The Casa Del Castaneda

Seeking Evidence

“Your accusations are very unwarranted, Paloma,” Sebastian denies. The man was still in his calm tone.

“What is unreasonable? Although my head was hit very hard, but I can still think well, Mr. Castaneda. You invited me to Porcuna. You even insulted Rafael, and uttered hurtful words towards both of us. I can feel that hatred. Hate the enormous of every word and highlight your eyes!” furious Paloma.

The power of the mother of Luz Maria is still not fully recovered. The beautiful woman, who had now become a widow, could only lie on the treatment bed with her whole body full of wounds. However, the burning flames of anger, had managed to burn through all the pain and present an invisible force within Paloma. He braced himself to sit up straight, without leaning on the pillow that supported his back.

“Stop, Paloma. You still haven't healed properly.” Sebastian tried to prevent the hazel-eyed woman from moving too much. He held gently both Paloma's arms. Sebastian tried to lay him back.

With strength still remaining, Paloma brushed Sebastian off and pushed him back. The man slightly moved away from her. Paloma pointed his index finger straight at the handsome face of the rich widower.

“You! You won't let me live happily! I've been through a lot of painful years before I was able to smile again with Rafael. Then, now that I have my happiness, you destroy it! You made Luz Maria an orphan!”

Paloma is getting hysterical. He even tried to remove the infusion hose stuck on the back of the hand. Paloma was even about to get out of bed. Luckily, a nurse and a doctor went in.

To make matters worse, they calmed the increasingly uncontrollable Paloma. They were overwhelmed, holding the constantly rebellious body. By force, the doctor injects a sedative in small doses.

Slowly, Paloma's body weakened until his consciousness disappeared. The nurses then put the woman back in her position. Meanwhile, Sebastian is only fixated on seeing what happens in front of him. He couldn't believe that Paloma could behave like that.

“Mrs Hernandez is in a state of severe shock. Both physically and mentally. Naturally if he can not control himself like before,” explained the doctor. He guessed what Sebastian was thinking.

“Will he recover as before, Doctor?” sebastian was hesitant.

“Each cure comes from the patient's own will as an internal factor. For external factors, it will depend largely on the support of those closest to it. If not still less, then we can provide psychiatric help,” replied the doctor.

“Ya, Lord.” Sebastian nodded in disbelief. “I didn't think at all that it would be like this eventually,” regretted the man.

“You must be patient against Mrs Hernandez. Are you one of his family?” ask the doctor who made Sebastian gasp.

“Why do you ask that?” The owner of thousands of hectares of land in Porcuna asked.

“I've often found you visiting Mrs Hernandez secretly. Already a few times I saw you standing in front of the door of the treatment room, and just looking from the window glass of the door,” replied the doctor again.

“Oh, so it looks." Sebastian laughed softly. “Yes, I am one of his relatives.”

“What will you wait for it for today?” ask the doctor again.

Sebastian shakes. “I won't be here long. Allow me to say goodbye to him,” Sebastian's request.

“Mrs Hernandez is in a deep sleep. I'm not sure he can hear your words,” the doctor replied.

“Nothing,” Sebastian says immediately.

Now, there's only Sebastian and Paloma there. The man walked to the bed. He leaned over, then brought his lips closer to Paloma's earlobe. Sebastian then whispered, “I'll prove myself innocent, honey. I do hate your decision to ignore myself for Rafael's sake, but I will never take away what is your happiness."

"You can hate me, Paloma. But you will still be special. I'll reveal the truth. I'll make sure your happiness comes back." Finished saying so, Sebastian gently kissed Paloma's forehead for a moment.

"What are you doing here, Mr Castaneda?" Rogelio's heavy voice, making Sebastian immediately straighten the body. He turned to Rogelio who was already standing with a hateful look.

“What are you doing here?” ask Rogelio again in a dislike tone.

“I'm here to see your daughter. However, I'll be gone soon" replied Sebastian kalem.

“There is no need to bother visiting my daughter, because I will not allow you to approach her,” Rogelio said. He opens the door wide, allowing Sebastian to get out.

There's nothing Sebastian can do but obey. He did not want to think about Rogelio's unfriendly attitude. Sebastian steps out of the hospital area, towards the parking lot.

Before going to the parking lot, Sebastian has to cross a special park provided for visitors. He accidentally meets Teresa and Kalida who are playing with Luz Maria. The two women sat the one-and-a-half-year-old toddler in the grass.

Sebastian, dare to walk closer. He lowered his body and half crouched down in front of Luz Maria, who suddenly stood up then limped towards him. Sebastian laughed, as the toddler laughed. He showed his teeth, which numbered only two. “Luz Mary. Is that really your name?” tanyanya gently.

“Ya, Sir. Luz Maria Hernandez,” Teresa replied.

“Beautiful name.” Suddenly the look in Sebastian's eyes turned sad, when he saw the toddler who was now holding on to his burly hands.

“Are you going home yet? Have you met Mr Rogelio?” teresa asked without pause.

“Yes. I've met him.” Sebastian nodded, then directed Luz Maria to walk back to her nanny. After the toddler was comfortable in the arms of the nanny, Sebastian immediately stood up and said goodbye.

Along the way home to the plantation, Sebastian thought hard about the awkwardness of the accident case that hit Paloma. The idea was to stop at the crash site that hit Rafael and the woman, who was near the border of the Porcuna region.

Sebastian pulled his car over the side of the road. He rushed across to the nearby fixed guardrail, moments after the accident. Sebastian looked down. There was a gorge dozens of meters deep.

Sebastian looked around. The tail of his eyes caught the tire marks that were still imprinted on the asphalt. He observed the remains of traces of the accident that scratched the length on the surface of that road. There were two tire tracks that collided at one point.

The man turned his observations on the deserted inter-city highway. There were only two or three vehicles passing by in a few minutes. Sebastian understood why Paloma thought that something was intentionally causing them harm.

The contour of the road is straight. There is no obstacle that allows a car to lose control, so it can hit other cars. Sebastian turned his body in all directions. Remnants of the police line are still stuck in the bushes on the side of the road.

Feeling that he has nothing, Sebastian decides to go to the Porcuna police station. He hopes that an old friend who now serves as a police detective can help and inform him.