At the hospital...
Diana:
"Please, help me save her!"
Doctor:
"What happened to her?"
Diana:
"I don't know... I saw her in a panic and when she was about to tell me what was wrong, she passed out."
Doctor:
"Let's go!"
Meanwhile, Max had run far away until exhaustion took over. Darkness surrounded him — his greatest fear. By pure chance, he wasn't far from the cabin. He returned to it... only to find Alonso's lifeless body still there. Max dropped to his knees, tears pouring down.
Max:
"Oh my God, what have I done?! I... I didn't mean to kill him... but it happened."
He cried himself to sleep.
...
Julie:
"She's never this late."
Julia:
"Maybe there's traffic?"
Julie:
"Julia... it's 3 a.m."
...
John:
"Where did he go? He never stays out this late. Leo, did you hear anything?"
Leo:
"I called him so many times, but his phone's off. What about you, Matthew?"
Matthew:
"I called all our friends. No one knows where he is."
...
A little later, the doctor came out to Diana.
Doctor:
"She's stable now... but she's in shock. Can you speak with her? Do you know what caused this?"
Diana:
"Of course. I'll talk to her. I have no idea what's wrong."
Doctor:
"Alright, you can go in. But please... don't stress her."
Diana:
"Understood."
As Diana entered the room, Maria was still asleep. But every now and then, she'd flinch violently. Suddenly, she woke up screaming:
Maria:
"No! No! Get away from me!"
Diana rushed out and called for the doctor again. They had to sedate Maria to calm her.
...
By morning, Max woke up in a miserable state. He left the cabin and headed home, shirtless and shaken. He had hidden his blood-stained shirt. As he approached the house, his father saw him.
John:
"Son? Where have you been?"
Max:
"I... I was just out."
John:
"I figured. But did you come home last night?"
Max:
"I did... while you were sleeping. I woke up early to work out."
John:
"Are you okay?"
Max:
"Yeah... I'm gonna shower and head to uni."
John:
"Uni? Son, it's the weekend. No classes today."
Max:
"Oh... I forgot. I'll just rest, then."
John:
"As you wish."
Minutes later, Mirna came running.
Mirna:
"Mr. John! The police... they're outside!"
John:
"The police? Why?"
Mirna:
"They're here for Max."
John hurried to the door.
Officer:
"Where is Max?"
John:
"I'm his father. What's going on?"
Officer:
"He's under arrest."
John:
"What?! Why?"
Officer:
"We found his fingerprints... on a dead body."
John:
"But—"
Officer:
"No buts. Search the house. Bring him in if you find him."
Minutes later, they dragged Max out as he shouted:
Max:
"I didn't mean to kill him! It was self-defense!"
John:
"Son!"
Max:
"Tell them I'm innocent! I can't kill anyone!"
Officer:
"Let's go."
Max:
"Dad!"
John:
"Son!"
John immediately called the lawyer, who arrived soon after.
John:
"I want Max out tonight!"
Lawyer:
"Sir, please calm down. I'll do what I can. The police said the hearing is tomorrow. That's when they'll decide his fate."
John:
"I want him out. Now."
...
Back in the hospital, Maria finally woke up — but the trauma was still visible.
Diana:
"Hey..."
Maria:
"Ugh... my head..."
Diana:
"Are you okay? Can you tell me what happened?"
Maria:
"Wait... who are you?"
Diana:
"I'm Diana. I helped you."
Maria:
"What happened?"
Diana:
"That's what I want you to tell me."
Maria:
"H-he killed him."
Diana:
"Who killed who?"
Maria:
"Max... killed Alonso."
Diana:
"Alonso? Alonso Sandoval? Or someone else?"
Maria:
"Yes! You know him?"
Diana:
"He was my fiancé."
Maria (shocked):
"What?!"
Diana:
"Yes. That's what I just said."
Maria:
"I... I was his girlfriend..."
Diana:
"What?! Since when?"
Maria:
"Two months."
Diana:
"I was engaged to him for a year."
Maria:
"How is that possible?"
Diana:
"I don't know. Just tell me what happened."
Maria:
"He was drunk. He dragged me into the woods... tried to—harass me. Max showed up to save me... but he ended up killing him."
Diana:
"Then he deserves to be in prison."
Maria:
"But he didn't mean to!"
Diana:
"That doesn't matter! He killed Alonso!"
Maria:
"Please... calm down."
Diana:
"How do you expect me to calm down? And why are you defending Max?"
Maria:
"I told you — he didn't mean to kill him."
