The car braked suddenly and came to a stop: a serious young man behind the wheel.

The car came to a sudden stop. Alejandro, a serious young man, was not the type to randomly pick up a stranger hitchhiking on the side of the road.

The gated community where he lived with his mother was about 15 kilometers from the city. Their house was warm and inviting. Spending the summer there was always a pleasure, and Alejandro usually left for work around 7 a.m., when the roads were still quiet and the surrounding forest stirred peaceful thoughts and nostalgic memories.

The girl approached the car and, smiling, looked in through the open window.
— Hi — she said cheerfully —, could you give me a ride to the city?
— Aren’t you afraid to get into a stranger’s car in the middle of the woods? — Alejandro asked, smiling.
— Why should I be afraid of you? — she replied —. You’ve got a nice car and kind eyes. I don’t see how someone with eyes like that and a car like this could hurt me.

Alejandro laughed out loud. It had been a long time since he’d seen such innocent sincerity — he honestly believed it no longer existed.

Inés, originally from a small town, was open-hearted and trusting. When Alejandro proposed to her just three weeks after they met, she didn’t hesitate. He seemed confident and charming.
“Just like Aunt Clara predicted,” Inés thought silently, holding Alejandro’s hand and cautiously watching his mother, who reacted to the wedding news like it was a mild earthquake.

After the wedding, Inés and Alejandro moved into his apartment in the city. The country house wasn’t very comfortable. Besides, Alejandro’s mother, Carmen, didn’t show much warmth toward her new daughter-in-law.
— I’m honestly surprised at you, son — Carmen would say during her visits —. Was that country girl really the best option among your acquaintances? — she’d sigh, shaking her head with her ever-perfect hairstyle.

Alejandro would smile, never arguing. He had no interest in explaining how content and at peace he felt with his small, loving household. Carmen was cold and reserved. To Alejandro, Inés — warm, affectionate, and joyful — was the perfect complement to both wife and mother.

Years went by, and Inés and Alejandro had a lovely daughter named María. Inés never left her side, and over time, Carmen began to soften. She observed how Inés loved her son, cared for the family, and raised María with a balance of tenderness and discipline. Although Carmen was a tough and even cynical woman, she knew how to recognize when she was wrong.

So Alejandro wasn’t surprised when, one day, Carmen finally put her pride aside and invited Inés and María to spend a few days at the country house.
— Ale, I’m scared to go — Inés whispered, making every excuse to avoid visiting her mother-in-law.
— She’s not going to eat you — Alejandro laughed, kissing her neck playfully.
— Yes, she will. She’ll eat me… and then Marita for dessert — Inés sighed —. Then you’ll regret it and cry, but it’ll be too late — she added dramatically, letting a tear slip for theatrical effect.

But nothing could change his mind. Alejandro grabbed the picnic basket, helped bubbly blue-eyed Marita into the backseat, nudged his reluctant wife into the front, and the whole family — chatting, laughing, and teasing — set off.

Carmen was genuinely happy to welcome them. She smiled at Inés, and the young woman knew at that moment the war was over. From that day forward, a beautiful friendship blossomed between them. Each day, their bond grew stronger, built on trust and mutual respect.

Inés went back to work, and Marita began spending more time with Carmen, who read her stories, taught her piano, and gave her English lessons. Carmen had once worked as a simultaneous interpreter, and the curious little girl loved listening to her grandmother’s stories about foreign countries and interesting people she had met.

A few more years passed. One day, Inés arrived unannounced at Carmen’s house, with Marita by her side. She was noticeably thinner, tense, and quiet.

— Inés, what’s wrong? — Carmen asked, worried. — You’re not sick, are you?

Inés sighed, sat down in a chair, and burst into tears.
— Ale hasn’t lived with us for six months — she sobbed —. At first, he’d come home late and say work was overwhelming. Then he began disappearing for days. He’d show up, change clothes, kiss Marita, ignore me, and leave again. I thought it was just stress. It’s been almost a year since we’ve seen any money from him. But that’s okay — I’m a nurse, I earn enough.

We’re getting by. But then, one day, someone knocked on the door. I opened it, and there stood a woman. Beautiful, elegant, wearing a hat. Her handbag was luxurious — the kind I’d only ever seen on TV — Inés paused, took a breath, and continued —
She looked me in the eye and said: “You’re a loser. You’re not worthy of Alejandro. He’s going to live with me now. Pack your things and take your dumb daughter with you. Alejandro and I have better things to do — without her.”

— I’m not dumb. And I’m very well-mannered — said Marita suddenly, turning around, clearly offended. Carmen and Inés hadn’t noticed she’d gone to the kitchen and had been listening to the adults for several minutes.

— Of course you’re not dumb — Carmen said firmly —. You’re a smart and polite little girl. That’s why we’re going to live together. And your mother is coming with us.

Inés wiped her tears, stunned by Carmen’s words.
But the iron lady had already made her decision. And when Alejandro later called to announce he was getting a divorce and hinted that he hoped Carmen would soon rewrite the will in his favor, she responded calmly and with grace.

What she didn’t mention was that the will had already been changed.

And now, the official owners of the house were none other than his ex-wife Inés… and little Marita, who at that very moment was playing happily, ruffling her grandmother’s perfectly styled hair — the woman she adored most in the world.