Mariana, though hurt, endured it in silence and strove to fulfill her role as daughter-in-law.

Alejandro, a devoted husband, always tried to be the bridge between his mother and his wife, but the pressure of his job at the hospital left him little time to repair family conflicts.

He loved Mariana, but he also didn’t dare directly confront his mother. Their marriage, thus, lived with an invisible wall between them.

One torrentially rainy afternoon, Alejandro suffered a stroke during his shift at the hospital. He was rushed into surgery for brain surgery.

The news hit the family like a thunderbolt. Mrs. Álvarez rushed in, her face pale and her hands shaking as she saw her son motionless through the operating room glass.