She's still clueless.

Luis couldn't hear Lola because she was not audible enough , and his attention was drawn to Santiago, who was leading Livia to the dance floor.

'That woman...' He reflected.

"What's your response?" Lola inquired, eagerly waiting for a positive response.

Luis only looked at her blankly and asked, "Huh? Did you say something?"

Lola's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.

"You didn't hear anything?" Lola inquired.

"Yes, my bad, I was lost in the rhythm of the song," Luis chuckled.

"So what were you saying?" He asked, his eyes gleamed.

Lola knitted her brows, looked away and said, "Nothing, I didn't say anything."

Silence fell between them as Luis averted his gaze as well.

Lola broke the silence , saying, "If I were to ask you to marry me, would you accept?"

'Is she indirectly asking me to marry her? How adorable.'

"Hmm, I wouldn't accept," Luis replied flatly.

Lola looked at him, puzzled, her eyes widened as she pondered, 'Did he just reject me indirectly? I thought he liked me. '

Lola scoffed and muttered, "You're insane, why wouldn't you want to marry me?"

Luis cocked his head and inquired, "What makes you think I'd marry you? you have a husband, don't you?"

Lola cast a glance at Santiago, who was dancing with Livia. When Luis noticed she was looking somewhere else, he followed her line of sight , his eyes landing on Santiago and Livia. He realised something was wrong between Santiago and Lola.

'Oh, I see, so that's why? I was hoping she would finally understand her own feelings for me, but it seems that wasn't the case' He thought, his face filled with disappointed as he looked away.

"Well, yes, I know," Lola said, averting her gaze, "But let's say I divorce him right now."

"Why are you asking me strange questions, Lola?" Luis narrowed his eyes at her.

" Do you dislike me?" She wanted to be sure.

Luis averted his gaze, his face expressionless.

"I like you, but do you like me back?" He asked, lowering his gaze and they both came to a stop.

Lola sighed as she looked at him.

"In three months, I will completely divorce Santiago," She stated, drawing her lips closer to his ear.

Luis's pupils dilated. He pursed his lips and asked, "Why are you suddenly telling me this?"

Lola's lowered her gaze, she bit her lips, and she let go of Luis's hand, thinking, 'I'll just find another solution then,'

She turned away and strutted into the crowd. Luis stood and watched her leave until she was no longer in his sight.

'She's still clueless,' Luis thought, a faint smile on his face.

***

Lola led Maria out of Crystal Palace and They got in the car.

Maria leaned back in her seat, caressing her stomach, saying, "I'm so stuffed, those appetisers were the best."

But Lola remained silent.

"Why did we leave so quickly?" She inquired.

She noticed Lola had a disturbed expression on her face and asked, folding her arms,

"You're usually so calm and collected, what's up?"

Lola exhaled and turned to face Maria, saying, "I asked Luis to marry me." Maria propped her upper body up , fixing her sitting posture and looked at Lola with widened eyes, attempting to process Lola's statement.

"Wait a minute, you proposed to Luis!" Maria yelled.

"Why, how, and when?" Maria exclaimed.

"Actually, he didn't hear me, but when I indirectly asked him, he refused," Lola explained, and Maria burst out laughing.

"So you were rejected indirectly," She teased , laughing even louder.

"Shut up, I just don't understand why I was rejected, I thought he liked me," mumbled Lola.

"Oh Lola, you're naive when it comes to love," Maria poked her left cheek.

"Then are you experienced when it comes to love?" Lola questioned.

Maria smiled, stopped poking her cheek and tightened her fist.

"It was a harmless question," Lola said.

Maria rolled her eyes and murmured, "yeah right."

"Anyway, what I'm getting at is, yes, he likes you, but do you like him back?" Maria asked.

Lola's eyes widened as she realised he had asked the same question.

"But we don't need to be in love before we get married," Lola said.

"No offence, but do you think everyone's marriage is like yours and Santiago's?" Maria asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Look, Lola, you marry someone you love because that's how it works," Maria explained.

'Marrying Luis is my only option,' Lola reasoned.

"Love is everything for someone like Luis, so he won't marry until the person he loves, loves him back," Maria explained again.

'I never loved him then, so how will I love him now?' Lola pondered as she crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair.

"Take us home," Lola instructed the chauffeur.

"I've been ignored yet again," Maria muttered to herself.

'I hope Lola doesn't do anything stupid; she's not the type to do stupid things, but she's completely clueless when it comes to love. She's still clueless even now,' Maria thought.

"Yes, madam," He replied before driving away.

***

Luis and his sister exited the Crystal Palace and made their way to their car.

Luis took the wheel, while Esmeralda sat in the passenger seat.

Luis' phone rang just as he was about to start the car. He took it from his inner suit pocket and answered without checking the caller ID.

"Hello," he said coldly.

"Is this how you greet your grandfather, you scoundrel? You've been ignoring my calls too, thinking I won't notice," yelled the old man.

Luis sighed deeply, taking the phone away from his ear.

"You're too loud, Grandpa," Luis said, putting the phone on speaker.

"Stop talking, how is Esmeralda?" He inquired.

Esmeralda, who was staring out the window with a bored expression, replied,

"I'm fine grandpa, don't worry about me"

"That's good, anyways Luis, why didn't you tell me you were invited to the New year's eve gala that Hugo Rodriguez and his ugly annoying wife hosted?" He asked.

Luis chuckled and said, "How did you know?"

"It's all over the news, fool," he said.

"I see," said Luis.

"When are you and Esmeralda returning to Germany?" He inquired.

"Hmm, soon, but not now," Luis said.

"Hmm, have you found a wife yet?" inquired his grandfather.

"No, not yet," Luis sighed, "but I will soon."

"If you don't find someone within three months, I will take both you and Esmeralda back to Germany and I'll marry you to someone else," he said, as Luis and Esmeralda exchanged terrified looks.

" I'm going to hang up now, goodbye."

Before his grandfather could say anything else, Luis hung up the phone call.

"I don't understand why grandpa is so obsessed with getting you married," Esmeralda said as Luis started the car. 'I also don't know why grandpa is forcing me to get married,' Luis thought as he drove away.

***

Lola arrived home a few hours later. Hugo and Paula trailed Santiago and Livia as they arrived.

"Where has my daughter-in-law gone?" Hugo inquired of Santiago.

Santiago pointed to Livia, who was looking down.

"You think I wouldn't know this isn't Lola,." Hugo screamed, pointing at Livia.

"What's going on, Santiago?" Paula asked, holding Santiago's hand.

"Yes, I knew you'd know this isn't Lola," Santiago said as he removed his mask from his face and his hand from his mother's grip.

"What exactly is going on? Why did you bring along another woman? What happened to my daughter-in-law? "Hugo screamed.

"This woman is your daughter-in-law, father," Santiago said to Hugo as he drew Livia close and removed her mask.

Hugo and Paula's pupils dilated.

Lola walked down the stairs at that point. Hugo walked past Santiago on his way to Lola.

He grabbed her arm and asked, " What's going on, dear? Why is that rascal telling me that lady is my daughter-in-law?"

Lola took his hand in hers and said, "He's not bluffing, that woman is your daughter-in-law."

"What exactly is this?" Hugo inquired, and Lola slowly removed his hands while lowering her gaze, saying, "I apologise for not informing you about this, father. Santiago and I decided to divorce."