Arthur looked at Zoe, concerned.“Did I do something wrong?”Zoe took a deep breath, touching his hand gently.“No. It’s just that… I need to tell you something. I know I seem wild, uninhibited, I joke about everything, but… I’m a virgin.”Arthur’s eyes widened slightly, surprised, but he stayed silent, listening.“I promised my mother I’d only have sex after marriage. It’s my choice, a value I take seriously. I know it might be too much for some people. So if you don’t want to stay with me because of it, I’ll understand. Truly.”Arthur looked at her with tenderness.“Zoe, that makes you even more incredible. I respect you deeply. And I’ll wait as long as it takes. I don’t want to be with you just for that. I want to be with you because you’re you. And that’s enough for me.”Zoe smiled, moved, her eyes shining.“Thank you for understanding.”Arthur held her hand, kissing the back of it softly.“Understand this, Zoe: it isn’t your body that draws me to you—it’s your soul, your essence.

Laughter. Shouts. Words tumbling over each other. Another swallow of whiskey. The glass clinked in the solitary toast of someone who would rather sink than face the truth.Celina snapped the video off with a sharp click. Her heart pounded like a drum out of rhythm inside her chest. She dropped the phone onto the couch and stood up abruptly.“Celi?” Gabriel called again, moving toward her.But she didn’t answer. She walked straight down the hall, her steps hard against the wooden floor, disappearing into her bedroom.Gabriel stood there, confused, dish towel still in hand. He looked at the abandoned phone, saw the frozen frame of Thor raising his glass, and understood. He closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and went back to the kitchen without a word.Inside the room, Celina sat on the bed and then let herself fall back as if everything inside her had collapsed at once. The white ceiling seemed to spin. A single tear ran hot down her cold temple.She felt ridiculous.Ridiculous for

Zoe glanced down at her hand, laughed, and answered with a genuine smile.“Yeah. He officially asked me out on Saturday.” She held up her hand with a proud little gesture. “Romantic surprise, dinner—everything in true Arthur style.”Thor simply exhaled and gave a slight shake of his head.“At least someone’s happy.”The silence that followed was heavier than any argument. Zoe studied him for a few seconds. She knew exactly what that remark carried. Thor was never one to bare his heart, but the cracks were showing. Impossible to miss.“Thor…” she began carefully, “why don’t you go after Celina?”His eyes flicked up—cold, sharp—and his reply came clipped.“She made her choice.”Zoe bit her lower lip and walked to the front of the desk, meeting his impassive gaze with a steadiness of her own.“You two love each other. Everyone here can see it. There’s so much you need to say. You need to sit down, lay it all out.” She tried a soft smile. “Powerful boss man, drop the pride. All you do is

Her friend’s eyes lit up.“Seriously? Look, where I work—an upscale restaurant in Brooklyn—they’re looking for a night-shift waitress. And you know what’s even better? The manager loves hiring Brazilians. Says we’re not afraid of hard work.”Celina’s eyes sparkled.“You think I could get the job?”“Of course. If you want, I’ll take you there today and introduce you. With your polite, charming way, you’re already halfway in.”From there, they went straight to the restaurant. It was a beautiful space, glowing with warm lights, a blend of sophistication and comfort. The manager greeted them cordially. Her friend spoke briefly about Celina, and after a few questions, he smiled.“You can start tomorrow if you’d like. We really need someone reliable.”Celina accepted on the spot. By the time she returned home, she felt renewed, motivated. She took a quick shower, slipped into a cotton lounge set, curled up on the sofa with her laptop, and began to write.The words poured out like a flood. C

The next day, Celina slipped back into her routine. She woke up early, got ready quickly, and caught the subway to the literary café. Now living on the edge of Queens, the commute was longer and a little draining, but she was determined. Her morning shift passed as usual—regular customers, brief conversations, endless cappuccinos and croissants. After work she went home, ate something simple, and tried to rest before writing.Despite her fatigue, she sat in front of the laptop for about an hour. She couldn’t film a video that day—her body begged for rest and her mind wandered—but she still felt satisfied for not letting the writing slide. It was her way of staying true to her dream.By late afternoon she was dressing for another shift at the elegant restaurant in Brooklyn. She put on the black uniform, pulled her hair back, dabbed on a neutral lipstick as usual, and boarded the subway with her headphones in, listening to a podcast on contemporary women’s literature.When she arrived,