Lahat ng Kabanata ng In the Name of Ambition: Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 140

AaronThe smell of fresh coffee hung in the air as I approached the dining room for breakfast, offering a bit of comfort after a terrible night. But the mood at the table said otherwise. Besides my grandparents, Anton and Anneliese were also seated, but the heavy silence and closed expressions signaled that something was wrong, especially Leonel’s stormy glare. "What’s going on?" I asked, grabbing a cup and pouring myself some coffee. Leonel scoffed, which was never a good sign. "Your brother never tires of disgracing this family." I frowned. "Which one?" Before my grandfather could fully explode, Anneliese jumped in. "Axel," she said, rolling her eyes and grabbing a slice of cake. "The British press is reporting that a woman is pregnant with his child." I grimaced. Again? "This has happened before," I said with a shrug, sipping my coffee. "A hookup that happened during Axel’s vacation in Santorini," Anneliese added. My gaze shifted to Anton, who looked tense. He had been

KimberlyI had already called my boss, Charles Whitaker, to let him know that something had come up and I didn’t know when I’d make it to work. The call was brief, but the tone of his voice made it clear that he was not pleased. Charles had always been a meticulous, controlling man—and, to be honest, a bit pedantic. He had a peculiar way of making comments that sounded harmless, but always carried a subtle sarcasm that only I seemed to pick up on. This time, though, he got straight to the point. “Kimberly, does this... situation of yours have anything to do with the story going around in the media?” he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. “About you being pregnant with a Brazilian football player’s child?”

 RebeccaAs soon as I stepped off the bus and my feet touched the cobblestone ground, I felt a tightness in my chest. Castilho looked exactly the way I remembered: small and welcoming. For a brief moment, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. It felt strange to feel peace after everything I’d been through.I took a deep breath, letting the fresh countryside air fill my lungs, trying to ignore the weight of memories pulling me backward. I didn’t want to think about what happened after I went to São Paulo. Not now.I adjusted the strap of my suitcase and started walking. The streets, once so familiar, now felt like uncertain territory. I could feel the stares, people peeking from behind curtains, whispers carried on the breeze. In Castilho, no one was invisible. And I definitely wouldn’t go unnoticed.

KimberlyI was furious.I’d left the living room without a backward glance, abandoning Axel after our tense confrontation. I marched straight to the bedroom Kathleen and I were sharing. Ettore had offered us separate rooms, but I’d insisted on staying with my sister, claiming we wouldn’t be here long. He’d given me a suspicious look, like he knew more than he was letting on, but I’d ignored it at the time.Now, though, as I realized night had fallen and we were still in this house, my restlessness only grew. Kathleen, ever more observant than I gave her credit for, crossed her arms and gave me a knowing look."You’ve noticed, haven’t you?" she said, rhetorically."Noticed what?" I snapped, even th

AntonI knew winning Pietra back wouldn’t be easy, but I hadn’t imagined it would be a full-blown battle of wills. Every step toward her felt like crossing a minefield, where each move risked triggering an explosion of emotions she was trying so hard to keep buried.Since I decided to prove to her that I wanted to be by her side no matter what, I started showing up at her house every evening. And even though I was present, Pietra kept building barriers between us—brick by brick—with a determination that left me both frustrated and, in a strange way, admiring.Despite everything, I seemed to have the silent support of her siblings. Isaac, with his contagious energy, always lit up when I arrived, as if my presence was a gift he eagerly awaited. Andressa, more reserved and observant, didn’t say much, but her eyes said plenty. There was a quiet hopefulness in her gaze, like she knew that deep down, Pietra was just trying to protect herself from something she couldn’t even name. They made