Chapter 3

After hours of reading aloud, Patrícia ended up dozing off in the armchair beside the bed. She woke with a start when she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she opened her eyes, she found Rafael standing there. For a moment, she feared he would scold her, but his expression was calm.

“Go have dinner,” he said simply. “I’ll stay with my father for a while.”

Patrícia sat up straighter and rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself.

“I need to bathe him first, sir.”

“I do that every day. Today will be no different.”

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

As he watched her leave the room, Rafael sighed, running a hand through his hair. He did not doubt Patrícia’s intentions, but he did not want her taking on more than she could handle. His father was a large man, 1.85 meters tall and weighing over 100 kilos, while she seemed so small and delicate. Moving him required strength and practice, something Rafael had been doing for two years.

He knew that at some point he would have to allow her to help, but he did not like the idea of delegating that care. Taking care of his father was more than an obligation; it was his way of being present, of making up for lost time and ensuring that he was well.

Rafael left his father clean, dressed, and scented with the familiar woody fragrance he had always used before the accident. It was a small detail, but keeping him that way made Rafael feel that part of his father was still there, that he could return at any moment.

Meanwhile, Patrícia went to take a shower, letting the warm water wake her up. She wanted to shake off the tiredness and be ready to continue her work. Afterward, she went downstairs for dinner, trying to be as quick as possible.

It was strange. She had been there for such a short time, yet she already felt an almost uncontrollable urge to stay by Mr. Avelar’s side. Caring for him seemed to be more than just a professional duty.

But why?

Patrícia arrived in the kitchen and, just like at lunch, the employees were talking about their employer. Silently, she took her plate and began to eat, but her attention was completely focused on the conversation.

“I miss the boss,” one of the maids commented nostalgically. “Every morning, I would take him coffee very early, and he was already watching the news. He really liked keeping up with the country’s economy.”

Patrícia made mental notes. Small details like that could help her better understand Mr. Avelar’s habits and make his care easier.

“Yes,” another employee agreed. “And every week the massage therapist would come.”

The woman drying the dishes discreetly looked around before continuing, as if she were about to reveal a big secret.

“I think they were having sex instead of getting massages.”

Patrícia paused for a moment, surprised by the insinuation. Could it be true? And if it was, did it matter now? Either way, the curiosity had already been planted in her mind.

Patrícia pretended not to care about the direction of the conversation, but she kept listening closely.

“Oh, I think so too,” another maid said, lowering her voice. “The woman left here smiling every time.”

“But do you remember the blonde who showed up a month before the accident? That one really seemed to have something serious with the boss,” one of the cooks added.

Patrícia frowned. A blonde woman? From the way the employees spoke, it seemed Mr. Avelar had a very active personal life before the accident.

“Does Mr. Rafael know about this?” she asked, unable to hold back her curiosity.

The women exchanged glances, surprised by the question.

“Probably. But he was never one to meddle in his father’s love life,” the cook replied. “Young Avelar has always been more focused on business.”

Patrícia nodded and finished her dinner quickly, not wanting to prolong the conversation. That topic was already starting to mess with her head. Mr. Avelar seemed like a serious, reserved man, but apparently, he also had his secrets.

As soon as she finished eating, she decided to return to the bedroom to check if Rafael needed anything. When she reached the door, she found him sitting beside his father’s bed, elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the sleeping man.

He sighed deeply before noticing her presence.

“Did you finish dinner?” he asked, his voice low and tired.

“Yes,” she replied, taking a step forward. “Do you need help with anything?”

He shook his head.

“No, I just…” Rafael ran a hand over his face. “I just wish he would wake up.”

Patrícia felt a tightness in her chest at seeing his vulnerability. It was rare to see such a strong, determined man allow himself to show weakness. Without thinking too much, she stepped closer and lightly touched his shoulder.

“He will wake up,” she said, trying to sound confident. “And when that happens, he will need you more than ever.”

Rafael looked up at her, and for a moment, something different passed between them. But before either of them could say anything else, a noise outside the house broke the silence.

They both turned toward the door.

“What was that?” Patrícia asked, feeling a chill run down her spine.

Rafael stood up immediately, his eyes alert.

“Stay here with my father,” he ordered, already heading for the exit. “I’ll go see what’s going on.”

Patrícia watched him leave, and a strange feeling came over her.

She stood beside Mr. Avelar’s bed, her heart racing. The sound outside seemed distant now, but the bad feeling remained.

She looked at the sleeping man and sighed.

“I think your house is full of secrets, Mr. Avelar,” she murmured, adjusting his sheets.

She tried to push away the restless thoughts and focus on her work. She checked the patient’s temperature, monitored the equipment, and made a few notes. The silence in the room was broken only by the sound of the heart monitor.

Minutes passed, and Rafael did not return. Patrícia began to grow uneasy. What could be happening?

She decided she would stay just a few more minutes, but then the door suddenly opened, and Rafael came in. His face was tense, his expression serious.

“What happened?” she asked immediately.

He ran a hand through his hair and locked the door behind him.

“There was someone in the garden, near the fence.”

Patrícia’s eyes widened.

“Did you see who it was?”

“No. But it wasn’t one of the employees. And it didn’t look like just any thief.”

She felt a shiver.

“Do you think it was just someone curious or… someone after you?”

Rafael looked at her for a moment, as if weighing his words.

“I don’t know. But I’ve already asked for security to be reinforced. I don’t want to take any risks.”

Patrícia noticed the weight in his voice. Something about that incident seemed to bother him more than it should have.

“Do you think it could be related to your father’s accident?”

Rafael sighed, crossing his arms.

“I don’t have proof, but I never believed it was just an accident.”

Patrícia felt her heart race.

“You think someone tried to kill him?”

He looked away, toward his sleeping father.

“I don’t think so. I’m sure of it.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Patrícia swallowed hard. The feeling that she had stepped into something far bigger than she had imagined only grew.

“I think you should rest,” Rafael suggested, looking back at her. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Patrícia nodded, but she knew she would not be able to sleep as easily as before.