I hesitated before entering my suite, but finally opened the door. Trying not to think about the latest events and Damien's strange words, I undressed and put on the sleeping clothes I had brought from Brazil. But when I looked at my bed, I didn't feel the urgency to lie down. Instead, I went to the mirror to look at myself.What was happening to me? I hadn't looked the same over the last few days. I couldn't recognize myself anymore. Where was my self-control? Damien had undermined it with every kiss, every touch between us. In fact, I knew it was happening every second I spent near him, but I didn't want to stop it. Because deep down it was what I longed to have.Suddenly I realized that I was tired of all those restrictions I had created for myself. I was tired of my routine existence and the nights that always ended lonely. I wanted to break all that. Suddenly I wanted to break through and find out what I was capable of. Did it really matter how Damien saw things? And how I was st
It was dark, very dark. But I knew there was someone else around because I heard a low cry breaking the silence of the room. I suddenly became aware that I was on a bed and stood up, startled. My pupils had become accustomed to the darkness and I realized I was in my own room.The crying became louder and then I recognized Julia's squeaky voice coming through the walls of the room. My heart raced and I pulled back the sheets and jumped out of bed in search of my sister, but when I was halfway down the corridor, the house didn't look the same. The conspicuous brick walls were there again and I felt a shiver run down my spine.- Bitch! - Someone shouted from the room ahead, snapping me out of my momentary trance and making me hurry towards the familiar kitchen.But when I entered the room, I let out a terrified scream. My father had his leather belt in one hand and with the other he was holdingJulia pinned to the floor by her neck, desperately struggling for air.- Let her go! - I shou
It wasn't a good journey to Buenos Aires, but it wasn't a long one either. When we arrived in the Argentine capital, the weather wasn't the best and a storm was approaching. Damien booked us both into a luxury hotel so that we would be sheltered until our flight left in the evening.Santiago and Teresa came to say goodbye just before the helicopter flight and made us promise to come back. We responded cordially, although I knew I wouldn't be seeing them again. Damien would definitely be back. It seemed to me that things had gone well and that he would close the deal he wanted with Santiago. It had been a good weekend for him.I didn't try to talk to Damien and we spoke only when necessary during the drive through Buenos Aires. I was anxious to get home, get to Brazil and get away from him. I wanted to buy ice cream and watch Top Gun in my small, safe room. Then all was just a distant dream that would fade as time went by.When we arrived at the hotel a little after three, Damien helpe
Damien's hands slid down my arms, causing soft goose bumps on my skin with each touch of his agile fingers. His lips returned to my neck and he spread warm kisses across my skin. I reached for him with my hands, molding his perfect biceps with my fingers and moving up his shoulders to reach the hair on the back of his neck. His warm chest was on top of mine and our bodies were wrapped in the thin dark blue blanket. I gasped and moaned as Damien lowered his lips to my collarbone and began to tease me with gentle nibbles around the sensitive spot on my breasts. I gasped for a moment and slid my hands down the mattress, clenching the sheet between my fingers. It seemed to get better each time we started again.Damien pulled away with a smile and leaned on his forearms, but suddenly his eyebrows drew together and he looked worried. But I couldn't concentrate on asking what it was. Not when he was so close and warm on top of me. I seized the moment and lifted myself up too, resting my righ
The clock on the platform ticked ten o'clock when we finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro. Damien was checking our luggage and I was trying to reach Arianna, but the call was going straight to voicemail, making me increasingly worried.- Everything's going to the car, Darling. Tom is already waiting for us. - Damien warned me when he pulled up next to me.I didn't look at him and turned off my cell phone.- I need to get home. - I stared at him, already imagining his reaction.- Now? No. I'm not letting you go home tonight, Ellen. - He seemed offended by my desire.- I didn't want to go, Damien. I'd rather stay with you, but I have to because I have to see my brother...- Your brother? - Damien looked confused.- Yes. - I answered quickly. - I have responsibilities towards them, you know.He looked at me for a few moments. I wasn't lying this time, but I hadn't told the whole truth either. I hadn't talked about the hospital. I was afraid that the news might cause some negative reaction i
