"Xande, we can't go on like this. When are you going to decide to come back home?"I stopped as I entered my office. Maria Clara was still wandering around, clearly restless."Maybe I won't come back, Maria Clara. Don't pressure me about this. It's better if we decide to separate."She spun on her thin brown heels, her eyes blazing with indignation."No! Not separation, Alexandre! What will people think? You can't end our marriage over one mistake!"I raised my eyebrows and set the gifts down on the gray sofa."A mistake? Cheating isn't a mistake, Maria Clara. At least I believe we can still be friends. But I won't lie to you… The feelings aren't the same."I opened the curtains, letting the light flood the room. I heard the deep sigh she let out."Just one more chance, Xande. We've been together for so long... I know you like you're a part of my soul, and you know me too."She wasn't wrong."We’ll try. If we feel there’s nothing left, we’ll separate."It wasn’t a crazy idea. After so
I walked through the hospital while Ana Liz was still on the phone with my father’s mother. I didn’t want to stand next to her, much less hear her narrating things about me.At some point, I knew I’d have to meet my paternal grandmother. She seemed kind—at least over the phone. My maternal grandmother had been good to me too, even though she passed away early.I wandered off, distracted, not really paying attention to where I was going. I was starving.That’s when my body collided with someone.I turned quickly, my heart racing.The man in front of me was wearing a blue lab coat.I swallowed hard.I knew him.All too well.My mind flooded with memories I wished I could pretend were meaningless. His eyes, his breath, the way he moved over me. His hand gently caressing my face, his fingers holding mine above my head, his mouth exploring my neck, my breasts… Minutes that should have faded away, yet burned vividly inside me.I froze.The blue coat told me he was a doctor—but I didn’t need
Years of study. Years of experience.Surgery was the activity that brought me the most satisfaction—an indescribable pleasure. But that afternoon, as I prepared to enter the operating room, my mind insisted on wandering elsewhere—or rather, to someone else.Mavi.What was she doing here?“Damn it!” I cursed aloud without thinking.A few team members looked at me, but I waved off any concern.I need to focus.I took a deep breath and followed protocol.In the locker room, I removed my regular clothes and put on the blue surgical scrubs. Then came the sterile shoes, the cap covering every strand of hair. My reflection in the mirror showed a lost gaze. Not the time for distractions.I proceeded to the handwashing station. Opened the tap with my foot—no hand contact allowed. The antiseptic soap coated my fingers, wrists, and forearms. I followed the standard motions, scrubbing between each finger, across every surface.Minimum time? Two full minutes.Water running. Soap dripping.I though
Eu apaguei completamente. Quando acordei, meu estômago estava roncando. Olhei ao redor da sala rosa e branca, sentindo como se tivesse caído em um conto de fadas... castelos, bruxas, magia - e tudo o mais que só existe em nossa imaginação.Levantei-me lentamente e caminhei até minha bolsa. Exceto pelas ligações da tia Lena, não havia nenhuma da minha mãe. Suspirei e mandei uma mensagem para minha tia, informando que havia chegado em segurança e encontrado meu pai. Respondi a algumas de suas perguntas e coloquei o telefone de lado.Coloquei um vestido cinza solto e desci as escadas na ponta dos pés. Vaguei pela casa até encontrar a cozinha. Abri a geladeira, procurando algo para comer, e fiz um sanduíche rápido. Minha fome não podia esperar. Enquanto eu comia, meus olhos vagavam pelo espaço. Realmente houve algum amor entre minha mãe e meu pai? Ou tudo tinha sido apenas uma armadilha?Depois de comer, voltei para o meu quarto. A casa era enorme - basicamente uma mansão. Pelo que perceb
I should look at that woman as a niece.Heitor’s daughter.My best friend.That’s how I had always seen her.With each step Maria Vitória took toward my desk, I couldn’t look away from her eyes. A wave of discomfort and guilt swept over me. Heitor would never forgive me. I couldn’t forgive myself.Realizing that Mavi and Maria Vitória were the same person made me angry with myself. But what could we do?I watched every dragging step she took in my direction. When she extended her small, delicate hand, I feared she might go even further in this madness and actually call me “uncle.” That would be sickening to me.Her hand trembled.Heitor was still watching from a distance. I took her hand in greeting, unable to look away from her eyes.What had we done?"How are you, Maria Vitória?" I tried to smile, but it was forced. I felt tense. I never imagined that one day I’d be with another woman... only to find out she might be my best friend’s daughter."Fine..." she replied shakily, the smil
My father burst into laughter, shaking the papers as if the whole thing were a joke. Alexandre’s wife, furious, tried to reach for them, teetering on her thin heels. The scene was almost comical—if it weren’t so deeply uncomfortable.Inside, everything in me was screaming.I wanted to disappear.Alexandre was there, so close. His cologne lingered in the air—subtle, but unforgettable. He didn’t seem even slightly shaken. There was no tension on his face, as if whatever had happened between us had been a mistake, a blurred memory, poorly interpreted.And maybe it had been.But not for me.I still remembered the warm breeze drifting through the bungalow, the way he looked at me—like he could see inside me. I remembered his fingertips brushing my face, the comforting silence between us, my breath caught on his lips.I still carried all of that.And now, he looked at me as if I were… his friend’s daughter.Or worse: an inconvenient presence.I pretended not to care. Pretending had become m
