Aaron
I was exhausted when I returned home. I had finally achieved the goal I had been relentlessly pursuing, and soon, I would give Leonel Baumann the long-awaited great-grandchild. Yet, I didn’t feel the happiness I thought I would.
The circumstances were bitter. All day, I had avoided thinking about coming home and the inevitable encounter with Paolla. I knew she would be waiting for me, as she did every night, with a smile on her face that had become almost ritualistic.
When the door opened, there she was, sitting in the living room, scrolling through her latest high-tech smartphone, wearing that rehearsed smile.
“How was your day at work, dear?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
I replied mechanically that it had been a bus
RebeccaWhen the doorbell rang early in the morning, a jolt of nervousness coursed through my body. Aaron. For some reason, I knew it was him. It was an almost instinctive feeling that made me scold myself for being so foolish. Who could predict a visit like this so early? But opening the door and seeing Aaron there, surprise enveloped me. Even though my thoughts were constantly with him, seeing him there, in the flesh, shook me.Aaron was standing in front of me, with an expression that mixed anxiety and determination. He wore a light blue shirt that highlighted his eyes, and his hair was slightly tousled as if he had run his hands through it many times."Aaron? What are you doing here so early?" I asked, uncertain about how to react to his presence. My heart was pounding, and I felt a lump form in my
PietraI spent the entire weekend with Andressa at the hospital, observing every small improvement and feeling a growing sense of relief. Anton, always surprising, made video calls so that Andressa and I could see Isaque. Every time I saw my brother’s carefree smile, I knew he was in good hands, and it gave me a peace of mind I didn’t expect. Anton kept surprising me in the best ways. Andressa, always sharp and cheerful, brought up Anton. She had been watching everything closely and said with a smile: “He really seems to be in love with you, Pietra. Why don’t you give him a chance?”
AntonWhen Pietra stepped back, giving me space to enter, I could see the nervousness written all over her face. She tried to hide it, offering me a seat, but the hesitation in her voice was unmistakable. I gave her a small smile but didn’t sit. There was a tension in the air, a tangible energy between us, and sitting felt wrong. Staying on my feet, and maintaining that closeness, was what I wanted.The way she looked at me, the way her body reacted—trying but failing to maintain the emotional distance she worked so hard to protect—told me everything.I moved closer slowly, careful not to overwhelm her, but unable to resist the pull. My fingers found her hair, twisting a strand gently between them without thinking.When I said I missed her, I meant it. She didn’t reply
PietraAs Anton carried me in his arms, taking me to my room, the reality of what was about to happen hit me with overwhelming force. My mind was racing, torn between reason and desire, but my heart and my body had already made up their minds. I knew this was sheer madness, that tomorrow I might regret everything, but right now, I didn’t want to run away anymore. With every kiss, every touch, something inside me was breaking. I had been building barriers for so long, trying to protect myself from being hurt again, from trusting someone like Anton, who had always gotten everything he wanted. But now, with him so close, so intense, it seemed impossible to keep resisting. As he gently laid me down on the bed, a part of me whispered that this was nothing more than a game to him, a challenge that would soon lose its appeal once he got what he wanted. But another part—a part I was starting to hear more clearly—said there was something more there. The way he looked at me as if I were mor
AaronDays had passed since my last meeting with Rebecca, but it felt as if time had stood still. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Being near Paolla had become a silent torture, a façade I maintained purely out of obligation. Rebecca consumed my thoughts, dominating my mind in a way that left me restless and agitated, like a caged lion.Keeping it all bottled up was becoming unbearable. I wanted to confide in Eric, my best friend, but something held me back. It wasn’t shame—perhaps it was fear. Fear of admitting aloud that my world was upside down. I, Aaron, always so controlled, was now at the mercy of emotions I couldn’t understand, let alone control.And then there was Paolla. She had been pressuring me more and more to announce her false pregnancy. The excuses were running out, and I knew I couldn’t delay much longer. Our agreement was tacit, an almost silent alliance between us. We both knew what was at stake. The plan we had devised had materialized in the form of the baby Re
PaollaI woke up that Sunday morning wrapped in a wave of happiness that seemed to engulf me. The dinner at the Baumann mansion the previous night had been a success, at least for me. Aaron, on the other hand, was apathetic and listless, but that didn’t bother me in the slightest. I knew he was simply following the plan, and that was all that mattered to me.Our relationship was lukewarm and lifeless, and the lack of an active sex life between us wasn’t a concern anymore. As long as I knew Aaron wasn’t seeing the girl carrying his child, I could sleep peacefully. And thanks to Eric, I was certain of that.It had been a struggle to convince Eric, but he finally relented and hired someone to follow Aaron’s every move. I needed to know every step he took, and the reports I’d received in the past few days were e
AxelLying on the poolside lounger, I felt the sun warming my skin, but my mind was far away, lost in thoughts that had been tormenting me since the night before. I couldn’t stop thinking about Aaron’s expression. It was obvious that my older brother wasn’t happy, even though everyone around him seemed to believe otherwise.Grandpa was simply ecstatic about the idea of a great-grandchild on the way. For the patriarch, this meant the continuation of the lineage and, perhaps, his final mission as the head of the Baumann family. Anton? He was too smitten with Pietra to notice anything wrong with Aaron, blind to everything happening around him. And Anneliese? She was relieved, satisfied that the "dirty work" of providing an heir to the family no longer fell on her shoulders.I, however, was wa
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
AaronRight after breakfast, I decided it was time to get my professional life back in order. The past week had been absolute chaos, my thoughts constantly consumed by the search for Rebecca and the never-ending conflicts I had to deal with. After the argument with Eric at the club, I realized I needed to regain control of myself.Work was the only refuge I had left—something that, no matter how difficult, was still within my control. So, I went straight to my grandfather’s library. The peace of that place always helped me organize my thoughts, and I was determined to dive into the projects and reports I had neglected.But right after lunch, the tranquility was shattered. Without knocking, Paolla walked in, impeccably dressed as always, with that determined look that told me she was here to bring up the same topic yet again.
