“All right, Mrs. Campbell. You may leave now.”
Jackson's voice was dry, an irrefutable full stop.
Vivian just nodded, maintaining the same confident smile she had worn from the beginning. As if nothing had happened, she left the conference room with steady steps.
In the hallway, however, she couldn't resist turning around. Her eyes were fixed on the closed office door, and a discreet smile appeared on her painted lips.
I fell in love with him. Jackson Carson... an intelligent, cold, and irresistible man. The man I'm going to win over.
Days Later
Time flew by in the blink of an eye. Victoria's medical leave was coming to an end—soon she would be back at work at JB.
Vivian kept quiet during those days. She didn't look for trouble, she didn't overreact. But that wasn't surrender. It was calculation.
I'm waiting for the right moment...
The day of Victoria's return coincide
“He's gorgeous, isn't he? And so smart too...” Noemia sighed, her eyes shining like stars.Victoria winked at her, amused.“Indeed. Good taste, my friend.”“I want to date him!” confessed Noemia, unable to hide her adoration as her eyes remained fixed on Nolan, standing elegantly on the platform.Victoria smiled at her friend's innocence. Nolan's beauty and charisma were undeniable, but that impression soon faded. With one hand resting lightly on her belly, she just listened to his deep, slow voice explaining the subject.However, for her, the nearly hour-long class became tedious and sleepy. Next to her, Noemia remained attentive, completely spellbound. Victoria barely contained her urge to laugh at her enthusiasm.But before she could make any comment, the classroom door opened.A young man wearing a cap leaned against the doorframe, silently observing Nolan.The brim of the cap was pulled
Lazaro never hid what he had done. After all, if Jackson wanted to, he could easily find him. The noise he had made was not just an attack—it was an invitation.He smiled, crossing his legs provocatively."Since you've found out everything, I won't deny it. It was me. But I bet you didn't expect me to find a major flaw in Jatobá.Jackson's eyes flashed, but his expression remained unchanged. He slowly twirled the cigarette between his fingers.“And what exactly do you think you found?”That was what Jackson wanted to hear. If Lazaro had exposed himself so much, he certainly had a second card up his sleeve.Lazaro leaned forward, a cold half-smile on his face.“It depends on your sincerity, Mr. Carson. I want a 30% stake in Jatobá. Sell it to me... and I'll tell you where the flaw is.”Jackson let out a brief, dry laugh, crushing his cigarette in the ashtray. His voice was calm but icy. &l
“Victoria, if I couldn't get information quickly, how could I survive in the entertainment industry?” Noemia joked, laughing. Then she lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “By the way... I just confirmed it. It really is Ellijah.”Victoria frowned, showing no surprise.Deep down, she already suspected it. But hearing the name definitively made her heart beat faster—not with joy, but with embarrassment.“It's really him...” she murmured. “Yes. And he's kept a very low profile these past few years. He lived abroad, leaving almost no trace. No parties, no banquets, no close friends,” said Noemia, surprised.“It's strange, because in high school he was the complete opposite. Captain of the basketball team, outgoing, handsome... half the school sighed over him.”Victória remembered. She remembered the unexpected confession, Ellijah's warm gaze, and how she, without
“Well, I'll check for you first. Then, if it's really him, you decide what to do. Okay?” Noemia said firmly.“Okay. Thank you, Noemia.”“Don't mention it. We're best friends.” She replied with a smile that Victoria could almost hear over the phone. “By the way, when are you free? Shall we go out for dinner?”“I'm free this afternoon.”“Great! Then let's have lunch together. How about at Franca University?”Victoria raised her eyebrows, intrigued.“Franca University? What are you going to do there?”On the other end of the line, Noemia's voice sounded shy, almost embarrassed:“Professor Nolan works there.”Victoria didn't need to see her blushing cheeks to understand. She laughed, surprised and amused:“Are you in love?”“Not yet... but I want to win him over,” Noemia confessed with a sweet
He knew he could never compare to Jackson. And even though he accepted defeat, he also knew he would never forget Victoria. She had been his first love, the first woman he had dreamed of sharing his life with.With a restrained look of affection and regret, Jayric took a deep breath and decided to act professionally.He approached her and said in a formal tone:“Victoria, come to my office. I need to discuss something with you.”“Of course, Mr. Rey,” she replied with a polite smile.He nodded and returned to the room. Shortly after, Victoria entered, closing the door behind her.Jayric pulled out a chair for her, keeping his voice calm:“Please, have a seat.”She obeyed, curious.“What would you like to discuss with me?”Jayric picked up a folder from the table and handed it to her.“A renowned designer is about to return to the country. We want to recru
Regular checkups were performed at the Carson Group's private hospital.With Jackson by her side, Victoria was welcomed by the director of obstetrics himself, receiving VIP treatment throughout her prenatal care.When all the tests were finished, the director handed the ultrasound report to Jackson and said subtly:"Mr. Carson, everything is fine with Mrs. Carson. The baby is healthy... and beautiful."Jackson, not immediately grasping the implied message, took the report. When he saw the image of the small fetus, his heart was filled with happiness.A gentle regret washed over him: he had missed the precious moments of Enzo and Lara's growth. This time, he would not give up on following every detail, every moment of the new baby's life.“Mr. Carson, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work.”“All right. Thank you, doctor,” Jackson replied politely.When Victoria left the exam room, she found her