I looked towards the door as Heitor left. Maria Vitória had already gone ahead, her hurried steps revealing more than just urgency; it seemed like she was running away. Running from me, perhaps. Or from both of us.Luiza was still talking about the schedule changes when I subtly waved her off, trying to get back into the rhythm that the day demanded of me."Alright, Luiza. Send her in. We’re not changing the schedule just for anyone."My voice was firm, but inside, everything felt out of place. I tried to maintain the usual normalcy, even though it no longer made much sense.Heitor didn’t show up again that day. At least not in the morning. And although Maria Vitória didn't give any signs, the image of Mavi, the girl from before, kept coming back.What should I do? Should I talk to Heitor? Sit down and clear everything up? It seemed like the right thing to do. But... after that, what would happen to us? Was there space for honesty without everything falling apart?I got up from my cha
Eu ainda estava tentando me acostumar com a vida do meu pai: luxo, sim, mas também excesso de trabalho. Se eu quisesse vê-lo, tinha que ir ao hospital.Os dias com Ana Liz seriam perfeitos para qualquer garota de quinze anos, especialmente uma tão materialista quanto ela. Ela me levou ao cabeleireiro, renovei meu corte e, desta vez, escolhi uma franja arredondada logo acima dos olhos. Deu-me um olhar mais discreto, exatamente o que eu queria. Eu não queria chamar a atenção de ninguém. O que foi feito, foi feito.Mas quando saímos do salão para escolher roupas, eu não podia ignorar os olhares que estávamos recebendo."Viu? Esse corte de cabelo te deixou ainda mais gostosa. Você parece ter dezessete anos, Vihh." Ana Liz comentou, satisfeita.Eu não tinha tanta certeza. Esse não era o efeito que eu estava procurando. Tudo o que eu queria era paz, tranquilidade.Entramos em algumas lojas. Podia ter renovado todo o meu guarda-roupa, mas optei por algumas peças. Simples. Discreto.Os dias p
The digital clock on the meeting room wall read 8:07 AM when Maria Vitória pushed the door open, a folder of reports under one arm and a coffee cup in the other. Her hair tied in a practical bun, a white coat over a navy blue dress. The room was full — nurses, managers, two representatives from the newly opened public wing."Good morning, everyone," she smiled, sitting at the head of the table. "Let’s try to wrap things up before nine. I have to drop off Alana at school by ten."Everyone smiled. Dr. Xavier was known for being firm, objective, and... absolutely passionate about her children. But her husband? Everyone knew she would drop everything, without hesitation, if he called her suddenly.As she reviewed patient care charts and expansion plans for the public wing, her phone vibrated discreetly on the table. A picture appeared: Alexandre, with messy hair, jacket thrown over his shoulder, and a half-smirk, standing in front of the university.His message:"The class today was a dis
"Of course it is! And if it isn't..." I slid my hand between us, inside the robe. The gesture undid the knot with an almost symbolic ease — reckless, different, strange. "I want everything. For you to be my wife, for us to have children, grandchildren... pets, whatever you want. I want to d..."Mavi put her finger to my lips, firmly."Don't you dare say that. I accept being your wife. I'm already your wife. I want to be the mother of your children, your grandchildren... but never talk about dying, Alexandre. Never."I nodded, silent, and led her to the backseat. She lay there, looking at me as if the world were just the two of us."I accept being yours... anywhere," she whispered.I looked at her body, magnificent, natural, in a way that was only hers."You are incredibly perfect... and you can be the mother of my children."She pulled me by the collar of my shirt, urgently."Fuck me first, praise me later," she said quickly, hungrily.I laughed, moving closer to her mouth."You look
After Maria Clara’s arrest, things finally began to settle down. She was transferred to a prison almost immediately. No one explained why, but Dr. Caroline told me—her expression more serious than usual—that Maria Clara had been classified as extremely dangerous, even to other inmates.I was trying to get back to my life: studies, internship. My mother returned to her work. Aunt Lena came to spend the weekend with us, but I knew it wasn’t just a visit. At night, she disappeared, as always. And this time, I didn’t follow.My father was surprisingly focused during those days. He shared the hospital’s management with Alexandre, and they even hired a temporary surgeon to cover some shifts. He seemed determined to keep everything running, as if trying to prove something—maybe to himself.That night, I stepped outside and found them there: my father and Alexandre, sitting under the amber light, drinking whiskey and discussing hospital expenses.I approached slowly. I knew that, between them
