PietraI was in the kitchen, finishing the last preparations for dinner, when I heard the door to the living room open. I immediately recognized the sound, but the excited smile that Andressa brought with her was new. I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, curious to know the reason for all her enthusiasm." Did something happen that I don’t know about?" I asked, trying to contain my smile at seeing her radiant expression. Andressa didn’t wait a second to share the news: " I got the part-time job at the store near home!" she announced, her words overflowing with joy. I felt a mixture of pride and relief for her. At eighteen, and just starting her journalism course, it was a big step to balance work and studies. I celebrated with her: " That’s wonderful!" I cheered, happy with the news. "Now go wash your hands so we can have dinner while Isaque is still awake." Andressa immediately obeyed, and soon we were sitting at the table in our small kitchen. Dinner was peaceful, a mom
AntonThe first thing that crossed my mind when I woke up was the memory of my encounter with Pietra. I had tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally managing to fall asleep the night before, her face still fresh in my mind. I got up, feeling the need to do something that would distract me from that constant loop of thoughts. I checked the clock and realized it was already past ten in the morning, a normal time for me to wake up. After a quick shower, I got dressed and headed down to the ground floor of the house, where the dining room was located—the place where my family usually had breakfast. No one was there, which was also something that happened often. My grandparents would have breakfast together before Leonel headed to the Baumann Industries headquarters, while Grandma always found something to keep herself busy. Looking through the glass window that took up the entire wall of the dining room, I saw Berenice in the garden, tending to some flowers. “Good mor
AntonTwo days later, I arrived at my grandparents’ mansion a little after one o’clock and found them in the living room.“Hi, son! I thought you were still in Camboriú,” my grandmother commented with surprise.“Tony had work commitments, and we decided to come back early,” I explained.With a deep sigh, I sat on the sofa close to where Grandma was.“Is something going on, Anton? You seem worried.”I hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to share what I was feeling. My grandmother is an exceptional person, and we have a close relationship.
AntonI spent the day locked in my room, consumed by unbearable irritation. My mind was a chaos of thoughts, each more disturbing than the last. I couldn't believe Anneliese had told me about the farewell party and how I had been rejected by Pietra. And Axel, of course, had taken that opportunity to tease me about it.I understood that Anneliese had a hard time keeping secrets, especially from us, her brothers. But she could have controlled herself, at least about that story. Pietra’s rejection was a wound I wasn’t ready to expose, especially not in the face of Axel’s mockery.Axel. My anger toward him grew with each passing minute. I knew he had been bitter and resentful since what happened with Priscila. But that didn’t give him the right to try to dest
KimberlyOn that last day of vacation in Santorini, I was determined to make the most of it before returning to my life in London. My sister Kathleen and I decided to go out and enjoy the night on the Greek island. It was our last chance to have fun before going back to our routine. As we danced to upbeat songs in one of the famous local taverns, I felt enveloped by the contagious energy of the night and let the music guide me, my feet leading my movements. With each step, I dove deeper into the joy and freedom of the moment. The vibrant atmosphere of the island is intoxicating. “Do you see that man?” I asked my older sister. “I see a lot of men” she joked “Maybe double the amount in this club.” I quickly caught her joke and laughed a lot. Maybe I was seeing everything double too, but I didn’t care. I needed this vacation badly, and accepting Kathleen’s invitation to leave London for a few days was the best thing I had done. “I’m talking about that tall, handsome guy with da
AxelThe drink had already taken control of most of my actions, but I could still rationalize a little amidst what was happening around me. The woman across the huge hall continued to stare at me unabashedly. Although I knew how impossible it was, every time I met her gaze, a certainty grew within me: that was Priscila, my ex-wife. The physical characteristics were the same: long, curly blonde hair, short stature, and a curvy body. However, due to the distance between us, I couldn’t say for sure. When the woman approached, I sincerely believed she was my ex-wife. Her green eyes and mannerisms were frighteningly similar to Priscila's. The drink had completely clouded my perception of things. I decided to get even closer to see her better. Now, face to face with her and her firm assertion that she wasn’t Priscila, I was no longer sure of anything, except that I needed to kiss her. How can I want to kiss that girl when she reminds me so much of Priscila? I crossed the thin line b
KimberlyUpon arriving at the hotel where I was staying with my sister, I collapsed on the couch, still dazed by how quickly I agreed to follow a stranger to his hotel room and, even more concerning, by the way, he seemed tormented by another woman. The only possible conclusion: he used me.As I handed over my lamentations again, I heard the bathroom door open and turned my attention to my sister."Finally, you’re back!" she said, sounding irritated "I was really worried about you, Kimberly.""But I told you I was spending the night with the guy from the club," I pointed out, not wanting to continue that subject "We have little time until our flight back home. We’d better hurry."
AaronI can’t believe what I’m about to do. My heart races inside my chest, a mix of excitement and nerves. But I won’t back down. I have a goal in mind, and I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it.I arrive at the apartment Eric had indicated and stop in front of the number on the door. It takes me a moment before I ring the doorbell, my finger hesitating over the button. But soon I decided to go through with it. There’s no room for doubt now. I need to get this done as quickly as possible.The door opens slowly, and Eric is there, a satisfied smile on his face, completely inappropriate for the moment. He gives me a nod and lets me in, closing the door behind me.“I'm glad you made it. I thought y
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