CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

BYPASSED CRISIS

"Obviously, what Patrícia had told you earlier crossed Clara's mind and the feeling wasn't good. She didn't want to be the person she had talked about, didn't want to help people because she didn't consider herself strong enough. She didn't want to and couldn't bear that responsibility.

"I need you, Clara, I think that's it. I've never had someone to guide me, Rômulo was like that, he cared for me, you know, now I feel adrift..."

Clara felt like crying when she heard that. She had never thought about it, about how Dália must have felt lonely and helpless since her first husband and love of her life died. Especially with only one child and being somewhat closed off like Otávio. Surely that was why she had married Gerard, the loneliness must have been great and when someone had shown interest in her, she had taken the opportunity. It was a shame she hadn't had the same luck in her second marriage.

"I'm here, okay?" Clara put a hand on the woman and wiped away her tears w