CHAPTER 5

Bruno's request makes Helena close her eyes, allowing herself to go back to the moment that brought her there.

"Open your eyes, Lena," Helena's mother asks, making her daughter open her eyes in front of the mirror.

Regina sighs as she sees her daughter beautifully dressed in that princess-style white dress, filled with lace, just the way the mother of the bride had imagined. Helena could even say she was surprised, but she would be lying, because knowing her mother, she knew the dress would be nothing less than perfect.

In fact, perfection was Helena's motto ever since she was a child, as she was certain about how her life would be. Or rather, the life imposed by Regina on Helena from the night Augusto, the young woman's father, ended his marriage with Regina, right in front of the children. Marcelo was younger and understood very little, but the girl understood very well the argument between her parents, which at a certain point culminated in the conversation that would forever change her family's life:

"So tell me, Augusto, what do you want from me?"

"What I want is a selfless, submissive wife who treats me like the man I am! I'm the head of this family, not you!"

"Funny, I thought to be the head of something, you needed to work and earn money! And in your case, you do neither! It's me who works to put food on this family's table!"

"Yes, because even that, Regina, you took for yourself! Enough, I'm tired of being the butt of jokes among my friends. I need a wife who listens to me, who follows my orders without questioning... And you're not capable of that. So enough, I'm leaving."

And that was how Helena's father exited the scene, leaving room for the child's mother to do everything in her power to turn her daughter into the woman idealized by Augusto. First, Helena should focus on her studies, as that would allow her to get into law school, but she shouldn't actually practice law, as it would be just something to put her in the right circle to meet her future husband, to whom she would dedicate her life as a housewife. Something that, unfortunately, her mother couldn't do because when Helena's father left, the last thing Regina could do was take care of her children at home. Helena witnessed all her mother's suffering and promised herself that she wouldn't go through that. Not at all, she just had to follow the script devised by Regina. And so she did, in her second year of college, she met Leandro, heir to a hotel chain who was studying management. From the moment they saw each other, they were inseparable. In just a few months, she met Leandro's parents, who considered her a lovely young woman worthy of a serious commitment, which came soon after, at Helena's request, convinced by Regina, on Valentine's Day to make it a memorable occasion.

The engagement was not much different, it was on the day of their first kiss, with the groom's speech written by Helena under her mother's influence. In fact, everything was very well orchestrated by Regina. All the wedding arrangements had Regina's touch, much to the chagrin of the event planners who had to deal with the schedule and countless lists sent by email. By the way, the wedding was set for the date of Leandro's parents' thirtieth wedding anniversary. The guest list was also meticulously crafted with the right people, including Lena's bosses, whom the mother of the bride believed, seeing her daughter's happiness, would facilitate her departure from the company without Lena having to quit. Does that make sense? Perhaps not for ordinary mortals, but for Regina, it made perfect sense.

The honeymoon was up to Helena, but with countless recommendations from Regina, who made it very clear that it should be to Leandro's liking, and so it was. Leandro had always dreamed of taking a trip to Parati and practicing his favorite sport, cycling, as well as doing trails, diving, surfing, and other sports. In fact, Parati was chosen to satisfy Leandro's desire to visit the coastal city. Yes, Helena was fully aware that her honeymoon didn't seem at all romantic and didn't match her personality. Every time she told people about the prepared itinerary, they questioned:

"A honeymoon is for the couple, what did you plan for both of you?"

"And what about the romantic part?"

"What do you want, Helena?"

"And what about you, what do you want to do?"

The only thing Helena did was smile and say that the plans were perfect for her and that the important thing was for Leandro to be happy because his happiness was hers too.

"I'm coming in."

The door to the room opens, allowing Marcelo, her brother, to enter. He stares at his sister for a moment, admiring her bridal beauty as she continues to analyze every detail of her dress in search of any flaws.

"Wow, you look beautiful," Marcelo compliments her, ignored by his sister. He starts waving his arms towards her while saying, "Lena, you look beautiful... Hey, Lena! Earth calling Lena!"

"What?" Lena asks, annoyed with her brother.

"Am I okay?" her brother asks, showing his black tuxedo to Lena, who grimaces. "What's wrong?"

"Your tie is crooked," the sister says, approaching Marcelo and practically choking him with the tie. She then adjusts his shirt, belt, and lapel. "Now, yes, not as bad."

"And with you, perfect Lena," Marcelo teases, receiving a death glare from his sister. "Poor Leandro, he'll have to put up with you for the rest of his life."

"Marcelo, leave your sister alone," Regina requests, seriously. "Well, I think we can go now, or we'll have to pay the fine for the hall... and the Sala São Paulo is not cheap."

The wedding was organized at the historical heritage site of São Paulo, the headquarters of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, Leandro's parents' favorite orchestra. Granted, attending the orchestra wasn't something within Helena's reality, but Regina convinced her to attend to please her future in-laws, and now her daughter will get married at Sala São Paulo.

"Marcelo," Helena calls out, watching her mother arrange the bouquet of red roses symbolizing the first rose Leandro gave to her. Her brother gives her an unfriendly look. "You had the audacity to take my fiancé to a bachelor party. Did you check if he's okay?"