As much as I was worried about Maria Vitória, even knowing she was represented by highly competent lawyers, there was a deeper unease gnawing at me.Maria Clara was still out there.There were checkpoints on the roads. Increased surveillance at the bus station.All access points were being monitored.But nothing. No trace of her.When I was informed that Maria Vitória had claimed self-defense, the case flipped completely.The eyes of Justice shifted.So did public attention.She was no longer seen as a reckless criminal—but as someone who had survived.From that moment on, I stopped worrying about her, at least from a legal standpoint.Caroline had prepared her masterfully. Even more so with the investigation now open against Marcelo for the brutal attack on Laura.He was officially a fugitive. A dangerous man.And Maria Vitória… a victim.But my own torment had not ended.When we reviewed the building’s security footage, I felt my blood run cold.Maria Clara was clearly seen entering
My heartbeat was erratic.Marcelo and I pulled the trigger almost at the same time — his finger pressing down on mine, trying to force me to shoot.But the bullet… it wasn’t meant for me.When his body trembled beneath mine, a lump rose in my throat.His hand weakened over mine.“Maria Vitória… Maria…” I heard Alexandre behind me, voice choked, arms trying to pull me away.But it was too late. Far too late.I pulled the trigger again.Once. Twice. Three. Four times.On the fifth, the gun jammed.It wouldn’t fire anymore.Still, I stayed there. Shaking.I didn’t want to see my mother afraid anymore. Always scared.I didn’t want to change cities again.I didn’t want to live in fear.“Maria Vitória?” his voice echoed in my ear.The sound of the door opening hit me like a distant wave. But I didn’t turn around.I was frozen. In shock.Silently confessing everything I had done.“Give me that!” Alexandre tried to pull the gun from my hand.“No!” I shouted, gripping it fiercely.“I won’t let
It had been a wonderful night. We didn’t make love like we did the other times—this time there was no rush, no urgency—because we knew it wasn’t the last time anymore. We intertwined our bodies in a slow, delicious act with no set end.I fell asleep with Maria Vitória in my arms as she talked about the harsh cuts her new advisor had made to her thesis. I told her she should publish the research after her defense—with my review.Seeing her eyes shine in the darkness of the room gave me a certainty: we were starting over. I didn’t know how long it would last, but I wanted it to be good while it did.She left early. She had an internship. And even though it was hard to let her leave the bed, she was... admirably responsible as she reached the door.The morning light crept shyly through the curtains. The sun hadn’t warmed enough to take the chill from my chest. I sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, phone in hand.Mavi’s message still glowed on the screen:“He called me. Said he’s going
I spent another night at Alexandre’s apartment. Maybe my mother had gotten used to the idea. I arrived in the morning, and she was still asleep in her room. I entered quietly, changed my clothes, and packed my bag.My phone started ringing.When I saw the name on the screen, I hesitated.It was my father.The day before, he had only sent a brief message:"Tell Alexandre to answer me. It’s urgent."Nothing more.It was as if he knew I was with Alexandre — though I wasn’t. Not yet.I stared at the screen for a few seconds before I answered. But I didn’t say anything."Maria? Are you listening?" he asked from the other end.I didn’t know how to respond. Maybe I had been too harsh in our last conversation."I’m here," I replied, seriously."I’m stepping away. Tell Alexandre to go back to the hospital. I can’t continue leading anymore. I took out a loan, there’s money in the account. He should take over the management. Do whatever you want with that mess..."His voice was firm, but hollow.
Maria Vitória didn’t return to my apartment.It was getting dark when Heitor's car left the building. I waited for her, but I didn’t want to suffocate her. That outcome was between two people: father and daughter.On Monday, it was strange not following my routine. After the gym, I stayed home, bored. No reading flowed. No thoughts made sense. And she... didn’t show up either.On Tuesday, nothing changed.On Wednesday, Heitor called me several times. I ignored all of them. Later, I saw Maria Vitória arriving with her mother. She still seemed shaken. When she lifted her eyes toward my window, I hesitated: was she avoiding me or did she want to talk?Had she decided to distance herself from me?It seemed like it.I started evaluating job offers I had been receiving... but none of them made sense. None had her in them.It was night when the doorbell rang.I looked through the peephole. Seeing her there, I opened the door in a hurry. My heart raced as if I were a nervous kid, about to be
I didn’t know what to say, but I knew that without Alexandre at the hospital, everything would soon collapse.“What are you planning to do? You can’t just…” I tried to say, but he shook his head, still shirtless, wearing only shorts, and turned his back to me, heading toward the kitchen.“I’ve turned down countless job offers. I never left the hospital out of respect for your father. Besides, I can afford to stay away for a while. Years dealing with blood, saving the lives of strangers… Deep down, maybe Maria Clara is right: I don’t have a life beyond an operating room.”Just hearing her name made the discomfort return. I wished he wouldn’t refer to his ex-wife, but I’d never have the courage to say that.“I understand. I won’t take up any more of your time. Either way, this conversation has to happen,” I said, watching as he placed the empty glass on the white island counter.“Hey, wait…” he rushed toward me, grabbing me by the waist. I looked into his eyes, trying to read his reason