Chapter 2

Jussara heard a light knock on her door. She opened it and saw Mrs. Amélia, who already looked ready to leave, carrying a small travel bag.

“Jussara, dear, I need to leave now. My sister’s situation is delicate, and I’m heading straight to the airport,” Mrs. Amélia said, adjusting her coat while giving a brief but worried smile.

“Of course, Mrs. Amélia. You can rest assured I’ll take care of everything here,” Jussara replied, sounding confident.

Mrs. Amélia sighed in relief, holding Jussara’s hand for a moment.

“Thank you, my dear. He’s stubborn, but be patient. Gabriel…” she hesitated, searching for the right words. “His soul is as wounded as his body.”

Jussara nodded, seeing the love and pain reflected in the mother’s eyes. With a brief wave, Mrs. Amélia left, leaving the mansion in almost absolute silence.

As soon as she closed the door, Jussara went to the table where she had written down Gabriel’s medication schedule. The first dose was coming up, so she took the pill and a glass of water and headed to his room. When she opened the door and found the room empty, she frowned.

“Could he be in the living room?” she thought, going straight there, but Gabriel was not there. She looked around until she spotted one of the employees walking down the hallway.

“Excuse me,” she called out with a polite smile. “Do you know where Mr. Gabriel is?”

The employee inclined his head respectfully.

“He’s in the office, miss.”

Thanking him, Jussara went to the office, where the door was closed. She took a deep breath and knocked twice. From inside, Gabriel’s firm voice echoed:

“Come in.”

Jussara opened the door slowly, finding Gabriel focused, his eyes fixed on the papers in front of him. He barely lifted his head to look at her, but the air of irritation was unmistakable.

She approached calmly, holding the glass of water and the pill.

“It’s time for your medication,” she said in a firm but friendly tone.

He did not react. His eyes remained fixed on the documents as if she were not there.

Ignoring his attitude, Jussara stepped closer, placing the pill in front of him. With a steady hand, she held out the glass of water.

Gabriel snorted, shifting his gaze from the papers just enough to shoot her an irritated look.

“I don’t have time for this.”

She held her ground, unshaken.

“It’s important, Mr. Monteiro. The more you avoid the treatment, the longer your recovery will take.”

He pressed his lips together, looking at the pill with a bitter expression. Finally, he took the medication and the glass from her hand, swallowing both with visible displeasure. When he finished, he handed the glass back, his face tense.

Jussara gave a small, patient smile.

“Thank you. I’ll be back shortly to check the dressing, if you’re available.”

He did not respond, returning his attention to the papers, visibly uncomfortable with being cared for. Without another word, Jussara left the office, closing the door carefully. She knew this was only the beginning of a long battle, but she was willing to face each moment with the same calm, even if Gabriel continued to behave like a stubborn and resistant patient.

Later that afternoon, Jussara went back to the office with the first-aid kit in hand. She knocked lightly on the door and, after his somewhat reluctant permission, entered. Gabriel was in the same position, immersed in documents, but when he saw her come in, he let out a short sigh.

She approached, maintaining a professional tone.

“It’s time for the other pill, and I also need to change the dressing,” she said, holding out the medication and the glass of water.

This time, without saying anything, Gabriel took the pill, drank the water, and then, without hesitation, removed his shirt. Jussara felt her heart race for a moment at the sight of his well-defined torso marked with bruises from the recent accident. She swallowed hard and forced herself to keep her composure, extending her hands for him to show her the wound.

He lowered the waistband of his sweatpants slightly, revealing the cut that was already partially healed. Jussara held her breath once again, trying to focus on the dressing while being aware of every detail. Gabriel raised an eyebrow, noticing her hesitation with a suspicious look.

She began cleaning the wound with steady hands, but as she worked, he watched her closely, as if trying to decipher her thoughts. Suddenly, he broke the silence.

“I know why you’re here.”

Jussara lifted her eyes, surprised, as she removed her gloves.

“I don’t understand…”

“Don’t play dumb,” he said, his tone loaded with irony. “I didn’t think my mother would do something like this… but let’s see how you react.”

Before Jussara could protest, Gabriel pulled her toward him, making her fall into his lap. Without warning, he leaned in and claimed her lips in an intense kiss, challenging and provoking her at the same time. Her heart raced, and for a moment, all she could think about was the intensity of that contact.

She pushed him away despite having enjoyed it, then stepped back, her cheeks hot, breathing deeply to regain control.

“Mr. Monteiro,” she said, recovering her professional tone. “I’m here to take care of your recovery, not for… this.”

Gabriel released her, a faint mocking smile on his lips, but he said nothing. His intense gaze followed her as she stood up and adjusted her uniform, determined to maintain her composure.

“Good night, sir,” she said before leaving the office with her head held high, still feeling the pressure of his lips on hers.

Gabriel watched as Jussara closed the door. Her face was serious, but with an expression he interpreted as confirmation of his suspicions. A discreet, satisfied smile appeared on his lips. He had no more doubts; he was right about her—she was there for more than just work.

She had accepted the kiss, even though she had pulled away afterward. But to Gabriel, that only confirmed his suspicion that his mother had brought him a “nurse” with intentions far beyond medical care. The idea that his mother had hired someone to distract him from his loneliness, someone to provide a certain kind of relief, sounded almost comical, but convenient.

There was no denying that Jussara was an attractive woman, with a manner that intrigued him, and the delicate touch of her fingers on his skin had sent shivers through him. That touch, combined with her unexpected response to his kiss, only reinforced his conclusions. Her lips were soft; if she hadn’t pulled away, they would still be kissing, and he would explore every corner of that mouth.

The only problem was that he wasn’t sure his body was ready for that kind of “adventure,” at least not yet. But as he looked at the door through which she had left, he knew that time and closeness would take care of that doubt. He smiled, imagining how many kisses they would share after that first one.

For now, he would observe, test, and if everything went as he expected, discover just how willing that nurse truly was to please him.