Leonel Baumann, the relentless patriarch of a vast financial empire, decides it's time for his grandchildren to leave behind a life of excess and unchecked ambition. Concerned about the family's future, Leonel sets his own rules for the heirs to secure their places and claim their shares of the inheritance. Thus, you are introduced to the saga of the four siblings: Aaron, Anton, Axel, and Anneliese. Four heirs are determined to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals and secure the Baumann legacy.
View MoreTruth or Dare
Anton
The empty glass bottle spun again, and this time it landed on Pietra, the most beautiful girl in the entire school, whom I'd been in love with for exactly two years, ever since the first moment my eyes met the brightest, blackest eyes in the world.
"Your turn, Pietra!" Priscila said excitedly. "Truth or dare?"
Pietra smiled. She always smiles. Her eyes also smile, even when she isn't smiling.
"Truth!" Pietra chose.
I did not doubt her choice. Pietra would never risk getting a dare because she's always so straight-laced, completely the opposite of me, but that would never be a problem between us. I love her just the way she is.
"What are you going to do from now on?" Priscila asked.
Some people expressed disappointment, clearly thinking the question was boring. But that question was perfect for me. Pietra is always so reserved about her life outside of school that only this way could I hear from her what her plans are now that we're finishing high school.
"I got a scholarship to a college in England," Pietra shared excitedly. "I'm going to London in two months."
That news caught me by surprise. London? It wouldn’t be a problem for me, of course. I have enough money to visit her as many times as I want. I released the breath I had held for a brief moment.
Everyone applauded and celebrated Pietra’s big achievement, but we soon returned to our game, and a few rounds later, it was my turn to be asked truth or dare.
"Dare, for sure!" I said with a loud laugh.
I couldn't risk being exposed in front of the girl I love. There are aspects of my life it's better Pietra doesn't know about, I thought with a sly smile. Yes, I love her, but I also have my needs.
I was forced to take two shots of tequila, which wasn't hard for me at all. We got back to the game, a few more rounds, and the bottle once again pointed at Pietra. By that time, I had drunk quite a bit, things seemed a little blurry, and I wasn’t sure if I could still hide how special that girl is to me.
"Truth!" She cheerfully chose.
"Are you still a virgin?" The question, of course, came from that idiot Tony.
"You don't have to answer that!" I said, raising my voice in annoyance.
"Calm down, Anton!" Maria Luiza urged, holding my arm. "Pietra knows it's just a game. No one's forcing her to do anything."
"Yes, Tony, I’m still a virgin," Pietra answered. "I’m only seventeen!"
Everyone laughed at Pietra's words since age has nothing to do with sexual experience, but I wasn't surprised by my girl's way of thinking. She’s always so proper, I thought with a smile.
Pietra, still with a slight blush on her cheeks, spun the bottle once more, this time pointing at none other than me, Anton.
"Truth or dare, Anton?" she asked, with a curious and playful look.
I stared at Pietra for a brief moment, feeling my heart beat faster. The truth was tempting; I wanted to reveal my true feelings, but a pang of fear made me hesitate. Hiding my love for so long had created a comfort zone, and admitting it could change everything. Still, something inside me screamed, to be honest, to risk it all.
"Truth," I finally answered, deciding to be honest, at least this time.
Pietra's eyes met mine, seeming to search for something more than just an answer to the game’s question.
"You always flirt with a lot of girls, but you’ve never really gotten involved with any of them. Why?" she asked bluntly.
"In other words, Anton," Lucas cut in before I could answer, "you hook up with everyone, but you’ve never dated anyone. That’s what she’s saying."
"Everyone understood what she said," Anneliese chimed in, rolling her eyes as if she were bored.
Anneliese is my sister, and she really must’ve been bored, I thought with amusement.
"Guys, let Anton answer!" Priscila tried to steer the game back on track.
Now all eyes were on me. Our senior class was waiting for my answer. Only the background music continued playing, and I realized that every face had a smile of expectation, waiting for some sarcastic response.
"Because I’m in love with you, Pietra," I confessed, forgetting about all the people around us.
The moment my words echoed in the room, the mood changed instantly. The air became heavy and tense, and the excited expression on Pietra’s face vanished. Her reaction was the last thing I expected.
