Chapter 5

Between Wounds and Flowers

The night had barely begun, and Eloise was already tossing and turning in bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling of her dark bedroom.

It wasn’t insomnia.

It was worry.

Her father’s pension had been reduced once again. The amount barely covered his medication, and the surgery…

God, the surgery.

Two hundred thousand reais.

That was the price of keeping the most important man in her life by her side.

Ever since she learned that he needed a new heart valve, she hadn’t been able to rest. She took every extra shift she could find, declined invitations, and canceled her days off—all so she could watch the money slowly accumulate, even if the progress was painfully small.

The system was cruel, and her father was running out of time.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she wore her smile like armor.

The unexpected encounter happened early the next morning at the hospital. The doctor had asked to speak with her about one of her father’s test results, and she had rushed there.

In the hallway, she ran into her aunt.

And, of course, her cousin.

The same cousin who now proudly displayed an engagement ring worthy of a magazine cover—the same ring that, only months earlier, had been meant for Eloise.

“What a surprise to see you here, Eloise,” her aunt said in a tone that tried to sound kind but dripped with poison.

“Life is full of surprises,” Eloise replied, keeping her expression composed.

“We’re here for some routine tests. Nicole has been such a wonderful example, hasn’t she? So devoted, engaged to such a stable man. She’s a blessing to our family.”

Eloise gave her a crooked smile and crossed her arms.

“I can imagine. It’s a shame stability and character don’t always go hand in hand. But at least she got what was left over. I hope she takes good care of it.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Her aunt huffed indignantly, but Eloise turned her back before the confrontation could escalate.

However, the moment she walked away, her mask slipped.

Her chest ached.

The wound hadn’t healed.

And perhaps it never would.

⸻

Augusto was at home, but his mind was somewhere else.

The image of Eloise hastily leaving the office the previous day bothered him far more than he cared to admit.

She hadn’t explained herself.

She hadn’t asked for permission.

She had simply said that she needed to leave urgently.

And he wanted to know why.

Since when did he care?

Never.

But now…

⸻

The following day, Eloise arrived precisely on time.

She wore a beautifully tailored beige suit, fitted enough to flatter her figure. Nude lipstick emphasized the firmness of her lips, while her hair was styled in a high bun that made one thing perfectly clear: she was prepared for whatever the day demanded.

Augusto was waiting for her with a folder in his hand.

“You’ll accompany me to every meeting today. I need you to pay attention and write everything down,” he said without taking his eyes off her.

“Of course, Mr. Monteiro,” she replied firmly, picking up a pen and notepad before following him with confident steps.

Monteiro Tech was the largest technology company in North City and a leading name in innovation.

They were developing a revolutionary product: augmented-reality glasses equipped with voice commands and retinal scanning, designed for the education sector.

It was a bold venture that required an equally sharp marketing strategy.

Inside the conference room, the marketing director presented his proposal through a series of slides. The charts and projections were visually impressive, but the campaign itself lacked strategy.

“We believe younger audiences will be drawn to the futuristic design,” the director said.

Eloise hesitated before speaking.

“Excuse me…” she said, interrupting firmly.

Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward her.

Augusto slowly swiveled his chair in her direction, one eyebrow raised.

“May I say something?” she asked.

Augusto nodded.

“The futuristic design is appealing, but the marketing for this kind of technology needs to focus on its usefulness. We need to show how it will make learning easier and how it can create a positive impact. Younger audiences are already overwhelmed by visual promises. They want transformation.”

Silence filled the room.

“Go on,” Augusto said.

“I suggest a more emotional campaign, with videos showing students using the glasses in different situations. We should highlight accessibility, inclusion, and usability. We need to humanize the innovation.”

Augusto said nothing.

He simply looked at the marketing director.

“Redo the proposal based on what she said.”

Eloise concealed her surprise with a discreet nod.

She accompanied him to two more meetings, remaining quiet and attentive. It wasn’t until two in the afternoon that he finally spoke to her.

“You may take your lunch break. Be back by three.”

As she turned away, she heard his deep voice behind her, although he didn’t even look in her direction.

“Good suggestion, by the way. Just don’t get used to compliments. They tend to disappear the moment you make a mistake.”

She laughed as she left the building.

Spring had dressed North City in vibrant colors. Flowering trees painted the sky, and a gentle breeze caressed her face as she walked toward the café on the corner.

The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the fragrance of the flowers blooming on the balconies.

For a moment, Eloise set her worries aside.

She took a deep breath and thought that perhaps, little by little, she was entering a new season of her life as well.