Meanwhile, a conspiracy between some Conservative Party members and the military leads to a coup d'état, and the military takes control of the country. At first, Esteban believes it is good for the country and that the military will hand power back to the Conservative Party, but he soon learns that the military have other plans. Under the control of the military, people associated with the People's Party are captured and even killed. The police ultimately come and arrest Blanca for being with Pedro Tercero. The police grant her a few minutes to say goodbye to her father, at which point Blanca reveals to Esteban that Pedro has been hiding in their house's cellar. She tells Esteban that Pedro is the love of her life, just as Clara was his. She reminds Esteban that he has many influential friends, and while she is gone, she begs him to figure out a plan to get Pedro out of the country, so the three of them can be a family.