Antonella remained startled until Fred's car left the hospital and headed toward the city's main road. Only when she realized what had happened and that she was safe did she finally release the air trapped in her lungs.Her damp, trembling hands relaxed. She wiped them on the jeans she was wearing. She looked at Fred, asking how he knew she needed help and how he had managed to be so effective in getting her out from among the lions.“You told me that Benjamim sent you.”Fred turned his head and laughed at her. He looked at her hand, then turned his attention back to the road, but with a smile still on his face.“I need to know where to take you,” he said. “After all, Benjamim didn’t tell me where you live.”“He doesn’t know where I live.” Her voice almost faded. “So, you were really telling the truth when you said it was him who sent you here?”The car started to slow down, and Fred’s gaze wandered over the road as if he were completely lost.“Mr. Benjamim ordered me to come to the h
Antonella stood still, holding her phone, staring at the blank, white wall in front of her, while Adam kept wondering why Benjamim had to leave. She couldn't say anything. How could she explain that to him? That the woman he met a few days ago was trying to take him away from his mother?This situation was testing Antonella's patience. She kissed Adam and told him she would be gone for a few minutes, but that he should wait for her there. Adam had always been an obedient boy, and he did as Antonella asked, even though he hated being alone in that room.She returned a few minutes later with a cup of coffee in her hand. She grabbed one of the many books Benjamim had left to read to the boy and told him the story. Adam smiled and asked questions about the story, showing that he was progressing in his treatment. Antonella felt relieved because the boy was returning to being the happy and active child he had always been.She hoped the doctor would discharge him in the coming days, so he co
Benjamim arrived home alone. He lay down in his bed and waited for his room to fill up in a few hours. He had called his lawyer on the way and explained everything that was happening, hearing the man say he would be there in a few minutes.But before all of that, he had to face a few journalists, who, for some reason, were camped outside the hospital. He was bombarded with those idiotic questions about whether his company was going bankrupt, how he felt about meeting his son, and if he and Antonella were together. That last question lingered in his thoughts until he finally got home.Although he tried to be polite—he tried to be polite with everyone—he hated being interviewed by those people. They were just waiting for him to slip up, to crucify him, or to throw him to the lions.He tried not to think about it and focused on the tasks ahead, but Antonella’s face wouldn’t leave his mind. He regretted leaving without telling her how he felt, or worse, without saying goodbye to his son.
Benjamim didn’t want Dominique to deliver any messages, so he went after Antonella, grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, and, looking into her tear-filled eyes, said:“I won’t let this happen.”Antonella closed her eyes, but the tears spilled over her lashes.She didn’t know if she could trust him or if he were just saying all this sympathizing to calm her down, but Antonella desperately wanted the nightmare to end. If she had been brave enough, she would have left, and none of this would be happening.But that wouldn’t have stopped Adam from getting sick, and it wouldn’t have stopped her from seeking Benjamim to save Adam’s life. No matter how far she ran, life would find a way to bring them back together. There was no escape—she and Benjamim had been bound to each other since the first day they were promised to marry one another.Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice when he lowered his hands, feeling only his grasp on hers.Touching someone was difficult for him, especially if th
BeforeAntonella’s face became completely expressionless when she heard Carlota’s words. But she knew it wasn’t entirely true; still, she was surprised to hear her say those things behind her back.She left before she could hear another major piece of nonsense or before Benjamim saw her overhearing their conversation. It was clear that he agreed with his mother and considered her a gold digger. She preferred not to hear the rest of the conversation to avoid further frustration.However, the tears were inevitable. Before she realized it, they were already streaming down her cheeks. It was impossible to hide it from Dominique. She came walking towards her, and Antonella's first impulse was to turn her back and leave.Too late.“Why are you crying?” she asked, looking deeply into Antonella’s eyes. “Did Benjamim say something that hurt you?”Antonella wiped her eyes with her fingers immediately. She swallowed all the pain because, right there, looking at Dominique, she concluded it was a
Fred advanced toward Carlota to remove her, but Benjamim raised his hand, signaling him to stop. It was too late. Carlota had dropped the bomb in his lap, and there was no way to avoid the explosion.Benjamim scratched his pale cheek, still feeling drowsy. He thought about what he would say to her and restrained himself from voicing his true feelings about the situation. It was as if Dante knew about everything and used it to make Benjamim dependent on him and the damned government to stay afloat.“Who told you I refused his help?”Carlota pursed her lips as if considering his question foolishly.“It was the governor himself who told me.”The first thing that came to Benjamim’s mind was Dante mocking him. After all, he had challenged him, and Dante, like any adroit politician, retaliated by putting him in a tough spot.“Of course he would,” he said, remembering Dante being so close to Antonella. That memory boiled his blood. “I refuse his help. We won’t go bankrupt just because the go