Diana:
"I'm going to the police."
Maria:
"I'll come with you."
Diana:
"But the doctor said you need rest."
Maria:
"It's fine."
...
At the police station...
Max:
"Maria! Tell them I'm innocent. Please!"
Diana:
"You're not innocent. You killed my fiancé, Alonso!"
Max:
"I came to tell you he was cheating on you with her... but it was too late."
Maria:
"What's going to happen to him?"
Officer:
"He'll be sentenced tomorrow in court. And you are?"
Maria:
"My name is Maria. I witnessed everything."
Officer:
"Then be in court tomorrow."
Maria:
"Can I leave now?"
Officer:
"Yes. But don't forget."
Diana:
"I hope he rots in prison."
Officer:
"We'll see tomorrow."
Maria:
"Are you coming with me?"
Diana:
"No. I'll go alone."
...
Back at home, Julie scolded Maria.
Julie:
"Where were you?! I was so worried!"
Maria:
"A lot happened..."
Julie:
"What happened?"
Maria told them everything.
Julie:
"How?!"
Maria:
"I don't know... I just don't."
Meanwhile, John told the boys the whole story.
Leo:
"How did it come to this?"
John:
"I wish I knew."
Matthew:
"We should be there for him tomorrow."
Leo:
"Absolutely."
...
The next morning...
Max was sentenced to life in prison.
John:
"No! This can't be!"
Lawyer:
"Sir, please... I'll do everything I can."
Diana (smirking):
"He got what he deserved."
John:
"Shut up."
Diana:
"He killed my fiancé, Alonso."
Leo:
"What? Alonso was your fiancé?"
Diana:
"Yes. And Max killed him."
Leo:
"But Max told us Alonso was cheating on Maria..."
Max:
"You see, Leo?"
Leo:
"We're sorry..."
Max:
"It's too late."
They took Max away. Maria felt a deep ache in her chest — but what could she do? She had told the truth.
...
Back home, she ran to her room in tears.
Julie:
"Maria!"
Maria:
"...."
Julia:
"Let her be."
Julie:
"I can't. I'm scared she might hurt herself. Maria, please... open the door!"
Maria opened it and collapsed into Julie's arms.
Maria:
"They locked him away... he's going to hate me now."
Julie:
"Don't say that..."
Maria:
"How can I not? Julie, I love him. I really love him."
Julia:
"Are you insane? You love a criminal?"
Maria:
"Criminal or not... I can't stand being apart from him."
Julia:
"Maria!"
Maria:
"I need him... right now!"
...
A whole year passed. Max's lawyer couldn't free him. Even his father hired a new one — but nothing changed. It was the heaviest year of Maria's life. She thought about visiting him many times... but always hesitated.
Until one day... she made her choice.
Maria:
"I'm going."
Julia:
"Have you lost your mind?!"
But Maria didn't care.
—
Maria:
"I want to see Max."
Officer:
"You have 10 minutes."
She rushed in.
Maria:
"M-Max..."
He raised his head — his once-handsome face now hidden behind a beard, his blond hair messy.
Max:
"M-Maria..."
Maria:
"It's been a year... the heaviest year. I missed you so much. But... can I ask you something? Do you hate me?"
Max:
"I missed you too. And how could I hate you? No matter what happens... I'll only love you more."
Maria:
"But I'm the reason you're here... I'm the reason for your life sentence."
Max (sadly):
"I know. And maybe I deserve it... even though I'm innocent."
Maria:
"You know what?"
Max:
"What?"
Maria:
"I love you. I really love you. I don't even know when it happened, but... I dream of you. I think of you all the time."
Max:
"And I love you too. Don't worry, my love. I'll get out."
He held her face and kissed her forehead.
Officer:
"Time's up."
...
Months later, Max was released for good behavior.
John:
"Finally, my son is home."
Max:
"Dad!"
Leo:
"Max, my man!"
Max:
"I missed you all."
Matthew:
"Not as much as we missed you."
Max:
"Where's Maria?"
Matthew:
"She's all you're on about."
Max:
"Of course..."
John:
"Did you confess your love?"
Max:
"Yes. But I want to do it again... in a special way."
Maria came running, screaming with joy.
Maria:
"Maaaaaax!"
She hugged him like a child welcoming her father home. Laughter filled the air.
Max:
"I missed you."
Maria:
"Not as much as I missed you."
Julie:
"You're finally free! You drove me crazy!"
Maria:
"Stop it!"
Everyone laughed — and Maria hid her blushing face with her hands.
-
To be continued...
-
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