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Todos os capítulos de THE REMARRIED HEIRESS : Capítulo 181 - Capítulo 190

205 Capítulos

181

CATALINAThe pain crashes over me like a wave, raw, primal, and unstoppable. My knees buckle just as thunder rumbles overhead. I grip the edge of the sofa, gasping, unable to call out but knowing they’ll come. The storm outside is nothing compared to the one inside me. It’s no longer about waiting. This is now. This is real.The maids rush in, their eyes wide, voices firm yet gentle. I don’t remember who said what first, only that hands are holding me, supporting me, laying down towels and pillows like some sacred altar in the living room. The baby didn’t care for the birth plan or the hospital. She chose this moment, our home, our chaos, our storm.The wind howls, but all I hear is breath and rhythm. Push, breathe, cry, push. Someone’s rubbing my back. Someone’s wiping sweat from my forehead. I scream, then laugh, then cry again.The door bursts open and for a breathless second, I think he's finally here.But it’s not.Karen was soaked from the rain while her eyes were wide with pani

182

CATALINAYvette stepped in. She stood there like someone trespassing on holy ground, clutching a bouquet that seemed too bright for the dim hospital lighting. Her hair was swept into a loose bun, face washed clean of pretense. She has lost weight, as I can see her jawline sharper than before. But she's still stunning as ever.We haven't seen each other for months, after the cruel fate of her father behind those bars.“Hi,” she said, almost breathless. “I… wasn’t sure you’d want to see me.”I flashed a smile, not because what she did was forgivable, but because I refused to let her bitterness infect my peace.Her eyes scanned the room cautiously before settling on Dante. She didn’t look smug like she once might have. Just… a tired and tentative human, carrying flowers in firm hands.“May I… come in?” she whispered.I glance at Dante. He stared at me for a while before slowly sighing and letting go of my hand. Karen placed my baby on my chest and they strode to the couch, giving me and

183

CATALINASunlight spilled across the nursery floor, golden and playful. Lia was gurgling in her bassinet, waving her tiny fists like she was conducting a silent orchestra. My body still aches in places I didn’t know could ache, but today, the weight felt different. It's lighter than ever.Abby came in with a tray balancing pancakes, eggs, and that miracle juice she called ‘mom fuel.’ This is the different Abby I'm seeing right now. Her mother's instinct was turned on as soon as Lia came out in this world. I raised an eyebrow. “What’s in that?”“Magic and a suspicious amount of caffeine,” she simply said. “I ran recon on your fridge. You’re officially restocked and caffeinated.”I laughed as Lia squealed like she was joining in. Abby leaned over and tickled her tummy with a practiced finesse that made the little one kick her feet happily.“She likes you,” I said, watching her in awe.“She knows a tired mom when she sees one,” Abby replied, sitting beside me. “And she knows when someon

184

CATALINAToday is a big day!The day Chen turns five. I still can't believe how fast time flies. I remember the moment I first saw him, we finalized his adoption, and how he clutched my hand like I was his whole world. And now here I am, pulling together a prehistoric paradise for the most dinosaur-obsessed five-year-old this side of the Cretaceous.When I decided on a dinosaur theme for Chen’s birthday, I could already picture the pure joy on his face. He’d been roaring like a T-Rex around the house for weeks, so it only felt right to turn our backyard into a mini Jurassic Park, minus the scary parts.Party coordinators arrived early with crates full of prehistoric magic. Inflatable palm trees, dino-print tablecloths, and balloon sculptures that looked like they’d stomped right out of the Cretaceous. I pointed to a corner and said, “That’s where the excavation zone goes.” Within minutes, they had set up a sandbox with buried ‘fossils’ for the kids to discover with tiny brushes and sh

185

CATALINAThe laughter around the dino dig station echoed through the backyard, little feet thumping against the grass like a stampede of prehistoric joy. I leaned against the patio railing, the humidity sticking to my neck and cupcake frosting smeared on my thumb.From this angle, I could see everything and notice what most people wouldn’t.Dante was smiling and charming as ever while carrying Daneliya in his arms, talking animatedly to one of his junior designers. They were laughing at something, probably not dinosaur-related.But what caught me off guard was the way he subtly shifted his stance when Karen wandered nearby. He saw her. I know he did as his eyes flicked toward her, then darted back to the employee with such speed you’d miss it if you blinked. When Karen moved closer, he stepped away. No greeting and no “Glad you made it.”I frowned at the weird scene.Karen had been tense all afternoon, and now her exhaustion looked heavier, threaded with something else. She was standi

