Jimena lay down, feeling hopeless about seeing Pablo before falling asleep, who had had another social gathering with his business partners.

At least the baby had fallen asleep, and she could finally get some rest. She was relieved that her breasts no longer hurt since they had just dried up. The baby had stopped breastfeeding about a month ago, which left her feeling as though her breasts might explode, full, and unable to be relieved by her child.

She closed her eyes slowly, the weight of disappointment pressing on her chest, as she longed for her husband's company. These days, she felt depressed by the distance that had grown between them, but also by the unresolved sexual needs that were tearing her apart, especially since she had to watch her husband undress and sleep beside her naked. That ignited her like fire, but she no longer dared to take the initiative.

She woke up with a burning sensation in her eyes when she felt Pablo slip under the covers. She guessed he had only been asleep for a few hours. She sat up in bed, taking in the sight of her husband’s bare torso, partially hidden in the darkness of the night, but illuminated by the soft moonlight.

"Why did you get home so late?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Jimena, I'm tired. Please, don't start." He covered his face with the blanket.

"You should've at least called." She lay back on the pillow.

"As if calling would change the fact that I came home late..."

"But at least I’d know where you were."

"That wouldn't change the fact that I came home late either." He scoffed.

"Are you mocking me, Pablo Mars?"

"Why do Gutiérrez women always insist on calling us by our last name?" he complained, gripping the fabric tightly.

"Don't change the subject, Pablo," she snapped, annoyed.

Pablo sat up suddenly, jaded by what he considered a pointless discussion, and dead asleep.

"Jimena, if what you want to know is whether I’ve been cheating on you, no, darling, I haven’t been." He sighed deeply. "Now, if it’s not too much to ask, I want to sleep. I’ve had a hell of a day and I’m not in the mood for your complaints. You’re starting to sound like my wife."

"I am your wife, jerk!" she exclaimed, losing her patience. It wasn’t fair that he always got away with everything just because he acted like a clown.

"Right, you are. Well, I know the type of wife you are—the one who goes to bed early and doesn’t question her husband, who works all day to give you everything you need."

"Of course! You do whatever you want, and I have to sit here and take it in silence."

"Exactly, my love. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get up early tomorrow."

"But you don’t work tomorrow."

"Still, I have an important outing."

"An important outing?"

"Ugh!" he groaned, burying his face in the pillow. "Are you serious?"

"You never tell me anything. We don’t even talk anymore." Pablo breathed deeply, trying not to lose his composure.

"It’s midnight, Jimena. Great time for a conversation!"

"I’m not talking about that." She frowned. "Besides, you didn’t care about the time when you wanted to be with me," she complained.

"Before, I wanted to eat the apple."

"And now you don’t?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I already ate it. And it even reproduced," he replied mockingly.

"How am I supposed to interpret that, Pablo?"

"You’re the mother of my child... so it’s not the same anymore. You’re not the same girl you used to be. It’d be weird seeing you as a woman."

He grimaced as he realized what he had said. Jimena, on the other hand, stayed silent, trying to process what she had just heard. Her heart was shattered, and she couldn’t stop the tears that escaped from her eyes. At least the darkness of the night hid them well.

"I didn’t mean that, Jimena. See what you do to me? I say stupid things when I’m tired," he apologized guiltily, but she didn’t answer. She simply lay down, turning her back to him, and let the silent tears soak the pillow.