Diego was colder and more distant than ever. Sofía had tried to get close to him on several occasions, but it was clear that the young man was still hurt because she hadn't reciprocated his kiss. Since that night, Diego had changed, even getting involved in a fight he refused to talk about. His black eye, split lip, and scraped knuckles gave him away.
María Esther and Sofía were very worried, while Óscar seemed proud of Diego. According to the boy's father, every man needed a serious fight at least once in his life. His wife didn't see it the same way, but Mr. Pérez Esnaola had ended the discussion, claiming it was something women couldn't understand.Sofía began to miss Antony Van Ewen. She hadn't seen him in weeks. The Englishman had come to say goodbye before leaving on one of his trips. The young woman hoped he wouldn't take too long to return. Her cheeks burned just remembering that last daring kiss with which her suitor had bid farewell."Careful!" Sofía complained, feeling a tug as her mother brushed her long golden hair. They were the only ones in the family in the living room and in the house. Amanda was at the church, her uncles had gone to the market, and her cousins were at Pablo Ferreira's estate."I heard the priest's sister is going to marry the doctor," her mother commented."Julia Duarte?" Sofía asked, surprised. It was good news. The young widow had become a headache for Sofía. She was too beautiful, humble, and kind not to capture the attention of all the bachelors around. Under the priest's promise that the man who won his sister's heart could take her as a wife, the town's boys were vying for her favor. Among her ridiculous suitors was Pablo Ferreira.It wasn't that Sofía was jealous of the young woman. She had Antony's love, which was better than any farmer or merchant she had ever known. Julia and Amanda were always together, and although her sister was quite attractive, the priest's sister outshone her. Sofía feared that if Amanda didn't marry first, her own marriage would be postponed forever. Her biggest fear was that Van Ewen would lose interest in her or meet another woman on one of his trips."Very soon she will be Mrs. Julia de Medina," Catalina assured, putting the brush on the table."Hopefully so, Mother," Sofía added, picking up Alister III, who had approached wagging his tail.Doña Catalina went to the kitchen while Sofía remained seated in the living room, petting her puppy. Of all the expensive gifts her fiancé had given her, that dog was her favorite. She rarely parted with him, and although he wasn't very well trained yet, he had almost stopped chewing on the family's shoes.Alister started barking and jumped from her arms just before María Esther opened the door. The woman looked distressed, with flushed cheeks and a furrowed brow."Catalina!" María Esther called in a grave voice.Catalina emerged from the kitchen with a shadow of worry on her face. She took off her apron and left it on the table. She covered her mouth with her hands when she saw Óscar storm into the room in a fury. Behind him came Amanda, her face streaked with tears. The man slammed the door shut behind her and grabbed her by the hair, throwing her forward. Amanda fell to her knees just inches from where Sofía was sitting, raising her tear-filled eyes to meet her mother's."Tell your mother what you were doing at the church!" Óscar ordered, shouting so loudly that he scared Alister III, who barked and ran out of the room."What happened?" Catalina asked sternly."I didn't do anything wrong," Amanda said, barely parting her lips."Nothing wrong? You were causing a scene surrounded by filthy peasants, laborers, and mulattos!" Óscar shouted."There's nothing wrong with teaching them to read and write. Father Facundo..." Amanda began to explain between sobs, but her uncle yanked her hair, making her scream."We should never have trusted that priest or his whorish sister who flirts with half the town!" he roared in fury. A vein bulged on his reddened temple and another on his neck. Sofía was paralyzed, unsure how to help her sister."Amanda... Amanda made a mistake. She won't return to the church," Catalina said, her voice trembling.Amanda stood up and glared at her uncle."Don't ever lay a hand on me again, Uncle. I will help Father Facundo in his noble cause. You are the ones who are wrong. You think you're better than everyone else!" she spat with hatred."Amanda!" her mother reprimanded.Sofía watched the scene with pupils contracted in fear. She gripped the sides of her chair and held her breath. Amanda marched towards the front door in large strides."Don't you dare go out that door! If you leave now, don't ever come back!" Catalina shouted, her lower lip trembling.Amanda cast a hateful glance around and opened the door."You are no longer my daughter!" Catalina screamed, trembling and clutching the edge of the table to keep from falling.Amanda slammed the door, and when Catalina realized she wasn't coming back, she collapsed in tears on the table. Sofía also cried. She couldn't understand how this had happened. Had her sister really left for good? Where would she go? How would she live now, having taken neither her clothes nor her jewelry?The sound of a horse confirmed Amanda was leaving La Rosa, perhaps forever. Sofía stood and ran to the window. Her sister was speeding away on Genesis, her favorite mare. The young woman didn't look back even once. How could she abandon everything?Sofía crouched down and hugged her knees. Perhaps if her cousins had been there, they could have intervened to help or stop Amanda. However, she had been too cowardly. She had merely watched passively as her sister's life turned to ashes.