Chapter 8: Armor

"And why would you do that?" Adeline asked curiously.

"Because, despite everything, I feel like you're not a bad person."

"Does it seem that way?"

"Yes."

"But I was a bad person that day, when I said those ugly things to you," she recalled. "I played with your feelings and broke your heart."

"We were children back then, Adeline, let's put it behind us."

"Okay."

Adeline smiled somewhat relieved by this small opportunity Anthony was giving her. That day, seventeen years ago, she had felt awful saying those words to him. And it was not that the Anthony of that time did not seem attractive to her. Quite the opposite, the point was that she was in love with an impossible person.

Her love interest lay with Humberto, her father's newly hired assistant.

At that time, she rarely saw him, only at dinners or special events. Her late father, Rodrigo Cooper, was a person of great human qualities who treated all his employees with respect and consideration. That was why, despite being his assistant, Humberto maintained a close relationship with the family.

When she turned twenty, Humberto finally seemed to notice her. That day, he smiled at her and told her how beautiful she looked. She, who had given up on platonic love, felt the flame of hope rekindle with that trivial interaction. Two years later, they were married, and ten years after that, they divorced.

Adeline sighed.

"Still, the proposal that someone else handle these matters with you remains open," she said considerately.

"It's not necessary," he flatly refused.

With that, Adeline gathered the papers on the table and shook Anthony's hand.

"Thank you for the opportunity," she thanked him. It meant a great deal to her.

The contact was unexpected and unique for Anthony, who stared for a moment at the two limbs joining. Her hand felt warm against his and reminded him of a special moment from the past.

Suddenly, the vision of his sixteen-year-old self returned to his mind. The exact moment when Adeline first leaned down and touched his lips. He was a teenager back then, but the hormones, until then dormant, awoke with that small touch.

And in the present, something similar was happening to him, except it was not their lips that joined, but simply their hands. Even so, he felt a warmth run through his entire body, and that was completely unexpected, because the woman before him bore very little resemblance to the young woman from his memories.

Adeline still looked beautiful, of course, but something overshadowed her. Her eyes looked sad and tired, and her smile was no longer as radiant. "Is something wrong with your life?" he asked unconsciously. Those words came out unintentionally out loud.

Adeline's eyes widened, so she stepped back

"What do you mean?"

Anthony had already started talking, so she could not stop.

"You look unhappy," he blurted out. He did not mean any harm. It was just the only thing that crossed his mind.

"I'm happy," she replied but also got offended. "I have three wonderful children who make me feel fulfilled."

"I understand." For some reason, he did not believe her.

"Besides, I'm here now, working for the company, and that makes me feel fulfilled. Not everything in my life has been bad," she continued. The words flowed from her mouth like torrents, as if she urgently needed to prove her happiness, one that, apparently, did not really exist. "It's true that I miss my parents and other things I've lost throughout my life. But if I'm happy, I'm very happy," she repeated.

By the time Adeline finished speaking. Her eyes were completely moist. These were years of putting herself second, of always seeking the happiness of her husband and children first, that she forgot about herself and the things she loved.

Adeline loved painting and for a moment considered dedicating herself to art as a profession, but one day her father let her know his wish for her to study finance, a career that would serve her well in her future at the company. She, always accommodating, agreed.

Her father never knew her true calling, and she ended up studying a career that was not for her. Later, when she married, she felt like working, but Humberto, who was ten years older and possessed a backward way of thinking, told her no, that her place was in the home. She agreed again.

She had one child after another, proud of forming a large family, but she forgot about her personal care, about her weight, which increased more and more with each day.

"Adeline, why are you crying?" Her companion's voice brought her back to reality.

Adeline turned and wiped the tears that had escaped her eyes.

"It's nothing."

"Adeline," he called her worriedly.

"See you next time," although she wanted to say goodbye.

However, on her way to the door, Anthony took her arm and pulled her in. It was an unexpected moment. A gasp escaped her lips, and the next second, strong arms wrapped around her completely.

Adeline cried more because, somehow, that place felt safe and comforting.

"It's okay not to be okay," he whispered. "There's no need to put on a shell and pretend otherwise. If you want to let it all out, feel free to do so. There are times in life when we feel weak. Don't be ashamed of it, it's natural, it's something that makes us human”.

His words carried a special moment. Adeline had just discovered how much she needed to hear them. Since her divorce, she had put on a shell and tried to make sure her children did not see her as weak. But she was not realizing that that shell was rusting her heart in its wake. A heart that needed to cry to be restored.

"Thank you," she said through tears.

"Adeline, if what you need is a friend, I'm here," he offered.