In Love with my Son's ExEN

Chapter 1

Brazil — São Paulo — SP

Gabriel Monteiro, CEO of one of the largest medical technology companies in the country, stood in the middle of the living room’s silence, watching the rain strike the immense glass windows. Since the accident that had left him in a wheelchair, his temper—already severe—had grown even worse. He hated the idea of depending on anyone, especially now that his mother, the only person he trusted, was about to travel.

Gabriel heard a noise behind him and turned, watching his mother. She began talking excitedly about her trip to Europe. He did not listen. His mind was stuck on the discomfort of being treated as if he would never recover from the accident he had suffered. He felt disturbed when he heard that he would have a nurse to take care of him.

“I don’t need any babysitter taking care of me, Mom,” he growled, his voice firm.

She sighed, ignoring his outburst of anger with the patience of someone already used to her son’s difficult temperament.

“Gabriel, you still need care. We’ve already talked about this. I’m traveling to see your aunt, and you can’t stay alone, not in your condition.”

Gabriel clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his pride crush his resistance. Being cared for by a stranger was unbearable to him.

“I hired a nurse I trust. She’s a young, newly graduated professional. She’ll start tomorrow,” his mother said, ending the conversation without leaving room for further protest.

He merely snorted, turning his wheelchair sharply and leaving the room. There was nothing left to discuss.

---

Jussara stood in the parking lot of the Monteiro mansion, staring at the imposing façade before her. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the knot in her stomach. Working for one of the richest and most influential families in the country would already be challenging on its own, but what truly made her uncomfortable was the weight of the discovery that was still fresh in her mind.

It had only been a week since she had broken up with Marcos, her boyfriend and betrayer. Marcos’s betrayal with her best friend had devastated her, but what tormented her most was the feeling of being lost, without direction. The invitation to work as a nurse at the Monteiro mansion had appeared like a lifeline in the middle of the sea—something that would keep her busy and away from the pain.

Taking another deep breath, she followed the path to the house’s entrance.

---

Gabriel was sitting in his office when he heard soft knocks on the door.

“What is it now?” he muttered irritably.

His mother entered first, followed by a young woman with dark hair. The girl looked around uncertainly, clearly uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere.

“Gabriel, this is Jussara, your nurse. She’ll take care of you while I’m away,” his mother said, offering the young woman an encouraging smile.

Gabriel stared at her for a moment, his gaze hard and analytical. She was young—perhaps too young to deal with someone like him. And what bothered him most was the idea of having someone so… close. He didn’t want help, much less from someone who seemed so fragile at first glance.

“I hope you know I don’t need you,” he said coldly, without taking his eyes off her.

Jussara swallowed hard. The challenge in his eyes was clear. And even though she was hurt and shaken by her own personal problems, she decided she would not be defeated by the arrogance of a man who seemed so determined to push everyone away.

“I’m not here because you need me, Mr. Monteiro. I’m here because I was hired to be. If you want, we can make this easier or harder—it’s up to you,” Jussara replied, her voice firm.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, assessing her response. Perhaps, for the first time, someone had not backed down in front of him. Something in Jussara’s posture challenged him, even if he still couldn’t understand why.

She was different. And that irritated him even more. He watched his mother take the young woman to the room she would occupy, to his displeasure, right next to his.

---

After Mrs. Amélia left, Jussara spent a few minutes organizing her things in the room. She felt relieved to be alone, but she knew she would soon have to face Gabriel again.

Still, work could not wait. Mrs. Amélia had left clear instructions, and despite Gabriel’s resistance, Jussara was determined to fulfill her role.

She reviewed the medication schedules, organized the first-aid kit, and finally gathered the courage to enter the room next door. She knocked before opening the door, but received no response.

When she entered, she found Gabriel sitting by the window, observing the view, his expression dark and unfriendly. He didn’t even turn his face when she approached.

“I need to talk to you about your care routine,” Jussara said in a formal tone, trying to appear more confident than she felt.

“My routine is very simple, nurse. I don’t need you,” he shot back, his eyes fixed on the window, without even looking at her.

She took a deep breath, maintaining her composure.

“I know you want to keep your independence, and I respect that. But I’m here to make sure you receive the necessary care. It’s my job,” she said firmly.

Gabriel snorted, finally turning his gaze toward her, with an expression of boredom and irritation.

“My job is to run a multimillion-dollar company. I’m a CEO, not a child. I don’t need babysitters or inexperienced young women trying to tell me what to do.”

Jussara felt her face flush, but she refused to back down. She crossed her arms, holding his gaze.

“And my job, Mr. Monteiro, is to take care of people, no matter how difficult they may be.”

Gabriel looked at her irritably. He seemed ready to respond, but restrained himself, turning his eyes back to the window. For a moment, silence settled between them—heavy—until he finally sighed.

“Do whatever you want,” he muttered reluctantly. “But don’t expect me to make it easy.”

She nodded, acknowledging that this small cooperation was already a victory.

“I just need you to take your medication on time and allow me to check the injury. I promise that, aside from that, I’ll stay out of your way.”

Gabriel made a dismissive sound but did not protest further. With light steps, she approached the table where he kept the pills, checking the schedules. For a moment, as she adjusted everything, she felt his eyes on her, silently evaluating her.

When she finished organizing, she looked at him and handed him the medication and a glass of water.

“I’ll let you rest now, but I’ll be back soon to check the dressing.”

And without waiting for a response, she headed for the door. When she left, she closed it gently and, in the hallway, took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Even with the initial hostility, there was something about Gabriel that intrigued her. He was rigid, full of pride and pain, but she could also sense, beneath all that resistance, a man carrying the weight of a situation he could not control. She didn’t yet know if she was ready to deal with him, but one thing was certain: this would be quite a challenge.