ログインChapter 51The day of discharge arrived faster than anyone expected. On the morning of his release, Maitê helped Rafael put on a simple dress shirt and comfortable slacks, clothes Mara had sent from the mansion."It feels like I’m getting out of prison," he murmured.Maitê smiled, adjusting the collar of his shirt."It’s just the beginning of your freedom. At home it’ll be different. There’s space, the kids, more people."He turned his face toward her, holding her hand over the arm of the chair."There’s you."She leaned in and kissed his forehead."There’s me. Always."Daniel came in with the paperwork signed."Everything’s ready. Let’s take you home, Dad."Rafael nodded, taking a deep breath."Let’s go."Daniel pushed the wheelchair. In the lobby, some of the nurses who had taken care of him came over to say goodbye. One of them, the one who had caught them in the act weeks earlier, winked at Maitê."Take good care of him, okay? He deserves it."Maitê laughed softly."You can count
Chapter 50That same afternoon, Rafael was more adjusted to the wheelchair. The physical therapist had done a short session that morning, and now he felt a little more in control of his own body.They brought the coffee tray to Maitê, who placed it on the table in front of the large window overlooking the hospital’s inner garden.They ate in silence for a few minutes.Rafael suddenly stopped, his spoon suspended in the air."I wish I could remember…" he murmured.Maitê stopped drinking her coffee with milk and looked at him, her heart tightening.He placed the spoon on the plate and looked at her."I wish I could remember us. What happened to separate us. Why did we break up?"Maitê felt a tear well up, but she held it back firmly. She took a deep breath."You got jealous."Rafael frowned, confused."Jealous? What happened?"She lowered her eyes to the cup, tracing her finger along the rim."Your son… Daniel." He blinked, surprised. "He kissed me. It was an impulse on his part. But yo
Chapter 49The next morning, Daniel held Théo in his arms and slowly brought him closer to the bed. Rafael, half-sitting, reached out and carefully took the baby. Théo blinked slowly and touched his father’s face with his open palm."Hi, buddy…" Rafael murmured, his voice hoarse with emotion. "You’re… strong, huh?"Then Maitê handed him Luna. Rafael took her with his other arm, even though it hurt a little."You are mine…" he whispered, more to himself. "My babies."Daniel and Maitê exchanged a look. There was no need for words. Rafael kissed each of their foreheads. Then, reluctantly, he handed the babies back. Daniel left with them and the nanny.Rafael stared at the closed door for long seconds. Then he turned his face toward Maitê.She was standing by the window, using her phone, probably texting Dafne. He watched her closely.Her brown hair falling loosely over her shoulders, the delicate shape of her face, the straight nose, the full lips he had kissed a thousand times in anothe
Chapter 48Rafael slowly turned his face toward his son, his eyes still heavy, as he felt exhausted."Where is your mother?" he asked, almost in a whisper.Daniel frowned, confused. He glanced quickly at Maitê before answering."I believe she's at her house… or maybe she's working. Why?"Rafael closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them again, he asked with difficulty:"Water…"Daniel picked up the cup with a straw from the bedside table and helped his father take a few small sips. Rafael swallowed slowly, his dry throat burning with the liquid.He looked back at Maitê and then at his son."Why did you ask about your mother?"He took a deep breath before answering:"I must have been drunk… or crazy… or drugged…" he murmured. "To have cheated on your mother with this woman. I can’t believe I was capable of doing that… and on top of that, having children with someone else. She will never forgive me… I won’t forgive myself."Silence.Maitê felt the air leave her lungs. She lowered
Chapter 47Two weeks later, Rafael’s room looked less like an ICU and more like a regular recovery room. The tests multiplied: CT scans, MRIs, electroencephalograms, daily neurological evaluations.Every result was analyzed carefully, discussed in endless rounds. Daniel attended almost all of them; Maitê, when she could, stayed by the door, listening to fragments of technical terms she already knew by heart, yet that still terrified her.Finally, one morning, the head neurologist called Daniel and Maitê into the room next to Rafael’s."We have decided to completely stop the sedation today," the doctor announced, looking them in the eyes. "His vital signs have been stable for days. Brain activity is consistent. There is no longer any reason to keep him under sedatives. Now it is only a matter of time before he wakes up. It could be today, tomorrow, in a few days… The brain needs to reorganize itself. But the signs are good."Maitê felt her legs weaken. Daniel discreetly held her by the
Chapter 46Before lying down, Maitê sat on the edge of the bed. Her body felt heavy with exhaustion and overwhelming emotion. She picked up her phone, opened WhatsApp, and recorded a voice message.“Dafne… something terrible happened. Rafael… he was in a serious accident. He’s in a coma at the hospital. Disfigured, my friend. Tubes everywhere. The doctors say his chances are low… less than forty percent for a full recovery. I brought the boys to his mansion. They’re sleeping in the room next door. I’m not going back to Santa Catarina. I can’t leave him like this. Forgive me… but I need to stay. I love you. Call me when you wake up.”She sent it. She stared at the screen for a few seconds, waiting. Then she placed the phone on the nightstand, turned off the light, and lay down on her side, curled up like a child. She cried until sleep finally took her.In the middle of the night, the phone vibrated on the nightstand. Maitê woke with a start, thinking it was the hospital. She grabbed th







