Night had already fallen when Celina glanced at the clock and realized it was past nine. She was still at Dona Maria’s apartment, giving Zoe every ounce of support she could. Zoe was emotionally shattered, and as the friend she was, Celina refused to leave her alone for even a minute.The two sat on the living-room sofa, speaking in hushed tones, when Celina’s phone rang. It was Thor. He had spent the day supporting Arthur, stopping by the company, and was now on his way to pick up his wife. Celina hugged Dona Maria warmly and squeezed Zoe’s hand with tender insistence.“Call me if you need anything, okay?” she said.“Thank you for everything… truly,” Zoe murmured, her voice thick with emotion.Minutes later, Celina slid into Thor’s car. He leaned over and kissed her forehead softly.“How is she?” he asked as they moved down the lit avenue.“Shaken… but holding on. You know Zoe — she pretends she’s fine, but inside? She’s in pieces.” Celina sighed, resting her head against the seat.T

Gabriel and Zoe remained quiet for a few seconds — a silence that felt oddly comforting.“I just wish it hurt less,” she whispered.“I know… But sometimes, Zoe, pain has a purpose. It shows us where we still need to heal. Therapy will help you more than you think. Trust me.”Zoe hesitated.“It feels like if I stop to talk… I’ll fall apart completely.”“And sometimes falling apart is the first step to putting yourself back together. You don’t have to carry everything alone, you know? Find someone who can help you untangle what’s happening inside. You deserve that kind of care.”She took a long breath.“Arthur ruined everything we were building.”“Look, I know you’re hurt. And you have every reason to be. But… can I be honest?”“Of course.”“I keep thinking about him too. Arthur… he made a huge mistake. A terrible one. But he’s also shattered. A young man who is now… paralyzed. It’s not just physical. It’s his whole identity collapsing. The feeling of helplessness, of failure. And the g

The next day, the midday sun shone brightly against the glass façade of the company where Thor worked. Attorney Álvaro Cordeiro parked his black luxury car a few meters from the main entrance, leaving the engine running while he reviewed the documents inside his leather briefcase. He wore a tailored, understated suit, and his rectangular glasses reflected a controlled, resolute expression. He took a deep breath before dialing a number saved as “Zoe Arthur.”“Mrs. Zoe?” he said politely as soon as she answered. “Good afternoon. This is Álvaro Cordeiro, Arthur’s attorney. I need to speak with you in person. It’s extremely important.”On the other end of the line, Zoe replied courteously, though clearly surprised.“Good afternoon, Doctor. I’m just heading out for lunch. You can wait for me at the reception desk—I’m on my way down.”“Perfect. I’ll wait for you.”A few minutes later, Zoe appeared in the company lobby—elegant in her simplicity, her expression weary yet curious. Álvaro stood

She stood there, leaning against the door, like a hurricane about to strike what little was left of him. Yet at the same time, there was something in her eyes—an unmistakable trace of shock.Because Zoe froze too.She had come fueled by anger, ready to scream, to accuse, to wound. But what she saw in that room was a broken man. A fragile body. A face where all happiness had been erased, replaced by a deep, hollow emptiness. The man she had once loved was unrecognizable. And somehow, that hurt her too.She took a deep breath, as if trying to tame the storm raging in her chest. But her eyes showed no mercy.“Don’t call me that,” she said coldly. “So this is it…” she murmured, her voice low but heavy with bitterness. “Even after everything, you still want to control me? You thought this would soften me?”Arthur stared at the ceiling for a second, trying to breathe, trying not to scream his pain, not to beg for forgiveness. But he couldn’t retreat. Not after everything he had already done

Arthur watched her the way one watches their own punishment. He knew he deserved every word. What Zoe didn’t know was that every night, he cried inwardly. He cried for her. For the life he had lost.“You destroyed everything, Arthur. Everything!” she screamed, her voice breaking. “Our story. My love for you. The trust. You destroyed my life!”He closed his eyes, as if each word reopened a fresh wound.“You chose to go to that farewell party. You knew what Sabrina had been doing. And still, you chose to sleep with her. You weren’t drugged—this whole story is a lie. You forged that exam. And now she’s carrying your child. A child she’ll use to trap you. To destroy whatever was left of me.”Arthur didn’t respond. His chest rose and fell with effort. He wanted to say that he, too, was destroyed. He wanted to scream that he didn’t know how he had let everything spiral out of control. But Zoe was right. He hadn’t given her the chance to choose.Zoe stepped closer to the edge of the bed, her