Episode 2

(Mia)

I get up from the hard concrete slab that serves as my bed when I see Rebeca Lizalde, my cellmate.

To be honest, I don't know what time she went out; all I know is that she comes in with a silly smile.

Seeing her makes me realize that no matter how much I want to forget that it's my birthday, I can't, and she's making sure to remind me of it because she has a mini cake in her hands with a lit candle.

"Rebe, get that stupid cake out of my sight."I say, swatting at the ridiculous cake, which falls to the floor.

"Hey!!..."

Why do you always have to be so violent and a party pooper?—Rebe tells me, one of the few tolerable people in this damned prison.

"You know I hate what you're doing, and still, you insist on bothering me."I tell the beautiful brown-haired woman with brown eyes, 38 years old, who is only a year away from serving her sentence, here for killing an abuser, though she received fewer years in prison than I did.

"Oh, Mia... Why are you so cold? You need to change because bitterness kills the soul."She tells me calmly, picking up the little cake and eating it even though it's dirty.

"I'm sorry, Rebeca; you know I have a heart of stone, and with the passage of the years, it becomes harder."I say to my companion.

"You don’t have a heart of stone, Mia, you have a heart of ice, but I know that one day, you'll find the warmest person who can melt that heart. Then what you truly are will shine through, because inside that shell you've put up, there is a kind, generous, and just woman."

Mia, you’re just as beautiful inside as you are outside, or do you think it's a coincidence that everyone here hates you? They do it because they envy you.

Look at you; you're the most precious woman I've ever seen. Look at that angelic face you have, that body, mmm, and that butt... thank goodness I'm straight, otherwise, honey, I’d eat you up at night!! Taking advantage that we’re in the same cell, hahahahaha.—She says, making gestures as if eating something delicious and laughing uncontrollably.

"You're crazy..."I say seriously.

"Maybe I am, but it’s better to be crazy than bitter. You should go a little mad too; that would set you free."

I understood that the greatest prison, the most cruel and unbearable one, is the one I built for my soul when I hated half the world, but forgiveness frees; and you should try to break free.—She tells me, looking into my eyes.

"Well, that will never happen with me."

Because I don't want it to!!.

I won’t forgive anyone. I’ll make them pay, even if it’s the last thing I do in life.—I tell Rebeca.

"Mia, I know that deep inside your heart of ice, there’s a lot of pain, loneliness, and hatred. I know you took an abuser's life, and that marked you forever."

I know your friend Dani died, and it was very hard for you, but you have to leave the bad behind.

Oh... but before you forget, I want you to tell me your full story.

Tell me everything...—She says, the woman who understands me despite my bad temper and helps make the eternal days easier to survive.

She talks a lot, but she's the only person in this place I've allowed to get close, and I think she’s right; it’s time to tell her my story...

I watch Rebeca eat the last bite of the tiny birthday cake. Honestly, I don't know how she got it, and I don’t want to ask because it’s not something I’m interested in.

"Ummm, it was really delicious, but you missed out because you’re bitter."

Honestly, I understand you, Mia; I know that this is not easy for anyone, especially for someone like you, who lived until 18 surrounded by luxury and comfort, and I also know that in this jail, they treated you with violence and disrespect, but look at you, you've survived it all.

I admire your strength; I've never seen you cry.

You don’t let anyone intimidate you, and nobody can change your opinions on your convictions.

You’re deprived of freedom, but you’re as strong as anyone I've ever seen.

The only downside is that you’ve allowed the people you hate to become the center of your life, and that’s toxic for you.

Mia, the center of your life, must be you and your well-being, then that of the people you love. You should never focus on the people you despise, even if you have plenty of reasons to do so.

Now, tell me everything, in detail...

I’ve shared my entire life with you. I believe I’ve shown you loyalty even in this prison, which is why I think I can know more about you.” Rebeca tells me, the woman who has defended me tooth and nail and saved my life more than once.

I look at her and decide to share my whole life with her...

"Alright... I think you will be the first person I tell my tragic life to; it hurts so much to remember, because there are things that you never get over, like losing my family."

I had the best childhood, the kind every child should have: a wonderful family, a surprisingly admirable father who was always right, a loving, caring mother, a joyful little brother who was a joker and often annoying but loved me, and I loved him back, and dream grandparents, even though my grandfather became a widower earlier. I had it all, and I was extremely happy.

As you know, I am the universal heir of the Montecarlos.

The company that manufactures and exports the finest wines in South America was founded by my great-great-grandfather and has been passed down through each generation until it reached me at a very young age.

Unfortunately, that inheritance, of which I haven't enjoyed anything "yet," was what triggered all the malice from the Montiels.

I was only 16 years old when my beloved parents, Maximo and Yanice, my little brother Junior, and my grandfather, who was also named Maximo, died; it all happened when the small plane they were on crashed.

They had gone together to inspect some land that was being offered to my father, and that was where the most painful tragedy occurred; even now, it’s hard to comprehend. Overnight, I was left alone, completely alone.

Being the only Montecalo, I was the sole heir, but since I was a minor, I needed to have a guardian. My father’s lawyer, Marco Soler, was helping me with that matter and assisted me with all the funeral arrangements for my whole family.

At that moment, I didn’t know what would happen to me, but Marco told me I could choose a guardian since I had no relatives; both my parents were only children.

Marco Soler offered to help me; he protected me and continues to do so in every way he can.

However, we didn't expect Oscar Montiel to show up, a supposed partner and best friend of my father.

This man brought notarized documents claiming he was a 20% partner in my company, and another document stated that in the event of my parents' death, my little brother and I would be cared for by his best friend and partner, Oscar Montiel, who was also authorized to manage all financial matters of the Montecarlo Corporation and the heir or heirs.

In this case, it referred to me.

Out of nowhere, I had a guardian, and he claimed to be a partner in the company.

Everyone who heard and saw the documents felt doubts, but to some extent, I also felt relief.

My 14-year-old brother and I had always heard that one day we would run the business, but at my age, I didn't know much about the Montecarlo Corporation, and worst of all, neither did my brother.

I had seen Oscar Montiel with my father on several occasions; now, this man came presenting a signed document from my father, granting him the authority to manage the business and my finances until I turned 18.

Of course, the company had to keep functioning despite everything; there were very capable people in every area, but there was no longer a CEO.

Neither my mother nor my grandfather were around—those who could have taken on the role.

I was at a crossroads, and Oscar Montiel’s appearance signified a solution.

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