Chapter 52Mrs. Amélia was at home when the phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. Upon hearing the news, her face went pale."What happened?" she asked, her voice tense."Miss Jussara fainted, Mrs. Amélia. She’s very unwell. We don’t know what happened, but she has no strength."Mrs. Amélia felt a pang of worry. After asking them to take her to the hospital and hanging up, she looked at the maid waiting in the living room."Call the driver. I’m going to the country house right now."The maid, surprised, tried to ask something, but Mrs. Amélia was already at the door, adjusting her bag on her shoulder."Quickly, do as I said," she replied, not waiting for further explanation.Mrs. Amélia hurried out of the mansion. Before getting into the limousine, she looked back with a determined expression and said,"Don’t alarm Gabriel. If he asks, tell him I went to visit a friend. Once he’s emotionally ready, I’ll tell him the truth."The maid, though curious, simply nodded, understanding the s

Chapter 54Amélia looked at Gabriel, noticing that he was tense as well, as if he were carrying something important to share. His tone was serious now, and she knew that what he had to say could change the course of the conversation."What happened, son?" she asked, her gaze attentive, waiting.Gabriel let out a deep sigh and sat back down at the table. His fingers tapped nervously on the wood, and he looked at his mother with eyes full of doubt and worry."I… I found out something during the week, something that shook me a lot. I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but there’s a young woman who came to talk to me. She… she says she’s pregnant with Marcos’ child." He paused, trying to absorb the words he had just spoken.Amélia remained silent, her eyes fixed on Gabriel as the truth began to form."What do you mean by that, Gabriel?" she asked calmly, but a growing concern showed in her eyes.Gabriel took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay composed."What I mean is that things aren’

Chapter 56Gabriel hung up the office landline and stared at his cellphone screen, frustrated by the lack of news from Marcos. His son seemed to be running from his responsibilities, and that only increased his tension. He tried calling again, but it went straight to voicemail."Damn it, Marcos!" he muttered to himself, gripping the phone in his hand.Sighing deeply, he decided to try again later. For now, he needed something to calm him down. With still tense fingers, he typed a message to his mother:"Did you arrive safely? Is everything okay there?"The phone vibrated almost immediately with a response. Dona Amélia was calling, and he answered quickly."Mom?""Yes, my son. I arrived safely. I’m in the bedroom getting settled. How are you?""Trying to solve one mess after another," he replied with a sigh. "And Jussara? How is she?""She’s great, Gabriel. She’s on the couch watching television and stroking her belly. She seems so calm." Amélia’s voice was full of affection. "She look

Chapter 58Dr. Henrique signed the papers for Jussara’s discharge, calmly explaining the necessary care for the next few days to Dona Amélia."I will keep in regular contact to monitor how she’s doing, but she can rest at home now. Just don’t forget: no exertion, Dona Amélia. Any change, no matter how small, let me know immediately.""Of course, doctor. I’m taking care of her as if she were my own daughter."Dr. Henrique smiled, shaking Dona Amélia’s hand before saying goodbye. As soon as he returned to his office, he organized the documents in Jussara’s medical file and picked up the phone. He dialed the number he had written down and waited."Hello?""Gabriel?""Yes, who is this?""Henrique Dias, your old classmate from medical school. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?"Gabriel, surprised, took a few seconds to respond."Henrique? I can’t believe it! It really has been a long time. What have you been up to?""Quite a lot. I’m working as a cardiologist and, coincidentally, I’m taking car

Chapter 60Gabriel took a deep breath, trying to push away the disappointment. He looked at his phone once more before setting it aside. He knew Jussara needed time, but it was impossible not to feel the emptiness of her silence. He walked barefoot to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to wash his face and shake off the sleep that stubbornly lingered. The cold water brought some clarity, and he looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, reflecting on how things had come to this point.An hour and a half later, already in his office, he was seated in his leather chair, reviewing the résumé of one of the nanny candidates while waiting for her to come in. When Ana announced the young woman’s arrival, Gabriel adjusted his posture and asked her to enter.The candidate was a woman in her early thirties, with a warm appearance, brown hair tied in a bun, and kind brown eyes. She was dressed simply but elegantly, showing professionalism."Good morning, Mr. Monteiro," she greeted with a dis