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First Encounter
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-04-03 00:09:54Pietra
Anton had given me a card with a phone number and email address, making it clear that I should contact him. After all, we had made a deal. I spent the whole day trying to summon the courage to send a message to Anton, trying to convince myself that I was doing the right thing by accepting that crazy proposal.
The thought of raising all the money for Andressa’s surgery, in addition to covering the post-operative costs and any unforeseen circumstances, made me realize that this was an excellent deal.
It was better to be with Anton than with strangers, who could be all sorts of people. However, when I replied to Anton’s message saying that I would be free that night, he asked for my address and said he would pick me up around eight o’clock. He must have been crazy if he thought I was going to
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In the Name of Ambition Fertile Period
AaronEach passing day, I felt more tormented by the madness I had entangled myself in by agreeing to use Rebecca to produce the much-desired Baumann heir. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on anything else, even the work at the helm of one of Baumann Industries’ companies. Rebecca occupied my thoughts to the point of disrupting my productivity alarmingly.A few days after my last encounter with Rebecca, I was at the office and decided there was no point in staying there when I couldn’t concentrate. Her image wouldn’t leave my mind, and I was determined to seek some relief in Paolla’s arms. It had been far too long since we had been together, and I convinced myself that this was why I couldn’t stop thinking about Rebecca. I chose to completely ignore the fact that I hadn’t felt any desire for my wife in weeks.
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-04In the Name of Ambition Calculating and Cold
PaollaI watched Aaron climb the stairs slowly as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. With each step, his resolve seemed to falter. When he finally disappeared from view, I turned back to Eric, who was still sitting on the sofa, and let out a sigh."Aaron thinks he’s strong, but he’s really just a weak little grandson trying to please Grandpa," I said, showing my frustration.Eric chuckled, a low, almost cynical sound."It’s hard for anyone to be as cold and calculating as you, Paolla. You’re expecting too much from him," he replied, his eyes glinting with admiration and skepticism.I laughed too, though there was nothing truly amusing about the situation.
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-04In the Name of Ambition - Something Surprising
KimberlyAs the days went by, I started to feel more and more worn out and tired. Watching Kathleen, I noticed she seemed tired too, which made me deduce that the loss of our parents was still affecting us more than we had imagined. After a few days, during dinner, Kathleen noticed how I was feeling and asked what was going on. "Actually, I’ve been feeling strange lately," I confessed, a bit hesitant. "I’m always feeling unwell." It had been over a month since we returned from Greece, and I had come to terms with the loss of our parents, determined to forget a certain event that happened in Santorini. So, I couldn’t understand this sudden wave of illness. "That’s strange," Kathleen commented, visibly interested. "When was the last time you saw a doctor?" "I’m not sure..." I tried to remember. "Maybe it’s time to schedule an appointment." "I agree," my sister said, her expression serious. "I have an important class tomorrow, but I can go with you on Wednesday." We decided to sche
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-06In the Name of Ambition Having dinner with her...
AntonThe days that followed our meeting were a true test of patience. I couldn't get Pietra out of my head, but I also couldn't accept the way she tried so hard to keep an emotional distance between us. I knew she would fulfill the physical part of the agreement if I demanded it, but that's not what I wanted. I wanted more. I wanted her to see me for who I am, to realize that I could be the man she needed.To try to distract myself, I spent more time with Annalise and even thought about visiting Axel in Madrid. However, the idea of going so far seemed more like an escape than a solution. It was as if I was trying to run away from myself, and that wouldn't work. On Friday night, three days after our last meeting, I decided to call Pietra. I needed to see her again, but in a way that could bring us closer."Hello?" Her voice sounded through the phone, and I felt a pang of nervousness."Pietra, it's me, Anton," My voice came out more serious than I intended. "I wanted to invite you to d
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-06In the Name of Ambition Total Opposites
PietraI noticed Anton’s discomfort as he listened to just a fraction of what I had been through over the past few years. It was as if he were confronted with a reality he didn’t know how to handle. This only proved he wasn’t ready for the harsh truths most people face.No matter how much Anton tried to show empathy, I knew he could never fully understand.The dinner continued in tense silence, and my irritation with Anton’s attitude only grew. He seemed so out of place, so oblivious to the reality I lived every day, that I decided it was time to turn the tables. If he wanted to know about my life, I had every right to know more about his, even though I already kept up with everything through gossip sites online.Anton’s ever-busy life, filled with parties and ya
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-07In the Name of Ambition Desire vs. Responsibility
AaronDriving to Rebecca's apartment, my heart felt heavy, weighed down by a decision that seemed increasingly absurd. The idea of having a child with her—of being part of this insane plan—felt more like a prison than a solution. I wanted control over my family’s empire, but at what cost? More and more, I felt like I was losing control of my own life.When I parked in front of her building, I seriously considered turning back. But the image of Rebecca, with her green eyes that seemed to see through me, kept me rooted in place. I climbed the stairs hesitantly, each step amplifying my uncertainty. I rang the doorbell and waited, my mind still racing to prepare for what was about to happen.When Rebecca opened the door, for a moment, all my doubts vanished.
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-07In the Name of Ambition Trying to Find a Path
AntonI watched as Pietra walked briskly toward the taxi, her legs moving with the urgency of someone eager to escape an uncomfortable situation. She climbed into the vehicle almost in a single motion, offering only a quick wave before the car drove away.I sighed, still sensing traces of her presence in the air—a blend of perfume and mystery that left me intrigued. Pietra was an enigma I desperately wanted to solve, yet she maintained a barrier that felt impenetrable.Still, the dinner that evening was a small victory for me. I managed to glean a few valuable details about her life, fragments of a puzzle starting to take shape in my mind.I learned why Pietra hadn’t been able to continue her studies in London and about the weight of the respons
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-08In the Name of Ambition An Unexpected Meeting
PietraI huffed in frustration as I ended the call with Anton. He always acts like the most important person on the planet. Just because he has no responsibilities, he assumes no one else does either. My thoughts were a whirlwind as I tried to focus on my work at the diner, but the anger distracted me every second. "Is everything okay at home, Pietra?" Grandma Maria’s gentle, concerned voice pulled me back to reality. "Is there a problem at home?" She always seemed to sense when something was bothering me. "Everything’s fine, Grandma Maria. My siblings are doing well," I replied, trying to ma
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-04-08
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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,
In the Name of Ambition Unexpected News
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
