maybe it's time for you to finally face him and show him how far you got without his support. You both did… Both you and Valerio came long way from where he left you.''

''Yes, we did.''

Nadia got off the sofa and went to her room. She came back few minutes later with a very fancy magazine.

''I saw this in one café. I asked them if I could have it because I know the person on the cover. I am not sure if they believed me, but… Here it is.''

She gave the magazine to Lu and on the cover was Valerio. He was dressed in a very nice suit, his hair was slicked back and he looked amazing. Title of the article was Amazing world of Valerio Valdez. Nadia watched Lucrecia's face and it was clear that she still had feelings for the boy.

''I'll leave you with it…''

She got up and went to her room. She had a conversation with Guzman pending and she was frightened to make that call.

Lu opened the magazine and started reading….no, that was a lie… She spent some time just looking at the pictures of him and daydreaming about the day when she would see him again. He changed a lot, but there was still some shadow of the restless boy she remembered and loved.

Her daydreaming was interrupted by someone who was at the door. She opened and found Nadia's parents standing there. She let them in and went to call Nadia. When she got into the room she found her crying with a phone in her hands. She was sure she spoke to Guzman and ended things with him.

''Your mom and dad are here.''

''Tell them I'll be there in a minute.''

Lu went to the living room and kept them company until Nadia came. She sensed there was something they had to talk about as a family and she went to her room to give them privacy. She didn't waste time in the room. She started making arrangements for her return home and she and Valerio were texting about her things. He promised to add to her ticket overweight and also promised her that he will put money on her account in case she needs to pay something extra during her travel back.

Following weeks were insane for Lucrecia. She was working, she was packing and she was helping Nadia with the wedding. Nadia's parents were now staying at their apartment with Ander and Omar, so they had made some changes. Boys were sleeping in the living room in a pull out sofa, Nadia's parents were in her room and she was sharing with Lucrecia. It was like endless sleepover for two of them and part of them really liked it. Nadia made diner and her future husband came to meet her with his parents. Namid's parents were both Nadia's father's cousins who came to the States when they got married. Both of them were doctors and very interesting people. Namid had two brothers and a sister, but all three of them lived out of the States so they couldn't come and meet Nadia on such a short notice. Namid's parents assumed that Ander was Lucrecia's boyfriend and since no one from the Shanna family corrected them. It was clear that they were not that comfortable with their relationship in public and that they believed that making their relationship known would ruin Nadia's chances for marriage. Both Ander and Omar were not happy about it, but kept their mouth shut because of Nadia. Lucrecia also kept quiet but there was a lot she had to say. After all the details were settled, Namid's parents left and he stayed behind them to get to know Nadia. Omar, Ander and Lucrecia went to Lucrecia's room and left two of them alone. After few minutes of the conversation, they realized they were in the same boat. His parents wanted him to marry a nice Muslim girl and he made promise to them when he was a boy that he will let them choose a wife to him if they let him live his life until the age of thirty. His birthday was getting close and now he had to marry and honor the promise he made to them. Nadia really couldn't find anything about him that would get her to say no to her parents.

''I am going to make a very wild guess that you have a past. I do not care to what extent that relationship went. If you are not a virgin, my lips are sealed and out parents will never know about it. I've had relationships before and they were physical and I would feel like hypocrite if I had bad words for you in case you had same experiences. I hope you don't mind me being direct… I just… We don't have much time to cover all this before the wedding.''

''No, you are right… I was with someone… But in my case it was just one person.''

''Did you love him?''

''Yes, very much…''

''I am sorry if it ended because of me.''

''No, it's not you… It's so many things.''

Nadia looked at her lap in order to prevent tears coming.

''Ok… Oh, and one more thing…''

Nadia lifted her gaze to look at her future husband.

''I will not tell anyone about your brother…''

'"What?''

''The other boy is his boyfriend, not Lucrecia's…''

''How did you…?''

''I am not blind… And honestly, I don't mind. If they are good people, I don't care about their sexual preferences and in the future I will not be in a way of our children spending time with them or whoever is your brother's partner at the time.''

''How can you be ok with all that?''

''I grew up here… I admit my parents tried to make me into very narrow-minded and traditional man, but I lived through college and saw a lot of things there… And at the hospital… I face life and death every day. It changes your prospective on life when you see how easily people die… It takes just one minute, second and the life is gone. I appreciate life more since I became a doctor… ''

He was silent for a moment.

''Few years ago, I went with one team of doctors to Africa. It was part of Doctors without borders project and our hospital was under attack. We were lucky, we didn't lose any life, but we were close. I was staring at the rifle barrel and my life flashed before my eyes before that man was detained. That was the day I decided not to get into other people's lives and have opinion on it. I see life as a gift and no one but us is in the driver's seat.''

''And yet, we are both getting married to people our parents choose.''

''That is not life, that is obedience and education we got and can't get rid of it. I can't imagine breaking my parent's heart by saying I would not do this. I made an oath to them and it would haunt me if I broke it.''

Nadia nodded.

''I know the feeling.''

''No matter how life in the western world changed us, some core values are still there…and it drives me insane.''

Nadia was surprised how well they understood one another. Nadim was really nice guy and she was glad that if she had to marry someone of her parents' choice, it's someone with very open mind.

''I agree..''

After he left Lucrecia and the boys came back to the living room. They asked Nadia about her impressions and she told them that he is a very nice person and she believed him to be interesting. Ander didn't speak much. He didn't really understand the arrange marriage and he didn't want to say something wrong and hurt Nadia's feelings. To him it was cruel to force Nadia into marriage knowing she loves Guzman. But, since she said yes, he believed it was not his place to question anything. Lucrecia on the other hand did. She asked Nadia if she was sure it was the right choice, and she said she stands behind her decision.

''You are doing this to please your parents. It's for them, not for you.''

''Lucrecia, I honor my promises and if this is what they need from me, I'll do it.''

''Is it worth it? Is it worth it to sacrifice your happiness for them?''

''Yes! They sacrificed so much for me and Omar that this is small price for all they gave me!''

''But they are taking away your happiness!''

''Lucrecia, I love them! I love my parents enough to do this for them! I don't want to dishonor them.''

''And you will burry yourself in a loveless marriage for them? What sort of parents do that to their child?''

''At least I have parents who care Lucrecia!''

And that is where the discussion ended. Lucrecia just got up from the sofa .

''Excuse me… ''

And with that Lucrecia took her purse and coat and left the house.