"I... I need to go... now," she said with a trembling voice, glancing nervously at the watch on her wrist.
The storm of emotions on her face was evident. Pietra stood up quickly, avoiding looking at me, and ran out of the room. Without thinking twice, I ignored everyone’s curiosity and comments and decided to follow her. I found Pietra already on the sidewalk.
"Pietra, wait!" I called, running to catch up with her.
She stopped but still avoided looking directly at me. Her silence made me nervous, but I had to know what was going on.
"I’m sorry, Pietra, I... I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just... had to say what was here," I said, pointing to my heart.
Finally, Pietra raised her eyes to meet mine. The sadness in her gaze was palpable.
"Anton, I’m so sorry..." she began, her voice heavy with emotion. "I didn’t know you felt this way. I have a boyfriend, Tales. And... I’m in love with him."
Her words hit me like a knife to the heart. I had never felt such deep pain before. Everything I feared had just become reality.
"I didn’t know..." I murmured, struggling to hold back the sadness threatening to overwhelm me.
Pietra looked at me with compassion, but her words were firm.
"Anton, you’re a nice guy, but we both know we’re very different. I like you as a friend, but... I can’t see myself being involved with someone like you. You’re a playboy, always surrounded by girls, and I... I want someone responsible and treats me with care."
Her words felt like successive blows to my heart. She was right.
"I understand," I murmured. "Sorry for messing everything up."
Pietra put a hand on my shoulder, showing understanding.
"It’s not your fault, Anton. We’re just different. And I never imagined I could hurt you."
I knew she was being sincere, but it didn’t lessen the pain I felt. Pietra gave me a comforting hug before pulling away.
At that moment, a car pulled up in front of Priscila's house, where we had been having our farewell party.
"I have to go now," she said, looking at the parked car.
I nodded, unable to say anything else as I realized that was probably her boyfriend. Pietra walked away and left me with a broken heart, feeling like I could never be the man she wanted, and without the slightest desire to fight to change that.
AaronI left the hospital feeling as if I were in a daze, unable to process what had just happened. Rebecca’s words still echoed in my mind—her cold determination to push me away… and Eric, with that almost satisfied smile, reinforcing everything I wanted to ignore.I got into the car, trying to calm my thoughts, but my hands trembled on the steering wheel. São Paulo’s traffic was slow, as always, but my mind was a storm of emotions. I passed through a series of red lights, barely registering where I was. Suddenly, I felt an impact and realized I had crashed into the back of the car in front of me.The driver quickly got out of his car, his face full of fury. He was already approaching, shouting something I could barely hear. My anger and frustration were so overwhelming that, instead of calming down, ever
AaronAt my words, I saw a subtle change in Rebecca’s face. Her eyes brightened, and she gave a soft smile, a shy but genuine gesture. It was as if a new life appeared in her expression, bringing a lightness that had seemed impossible just minutes before.“I didn’t expect you to show up here, Aaron,” she said, her voice soft and filled with emotion. “But I’m glad you’re here... I was so scared of losing our baby.”Her words hit me like a wave, filling me with a feeling I could barely describe. I took her hand, bringing it to my lips and placing a light kiss on it as if that was the only way to apologize for failing her.“Rebecca... I’m sorry for being such a huge idiot,” I whispered, the weight of everything I had done falling
AaronWhen I arrived at the hospital, I was trying to stay calm, but my heart was racing. I knew Rebecca was there, and I needed to see her. After finding out where she was admitted, I hurried in the direction indicated. But as I approached her room, a nurse intercepted me, blocking the entrance with a professional smile.“I’m sorry, sir, but the patient already has a companion. You’ll need permission to enter.”I took a deep breath, trying to process the information. I knew Eric was with her, but hearing that he was already by her side while I was stuck outside only made my anger grow. I could feel my blood boiling at the thought of him there, next to Rebecca, as if he were in control of everything.But I needed to keep
RebeccaThe nurse came into the room to let me know that my companion had arrived, and after saying goodbye to Anneliese and Pietra, I waited for Eric with a sense of unease. Lying in the hospital bed, trying to stay calm, I heard the door swing open abruptly. Eric walked in, and immediately, I felt a wave of tension. His face was filled with frustration, his eyes locked on me as if he were waiting for an explanation I didn’t know I owed. My heart raced, and my body stiffened automatically at the sight of his harsh expression.He didn’t waste any time.“How do you know Anneliese?” he asked, his voice laced with a harshness I hadn’t expected.I frowned, surprised by the question. The tension in the air was palpable,
