Othon As Karen rose from the bed with wide eyes, wrapped in the sheet, I remained calmly lying down. I wouldn't confront her, nor engage in an argument with Karen right now, especially since we had finally come to understand each other and discovered that we have a son. No. I want to make the most of that night with her, and the next day, I want to meet Otávio and give my son a tight hug."Not using protection wasn't something I planned, Karen," I said calmly. "Nor did I hear you ask about it.""Are you blaming me?" Karen asked, placing her hand on her chest dramatically."My tests are up to date, Karen. And I'm sure you're not involved with anyone else either," I said, trying to reassure her. "There's no need to worry."

OthonUpon hearing Karen's words, the first sensation that ran through my being was anger. Intense anger pulsating within me, threatening to dominate my thoughts. However, I am a controlled man and always try to weigh my words before speaking, even when deeply upset as I am now.Things had been slipping out of my control since I reunited with Karen. Especially now, with the revelation that she had a child of mine, I struggled to understand her reasons for keeping everything a secret. It was hard for me to put myself in her shoes, to understand why she hadn't tried to find me all these years.But now, all of this was reaching a critical point. Anger bubbled within me, seeking an outlet. I wanted to demand explanations and insist that she do what we agreed upon last night, but at the same time, I knew that wasn't how things worked. I knew I needed to find a way to deal with this situation, to find a solution that was fair to both of us. But, at the moment, all I felt was a deep sense of

OthonThe scene in Karen's living room left me in a state of shock. The tense atmosphere, heavy with surprise, hung over all of us. I couldn't comprehend how things had spiraled out of control so rapidly.Revealing the truth to Otavio had been a more challenging experience than I could have imagined. Seeing his refusal to meet his father was a painful blow, a sense of failure weighing heavily on my chest. However, even in the face of disappointment, I didn't regret trying.That dramatic scene had been just the first step on an uncertain path. Otavio was only a five-year-old child, and I knew nothing was definitive for someone so young. I tried to console myself with that thought, even in the uncertainty of what the future held for us.The first to break the silence was Mr. Buarque, who delicately expressed the desire to understand what was happening."Your mother and I deserve an explanation," he added, with a concerned look directed at his daughter.Karen's mother agreed with her hus

Othon   As I walked with Bart, the insistent ringtone of the phone shattered the peace. Karen. Her name blinked on the screen, stirring a strange sensation within me. A bad feeling settled in my chest. With a lump in my throat, I answered, sitting down on a nearby bench. Karen's words hit me like a hammer, leaving me stunned. My son was missing. I gripped Bart's leash tightly, ready to rush back home and assist in the search. But something made me hesitate. As I ended the call and held onto the dog leash, a strange movement very close to me caught my attention. A figure was approaching from a side street. I furrowed my brow, a shiver running down my spine. "Otavio?" I spoke aloud, but he wouldn't hear me from that distance.

OthonAfter leaving Otávio safely with Karen, I returned home, feeling torn between the desire to clarify everything immediately and the need to take a step back, allowing all of us to digest the revelations of that eventful day.While Bart roamed around the house, I was lost in thought. I didn't attempt to sleep, knowing I wouldn't be able to. I felt extremely restless and unable to simply lie down peacefully in my bed. Instead, I opted to try to focus on reading one of my books from the living room bookshelf. I would try to lose myself in the world of fiction and forget for a while the extraordinary turn of events that had happened in my life over the weekend.With a resigned sigh, I picked a volume and settled on the couch, hoping that the distraction of printed words could push away the tumultuous thoughts that haunted me.Already absorbed in the reading, I immersed myself in the pages of the book and finally managed to forget a bit about the world around me. However, the momentar