186

CATALINAMy heels clicked across the marble lobby of my building, the sound sharp and grounding. Employees greeted me with polite surprise, clearly not expecting me after I had taken a leave for six months. Seeing my husband looking so tired from taking care of the two companies, I decided to handle everything from now on. I’d left Daneliya and Chen at home curled up with Abby, who was probably letting him climb her like a jungle gym while keeping an eye out for roaming dinosaurs and snack emergencies. That kid… he’d roared himself to sleep last night, still wearing his dino onesie, tail dragging behind him like a flag of victory. She’s the only one I can trust right now. Dante still doesn't know that I’m coming back to work, so I will give him a surprise lunch later at his company.I met with my executive assistant, reviewed the quarterly numbers, and signed two critical contracts with a sense of calm I hadn’t expected. The time away had sharpened my perspective. I didn’t need to mi

187

CATALINAI stepped into the sleek, glass-paneled lobby of my husband's company, the familiar hum of quiet productivity washing over me. The receptionist greeted me with a polite smile. I returned the smile and asked if Dante was in.“Mr. Marcellos just stepped out for a meeting, ma'am. You're welcome to wait in his office."Of course, he wasn’t here. That man and his calendar, a whirlwind of boardrooms, briefings, and business lunches. I thanked her and headed toward the elevator, heels clicking softly against the marble floor.His office was exactly as I remembered: minimalist, but elegant. Clean lines, glass desk, curated art pieces that suggested taste without showiness. I sank into the leather chair opposite his, letting my fingers drift across the armrest as I looked at the city skyline.I loved the way sunlight poured into this place. Even in his absence, it felt like him. I pulled out my book, but the pages blurred as my thoughts wandered. I imagined him walking in, surprised t

188

CATALINAI pushed the door open, expecting to see Karen perched behind Dante’s desk. She was someone’s assistant. I don't remember who’s under her. All I remember was that Karen was efficient, poised, and slightly terrifying to anyone who couldn’t hold eye contact for more than two seconds. When she looked up, her eyes widened ever so slightly, like someone caught mid-thought or mid-sentence.“Catalina,” she said, rising quickly. Her voice was steady, but her posture betrayed the startle.I smiled. “Hi, Karen. Sorry, didn’t mean to jump-scare you.”She blinked, then smiled tightly. “I just didn’t realize you were here.”I walked in, setting my drink on Dante’s desk like I owned it because, in a way, I did. Or at least shared pieces of this world with him. I noticed a stack of papers slightly askew from earlier, a pen uncapped, and the faint scent of Karen’s perfume lingering in the air, a little sweeter than usual.“No worries. I figured I’d wait here again. Dante should be back so

189

CATALINAWe were seated near the window, the sunlight poured across the table like a spotlight neither of us asked for. The restaurant was quiet for lunchtime, low jazz humming through the speakers, the kind of place where conversations were meant to be murmured, not shouted. I appreciated the atmosphere. It gave my silence room to breathe.Dante ordered without asking. He always did that, which was somehow both thoughtful and irritating. Grilled salmon, risotto, and lemon water with mint. He knew my preferences as well as he knew his quarterly projections. But something about today made it feel like he was performing muscle memory rather than genuine care.I pushed the risotto with my fork, watching the steam rise but barely tasting it. My mind kept circling back to the glances, the hesitation, the weird shift in the air back in his office.He noticed. Of course he did.“You’re quiet,” he finally said, eyes scanning mine. “Too quiet.”I tilted my head. “Am I?”He gave a soft smile, t

190

CATALINAThe scent of warm vanilla and melted chocolate wrapped around our home like a gentle embrace. It was Sunday afternoon, the kind of day when the sun dribbled lazily through the curtains and everything felt just a little slower and softer. In the kitchen, chaos and joy mingled like old friends.Cassie, Abby’s six-year-old daughter, was perched on a stool, elbows deep in cookie dough, wearing an apron three sizes too big. Her giggles erupted every time she squished chocolate chips between her fingers before popping them into her mouth.Abby stood close by, her sleeves rolled up, guiding Cassie with the kind of patience I get to see from her when it comes to my and Chen’s stubbornness. She was gentle, almost maternal in a way that tugged at something deep in me. Watching them together made me see Abby not just as someone who protects me, but as a mother trying to savor stolen moments.Chen zoomed around in a blur of excitement, a cookie bandit on a mission. He’d sneak spoonfuls

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