Laura froze.Her body went rigid, as though something inside her had shattered. Her gaze turned to stone—empty, lifeless, stripped of every trace of surrender.She tore herself from his arms with force.Her hands slammed against Edgar’s chest, making him stumble back a step. For a second, she struggled for air, as though she needed to pull herself together before speaking.And when she finally did, there was no hesitation left.Only intent.She was broken.And she wanted to break him too.“Just like I killed our first child...” she said slowly, choosing every word with surgical precision. “...if I got pregnant by you again, I’d do the exact same thing.”The silence hit like a physical blow.Edgar stood motionless.There was no reaction.It was as if he had been shot straight through the heart.The color drained from his face. His eyes widened. His breathing faltered.He tried to speak, but no sound came out.His throat locked.His body refused to respond.“The most ironic part of all

Liam guided her movements, his hands firm on her waist.“I missed you so much...” he said, his voice rough. “My naughty girl.”Olivia’s entire body seemed to come alive at his touch, as though every nerve awakened at once. She cupped his face and pulled him into an urgent kiss, one filled with longing and need. There was no gentleness left between them—only the desperation of two people who had missed each other far too much.Their mouths met with intensity, as though each was trying to breathe life into the other. The rhythm between them became instinctive, urgent, and before long the room was filled with muffled sounds, uneven breaths, and soft moans she could no longer suppress.Then came a knock at the door.“The door...” she murmured, trying to regain control.Liam didn’t slow down.If anything, he tightened his grip on her waist, drawing her closer, as though he wanted her to forget entirely where they were.“Don’t hold back...” he whispered, his voice rough and far too close.A

Isis turned toward him, still smiling, her eyes sparkling. She gave his chest a playful shove.“You surprised me... you bargain-bin charmer.”He laughed loudly, tipping his head back slightly, completely captivated by her. Then he looked at her again, raising an eyebrow and pretending to be impatient.“I’m still waiting for your answer,” he said, gently squeezing her waist as though he had no intention of letting her go.Isis turned to face him fully. She rested her hands against his chest, feeling the strong, rapid beat of his heart beneath her fingertips. Taking a deep breath, she finally answered.“I accept.”Alex’s smile was immediate—open, genuine, radiant.Carefully, he cupped her face and kissed her.It was a slow, deep kiss, full of intention. Nothing rushed. Nothing demanding. Just the silent promise of something beginning.Their first kiss tasted like choice.Like a conscious surrender.When they pulled apart, still far too close, he smiled with quiet confidence.“I knew you

Several weeks had passed.The day was beautiful.Liam had woken up first that morning, as he almost always did. He spent a few seconds simply watching Olivia sleep. Her face was peaceful, her lips slightly parted, one hand resting instinctively over the small swell of her belly.A smile tugged at his lips, filled with quiet affection.He moved closer, sat on the edge of the bed, and began placing soft kisses across her face, her forehead, and the corner of her mouth.“Good morning, sleepyhead...” he murmured softly. “Time to wake up.”Olivia shifted, mumbling something unintelligible, but smiled without even opening her eyes.Liam chuckled and carefully pulled back the comforter before leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her belly.“Good morning to you too, my love...” he said, lingering there for a moment. “Today, you’re going to meet your grandparents and your reckless uncle. Daddy loves you.”She slowly opened her eyes, still wrapped in sleepiness, a mischievous smile immediatel

The arrival at the Holt mansion took place beneath a clear sky, the kind that seemed to announce something important.The gates opened slowly, and the car rolled along the stone driveway toward the main entrance.Olivia took a deep breath as the vehicle came to a stop, remembering the last time she had been there.Silently, she said a prayer, asking God that Bárbara would not be part of that family gathering.It was the first time her parents would set foot in that place, and she didn’t want any awkward situations in front of them. Most of all, she didn’t want her father worrying about her because of the conflicts and complexities surrounding that family.As always, Liam stepped out first.He opened Olivia’s door carefully, extending a steady hand to help her out. She accepted it with a radiant smile.Behind them, Fabrício, Ana, and Victor also climbed out.“Make yourselves at home,” Liam said, his voice calm and confident, carrying the quiet authority of someone completely comfortabl