Two days later, Sarabi is hanging laundry in the yard. The sun shines intensely, and the midday heat makes sweat bead on her forehead. While she hangs the white sheets, her mind is filled with dark and heavy thoughts. Suddenly, she sees William walking along the gravel path. Her heart races, and fear invades her. Without thinking twice, she hides behind a bush, hoping he will leave.
William, with a furrowed brow and a worried look, searches for Sarabi throughout the yard. He doesn't see her and, frustrated, leaves. Sarabi, still hiding, breathes a sigh of relief but knows she can't avoid him forever. After a while, William comes back, determined to find her. This time, he surprises her from behind, causing Sarabi to give a small jump of fright.
—Sarabi, how are you? —William asks, his voice filled with concern.
—Fine, sir —she responds coldly, without looking him in the eyes.
William, feeling the distance between them, insists.
—I can't continue with this distance, Sarabi. I need to know what's going on.
Sarabi, determined and cold, looks him in the eyes, trying to hide her true feelings. Her expression is calm and resolute, like an impenetrable wall.
—I don't want to know anything more about you, sir. I already found someone else. I'm in love with another person. You were a mistake —she says firmly.
William stands motionless. Sarabi's words hit him with unexpected force. He tries to process what he's hearing, but his mind clouds. Sarabi steps back, increasing the distance between them.
The coldness in her eyes is evident, and William feels the weight of the separation. He wants to say something, anything, to stop the pain her words are causing him, but his tongue feels heavy.
—Sarabi... —he tries to say, but the words get stuck in his throat.
Sarabi, seeing the pain in William's eyes, feels a pang of guilt but knows she must stay firm.
—Please, Sarabi, tell me it's not true. Tell me you haven't forgotten me so quickly —William pleads, his voice trembling.
—It's the truth, sir. You mean nothing to me. You were a mistake, and now I'm with someone else —she responds, trying to maintain her composure.
William, with tears in his eyes, steps back, feeling his heart shatter into a thousand pieces.
—I can't believe it. I thought... I thought we were something more —William says, his voice breaking.
—I'm sorry, sir. It's better this way. Forget about me and move on with your life —says Sarabi, with a lump in her throat.
Without saying more, William leaves, tears in his eyes, and goes to cry in his room. Each step he takes feels like an unbearable weight, and when he reaches his room, he collapses onto the bed, sobbing.
James, who was nearby, hears everything and approaches Sarabi, laughing.
—This is how I wanted it to happen —says James, with a lewd gesture, touching her cheeks.
Sarabi, filled with revulsion, tries to pull away, but James holds her tightly.
—You are mine, Sarabi. Don't forget that —says James, with a cruel smile.
At that moment, Kwame, Sarabi's father, who was nearby, sees what is happening and, full of fury, strides towards James with determined steps. With a swift and forceful movement, his fist impacts James's face, knocking him unconscious to the ground. James's body collapses heavily, raising a cloud of dust. Kwame breathes heavily, his eyes filled with anger and determination, while the nearby workers stop, observing the scene with surprise and fear.
—Don't ever touch her again! —shouts Kwame, his voice trembling but determined.
Sarabi, surprised and grateful, looks at her father with tears in her eyes.
—Dad, don't hit him. It's dangerous —she says, her voice breaking.
Kwame nods, knowing that the fight is just beginning.
James lies on the ground, and a passing laborer sees him. Quickly, he throws a bucket of water to wake him up. As he opens his eyes, James remembers what happened and, filled with hatred and rage, orders his laborers to capture Kwame and whip him.
Kwame is taken to the stocks, and Sarabi is crying at his feet, desperate. James, watching the scene with satisfaction, approaches and addresses them with disdain.
—You brought this on yourself, Kwame. Your job on this plantation is to cut cane and procreate with the slaves, not to take care of your daughter —says James, with a cruel smile.
Sarabi, through her tears, begs James to stop the punishment, but he just laughs and walks away, leaving Kwame in the stocks and the young woman in despair.
She, with a broken heart, kneels beside her father, her tears falling to the dusty ground. The desperation and pain in her eyes are evident as she takes Kwame's hand.
