ColinThe doorbell rang insistently, interrupting my moment of peace at home. With an irritated sigh, I got up from the couch and made my way to the door, prepared to unleash a few curses at whoever was on the other side. But when I opened the door, I was completely stunned to find Valquíria standing there.“Valquíria? What's going on? Why do you seem so shaken?” I asked, my surprise reflected in my voice.She looked at me with red, swollen eyes, clearly struggling to contain the emotions overwhelming her. I had never seen her like this before, and it deeply worried me.“Colin... I... I need help” she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.Instinctively, I opened the door wider, inviting her
OthonAfter ending the video call with my family, I felt inundated by a mix of emotions. But the joy of sharing the news of fatherhood with those I love was quickly overshadowed by a growing concern.As the hospital director and with Karen working as a nurse in the same institution, we were both subject to strict rules prohibiting relationships between colleagues. This revelation left me perplexed and torn. Now, I face the challenge of reconciling my happiness with the professional implications of this delicate situation.On one hand, I longed to share the news of my son's discovery with the world. On the other hand, I understood the need to proceed with caution to avoid compromising my reputation at the hospital and Karen's work. I needed to carefully consider my options before taking any hasty action.
KarenDays unfolded into a new pleasant routine, filled with subtle changes that began to transform our family dynamics. Since Othon decided to become more actively involved in Otávio's life, things seemed to have taken a different turn, and I couldn't be more grateful for it.Every morning, after dropping Otávio off at school, I headed to work. Othon now insisted on picking him up from school, a change I didn't expect but welcomed with gratitude. He could leave the hospital earlier than me, and seeing his commitment to being present in our son's life was reassuring.As Othon dropped Otávio off at my parents' house, I was confident that he was in good hands, allowing me to focus on my responsibilities.When I arrived home at the end of the day, I was greeted
KarenWhen I met Valquíria, Othon's sister, something stirred within me. I couldn't help but feel an instant antipathy, which made me question my character. After all, she was my son's aunt, and there was no apparent reason for such a negative reaction.As Othon introduced her to Otávio, I felt like I was on unfamiliar ground, with each word from Valquíria increasing my tension. But it was when I heard her voice that a sense of déjà vu washed over me, as if I had heard those same words before, or perhaps it was that voice, at some point in the past."Darling, you're as beautiful as I imagined you would be! I was eager to meet you, did you know that?" As Valquíria expressed her feelings, I struggled to hide my unease. A strange sensation enveloped me as if something was out of place.
OthonI looked several times at Karen's house, hoping to see her join us, but instead, it was Margareth who approached to accompany Otávio. Karen stayed where she was, and her absence worried me.After the lively play with Otávio, my parents invited their grandson for a snack at my house. As we walked towards my house, I couldn't shake off the tense moment between Karen and Valquíria from my mind. The harsh words exchanged between them had left a bitter taste in my mouth.I knew I needed to address the unresolved issues between Karen and me, but I also recognized that there was more at stake than just my grievances. That word battle left me at a crossroads between the love I felt for Karen and the loyalty I owed to my family. Now I found myself torn between the desire to confront Karen about the truth and the need to maintain peace within my family. Deep down, I still didn't know exactly what to do.Sitting alone in my room after dinner, I wondered if I had been fair to Karen and if m
KarenMy heart still raced erratically after the tense encounter with Othon's family. When my phone rang, displaying Camila's name flashing on the screen, a wave of relief swept over me."Hi, Camila," I murmured, my voice trembling with barely contained emotion."Should I understand that the encounter with Othon's family wasn't pleasant at all?" Camila said from the other end of the line, her soft voice filled with genuine concern.Agreeing with her assumption, Camila said she would be at my house in a few minutes and promptly hung up the phone. She kept her promise, and when Camila arrived at my house, I felt an immense sense of relief.Her arms wrapping around me in a warm hug was exactly what I needed at that moment. Without hesitation, I allowed myself to fall into her comfort, finally allowing myself to break down in tears that I had been holding back so hard. I told Camila everything and felt a little lighter after sharing my anguish with my best friend.I didn't want to worry m
OthonI stared at Karen, anxiously awaiting a response to the question that was eating away at me inside. Even with the car's tinted windows, something inside me knew it wasn't a man who was inside.Karen's response came laden with a cutting coldness."That's a ridiculous question, Othon. You have nothing to do with my life," she said, avoiding eye contact.Before I could gather a response, the car door opened, and a man emerged from inside. He was tall, with a confident posture that immediately made me realize that here stood a potential rival.“What's going on here?” he asked, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that left no room for doubt.I stared back at him, my jaw clenched with determination."Nothing you need to worry about," I replied my voice firm, challenging him to continue.However, his gaze seemed to challenge me back, as if he were assessing me, measuring me in every inch. It was clear he wasn't someone who would be easily intimidated.I wouldn't back down from the m
KarenAs I opened my eyes and faced the sunlight streaming into the room, I blinked several times as I struggled against the relentless headache tormenting me. The memories of the previous day quickly flooded back, bringing with them a mix of emotions.I remembered every detail, from the tense encounter with Othon to the confrontation with Max. But despite the throbbing pain in my head, I couldn't regret it. The truth was that I hadn't drunk enough to justify this overwhelming hangover. I concluded that the cause of this pain was the poorly slept night.I spent hours tossing and turning in bed, tortured by thoughts about the recent events of my life. Even with all the agony of the sleepless night, I couldn't help but smile as I remembered the look of surprise on Othon's face when Max got out of the car to confront him. That reaction was a valuable reward for me, something I considered a small victory.I was still lost in my thoughts when I heard Otávio's voice from the other side of t