Despair spoke for me and my mind was full of the last smiles David had given me before my trip to Argentina. He looked so well. It seemed that all this would soon be nothing more than a bad dream. He didn't deserve it. My little boy didn't deserve any of it. That's when the anguish squeezed my chest so tightly that the pain was physical. I held onto Damien's arms as I felt my body go limp.- Ellen? Ellen? - I heard him call me and pull me close to him. Then his voice sounded like a dream. - Forgive me. It's going to be all right.I felt his fingers on my forehead and that was the last consciousness I had.***It was like waking up after a bad dream, but in a not very welcoming one.I was lying in a pale room and there was a needle in my left arm transferring some liquid into my bloodstream. It took me a few minutes to realize where I was and even less to notice Damien sitting in the armchair opposite me. His blue eyes sparkled as they met mine and he got up to approach my bed.- How a
BONUS DAMIEN - I... - Ellen looked at me indecisively. - I'm going back to work. - Work? - I remembered the day I slept at her house. She didn't go to work. I thought she'd left her job. - Yes, she did. - She gently removed her hand from mine. - Next weekend I'll be in the cafeteria all day. I've been on vacation, but it's coming to an end. - But you don't have to come back. - I held her hand again. I didn't have to. I thought I had enough to support my wife. - I can take care of your expenses. All of them. - No. I can take care of myself and my brothers. That's how it's been for some time and that's how it should be. - Ellen said firmly and clearly. That tone of voice was sure that I wouldn't convince her otherwise. I sighed.I'm not going to convince her to resign, am I? - I already knew the answer. But we were both stubborn. - No, I won't. - She sighed. - I'm sorry. - But you're not going to convince me to go to Argentina without you either. - I said. Two stubborn people. -I
BONUS DAMIEN- You're a terrible best friend. - Nicholas complained, making me laugh as he opened the refrigerator.- Thank you, Nicholas. - I replied as I grabbed two cans of soda.- I'm sure you prefer brunettes. - I turned around and found Nicholas sitting in my armchair. - So that's why you declined my invitation. - He gestured to the computer.At this point I remembered that I had left my photo with Ellen on the screen. I left the cans on the fridge and went back to my desk.- Get out. - I ordered.- Don't get angry. - He stretched out in the armchair and crossed his feet. - I like her. And I think your surname matches her name.- Get out, Nicholas. - I growled nervously.He shrugged off my threat and got up. However, he continued to make fun of me.- Mrs. Ellen Mason. I can already see the box with the old Jack Daniels arriving at my house. - He clapped his hand on my shoulder again. - And then the children, the dogs. Very tragic.- Don't be an idiot. - I grumbled and turned off
BONUS DAMIENI stopped before entering the balcony, just enjoying it. She looked even more beautiful against the classic Italian backdrop. Her hair took on bronze tones in the sunset and the exposed skin that slipped through her robe glowed, capturing my attention. To think that the woman sitting on the parapet with her eyes focused on the Italian landscape was my wife filled me with pride and relief. I tightened my fingers around the glass, silently thanking her for having me. I wouldn't risk losing her ever again. I would take care of her. My eyes went down to her abdomen with our little miracle that still had no sign. I would take care of them both.She wouldn't suffer any more, I would make sure that everything for her went full and happy. That's what she deserved after so much suffering. I made her my life from the moment we walked up the aisle on the island of Solstice and I would love her until the very end.Ellen raised the coffee cup next to her to her lips and her well-drawn
To my surprise, Nicholas and Arianna managed to get along and ended up giving a speech together. Damien and I danced together once again in the Golden Room, to the same music we danced to the first time. When I heard Michael Bolton's final chord, I managed to snatch him into the garden before we were surrounded once again by guests. He looked as surprised as I had imagined when he saw himself in the hotel's empty garden. - Where's my present? - You'll have to look for it. - I nibbled my lower lip and took a step back.Damien frowned in confusion. - All over the garden? - In the immediate vicinity. - I nodded positively. He smiled and ran his hands through the hair on the back of my neck. Then he looked around and I smiled when I realized he was lost as to which direction to go first. - Look, Mr. Mason! - I urged him. Damien looked at me and smiled in my direction and then started walking towards a flowering bush. - It's not there. - I warned him. He stopped immediately. Then
