THE BOSS I HATED TO LOVEEN

The piercing silence of the morning was the first blow that struck Celina when she woke up. It wasn't just the absence De of sound—it was his absence. Again. The satin sheet, cold and untouched beside her, screamed a truth she could no longer ignore: César hadn't come home. And this had been going on for months.

With her eyes still sticky from a sleepless night, she remained motionless, staring at the white ceiling of the gigantic room that looked more like an abandoned stage. The mansion, imposing on the outside, was now a gilded prison on the inside. The luxury of the furniture, the works of art on the walls, the flower arrangements perfectly changed by the hands of the staff... everything was superfluous in the face of the emptiness that consumed her chest.

She sat up slowly, a lump in her throat. Her bare feet touched the cold floor. The echo of her own footsteps as she walked to the closet seemed to mock the loneliness that surrounded her. She stopped in front of the huge mirror and stared at herself.

The reflection made her hold her breath.

"Am I ugly?" she thought, squeezing her arms as if seeking shelter in herself. "Am I getting old? Has he found someone better? More beautiful? More interesting?"

Her eyes scanned her own body with silent cruelty. The dark circles under her eyes betrayed sleepless nights. Her skin was dull, lacking the glow it used to have. Her lips, dry, no longer smiled as they once did. The sparkle in her eyes... was gone. But the worst part wasn't what she saw. It was what she felt.

"Am I no longer enough?"

She took a deep breath, her eyes welling up. The inner voice whispered all her insecurities — rejection, loneliness, the fear of being forgotten, discarded. That woman in the mirror was not the Celina César had known. But she was there. Hurt, yes. But still standing.

She ran her hand through her loose hair, and in that moment, a spark reignited. It wasn't anger. It was pain turning into drive.

"I'm not going to destroy myself over this..." she murmured, her voice breaking. "I'm going to remember who I am."

Determined, she began to choose clothes. Clothes she hadn't worn in a long time. Dresses that accentuated her curves, shoes that made her walk like someone who knows where she's going. She rummaged through her drawers until she found a black lace lingerie set, still with the tag on. A gift from a time when she still believed they would love each other forever.

She carefully set everything aside. Then she called the spa she used to frequent before her life began to fall apart.

Hours later, Celina was immersed in a process of rebirth. The esthetician's delicate hands massaged her tense shoulders, while a soft playlist filled the room. She had her nails done, waxed, and took care of her skin and hair. The makeup highlighted her green eyes and softened her tired features.

When she looked in the salon mirror at the end of the afternoon, she barely recognized herself. The woman staring back at her was stunning. Strong. Ready.

Behind the wheel, the cloudy sky accompanied her journey to the mirrored building of Brown Law Firm. Every kilometer traveled was a confrontation with her own feelings. In her heart, a whirlwind: fear, hope, pain, desire, doubt.

She didn't know what she would find there.

She only knew she had to try.

She needed to look him in the eye. She needed to remember what they once were. She needed, at least once, to fight for herself — not as the wife who had been cast aside, but as the woman who still deserved love.

When she parked in front of the building, it was already dusk, the sky heavy with dark clouds. The workday was about to end.

And Celina was ready for the truth.

She walked to the elevator and proceeded to the president's office.

Celina opened the office door and her world fell apart.

César, her husband, was entwined with another woman.

Nicole was sprawled across the desk, her blonde hair tousled, her lips parted in pure pleasure. Her legs were wrapped around César's waist, her hands clenched into his back.

She was the first to notice her presence. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. Her eyes sparkled with malice, as if she had been expecting this moment, as if she wanted Celina to see her there, taking what was hers.

Only then did César notice his wife standing at the door. He turned slowly, without haste, without fear. The look he gave Celina showed no guilt. It showed no regret. Only coldness.

As if nothing had happened.

As if she meant nothing.

César just stared at her, emotionless, and continued his conversation with his secretary coldly.

Celina took a step back, feeling she couldn't stand another second there, turned around and left in tears, distraught.

She got into her car and, without thinking, stopped at the first bar she saw and drank. Leaving there, she started the engine and accelerated. She drove aimlessly through the streets of São Paulo.

The rain fell lightly, mixing with the tears that ran down Celina's face. She drove aimlessly, breathless, her mind numb with the pain of having caught him cheating. The world seemed to spin in slow motion, until everything sped up in a second.

She ran a red light without noticing.

A figure appeared. A body. An impact.

"My God!" she screamed, slamming on the brakes.

The car stopped with a jolt. Celina ran to the front, her heart in her mouth.

The man was lying on the ground, moaning softly. He was homeless, but not as she had imagined. He had a strong body, broad shoulders, and defined muscles even under his wet shirt. His face, despite the dirt, was handsome. It revealed firm features and intense eyes.

"Are you okay? I... I didn't see you! Do you want to go to the hospital?" she asked, crouching down beside him.

"I'm fine... I think. Just my leg hurts. But I'm alive," he said, trying to get up.

Celina hesitated. The surname Brown weighed heavily on her mind. The fear of someone recognizing her, of everything making headlines the next day, tightened her chest. A scandal would further ruin what was left of her life.

"Look... I can help you. You don't want to go to a hospital, but... I can take you to a hotel." A warm place to rest, take a shower, take care of yourself.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I... need to do something."

He looked at her suspiciously, but then nodded. She helped him into the car. The silence was tense.

When they arrived at the hotel, it was simple and discreet. Celina went up to the room with him.

"Go on, take a shower. I'll wait here," she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

He stared at her for a second, then went into the bathroom.

As she listened to the sound of the water running, Celina took a deep breath. The room smelled clean, unlike the chaos she carried inside.

When he came out of the shower, his hair wet, a towel wrapped around his waist, Celina looked at him silently.

Beautiful. So real.

More real than everything she had left behind that night.