Amber chokes on her champagne and Meavy pats her back.

- I beg your pardon? It is a joke, right? My brother?

- I didn't want to tell you about it, but since I started I might as well finish.

Amber gets up and starts pacing. We see her brother at the back of the room and she excuses herself to go talk to him. I get up to follow her. Amber grabs Christian's arm before dragging him out of the room. We arrive on the balcony outside and I grab Amber's wrist.

- Amber, calm down, I asked.

- Calm down, she writhed. My brother slept with your ex!

She grabs Christian who lets her by the collar and throws him to the ground.

- Why, she blows with tears in her eyes. Why did you do that? Christian!

- Sorry, he says by raising his eyes.

Amber is about to slap him and I stop her. She turns to me and begins to calm down.

- What happened is done. He slept with him, so what? It's not like I can do anything about it. He asked me to forgive him and I've already accepted his apology," I say as I help Christian to his feet.

He thanks me and stands there. I caress his head and he finally meets my eyes. He is like my little brother. He made mistakes but he showed he was sorry. It's not like I forgave him right away. It took me a few months to get there but it's behind us.

- Go ahead," I said with a smile. I'm sure your boyfriend is waiting for you. I'll see you later. We all go back inside. Amber is still confused and angry about what happened. Nobody knows the whole story. Not to mention that we are all either good or evil, it just depends on who is telling the story.

Meavy takes a seat next to mine and turns to me.

- How did you know?

- I saw them. Chris apologized before I broke up with James. And he called me when we were at the club because he had done it again.

- Are you mad at him?

- Not really," I replied with a sigh. I feel like it's not really his fault. James took advantage of his emotional dependency knowing he wouldn't be able to deal with it. I feel rather sorry for him.

It took a lot of therapy for him to move on. Now that he's better, I'd rather put what happened behind us. He was tricked in some way.

- I don't understand how you can be so empathetic," Meavy sighed. I never know whether to admire you or be exasperated by your behavior.

- Admire me," I replied, "it will be better for my ego.

- Yes, ma'am. Don't you want me to rub your feet while you're at it?

- That's okay, I'd rather you convince my husband to let me work.

- No, thank you. This debate might end with me leaving in tears, completely traumatized and terrified.

- More seriously, when is he going to arrive? I've been bored since earlier.

- He should be here any minute. He loves you way too much to leave you here. You guys are like tic and tac. Always stuffed together.

- Leave me alone," I mumbled. Amber, make peace with your brother. He's already admitted his mistakes so it's okay, right?

- I'll try, she says. I can't believe he did that, she hisses. With James of all people.

- No one had noticed, I said quietly. He had started acting weird. He was always fidgety and nervous. When he told me everything, it got worse so I had to drag him to see a therapist. Now that he's better, let's stop making him feel guilty.

- Why didn't you say anything? Amber asks.

- When I realized, it had already been a while. Christian was so dependent on James that I thought if it all stopped at once, he'd do something regrettable. That's why I didn't say anything.

There is a silence around us and no one dares to speak. I lean against my seat and watch the chandelier above our heads glow.

- Alma, your parents are coming towards us.

All but them. Please. I don't have the strength to fight them now.

- Alma, what did you say to your sister again? My mother asks.

- Mom, how nice to see you! I'm very well, thank you. How are you?

- Let's skip the formalities. What did you say to her to get her in such a state? My mother insists, grabbing my arm.

- Nothing at all. She left on her own to talk with James. What does that have to do with me?

- Stop lying to me, Alma," my father intervenes with a stern look. This is not the time to cause a scene in public.

- So what? She's crying because she wants to. I didn't force her to cry or make a scene. It's not my fault she's so ill-behaved.

- I don't allow you," my mother grumbles. You'd better keep your arrogance to yourself.

She tightens her grip on me as I try to pull away. One hand grabs my mother's and violently throws her off. My husband takes me in his arms and pulls me away from her.