AaronI got out of the car feeling a growing sense of gloom that was becoming harder to hide. I walked through the hall without really paying attention to the details around me — the artwork on the walls, the luxurious furniture, the muffled sound of footsteps echoing on the marble. It didn’t matter. Today, like so many other days, my mind was somewhere else.I needed a distraction. My brothers were gathered in the leisure area near the pool, playing pool. Axel and Anton were overly competitive, and it always ended in laughter or heated arguments. I thought watching their game might help me push the chaotic thoughts about Rebecca out of my head — at least for a while.But as I approached the pool table, I sensed something different in the air. The v
PietraAndressa was finally home, recovering remarkably well. That’s how the doctors described her progress every time we went for her appointments. Every time I heard those words, it felt like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders. I was so happy, so relieved, that it was hard to put into words.However, I couldn’t deny the important role Anton played in this story. He had been by my side through all the turbulence, and now, we were dating—or at least, that’s how Anton insisted on putting it every chance he got. And me? Well, I was simply going with the flow.That’s how I ended up in a hospital, accompanying a stranger. I was with Anneliese after we’d gone to the mall to look for a gift for Paolla, Anneliese’s sister-in-law, because of her pregnancy. Everything seemed normal until we enco
RebeccaWhen I regained consciousness, the white ceiling and cold lights of the mall were the first things I saw. My head throbbed lightly, but I was beginning to piece together what had happened. The two women I’d encountered earlier—Pietra and Anneliese—were by my side, their faces etched with genuine concern. My thoughts were still scrambled, but I could hear them.“She’s waking up,” Anneliese said, relief evident in her voice as she leaned closer to get a better look at me.“I’m already calling an ambulance,” Pietra informed, her phone in hand, her posture steady and commanding. There was something about her presence that radiated control as if she were used to managing crises.I tried to sit up, but my legs felt shaky, so I let myself relax back onto the cold floor. The sensation of weakness was unnerving, and my heart was racing. I wasn’t used to feeling so vulnerable. Anneliese crouched beside me, her expression kind, as she gently placed a hand on my shoulder.“Are you okay? I
RebeccaI stared at her for a few seconds, trying to process what was happening. It felt surreal. First, because I barely recognized myself in my own body, and now I was being approached by two strangers who seemed to live lives far lighter and more carefree than mine. The woman, Anneliese, seemed genuinely friendly, which put me slightly at ease.“Oh, sure,” I replied, still a bit surprised. “I can try to help.”Anneliese stepped closer, holding a small light blue onesie with embroidered white details in her hands. She held it up for me to see.“What do you think of this?” she asked, her eyes shining with anticipation. “We’re picking something out for my nephew, but we’re not entirely sure. Does it seem comfortable?”I studied the onesie for a moment, running the fabric between my fingers. It was soft—a good choice for a baby. But the simple act of being here, invited to weigh in on something so intimate, filled me with a bittersweet sense of irony. I was pregnant myself, yet my role
RebeccaThe loneliness in São Paulo was crushing. I had no one—no family, no friends. Just the emptiness of the apartment and the silence. After ending things with Aaron, he respected my decision and disappeared, just as I had asked. I knew it was the right thing to do, that I couldn’t stay trapped in that toxic cycle, but living with this choice was far harder than I’d imagined.I had come to São Paulo full of dreams. I wanted to be an artist, to follow the path that had inspired me since I was a child. But now, I couldn’t even paint. My paints sat untouched, and my brushes were abandoned in the corner of the makeshift studio. Sure, I could blame the nausea that had taken over in the past week, but the truth was my mind was far from settled.Aaron wasn’t part of my life anymore, and I was carrying a baby I didn’t know how to handle.In moments when the anguish felt unbearable, I tried reaching out to my mom. I didn’t want to completely sever ties with them, but my last attempt made m
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