Chapter 62Augusto remained by the bedside, watching Patrícia sleep. He gently ran his fingers through her hair, as if that simple gesture could protect her from everything.The door opened softly, and the doctor returned with a clipboard in hand and an attentive expression."Mr. Avelar?" she called quietly, not wanting to disturb.He stood up and walked over to her at the corner of the room."Yes, doctor. What is it? Is something serious?"She glanced at the clipboard, then at him, with a slight smile."Nothing too alarming… but it is important. The tests showed that the drop in blood pressure may be related to something specific: your wife is in the early weeks of pregnancy."Augusto’s eyes widened, surprise taking over his entire body."Patrícia is… pregnant?""Yes. Very early on, which is why she hasn’t shown all the classic symptoms yet. But the drop in blood pressure and the mild discomfort are very common signs at this stage. We’ll repeat the tests over the next few days to mon

Chapter 64The living room clock showed just before seven when Augusto and Rafael were focused on the chessboard in the mansion’s library. The pieces were well distributed, and the game was intense, with the two of them challenging each other amid light teasing and occasional laughter.Rafael moved a pawn, glancing sideways at his father with a mischievous smile on his face."And so, Dad…" he began in a provocative tone. "Do you still want a divorce?"Augusto slowly lifted his eyes, raising an eyebrow."Oh, very funny," he said ironically, leaning back in the leather armchair with a faint smile.Rafael laughed, shrugging."You were furious that day. And now look at you… a married man, with a silly smile on your face and a baby on the way."Augusto shook his head, giving in to his son’s good humor."Life takes its turns, Rafa. And thank God for that. Your stepmother is the best thing that ever happened to me.""Stepmother?" Rafael made a comical face. "Don’t say it like that, it sounds

Chapter 66The door of the Avelar mansion burst open as the police hurried in, guided by the precise instructions of the butler, who was waiting for them at the entrance."It’s upstairs, in the master suite bathroom," he said, his voice still trembling. "The woman is there."Augusto, still holding Patrícia in his arms, could barely speak. He just gave a slight nod and watched the men rush upstairs. Patrícia was conscious but scared, clutching her husband’s neck tightly.Moments later, the police came down with Cleuza in handcuffs. She was crying uncontrollably, her head down, shoulders shaking with unrestrained sobs. Augusto, overwhelmed with a mix of anger, disbelief, and sadness, approached her."Why did you do this, Cleuza?" he asked, his voice low, trying to stay composed.She looked at him with red eyes, smeared makeup, and uneven breathing."She threatened to kill me… said she would get my children first and then me. I… I was scared, sir… I didn’t want to… I’m so sorry…"Augusto

Chapter 68Those two days seemed to last an eternity. For Augusto, time in Rio Grande do Sul passed strangely, as if each hour dragged with the weight of a decade. On the last day in the city, he stayed late at the office; it was already past eight in the evening when he finally turned off his computer and left. Fatigue was evident. Since waking from the coma, he felt his body had not yet regained its rhythm. Every step seemed to require more energy than before. Still, he remained steady, focused, taking one day at a time.The elevator descended slowly, carrying only him to the basement. He knew the driver had been waiting for at least three hours, but Augusto had told him to go out and have dinner, knowing the delay would likely be longer than expected.When the elevator doors opened, he walked through the nearly empty parking lot. The company had three floors for employee vehicles, and at that hour, the basement was a shadowy desert, lit only by the cold, sparse ceiling lights.In t

Chapter 70The taxi stopped in front of one of the city’s most luxurious hotels. The entrance lights gleamed, reflecting off the car’s paint and in Augusto’s tired eyes, which seemed to be slowly coming back to life.He looked at the taxi driver firmly, despite his obvious fatigue."Wait here. I’ll be back in five minutes."The driver nodded, still suspicious, but something in Augusto’s tone told him to trust him.Augusto got out of the car with steadier steps now, entered the hotel lobby, and was immediately recognized by the receptionist, who rushed to assist him. Within minutes, he had gone up to his room, opened the built-in safe in the closet, grabbed a small stack of cash, and headed back down.When he reached the taxi, he extended his hand and handed the driver a wad of bills."Here’s five thousand reais."The man’s eyes widened in surprise."Fi-five thousand?""This is just the beginning," Augusto replied, then handed him a card embossed with the company logo. "This is my assi