- I'm going to have to ask you to stop making rough contact with my wife. As you have noticed, she is pregnant," Gabrielo says with a threatening look.

- You think you're going to teach me how to handle my daughter? My mother takes offense.

- I believe that I am also going to teach you to respect her if you continue, Gabrielo counters by squeezing me against him.

- Excuse me?! If she is in wrong, she deserves to be told. She needs to learn from her mistakes.

- A man who marries his mistress leaves her seat vacant. She just reminded Mila of that. What is it that is shocking to you? My husband asks with a sneer.

- I won't allow you to talk to me like that," exclaims my mother, approaching us.

- I don't need anyone's permission," my husband replies without blinking. If you have any problems, go and complain somewhere else. There's no one here to put up with your whining.He takes me by the hand and leads me to sit down. I sit on his lap and watch the big screen in the center of the room.

- I have prepared a little surprise to brighten up the party.

- What did you prepare?

- A little personalized gift. Nothing too fancy. Don't worry about it.

He puts a kiss on my temple and wraps his arms around me. I lay my head in the hollow of his neck and he holds me close. Noise comes from the center of the room. I turn my gaze and watch the screen that has just turned on.

- Enjoy the show, Stellina.

I frown, trying to understand. What is he up to? An image appears with James and Mila both smiling in each other's arms. Then the image evaporates to make way for a video. My sister drunkenly kissing a man in a nightclub.

A series of images of her heading to a hotel with him and entering a room follow. All eyes turn to my sister who doesn't know where to stand. She steps back and a new image appears. This time with James. He appears in a bar playing footsie with a woman near him.

He goes into the bathroom with her and comes out a few minutes later. We see him continue to party and head into a brothel. The rest of the scene takes place inside. He is surrounded by women and men who are busy doing... . Their business. The screen goes blank and we hear a huge noise resounding.

Mila has just slapped James. She seems to have tears in her eyes and leaves the reception room. James leaves in a very relaxed way after her. Quite a show.

- If they intended to get married, it was necessary to start by being faithful. Don't you think, Meavy asks as she joins us.

- That's true, but it's none of our business. Let's just be present.

- I agree with you on this one. Amber just left with Christian. They seem to have decided to make peace. Even though Amber looked like she was about to punch him in the face.

- That's good. Amber remains who she is. Her impulsiveness has not changed, I say by repressing a yawn.

- For the moment, you are going to go to sleep and to rest, Gabrielo intervenes by looking at me.

- Let's go, I am exhausted.

We enter the car and I finally relax. This day was exhausting. In all the meanings of the word. The driver starts and I let myself go against my husband.

- Hard day?

- Between the beauty salon and the guests, you have no idea. Your gift was sensational. Where did you get that information?

- I have a long arm, he just answers.

- I do not doubt it. I just got the proof. It was incredible, especially the look on Mila's face. I think we'll be able to get back early.

- We could have a vacation here," Gabrielo suggested, his eyes shining.

- Why do I get the feeling that you take every opportunity not to work?

- Because I do. I'd much rather spend an hour with you than an hour at work.

- Thanks, but you'll have to work if you want us to have a roof over our heads. Since I'm not working now.

- I know," Gabrielo grumbles.

- You can't keep giving your assistant a hard time. He'll die of overexertion at this rate.

- He'll take a vacation when we get back," he says, putting his head on my shoulder.

- Before I forget," I said, stroking his hair. Cole offered to decorate the baby's room for me since we didn't think of that. What do you think?

- Do we have to say yes? He asks while grimacing.

- Gabrielo.

- It's okay, tell him to settle for the minimum.

- What a minimum. Meavy will join him in a few days so he can get started. Don't forget to call him and tell him.

- Why me and not you?

- Because he's your best friend. He'll be happy to hear you tell him.

Gabrielo sighs before taking me in his arms. We arrive finally in front of the house where noises of broken glasses are heard since the outside. Shouts come from the kitchen if I am not mistaken.

What the hell ?