LOGINShare
Exhausted
Last Updated:
2025-05-03 00:15:16Aaron
Axel sat across from me, the envelope containing the test results resting between us like an invisible barrier. Even though he had repeated countless times that the baby wasn’t his, seeing the negative result printed in black and white stirred something strange in my chest.
Axel, always confident, studied my expression with a scrutinizing gaze, noticing my restrained reaction.
I tried to hide what I was feeling, but it was difficult. Antonella, the girl who claimed to be pregnant with Axel’s child, was someone looking for fame and fortune. She had even admitted as much during the argument at Axel’s apartment on Saturday, as he had told me.
But the truth was that, for a moment, while I had been holed up in the old bedroom of our grandparents’ mansion, the possibil
Related chapters
In the Name of Ambition Postponing the Truth
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
Last Updated : 2025-05-04In the Name of Ambition Prologue
Truth or DareAntonThe 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition Irresponsible
Seven years laterAntonI got out of the pool and looked around for a towel, which soon appeared in my hands. I scanned the area, searching for someone interesting among the many girls lounging around the deck of the massive, luxurious yacht, but none of them caught my attention. Always the same girls. Or maybe they just all looked alike. "What do you think about a boat ride to one of the islands?" "Not in the mood to get all sandy," I declined. The invitation came from Tony, my best friend and regular partner in my wild escapades. "Oh, stop being so uptight!" Tony complained, rolling his eyes. "You’re gonna miss out on a great trip." "Wow, I don’t think I’ll ever get over that…" I said sarcastically, taking the opportunity to call out to the nearest person. "Hey, girl! Bring me a beer!" The girl obeyed my request, and I sat back down on one of the sun loungers, enjoying the sea breeze. Tony probably went ahead with his plans, and soon enough, I had two girls trying to get
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition Reunion
PietraI never imagined that one day I could run into Anton again. I’m lying. Maybe I did dream about this moment a few times. Maybe I even fantasized about this meeting during a few sleepless nights, imagining all the details and what we would say to each other. But everything has changed. I’m not the same naive girl, full of dreams about Prince Charming anymore. " Hi, Anton," I replied with as much coldness as I could muster in my voice. "I never would’ve imagined you frequenting snack bars on the outskirts of the city." " It wasn’t something I planned, I admit," Anton said with a broad smile. "I had no idea you worked here. I thought you were still living in London!" It was painful to hear that. It touched an old wound that still hadn’t healed. The dream of studying in London was just that—a dream that never came true. And I don’t talk about that subject. " I need to get back to work," I had no desire to be friendly. "Enjoy your meal." " But there aren’t any customers her
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition The Patriarch's Whim
Leonel BaumannI invited my grandchildren and Ettore to dinner at the mansion. It was time to decide the future of Baumann Industries, and I needed everyone present for the occasion. Berenice, my dear wife, was by my side, giving me supportive glances. The dining room, with its grand chandelier and antique furniture, was set for a memorable evening.As we settled at the table, I observed the tense faces of my grandchildren. Aaron, with his rigid posture and impeccable suit, was expecting something important. Paolla, beside him, tried to hide her anxiety, but the glint in her eyes betrayed her. Axel, always suspicious, wore a serious expression, while Anton, carefree, fiddled with his phone as Annelise laughed at something he said.Ettore, the son of a late former employee and my trusted confidant, was also present. To me, he is like a son. His actions have always been guided by loyalty and integrity—something rare these days.Dinner passed with formal conversation, but I could feel th
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition The Patriarch’s Whims
AntonAt the gas station, I bought a can of gas and returned to the car. As I filled the tank, I realized my life seemed to be in stark contrast to that reality. It’s strange to think that this neighborhood was relatively close to mine, in the same city. I tried to shift my thoughts away from the encounter with Pietra. There was something different about her, an aura of sadness and bitterness that didn’t exist before. I remembered the lively, smiling girl I once knew, with bright eyes and many plans for the future. What could have happened to change her so much? I drove to my house, an imposing mansion in the Pinheiros neighborhood of São Paulo. Fortunately, I didn’t run into anyone in the hallways. I wasn’t in my best moment, and this gave me time to better prepare for the dinner later on. Leonel Baumann, my grandfather and the all-powerful patriarch of the Baumann family, had summoned everyone to the mansion for dinner that evening. After resting, I was able to properly prepar
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition A Bold Plan
AaronI watched my grandfather leave the room with firm steps, leaving behind a mixture of disbelief and shock on our faces. Could he be imposing such a condition to hand over control of Baumann Industries? A great-grandchild? Was that really what he wanted in exchange for power?I glanced at Paolla, my wife, sitting next to me. She looked as beautiful as ever, her posture perfect and her face expressionless. Paolla had always been the ideal trophy wife, from a traditional family in São Paulo. Elegant, educated—exactly what I needed to keep up appearances. But children? That was a topic we had never seriously discussed.Before I could say anything, Axel headed to the luxurious bar in the corner of the room. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a generous glass.“Does anyone else want some?” he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain. He looked at us, knowing full well the chances of any takers were slim.Annelise was the first to stand up, still wearing an amus
