Chapter 42The sun was shining brightly that weekend as Gabriel and Jussara walked through the zoo hand in hand. The atmosphere was lively, filled with families, couples, and children enthusiastically pointing at the animals. Gabriel seemed relaxed, while Jussara was enchanted by every detail around her.They stopped in front of the alligator enclosure, where a walkway allowed them to observe the animals resting in the lake up close. One of them opened its mouth, showing its sharp teeth, and Jussara shuddered slightly.“Gabriel, that’s scary,” she said, squeezing his hand.He smiled softly, wrapping an arm around her.“It’s true, they’re pretty intimidating. But look how calm they seem right now.”She took a small step back, still watching cautiously.“Calm? Until they attack something.”Gabriel laughed.“You’re safe here, love. No alligator is going to reach you.”Jussara looked at him, raising an eyebrow.“I’m keeping an eye on them.”He pulled her closer and gently kissed her lips.

Chapter 44Marcos arrived at the Monteiro mansion on Thursday afternoon to speak with his father, who had decided not to go to work that day. After days of intense effort, he had finally caught up on his tasks, with only a few matters left to resolve regarding documents from companies interested in forming partnerships with the Monteiro group.Upon entering the mansion, holding a folder of documents, Marcos headed straight to the office. He stopped in front of the door and knocked but received no answer. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to open it to check whether the room was truly empty.To his surprise, it was not his father inside, but his ex-girlfriend. She was sitting comfortably on the sofa, her legs stretched out, wearing a dress that highlighted her pregnancy. Earphones connected to her phone rested near her, while a book held her full attention.Marcos stood still for a few seconds, silently observing her. Time seemed to have subtly yet noticeably transformed her ap

Chapter 46Meanwhile, Jussara arrived at the enormous country house, her suitcases being carried by the staff to Gabriel’s bedroom. When she finally found herself alone there, she looked around. The room was large, with blue bed linens that contrasted with the emptiness she felt inside. In the closet, some of Gabriel’s clothes were neatly arranged. There weren’t as many as in the mansion in São Paulo.That was when the tears, which had seemed to stop, came back with force.Jussara sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes brimming, and let the tears roll freely. The weight of everything that had happened still crushed her, and she didn’t know how to deal with the pain of being rejected by Gabriel, the man she loved so much.She felt alone and lost, even though she was surrounded by a place that, in theory, should have brought comfort. But the emptiness in her heart would not be filled by the beauty of that house or by Dona Amélia’s generosity.She slowly stood up, looked out the window, an

Chapter 48The rest of the day at the office passed slowly, but Francisco’s words kept echoing in Gabriel’s mind. At the end of the workday, while he was putting some papers into his folder, the office phone rang. It was Francisco."Hey, Gabriel. Have you decided if you’re going to accept my beer offer?" he asked in a relaxed tone.Gabriel hesitated for a moment, then sighed."All right, Chico. I guess one beer won’t kill me. Where are we meeting?"Francisco laughed on the other end of the line."Good choice, my friend! I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes. Get ready, because tonight you’re going to forget all your problems!"---Twenty minutes later, Gabriel went down to the lobby and walked out through the company’s wide doors. Francisco pulled up in a sports car, blasting loud music. Gabriel got in, fastening his seatbelt and giving his friend a curious look."Where exactly are you taking me?" he asked suspiciously.Francisco smiled mischievously."Trust me, Gabriel. Just relax."Fra

Chapter 50In his office, Gabriel sat at his desk, reviewing the documents for the meeting. The morning went by quickly, and shortly before noon, the participants began to arrive. The meeting involved negotiating a multimillion-dollar contract, something Gabriel could not postpone. Despite all the turbulence in his personal life, he knew how to separate problems and maintain his composure in business.The meeting was intense but productive. Gabriel managed to secure the key points of the agreement, although his mind wandered at times, recalling Dona Amélia’s sudden absence. He was not one to question his mother’s decisions, but something about the way she announced her trip without giving details made him curious.After the meeting ended, Gabriel stayed for the lunch offered in the conference room. As he sipped his coffee, one of the company’s directors commented, “Mr. Monteiro, it’s rare to see you here on Saturdays. I guess things are really busy.”Gabriel smiled, still serious, but