—Dad, please, hold on. I can't lose you too —says Sarabi, her voice breaking.
Kwame, his face marked by suffering, tries to smile to comfort his daughter.
—Sarabi, you are strong. Don't let them break you. Fight for your freedom —says Kwame, his voice weak but full of determination.
Sarabi, with unceasing tears, nods, knowing she must find a way to save her father and herself from James's cruelty.
James, with a look of hatred on his face, grabs a whip and heads towards Kwame. Without mercy, he begins to lash him. Kwame, with impressive inner strength, does not scream. Instead, he keeps his gaze fixed on his daughter, conveying all his love and strength through his eyes.
Sarabi, unable to contain her pain, cries inconsolably as she watches the brutal scene. Each lash resonates in her heart, tearing her apart inside. Her tears fall to the ground, mixing with the dust and blood.
When it is all over, James walks away satisfied, leaving Kwame lying on the ground, his body marked by the lashes. Sarabi, with a broken heart, rushes to lift her father. With great effort, she takes him to the barracks, her tears falling on Kwame's open wounds.
In the barracks, Sarabi tenderly cares for her father, cleaning and bandaging his wounds while her tears continue to flow. Kwame, unconscious from the pain and lashes, lies motionless, his breathing barely perceptible.
Sarabi, with a broken voice, whispers to her father:
—Dad, please, hold on. I can't lose you too.
Night falls over the plantation, and Sarabi, exhausted and full of sadness, stays by her father's side, watching over him and hoping that the morning will bring a ray of hope amidst so much darkness.
She leaves the barracks, her heart heavy and her eyes swollen from crying so much. Outside, James waits for her with a cruel look. Without mercy, he drags her by the hair and takes her to some bushes, where he abuses her, raping her. Too weak to fight, she stays still while he takes advantage of her vulnerability.
—This is how I want you, Sarabi. Cooperate, and everything will be easier —says James, with a perverse smile.
Finally, with the little strength she has left, she heads to the cabin to take a bath. The cold water not only cleanses her body but also tries to soothe her wounded soul. After dressing, she joins Nina in the kitchen to help.
Nina, noticing the sadness in Sarabi's eyes, approaches with concern.
—Sarabi, what's wrong? —Nina asks softly.
—My father... was whipped —Sarabi responds, her voice breaking and her eyes filled with tears.
Nina hugs her, trying to console her, while Sarabi tells her what happened to her father.
Dinner is served in the grand dining room of the plantation. The candles illuminate the table, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Marta, with a radiant smile, addresses William and Thomas as everyone sits at the table.
—William, Thomas, I've been thinking about the engagement party. I think we should celebrate it next week. I need to talk to the Fernández family to coordinate the details —says Marta enthusiastically.
Thomas nods, taking a sip of his wine.
—Tomorrow, I'll talk to Don Antonio to formalize Elizabeth's engagement. I'm sure they'll be delighted with the news —Thomas responds with a smile.
William, his mind still on Sarabi, barely listens to the conversation, showing his agreement, but his heart is elsewhere.
—Yes —William says, without adding more.
He finishes dinner in silence and heads to his room, feeling the weight of sadness and confusion. In his room, William sits on the bed, looking out the window. The moon shines in the sky, but its light fails to illuminate the darkness he feels inside. His thoughts return to Sarabi, and he wonders if he will ever understand what is really happening.
The sound of a carriage approaching the plantation is heard, followed by a loud knock on the door. Thomas gets up from the table, intrigued by the unexpected arrival. Philip, the messenger slave, hurries to open the door and finds Rodrigo, arriving with several pieces of luggage.
—Rodrigo, what are you doing here at this hour? —Thomas asks, with a mix of surprise and joy at seeing his son.
—Father, I apologize for the hour, but I've missed the family and decided to stay for a while —Rodrigo responds, his face serious and tired.
—I understand. Let Philip help you with your luggage. I'll go call Marta —Thomas says, nodding.
Philip takes Rodrigo's luggage and carries it inside while Thomas goes to find Marta.