Chapter 62Francisco was sitting at his desk, his eyes fixed on the endless stack of documents. The workload had piled up insanely, and he felt like he was on the verge of exploding. He needed a moment of rest, something to ease the tension consuming him.That was when he heard a knock on the door.“Come in,” he said, his voice more controlled than he felt.When the door opened and Ana walked in, it was as if the air had been sucked out of the room. She moved gracefully, carrying a folder of documents in her hands. Francisco felt his stomach twist and, at the same time, heat rise through his body.That woman—whom he had kissed in the elevator not long ago and received a slap in return, even though the kiss had been reciprocated—was standing before him again.She was absolutely stunning, and her presence made him restless. Francisco tried to focus on the papers she carried, but his mind insisted on returning to the moment in the elevator, to the feel of her lips against his. The memory

Chapter 64In her bedroom, Jussara let her thoughts wander as she prepared the bathwater. Anxiety took over, and she felt her heart racing. After stepping into the shower, she tried to relax, letting the warm water run down her body, but it was impossible not to think about Gabriel and the conversation they were about to have.When she finished, she put on a comfortable robe and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at the phone resting on the nightstand. For a few seconds, she simply stared at the screen, as if the device were responsible for all the conflicting emotions she felt.She took a deep breath, picked up the phone, and opened Gabriel’s messages. She read and reread his words, feeling a mixture of emotion and caution. Finally, she gathered the courage and began typing:“Gabriel,I read your messages and, honestly, I didn’t expect this from you. Your words touched my heart, but I hope you understand that this isn’t easy for me. I need to know what made you change your mind,

Chapter 66Gabriel sat down, feeling the weight of the past few days. Before taking any action, he opened the desk drawer and took out an envelope. With a deep sigh, he ran his fingers over the paper, as if reliving the moment he had first received it.He opened the envelope and pulled out the DNA test he had taken just two years earlier, when his ex-girlfriend had claimed that Marcos was his son. At the time, the news had left him confused, but when the result confirmed paternity, he had felt filled with an unexpected happiness. He had an heir, a piece of himself with whom to build a legacy."How everything has changed..." he murmured, looking at the document.The paper now seemed heavier than before. Marcos’s actions, the embezzlement of money, and the trail of destruction he had left for the family and the company caused Gabriel a mixture of deep sadness and disappointment."Where did I go wrong?" he thought, gripping the paper tightly, almost crumpling it.Gabriel remembered the t

Chapter 68Gabriel climbed the steps two at a time, barely able to control his anxiety. When he reached the door, he was surprised by the maid who was cleaning the entrance. She greeted him with a surprised smile."Hello, Mr. Gabriel! Welcome," the young woman said warmly."Hello! Thank you. Where is Jussara?" Gabriel asked, barely able to hide the concern and expectation in his voice."She’s in the living room, sir. She’s taking a nap. The pregnancy has been making her very tired."Gabriel thanked her and quickly headed toward the living room. His breathing grew heavier as he approached. When he entered, his eyes softened at the sight of her lying on the sofa. Jussara’s face was serene, her eyes closed, and Gabriel couldn’t help but admire her beauty, which seemed even more radiant.She looked so peaceful, so calm, and simply seeing her resting there made Gabriel’s heart warm. He approached slowly, not wanting to wake her, yet desperately wanting to be close to her.Gabriel carefully

Chapter 70As they walked through the garden, Gabriel looked around, admiring the vibrant colors of the flowers and the tranquility of the place."The garden is wonderful, Jussara. I can’t stop looking at all of this," Gabriel said, smiling as they passed the flower beds.Jussara, walking beside him, smiled and looked at him."It’s one of my favorite places, you know? Here I find peace… And as you can see, nature also helps clear the mind."They reached a more secluded area of the garden, where a small vegetable patch stretched out, full of fresh, colorful greens."Here is my little therapy," Jussara said with a charming smile. "Almost every day, I come take care of it with the gardener. I’ve learned so much since I started working in the vegetable garden and around the yard. You can’t imagine how much it has helped me keep my mind busy, especially during this stage of pregnancy."Gabriel was impressed by the organization and beauty of the garden. The lettuce looked vibrant, the tomat