Neto leaned back on the sofa, looking cynical.


    He spokezily: “If there’s something you want, say so”.


    His attitude made Innocent’s brow furrow with resentment and anger.


    Luc calmly pinched the palm of Neto’s hand.


    Neto turned his head, looked at her warily and gently patted the back of her hand, telling her not to worry, that he had his own agenda.


    Inocencio took a deep breath: “The old man is sick with anger, he’s old enough to take your scare a few times…”.


    “Neto remembers when something happened to Severo, and it was only after the false news spread that Conrado was ill that he returned to Ciudad del Cielo.


    Returning to Ciudad del Cielo only to find Conrado alive and kicking, he was involved in something else.


    They are the best at confusing people by making news that is difficult to distinguish from the truth.


    “Neto, be careful what you say”.


    Neto did not know the real purpose of Innocent’s visit today, but he also knew that, at the end of the day, both he and Innocent would say harsh things.


    Although Luc knows almost everything about his family, he is a little embarrassed to have all these things about the family exposed to Luc’s eyes.


    He ignored Innocent and turned his head towards Luc with a hint of imperceptible tenderness in his eyes, “Aren’t you feeling a bit tired, do you want to go and rest first?”


    Luc turned her head to look at Inocencio and nodded towards Neto: “Well, I’m going to rest then.


    Having said this, he turned his head towards Innocent: “Uncle Pastrano, I’m going to my room.


    As much as Innocent dislikes him, he did what he had to do.


    As soon as Luc left, the tension between the two parents and children increased.


    “You were so afraid that I would make things difficult for her, and you sent her away! Look at you now, what a woman you’ve be! Innocent’s anger seemed to have reached a critical point, and with a little more fire, he would have exploded.


    Neto’s face was mocking: “And you? Have you left your wife for a woman?”


    Innocent was prodded and immediately jumped in: “It was your mother who wanted to divorce me!


    “If I don’t divorce, should I continue to live with you and suffer humiliation? Why didn’t you marry that woman if you were capable? You want fame, but you want to do shameless things. You have never bothered me since I was a child, but you want to tell me what to do when I grow up. Dad, not everything in this world is the way you want it to be”.


    Over the years, Innocent has had little control over Neto, and it is precisely Conrad who has had more control, but that is only rtive.


    As a child, he was still sad and unbnced in his heart, but as he grew up, he came to understand that everyone has their position and that as bad as they were, they gave him this life and the Pastrano family name, so that he was born to live a life superior to many others.


    Over the years, it is fair to say that things have been peaceful.


    Although Julio’s marriage to Barreda has separated Neto a little more from them, it is not enough to turn the tables on Inocencio.


    He felt nothing for Julio, only a little annoyed that he had put him on the spot, and he had long since given up expecting anything from Inocencio, who had always favoured Barreda anyway.


    But he didn’t mind them meddling in his and Luc’s affairs.


    Luc was his wife, with whom he was to spend the rest of his life.


    He loves and trusts him.


    He could not afford to make the slightest mistake, even if it would tear him apart with Innocent, he did not care.


    Neto’s words drained all of Innocent’s energy.


    He wanted to say something, opened his mouth, but found it somewhat impossible to do so.


    Over the years, he has been indifferent to Neto, and even with Marco, the most he is asked about his work.


    Instead, he prefers Barreda.


    He does not want to be deliberately biased in favour of Barreda, but because both Neto and Marco look like nzo and when he sees them, he thinks of nzo.


    What he did not want to admit, but could not hide, was the fact that he was ashamed of nzo.


    nzo grew up with him, pretty and sweet, gentle and small-minded.


    All those boys in thepound had secretly taken a liking to nzo.


    He was notpletely devoid of feelings for nzo, but on the other hand, he couldn’t let go of Barreda’s mother, so he dyed and dyed, and then nzo found out.


    After all these years, he can still vividly remember the look on nzo’s face that day.


    Unbelievable, disappointed, look.


    Innocent tilted his head to one side, took a deep breath and said: “You mean I don’t have to worry about anything from now on?


    “You’re getting older, so wouldn’t it be good if you took it easy and minded your own business?” Neto looked at him expressionlessly, his voice a little cold.


    Innocent was immediately exposed by Neto and by now had lost his temper, none of thetterments being as solid as his earlier part.


    His back arched slightly and he leaned back, sighing, “But you’re too stupid to go and marry someone without informing your family!


    “When you were the same age as me, I could run and y, I was in a hurry, I didn’t have the free time to hang out with you again, sooner orter you have to get married, it’s good to get ahead, besides I’m thirty years old”.


    Each of Neto’s words was a sting, and Innocent was already breathless and showed no more signs of anger.


    “Your grandfather would not approve.


    Neto scoffed: “Wasn’t it grandfather who epted your marriage to mother, but what happened in the end?


    Inocencio looked at Neto with a grimace: “Don’t go too far, whatever happens, you are a descendant of the Pastrano family and you will never cease to be rted to the Pastrano family in your life!


    “I didn’t want to disassociate myself from the Pastrano family, did I? You’re the one who kicked me out. Neto wrapped his arms around him with an ungainly look on his face.


    “I can’t control you, take care of yourself! Your grandfather is really sick, if you want to go home to see him or not, it’s up to you!”


    Innocent could contain himself no longer and took his leave with these words.


    Witnessing Innocent’s departure, he waited until the door closed and was left alone in the room.


    He touched a cigarette and smoked it before getting up to wash his hands and return to his room to find Luc.


    Luc is chatting with Allyce.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Allyceined to her: “Now I’m all fat, Severo makes me soup every day and I’ve put on weight every day with all the big fish …”.


    As he spoke, he also moved his phone down so Luc could look at his whole body.


    Luc took a closer look and noticed that Allyce had put on a bit of weight, her face was uncrossed and she was as white as watery tofu.