I turned my phone screen on and off repeatedly as I watched the night pass by through the apartment’s large window. With the blinds fully open, leaving the glass exposed in all its splendor, my left leg dangled from the kitchen counter, moving to the rhythm of my restless hand, while my chin pressed against my right knee twisted my lips into a grimace. It was 4:21 in the morning. I looked at the screen again. There, a text from Maël. Maël: "What did Nikko tell you?" It wasn’t his only message. I read many and saw his countless missed calls. He wrote saying he’d hit the road in the dead of night toward Braga and would come straight to me, wherever I was. He called again, and I decided it was time to answer. "Delu, where—?" "I’m at the apartment." I hung up. I wasn’t just waiting for him to end everything once and for all. Yes, I wanted to break up with him, to crush him with my rage. But I also had to tell him something I wasn’t sure how he’d take. A while later, he cr
"Cata, are we leaving?" I interrupted the long conversation she was having with Nikko in the parking lot. "Yes, of course," she said amiably. She exchanged a glance with her cousin before we headed to my car. "Hey, girls!" Pina, Harry’s wife, came running toward us. "Can I ride with you, please?" "Sure, hop in," I said. She did, and we drove off. As I changed out of my wet clothes in Catalina’s bedroom, the conversation turned to Pina and Harry. I was stunned by what they told me. Apparently, their marriage was strained—something I’d completely missed. They called me blind for not noticing the distance between them, how Pina suffered from her husband’s cold, suspicious behavior. What other secrets were the Saravia women hiding? It hit me hard—how had I missed something happening right under my nose? Sitting on the edge of Cata’s bed, barefoot and in my underwear, my hair as tangled as my emotions, I took Pina’s hand for a moment and looked at her. I wanted to be her friend
"How much do we owe you?" Maël asked. The vet glanced at him, and for a moment, I noticed a faint blush on her cheeks. There it was—the "Maël Effect" wreaking havoc on yet another woman. "Nothing," she replied. "The truth is, she deserves an award for... for saving him." Maël smiled and turned to me, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity I hadn’t seen before. Back in the reception area, Beatriz suggested we take the dog, insisting he likely had no owner. "We'll keep him," I declared. "When can we take him?" "Uh—" Maël cut in. "Excuse us for a moment, Beatriz." He gently pulled me aside. His hands settled on my shoulders, forcing me to meet his eyes. "Delu.""I'm keeping him." "And where exactly are you putting him?" My breath hitched. "In the apartment?" I suggested, feigning innocence. "No." "I can talk to the concierge. There’s always a solution." "No." "Why not?" "Delu, dogs aren’t allowed in those apartments." "You don’t know the neighbors, d
I borrowed my mother's car to drive to Castelo. I left at 18:00 hours on Sunday to arrive with plenty of time. I hated driving that road at night, which is why I left early.I managed to book a hotel near the Saravia estate. I had no intention of staying at any of my ex's family homes.I wore a red dress that fell just above the knees with short sleeves, paired with my leather jacket from the Mafalaia concert. I turned on some music, hoping to relax and push aside the conversation I'd had with my mother. I stopped at a wine shop to buy a bottle as a gift. Just as I was about to pay, my phone rang—Maël."Hey, baby.""Little girl, why didn't you come with me? We could've split up once we got there—""Next! I'm already on the road.""Oh.""Well, not exactly.""Where are you? Should I come get you?""No, don't worry. I'm using Mom's car.""Alright, baby, no helping it now. I'll hit the road too. Sounds like it's going to be a big celebration with a full sound system and everything. I shou
"Are you going out?"Maël woke to see me stuffing items into my bag and bustling around the room."Keys, makeup..." I muttered, checking each item.I left the bedroom and walked to the living room, opening the blinds to let in the morning light. Behind me trailed a drowsy but formidable young man, rubbing his eyes and running fingers through his hair—or maybe just messing it up further, I couldn't tell."It's 7 AM on a Sunday. Where are you going?"I approached and gave him a quick kiss."Sorry, I woke you. I know Sundays are your sleep-in days, but I need to go home.""Did something happen?""I have to organize some things before my trip."That woke him completely."Trip where?"I opened the fridge and grabbed the plastic pitcher... EMPTY. I yanked it out angrily. "Third time this week." I turned like the Exorcist."Maël, not a single drop of water to drink. Is it so hard to fill it?""Damn, you're grumpy today.""Why didn't you fill the water pitcher?""I forgot, Delu, sorry. Christ
"YOU'RE CRAZY!"More laughter."My God, your face..." I shook my head and had to lean on the counter. "You looked like a rabbit in front of a hunter.""More like in front of a witch! Delu, you're crazy." I couldn't stop laughing, my stomach and chest hurt. I thought you were really going to stab me with the knife! —I threw my head back and laughed like a fool. —But what the hell is wrong with you?"Oh Lord... God, give me strength..." I tried to calm down, wiping away my tears and trying to breathe. "I'm sorry.""What are you sorry for?! Don't scare me like that, damn it!""I just love teasing you...""Well, stop it."Again, the laughter that I thought would kill me, but I screamed when he lunged at my waist and started tickling me."No, no, no!"He continued to dig his claws into my super sensitive spots, but suddenly, from behind, he grabbed one of my breasts and pinched it."OW!" I slapped his hand away and turned around. "Hey, boy, that hurts!""You deserve it for being crazy.""I