All Chapters of In the Name of Ambition: Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

PietraThe air in the doctor’s office still smelled like alcohol and disinfectant when Dr. Fernandes closed Andressa’s file and smiled. “The tests look great. You can go back to your usual activities—but take it easy. College, sure. Working at the store…” He frowned slightly, studying Andressa’s face. “I think it’s better to wait another month. Physical exhaustion could still slow your recovery.”I let out a sigh of relief, but when I looked at Andressa, expecting to see the usual sparkle in her eyes she always had when receiving good news, I found only a reserved expression. She thanked the doctor with a nod, but her fingers clutched her bag tighter than necessary.In the hospital hallway, while we waited for the elevator, I gently touched her shoulder. “You don’t seem as excited as I thought you’d be.”She took a while to answer, her eyes fixed on the numbers lighting up above the elevator door. "It’s just that..." — she took a deep breath, as if gathering courage — "I wanted

KimberlyAs soon as I walked through the building’s revolving door, my breath still slightly uneven from my encounter with Axel, I was greeted by the receptionist’s rehearsed smile.“Mr. Whitaker asked that you go straight to his office, Kimberly. He’s expecting you.”Her voice was more cautious than usual. My steps faltered for a fraction of a second. Of course, he was expecting me. And of course, he knew everything that had hit the press in the past few hours.In the elevator, I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. You didn’t do anything wrong, I reminded myself. Your personal life is none of his business. But when the doors opened on the third floor, the anxiety came rushing back.As I stepped into the executive level, Charles’s secretary, Margaret—a woman in her fifties who had been working for him since I was an intern—looked up as soon as she saw me and made a dramatic gesture in my direction.“Good morning, Margaret,” I greeted her, trying to sound more confide

AxelI arrived early at the building where Kimberly worked, parking out front with the engine still running. It had been a long day, but unlike other times, I’d been counting down the minutes to this moment. My chest was drumming with anticipation—ridiculous, almost, like some lovesick kid waiting for his crush after school.But this was different. Kimberly wasn’t just any woman. She was the mother of my child. And after that morning, after that kiss that knocked the breath out of me, I couldn’t think of anything except being near her again.So when I saw her step out of the building, my body straightened on instinct. But the smile forming on my lips vanished the next second.She was tense.Kimberly walked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders—hunched, gaze distant. And when she slid into the car, she barely even looked at me."Hey," I greeted, trying to catch her eye."Hi," she replied, short and clipped, buckling her seatbelt without meeting my gaze.The air

Axel Kimberly was sleeping beside me, partially covered by the crumpled sheet, her face peaceful, as if the storm from the night before had finally passed. I spent a while just watching her. There was a calm in her now that I hadn’t seen in days. No trace of tension, no furrow between her brows. And as much as I tried to convince myself that this was all crazy, that the two of us were together at the wrong time for the wrong reasons... my heart told me otherwise. I wanted her. Completely. And it wasn’t just desire. It was that uncomfortable, yet somehow liberating, feeling that she had already become a part of me, without asking permission. I moved slowly, and her eyes opened, sleepy but alert. Kimberly shifted slightly, covering her che

PietraThe lunch rush finally eased. The tables were emptier now, the chatter had quieted, and I could hear my thoughts. Which, sometimes, wasn’t a good thing.I took a deep breath, discreetly rubbing my lower back as I rearranged the napkins on the counter. Dona Maria had told me I could sit during breaks, but I refused—because if I stopped, the back pain and nausea would make me give up before my shift ended.I was behind the counter, wiping down the last trays, when the diner’s door opened, the overhead bell jingling. I looked up with the same automatic indifference of someone who’d already seen a hundred customers that day… but froze when I recognized him.Anton.He walked in slowly, hands in his pockets, his gaze scanning the place until it landed on me. And when it did, he smiled. Not that cocky smirk he used to wear when he wanted to get under my skin. This was different. A soft smile. Calm. Almost… shy.My heart raced. I set the tray down and walked toward him, still unsure wh