: Following a physical altercation, Gutiérrez arrives at the office in a state of fury, demanding that Bertha and Fredy be fired. The "Cuartel de las Feas" (The Ugly Ducklings' Club) appeals to Armando Mendoza for help, leading to a direct confrontation between Armando and Gutiérrez.

When Armando realizes Betty is leaving, his reaction is not just about losing his business shield; it is the dawning realization that he is losing his emotional anchor. We see a man broken by his own mistakes, groveling not out of arrogance, but out of genuine desperation. It is the first clear signal that his "using" of Betty has accidentally resulted in a deep, albeit twisted, dependency and love.