Last Updated : 2025-02-17In the Name of Ambition A Tempting Offer
RebeccaLeaving my hometown wasn’t an easy decision, but it was necessary. My passion for painting has always been a constant in my life. My parents, devout followers of a simple and religious life, never understood that passion. To them, my art was a foolish distraction. “You need to focus on the important things, Rebecca. God has plans for you, but painting is not one of them,” my father would always say, his tone severe and inflexible. My mother, though more understanding, also couldn’t see beyond the limited horizon of our small town in the countryside of São Paulo. When I finally decided to leave, I was scared but determined. I gathered all my savings, packed my few clothes and painting materials into a backpack, and left a letter for my parents explaining my departure. I took the first bus to São Paulo, my head full of plans and expectations. When I finally got off at the busiest subway station in the capital, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. Everything was new and i
Last Updated : 2025-02-17
Latest chapter
In the Name of Ambition Postponing the Truth
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
In the Name of Ambition Exhausted
AaronAxel sat across from me, the envelope containing the test results resting between us like an invisible barrier. Even though he had repeated countless times that the baby wasn’t his, seeing the negative result printed in black and white stirred something strange in my chest.Axel, always confident, studied my expression with a scrutinizing gaze, noticing my restrained reaction.I tried to hide what I was feeling, but it was difficult. Antonella, the girl who claimed to be pregnant with Axel’s child, was someone looking for fame and fortune. She had even admitted as much during the argument at Axel’s apartment on Saturday, as he had told me.But the truth was that, for a moment, while I had been holed up in the old bedroom of our grandparents’ mansion, the possibil
In the Name of Ambition Facing the Consequences
RebeccaI couldn’t stop thinking about Aaron and the intense way he had appeared at the hospital. Still, with all these thoughts swirling inside me, I kept a calm facade. I knew the doctor would only discharge me if I appeared well enough, and being stuck in that place was already making me restless.But my mind kept drifting back to Aaron—and inevitably, to Eric. I was furious with him for the way he treated Aaron, almost as if he was determined to keep him away from me at any cost. At the same time, I knew the two of them were best friends and that, somehow, they had come to an understanding. It was best not to interfere. Deep down, I knew their conflict went far beyond what I could control. Still, it was unsettling to see Eric act that way.When he finally left me alone, promising to return in the morning, I felt a relief
In the Name of Ambition True Feelings
AntonI arrived at Pietra’s house on Sunday afternoon, as we had planned, to finish watching the series we had started a few days earlier. Despite the simplicity of the plan, being with her in moments like these made everything feel easier, more complete. But I quickly noticed that Pietra was restless, uneasy, so unlike herself. Her eyes kept darting to the clock, her phone, anywhere but me. "Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual. She glanced at me quickly, offering a brief smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Of course, everything’s fine," she replied, but the hesitation in her voice made it clear that wasn’t entirely true. I tried to figure out what might be bothering her. The first thing that came to mind was her sister. But Andressa was growing stronger every day, which was a relief to me, but even more so to Pietra. Three weeks had passed since the surgery, and her recovery was on track. Andressa still spent most of her time resting, and under strict medi
In the Name of Ambition Plans at Risk
PaollaRage burned inside me. Eric had just told me about the latest events, and I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Aaron must have lost his mind. He was about to throw away everything we had built, our meticulously crafted plan—all of it because of that dull, insipid girl, Rebecca.I felt a wave of heat rise through my body, exploding into a mixture of frustration and indignation. The image of Rebecca—fragile and plain—dancing in Aaron’s mind was almost unbearable. And now, there was a chance she might lose the baby, the only practical purpose behind this whole mess. Without the baby, everything would fall apart, and I would not allow all our planning to be destroyed just like that. How could Aaron not see the risk of ruining both our futures over some whim?“This is unacceptable!” I shouted, my fury spilling over.“Paolla, I need you to calm down,” he said, his voice low and controlled over the phone. “I just confronted Aaron. He stormed out of the room, furious, but you nee
In the Name of Ambition Problems and More Problems
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
In the Name of Ambition Completely Defeated
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
In the Name of Ambition Confused Feelings
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
In the Name of Ambition Confrontation at the Hospital
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,