RebeccaIt was still hard to believe how quickly everything had changed once again. When I accepted Eric’s offer to enroll in art school, it felt like a distant dream coming true. But in less than twenty-four hours, everything was set: enrollment confirmed, a new apartment in Pinheiros, and a move that happened so fast I barely had time to process it. It was almost as if Eric had planned everything before even consulting me.Despite the strangeness of it all, the apartment was comfortable, and the location was perfect for attending school. In a way, classes came as a relief. Every time I sat in front of a canvas or held a paintbrush, I felt immersed in something that made me forget, if only for a few moments, the man who wouldn’t leave my thoughts: Aaron.I was determined to focus on my future and, most importantly, on mainta
AaronThe week felt like a test of endurance. Rebecca seemed to have vanished from my life. I didn’t know where she was or if she was okay. I tried to stay calm, but the feeling of helplessness was unbearable. With each passing day, my focus and energy were split between the lack of news about her and Paolla’s relentless presence. Even though I had made it clear that things between us were unsalvageable, Paolla insisted on coming to the mansion for family dinners, pretending everything was fine. And out of consideration for my grandparents, I swallowed every word that could turn the atmosphere into chaos. I didn’t want to be the reason for a fight in front of them.But Paolla’s act was testing my patience. Every time I tried to talk, her voice became more insistent, trying to manipulate me into giving in and coming back home. I kept my answer the same, repeat
AntonI was heading home after a long day at Baumann. The past few weeks at the company have been intense but rewarding. Being involved in management, learning, and making real decisions has changed my perspective on so many things. But no change had been as profound as Pietra. The thought that, for the first time, I was building something meaningful—it was all because of her.As I parked my car in the Baumann estate’s garage, my phone vibrated. I picked it up automatically, expecting a message from Anneliese or a colleague from work. But the name on the screen made my heart race: Pietra. The initial relief of hearing from her quickly turned into a sinking feeling as I read the message."Anton, we need to talk about something very serious
PietraThe morning began with a gentle breeze flowing through the house, and even though my mind was occupied with a thousand thoughts, I felt excited. Despite all the ups and downs, things finally seemed to be falling into place.I entered Andressa’s room with a smile, determined to start the day with positive energy. Seeing that she was already awake, I went straight to the window to open the curtains and let the sunlight fill the space. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” I teased, turning to her.Andressa responded with a weak "good morning," and my heart immediately tightened. There was something different in her tone, a lack of enthusiasm that worried me.
AxelWhen Fred walked into the room, I knew she’d be right behind him. My heart raced, and for a moment, I had to mentally prepare myself to finally face the woman who had haunted me since Santorini. It was strange because, even though my memory of that night was hazy, the emotional impact she had on me was painfully clear.But when she stepped through the door and the soft light of the room illuminated her face, I was hit with a shock so strong it nearly took my breath away. The resemblance to Priscila, my ex-wife, was uncanny. For a moment, I was frozen, as if I were seeing a ghost. It didn’t make sense. What was this? How was it possible?I stayed silent, struggling to mask the storm raging inside me. My mind tried to connect the dots, but nothing added up. Fred,
KimberlyMore than a month. A full month since I sent the first email to Axel, which, of course, went unanswered. Then came the messages on social media, the indirect attempts to reach out… but nothing. His fame didn’t make contacting him easy, and yet, a part of me persisted. Maybe it was naivety, maybe a desperate attempt to resolve the situation, but I was following his every move in the media. When they announced his signing with an English team, Kathleen almost exploded with excitement, saying that fate was working in my favor.I hesitated to hold onto any hope, but Kathleen insisted. Through her journalist contacts, she managed to get me into that packed auditorium for the press conference. I wasn’t sure if I’d confront him, but at least I’d see him one more time.The room was full of people, voices, and expectations surrounding him, and the energy was a mix of euphoria and curiosity. I was there, just a few meters away from the father of my child, but deep down, I just wanted t
AxelAfter the meeting with Antonella on Saturday in my apartment, I spent the next two nights practically wide awake, trying to prepare for what lay ahead. I needed to resolve this once and for all. Antonella was the girl I had been with just once, during my vacation in Brazil, and I knew we had been careful. The possibility that she was pregnant with my child didn’t make sense. Still, I needed her to publicly admit the truth so this whole story could be put to rest.The conversation, however, did not go as I had expected. Antonella seemed to be enjoying every minute of the exposure and fame that the story had brought her. Ever since she leaked the supposed "romance" to a gossip website, her followers had multiplied into the millions. It was obvious that she was relishing being the center of attention and, to my surprise, now considered herself some kind of celebrity. However, the conversation revealed that she had no character whatsoever, and I quickly realized that it was impossibl
AaronI asked for a divorce, and for a brief moment, I saw Paolla’s expression shift. It was as if every conflicting emotion passed across her face—surprise, anger, disbelief. I braced myself for an explosion, but her words shocked me even more."Divorce? You must be out of your mind, Aaron." Her voice was low and cold, almost like a challenge. She took a deep breath, adjusted her purse on her shoulder, and with a calculated movement, lifted her chin and added, "Actually, I’m the one who needs some time alone now—to forget the absurdity that just came out of my own husband’s mouth."I watched, stunned, as she prepared to leave as if this were just a trivial argument."Paolla, wait… we need to talk about this," I insisted, taking a step toward her. "Where a