She slid her fingers up to his face, touching him as if memorizing every feature.“Felipe…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’ve never known anyone capable of loving me like this. Sometimes I think I don’t deserve it.”He held her hand against his own face, closing his eyes for a moment, as if absorbing that surrender.“You deserve so much more, Isa. And if it depends on me, you will never doubt that again.”The silence that followed was heavy, but not empty. It was as if the world had stopped, leaving only the two of them there.Isabela still felt her chest trembling, memories suffocating her, but the strength of Felipe’s presence kept her standing. He was her anchor in the middle of the storm.Felipe leaned closer, his gaze fixed on hers, firm and vulnerable at the same time. His breathing was heavy, his heart racing, yet there was deep tenderness in his gestures. With one hand, he brushed aside a lock of her hair that insisted on falling over her face.“I love you, Isa…” he sai

That morning, they headed to Ouro Preto, where the colonial mansion and narrow cobblestone streets formed a postcard-perfect setting. Felipe, animated, showed her the Church of São Francisco de Assis, Aleijadinho’s masterpiece, while Isabela was enchanted by the gilded details of Minas Gerais Baroque.“It’s beautiful…” she said, taking in the grandeur of the building. “It feels like time stopped here.”Felipe smiled, proud.“That’s Minas, love. History in every corner.”In the afternoon, they drove to Tiradentes Square, where tourists took photos and street vendors offered homemade dulce de leche. The traffic light turned red, and Felipe stopped the car. Distracted, Isabela looked to the side. Her heart raced.A few meters away, sitting on the sidewalk, was a thin woman in torn clothes, her hair tangled, her eyes lost. But there was something unmistakable in that face, aged before its time.“Mom…” the whisper escaped her lips like a scream held in for years.Suddenly, as if the world

They stayed there, trading low words, memories, and complicit laughter. Then, when Celina was almost surrendering to sleep, Thor nudged her lightly.“Hey, no sleeping yet. Let’s take a shower and get dressed. You know that when daylight comes, our trio will invade the room with their breakfast.” He laughed. “And I refuse to miss the second round under the shower.”Celina moaned playfully.“You’re still insatiable, Thor Miller.”He cupped her chin, fixing her with an intense gaze.“The fire you have makes me this way.” He smiled mischievously. “You can fool the world with that sweet demeanor… but behind closed doors, you’re a little devil—and I love that. Nothing demure about you.”Celina blushed, lightly tapping his chest, but ended up laughing. “You’re outrageous.”“Mine,” he corrected, before wrapping her in his arms.With a firm motion, Thor lifted her and carried her to the bathroom. The shower turned on, and there they loved each other once more—laughing, teasing, surrendered lik

Their company continued to thrive, now with a branch in Canada. And there was another piece of news many spoke about with joy: Luzia, Gabriel’s mother, had married an American widower with no children, finding at his side a new chance at love.Isabela and Felipe were there as well, accompanied by their adopted children, ten-year-old Lorenzo and six-year-old Larissa. Choosing to welcome siblings so they would not be separated showed exactly who they had become: a family that chose love every single day. Isabela continued to run the NGO with dedication, traveling the country giving inspiring talks. She had published several books and still found time to pursue a master’s degree. Felipe, now a judge, balanced his routine with postgraduate studies and carried himself with serenity and maturity—a man completely fulfilled. The mansion they had bought was not merely a comfortable house; it was a home designed for the children and for Isabela’s mother, where life restarted each day in harmony