Gabriel smiled, proud.“And you will. I believe in you.”“Thank you…” she said, her gaze a blend of gratitude and newfound strength. “And you, do you have plans for today?”“A few errands to run. And I was thinking… if you’d like, I could come back here and stay until Sunday. I’ll take care of my things during the day, and at night I’ll be here with you.”Celina’s eyes lit up as she smiled.“I’d love that. It’s a deal.”After finishing breakfast, Gabriel stood.“I’ll run down to the car real quick to grab my spare backpack. I always keep one there just in case. And if you don’t mind, I’ll take a shower too…”“Of course I don’t mind! You don’t even have to ask, Gabriel. This house is yours too.”He gave her a gentle smile and stepped out.While Gabriel went down, Celina stayed in the kitchen for a moment, staring at her glass, reflecting on everything happening in her life. It felt as though life had chosen to test every ounce of her strength all at once. But now, more than ever, she k

The dance floor pulsed with flashing lights, bodies moving to the beat, laughter echoing, conversations drowning in the noise. Celina was there, physically present, dancing beside Gabriel, Zoe, and Arthur—but her mind was somewhere else. Her body swayed with the music, but her heart pounded to a rhythm of its own, restless, as if announcing that something was about to happen.And then she felt it. A shiver ran down her spine like an electric current, and a familiar heat spread through her body as strong arms wrapped firmly around her waist from behind. Her heart, treacherous and unyielding, thundered inside her chest. The scent—that scent—was unmistakable. Woody, intoxicating, nostalgic. Her breath caught. She didn’t need to turn around to know. The heart never lies. The body remembers. Because love doesn’t ask permission—it simply claims its place.She turned slowly, as if time itself had been suspended, as if she already knew her fate and had no choice but to accept it. And there he

The night had wrapped São Paulo in a dark, icy shroud. The venue still pulsed with energy, but for Thor, everything felt distant. He walked back to where Arthur was waiting, his face weighed down with thoughts. The air felt heavy, and the weight of the evening pressed on his chest like a stone. As he approached, he found Arthur leaning casually against a pillar, arms crossed, eyes sharp.“I’m leaving, Arthur,” Thor said, his voice firm but strained with frustration.Arthur sighed, uncrossed his arms, and replied evenly:“I told you it wouldn’t work like this. You know what you need to do first.”Zoe, standing nearby, cut in with a hint of sarcasm:“Yeah, Mr. Boss Man, Celina’s changed. She’s made up her mind. Honestly, I thought she’d cave tonight, but she surprised me. You’d better fix your mess before it’s too late.”Thor ran a hand through his hair with a weary sigh.“Your friend is way too complicated, Zoe.”“Not complicated—decisive. She finally stopped erasing herself,” Zoe shot

Letícia laughed out loud alongside her daughter. Their tone bordered on sadistic—a mix of cynicism and arrogance.“Celina was just an obstacle in the way,” Letícia said coldly. “And obstacles exist to be removed. She took herself out of the picture. If she had even a shred of dignity, she’d leave São Paulo—or better yet, the country.”Isabela picked up her phone and started scrolling through news sites and social media. Gossip columns were already splashing headlines about the Miller heir marrying the beautiful young Isabela Koch. Some framed it as a love story, others as a strategic alliance, but all hailed it as one of the most anticipated weddings of the year.“Look at this, Mom! We’re already in the headlines. They have no idea how grand this ceremony is going to be. The whole world will watch. And she… she’ll watch from afar.”Letícia smiled, her gaze sharp as ice.“The world belongs to the strong, my dear. To those who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.”The two clinked the

The fading light of dusk spilled through the slats of the curtains, bathing Celina’s room in a golden glow that contrasted with the storm raging inside her. Lying on her bed, she kept her eyes fixed on the ceiling, fighting back tears. Beside her, Zoe remained in silence, respecting her friend’s pain, offering nothing but her presence as comfort.Celina drew in a deep breath, as if she could pull strength from the air itself. Her chest ached. To her, Thor and Isabela’s wedding was already sealed—a cruel fact she tried to swallow like a jagged stone. Zoe, sensing the depth of her friend’s suffering, had taken her phone earlier and tucked it away, afraid Celina would be consumed by the flood of sensational headlines dominating every gossip site.“Please don’t torture yourself,” Zoe whispered, gently stroking Celina’s hand. “This will pass.”“I want ice cream,” Celina replied, her voice breaking. It was a simple, almost childlike wish, but it revealed her desperate need to escape—even fo