Chapter 122Clara’s birthday finally arrived, and the Monteiro family was getting ready for the big event. Even the nannies had been called in to take care of the children, something Gabriel insisted was essential."And what if the children get tired, my son? They’re still so little," Dona Amélia asked, with a worried look.Gabriel, always thoughtful, smiled and replied confidently, "They can go back home with the driver, but I want them to meet my babies. It’s important to me that they’re there."Dona Amélia, understanding her son’s wish, nodded with an affectionate smile. "I understand you, dear," she said warmly.When they arrived at the event, the Monteiro family was amazed by the setting. The mansion was lit up with thousands of sparkling lights on the outside, and inside the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, perfect for the grand celebration. The decoration had been planned down to the smallest detail, with different areas designed to accommodate the various age groups of the g

Chapter 124At the end of the day, Gabriel received excellent news that made him smile with satisfaction. After days of intense negotiations, the clients from Japan had finally accepted the contract. He knew this would mean a busy and exhausting week ahead, with overtime and little time to rest, but the effort would be worth it. Closing a deal with such an important client would open doors to more international opportunities.Still absorbing the news, Gabriel called his secretary, Ana, through the intercom."Ana, could you come in here, please?"A few minutes later, she entered the office with her notepad in hand."Congratulations on the contract, Mr. Monteiro. I heard the client finally accepted the company’s guidelines.""Thank you, Ana. It was teamwork, but we still have a lot ahead of us. I need you to organize a few things for me.""Of course, what do you need?""First, I want a meeting with the entire team tomorrow morning. We’ll need to adjust the production schedules to meet t

Chapter 126Francisco was sitting on the sofa in the lobby, drumming his fingers against his leg. Fatigue was getting the better of him, but he couldn’t leave without Ana. After a long wait, he decided to call Gabriel."Hello?" Gabriel answered, his voice tired but professional."Good evening, Gabriel. It’s Francisco.""Good evening, Francisco. What happened?""I’m waiting for Ana downstairs, and I wanted to know if you’re going to release her very late. She’s pregnant, and I don’t want her to be overwhelmed."There was a pause on the other end of the line."Francisco, Ana is still there? I didn’t know. She should have left hours ago. I’ll call her right now.""Thank you, Gabriel. Sorry to disturb your evening.""It’s no problem. Take good care of her. See you tomorrow."Francisco hung up and took a deep breath, feeling impatient and worried. He knew Ana needed rest, so he decided to handle the situation himself. With firm steps, he entered the elevator and pressed the button for the

Chapter 128Cecília was already far away when Jussara arrived at the company’s underground parking garage, parking the car haphazardly. She got out in a hurry, not even bothering to lock the doors, and entered the elevator that led to the executive floor. Her heart was pounding uncontrollably, and the air seemed scarce as her emotions shifted between anger and pain.In her mind, the images she had received on her phone replayed like a nightmare. She couldn’t recognize the woman, but she knew the setting was Gabriel’s office. "How could he do this to me?" she thought, trying to find some logic in what she had seen.When the elevator finally reached the executive floor, Jussara felt her legs weaken. Even so, she walked determinedly toward her husband’s office. Each step felt like it weighed a ton. When she reached the door, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath while holding the handle."It’s now..." she whispered to herself, trying to gather the courage to open the door.With a

Chapter 130Gabriel held Jussara’s hand while Dona Amélia watched them curiously."Mother, before we turn in, I have a surprise to share."Dona Amélia frowned, intrigued, but an eager smile appeared on her face."A surprise? What is it, my son?"Gabriel looked at Jussara, who smiled shyly, and then turned back to his mother."Well, today we found out something wonderful, something that will change our lives."Dona Amélia placed her hand over her chest, emotional, her eyes moving between the two of them."Don’t tell me that...""We’re having twins, Mother!" Gabriel announced enthusiastically.For a moment, time seemed to stop. Dona Amélia stood there open-mouthed as tears quickly formed in her eyes."Twins? Are you serious?"Jussara nodded, moved to tears."Yes, it’s true. We’re expecting two babies."Dona Amélia brought her hands to her face, now crying with joy. She wrapped them both in a warm embrace."Oh, my dears, this is the best news I could ever receive! You have no idea how ha