Arthur kissed her slowly—a kiss that carried both tenderness and promise. His hands traced the length of her back, her curves, her hips. Zoe felt warmth spreading through her body like liquid fire.Then he leaned to her ear, his voice husky and low.“Tonight, you’re going to feel what it’s like to be completely adored,” he murmured. “You’ll lose yourself in me… and beg me not to stop.”Zoe trembled from head to toe.“Arthur…” she whispered, breathless, her heart pounding.Suddenly, as if caught in a whirlpool of emotions, she pulled away from his arms in a rush.“I… I need a shower!” she blurted, avoiding his gaze, trying to sound calm.Arthur watched her hurry off, a knowing smile touching his lips. He was completely charmed by her nervousness.“All right, beautiful… then let’s go together,” he said, walking toward her at an unhurried pace.Zoe spun around immediately.“No! I… I’ll go alone.”He chuckled softly, even more captivated.“We’ve showered together before, you know that.”S

Arthur kissed the side of her neck, moving up to her ear before tracing a slow, heated path down to her shoulders. Zoe closed her eyes, her entire body shivering under the wave of sensations.He cupped her chin gently and kissed her softly on the lips before murmuring against her mouth,“You’re incredibly sexy, love…”She smiled shyly, but she was already surrendering. Arthur pressed his lips to hers again—deeper this time—his kiss a mix of hunger and affection.With deliberate care, he slipped off her nightgown. When he saw the delicate white lingerie beneath, he froze for a few seconds, clearly struck speechless.“Holy shit…” he whispered, running a hand through his hair. “You’re stunning. Absolutely unreal.”Zoe bit her lip, blushing, though a small smile betrayed her pleasure at his reaction. Arthur stepped closer, his fingers brushing the back of her neck as he gently gathered her hair in his hand.“You’re going to moan from sheer pleasure, my love,” he whispered, his voice low a

Gabriel spoke first:“Grandma, let us settle in for a bit. We just got back from the wedding, we’re exhausted. And the trip to Brazil was long. Later—after some coffee and that amazing cake only you know how to make—we can talk about altars.”“It’s a pleasure finally meeting you in person,” Ava said, hugging Grandma Adelaide gently. “Gabriel talks about you all the time.”“Ava, where did you learn to speak Portuguese so well?” Luzia asked, genuinely curious.“I always wanted to visit Brazil,” Ava answered. “So I started chatting with Brazilians on exchange platforms and taking online courses. But I still struggle with some words and expressions.”“Mom, I know you’ve missed us, but we really need some rest. We’ll talk tomorrow, I promise,” Gabriel asked softly.“Of course, my son. Your room is spotless—go get some sleep. And don’t mind the simplicity, Ava. This house is simple, but it’s full of love,” Luzia said with a tender smile.Gabriel led Ava down the hallway, still holding her h

Later that night, while Arthur watched the news on the suite’s TV, Zoe appeared with a calm but determined expression. She sat beside him on the bed and intertwined their fingers.“Baby… I need to tell you something. I accepted Thor’s offer. I’m going back to work on Monday.”Arthur switched off the TV instantly. The smile vanished from his face, and his eyes sharpened with tension.“What do you mean? We already talked about this, sweetheart. The plan was for you to leave the company and invest in something of your own. Remember? Since the beginning of our relationship, we agreed we’d make decisions together.”Zoe inhaled slowly.“I know. And it’s not that I changed my mind. But… I still don’t know what I want to invest in. You were the one who said I deserved independence, to build something that’s mine. And until I figure out what that is, I’d rather keep working. I don’t want to stay at home.”Arthur ran a hand along the back of his neck, clearly bothered.“But you don’t need to wo

Sabrina rose to her feet, adjusted her purse, and smiled.“Maybe I did you a favor. Because he’ll always come back to me, he’ll always knock on my door. And I—like I always have—won’t stop him from coming in. While you refused to sleep with him, refused to give him a child, I was the one satisfying him. Especially during your little trip to the United States. I’m the one who gave him the heir he always dreamed of. Honestly, I should applaud you… for accepting such humiliation,” she said, her sarcasm dripping like venom.“And I applaud you for being so starved for affection that you’ve settled for being the other woman.”Zoe’s smile was cold as ice as she lifted her hand and displayed her wedding ring. “Because, even if it was out of convenience, I—the poor, hardworking girl—am the one he chose to carry his last name. I’m Mrs. Ferraz, not you. Good night, sweetheart.”With her chin high, Zoe watched Sabrina leave. Only then did she close her eyes and let the world collapse on her for a