Tatiana gently caressed Celina’s belly with tenderness.“These babies are already starting their lives surrounded by love from all of us.”A few minutes later, Celina’s phone rang. It was Gabriel.“I’m down in the lobby. You can come down, Cel.”“Tati asked if you’d like to come up for a bit,” Celina said.“I won’t come up, Celina. We still need to stop by the grocery store.”“Alright. I’m coming down.”With her suitcase in hand, Celina descended with Roberto and Tatiana. The moment she saw Gabriel, warmth spread through her chest. His cheeks were flushed from the cold, his eyes gleaming as he smiled.“Hi, Gabriel!” she greeted, walking toward him.“Hey, girl with almost-happy eyes. Welcome to our new life.”Roberto clasped Gabriel’s hand firmly.“Take care of her, my friend. She’s precious.”“You can count on it, Roberto. I’ll take care of her—word of honor,” Gabriel replied.“I wish you only the best, Gabriel,” Tatiana said as she hugged him.“Thank you, Tatiana. Same to you both. H

One of the last photos showed the two of them looking at each other, laughing at something only they seemed to understand. It was intimate. It was complicit. It was unacceptable.Thor snatched that photo and, with a brutal movement, crushed it in his fist.“You damn bitch,” he growled, his voice low and guttural.The silence in the office was heavy, almost tangible. He leaned back in his chair, dropping the envelope onto the desk, and dragged his hands down his face as though he could peel off his own skin. The image of Celina laughing with Gabriel burned behind his eyes like a ghost that refused to leave him in peace.It wasn’t just anger. It was pain. It was loss. It was something deeper—something he would never dare say aloud.For several long seconds, he remained still. Then, slowly, he rose. He walked once more to the wall of glass. São Paulo sprawled out before him, but now it looked meaningless. His mind was a thousand miles away, in a city that never slept, where Celina was wa

A month had passed since Celina had landed on American soil. The move to the United States had been radical, but also liberating. Little by little she was settling into a new rhythm, into the landscapes that now framed her days. Every morning she uploaded new chapters of her book to a digital platform. And every morning the response from readers grew warmer, stronger, more impassioned.Her social media accounts were on fire. After much reflection, Celina had decided to take her career seriously. She hired a social media manager to run her Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, and the results were immediate. Engagement exploded. She began sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of her writing, snippets of upcoming chapters, and the lines her readers were quoting with such emotion in the comments.But she didn’t stop there. Celina began showing life behind the screen—the charms and contradictions of an aspiring writer’s routine. She posted short videos of herself writing in her pajamas in the livi

The clock read 10:40 when Celina’s phone vibrated on the table. She was still revising a few passages of the new chapter when she saw Zoe’s name flash across the screen. She answered with a smile, already feeling her chest warm.“Zoe! I’ve missed you so much!” Celina said, cradling the phone to her ear and propping an elbow on the table.“Girl, I’m the one who’s dying of missing you!” Zoe replied, her voice bright but tinged with emotion. “Seriously, it’s like something’s missing here without you.”Celina smiled, the ache of mutual longing tightening in her chest.“I feel the same. But someday we’ll manage to see each other in person. And you? How are you?”“Good… really good, actually. It’s been over a month that I’ve been seeing Arthur, you know? And Celina, I’m… in love. For real.”Celina shifted in her chair, surprised.“Wow! That fast?”“I know! I didn’t expect it either. But he’s different—he treats me with so much kindness, so much lightness. It’s just… he hasn’t asked me to be

For a moment, time stood still. Celina blinked, her heart racing. A rush of emotions swept across her face—surprise, disbelief, hope, and finally, joy.“You’re kidding. You’re joking… is this for real?”“Completely real. I talked to a friend of mine—her sister just opened a café. I told her about you and she loved your profile. She said she’d be thrilled to have someone like you there. It’s a calm place, full of books and people who love to read and talk. It’s perfect for you.”Celina stared at him, tears spilling before she could stop them. It felt as if, after so long walking on unsteady ground, she could finally set her feet on something solid.“I… I don’t even know what to say,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Gabriel, you have no idea how much this means to me.”“Oh, I do. That’s why I made sure of it.”She threw her arms around him, hiding her face in his shoulder. He wrapped her gently in his arms and held her there for a moment, letting the embrace speak what words couldn