Karen
As I stepped out of the Human Resources office, an overwhelming sense of helplessness enveloped me. The news of my dismissal still echoed in my mind, leaving me disoriented. Working at Central Hospital had always been more than just a job to me; it was my passion. Ever since I decided to study nursing, I dreamed of being part of the team there. Now, seeing that dream crumble before me was distressing.
As I walked down the corridor toward the nurses' locker room, I felt a heaviness in my chest, a mix of sadness and indignation. Why did my relationship with Othon have to cost me my career? It was unfair, downright cruel. I fought the urge to break down right there, maintaining my composure and holding back the tears.
Upon reaching the locker room, I gathered my things, thinking of all that I was about to lose. But I did
OthonI was perplexed by Karen's abrupt change in attitude. I couldn't understand how she could blame Valquíria for our problems."Karen, calm down. Let's not mix things up. The dismissal has nothing to do with Valquíria.""She's to blame. She always has been!"Valquíria raised an eyebrow, but her smile remained insolent."Oh really? And how did you come to this brilliant conclusion, dear?" she taunted, showing no sign of surprise at Karen's accusations."Do you really think we're idiots?" Karen continued, completely enraged. "How can you not see something that's right in front of your eyes, Othon!?"Valquíria's cal
KarenUpon entering the house, anger still bubbled within me at Othon's blindness to Valquíria's machinations. But when I found my parents and Otávio in the living room, immersed in laughter and entertained by a new giant puzzle, I decided to swallow my frustration for the time being. Seeing my son so happy brought me some comfort amidst the chaos of emotions I was facing.With a forced smile on my lips, I joined them for a moment, feigning interest in the game, while my heart remained heavy with the news I was about to share. I decided it was best to save the revelation of my dismissal for dinner after Otávio was asleep and away from any worries.I was prepared for the difficult moment of sharing the news of my dismissal with my parents, but nothing could prevent the sadness that hung over the table. M
OthonI stood in the center of the bathroom, completely stunned and unable to fully process what had just happened. On one hand, I felt an overwhelming urge to chase after Karen, to explain everything to her, to fix whatever mess Valquiria had caused. On the other hand, a growing wave of anger engulfed me, directed at my sister for barging into my shower and causing such turmoil.Not even the robe I hastily grabbed from the closet made me feel less vulnerable and exposed to the situation. I knew I needed to have a serious conversation with Valquíria, to confront her about her utterly insane actions. But seeing Karen's abrupt departure, I understood that it would be better to leave that for another time. My absolute priority was Karen; my loyalty was with her.Determined, I left the bathroom and headed to the bedroom, my heart heavy. I needed to put on some clothes and find Karen, explain everything to her, and hopefully begin to mend the damage that had been done. Then, I would have a
KarenI couldn't bear to look at Valquíria after the scene I witnessed in the bathroom. I didn't feel capable of answering for my actions at this moment. However, I was determined not to leave without having a very important and revealing conversation with Othon. My heart was pounding in my chest, uncertainty surrounding me as I descended the stairs of the house towards the living room, but I knew it was the right thing to do.I couldn't just leave things as they were. Despite the emotional confusion that engulfed me, I needed to confront Othon with the truth I had discovered about Valquíria. It wasn't fair for him to remain in the dark, ignorant of his own sister's manipulations and lies.A few minutes passed as I impatiently waited for his arrival. When Othon finally descended and saw me there, sitting in his living room, his expression of surprise was evident. It would have been almost funny if we weren't involved in such a delicate situation. However, he didn't ask what I was doin
OthonI arrived at the hospital that morning determined to have a frank conversation with Mrs. Fisher. I knew she would be in her office, on the top floor of the imposing Central Hospital building. I didn't follow my usual work routine that morning. I didn't even stop by my own office to check for urgent demands. I had a clear purpose in mind and was determined to fulfill it.I still felt perplexed by the whole story behind my encounter with Karen in Fernando de Noronha. I could never imagine that Valquiria harbored such an obsession with me. I couldn't think of another word to describe her feelings. If what she felt for me was healthy, she would never have gone to such lengths to fulfill her desires.I couldn't even understand the mindset of a person like Valquíria. She grotesquely manipulated me. I couldn't think of a friendship between us in the future when everything she did in the past was shaped by lies and schemes.The fact that Karen arrived at the bathroom exactly when Valquí
ColinI decided to face the challenge of telling Othon the whole truth in person, so I traveled to Curitiba right after the conversation with Valquíria. However, the fact that Valquíria was at her brother's house that weekend made my "mission" more complicated. The uncertainty of not being heard or, worse yet, not being believed, weighed heavily on my mind.With this burden on my shoulders, I sought support from Noah, who happened to be in the city as well. I explained the whole situation and asked for his help, along with Camila's. As Karen's best friend, Camila could increase my chances of meeting Karen, someone Othon would certainly listen to.With their help, I managed to find Karen and reveal the whole truth. Even with the uncertainty of the outcome, I chose to stay in Curitiba for a few more days. My work in investments allowed me that flexibility, so the city I was in didn't matter.I was determined to face the consequences of my actions and ensure that the truth came to light.
KarenI woke up to knocks on the door of the room, which soon swung open with Otávio's entrance. He burst into the room with a bright smile, jumping onto the bed to hug me affectionately."Good morning, mommy!" His cheerful voice echoed through the room as his arms wrapped around me.I returned the hug, feeling warmed by my son's affection."Good morning, my love," I replied, squeezing him gently.Otávio informed me that my mother was calling for breakfast. I agreed, saying I would get ready and soon join them. He barely heard the response, already hurrying towards the door, but I stopped him with a request."Slow down, Otávio!" I asked, making him turn back to me, sm
OthonAfter a day of intense work, coming home next to Karen brought me an indescribable feeling of satisfaction. We fell into a routine now that our relationship no longer needed to be kept secret. In the morning, we took Otávio to school together and went to work. I had managed to adjust Karen's work schedule to be compatible with mine, which allowed us to pick up Otávio from school and have lunch together at her parent's house, then return to work.Having Karen by my side in all these everyday activities filled my heart with joy. Seeing how she interacted with Otávio, how we shared our work experiences, and how we supported each other was something I deeply valued.On the other hand, I had completely cut off contact with Valquíria. I didn't answer her calls or messages anymore. I had no intent