" - I promise to protect and respect you, loving you and our family above myself and my desires. I'll be there every time you need me, because you're the woman I've always hoped for and the only one I've ever really loved, Ellen. As long as my heart beats, it will beat for you and to you."His words still rang in my ears, like a sweet dream. I closed my eyes to remember the recent emotions I had experienced in front of the altar, when he promised me that we would be each other's forever. I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the mirror. The happiness was so great that I couldn't keep the tears at bay. We decided on an informal ceremony on the beach before sunset. sunset. Solstice Island was the chosen location. There, six months after an intense night, Damien and I exchanged the vows that would last the rest of our lives. rest of our lives. It was almost impossible to believe that after the troubled way we met, things would end in such a beautiful way.However, things weren'
- No, no, no... - He pulled me close and wrapped his suit around my waist. I wanted to help him, but I was feeling weak and dizzy.- My love, don't... - Damien sobbed and his lips touched my forehead. - It's all my fault...I reached out slowly and took his arm. He hadn't forgotten me. He had come back to me, as he had promised. And although I was in a lot of pain, my heart warmed inside with happiness.- You came back... But when you called me... I thought...- Ellen, forgive me... - her fingers brushed my right cheek.- It was supposed to be a surprise... I wanted to make you happy...He seemed to despair even more and his sobs became louder.I held his face between my hands.- It's all right... Damien, I... - I felt a twinge and let out a groan, but I didn't give up. I had been foolish to hide my feelings from him and now there was no turning back. It was the deadline. - I love you. I love you with everything I am.Damien let out an agonized moan and more thick tears rolled down hi
I spent Monday trying to distract myself. I bought ice cream and rented romantic comedies to watch, even alone. Jenny and Arianna tried to persuade me to go to a club in Urca, but I refused on the grounds of feeling unwell. Which, in a way, wasn't a lie. They accepted my excuses, but assured me that they would come and visit me later.At lunchtime, I put a supermarket lasagna in the oven and mixed it with some rice. At times I couldn't help shedding a few tears and convinced myself that I was only doing it out of emotion for a few scenes in the movies. At least that's what I'd tell Julia and David when they arrived in the evening. I curled up on the sofa and stared at my cell phone. I'd called Arianna just before four o'clock, but she hadn't picked up or returned my call. She must still be at the club with Jenny. So I kept my cell phone in my hand, staring at his name.I should have told Damien. Told him how I felt. He was right when he said he was the only one fighting for what we ha
I watched the black liquid drip down and gradually fill the cup with dishes of the same color. I continued to pour it slowly and without any pretense of paying attention to the task at hand. That's how I'd been acting since that morning after the Solstice.The cup finally reached the goal I had hoped for. I sighed and brought it to my lips, trying to convince myself to face the hours that awaited me outside. I concentrated only on the taste of the strong coffee for a few moments, but soon the scene was back in my mind. His blue eyes had a melancholy glow and were as hazy as the cloudy morning sky when we arrived at theinternational airport. He tried to convince me to accept the keys to his house one more time, but I stood firm in my decision.Finally giving up, he gently took my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a kiss full of devotion under my skin. I choked back a sob and Damien moved closer, placing his cupped hand on my left cheek.- Are you sure you don't want to come wit
He seemed to hesitate and then let out a long sigh.- I need to go back. - He revealed what I already knew, but added something more.Things in New York have changed a lot and I'll have no choice but to leave. My trip is scheduled for tomorrow. - Then I finally understood what was happening. The whole thing was our farewell. It was to end our relationship. I felt my heart speed up and then tighten in my chest. This was the momentthat I had always dreaded, even though I knew it was bound to happen. Damien and I were from different worlds and at some point the gap between us would become apparent.- It's all right. - I stroked the hair on the back of his neck and held his gaze, but when I felt my eyes getting teary, I put my face on his shoulder. - I'll understand.I had nothing to complain about. When we got together, our time together became something precious to me. So it wasn't fair to spoil the moments he had prepared for us with tears.- Ellen. - Damien called me, but I couldn't
Damien rested his free hand on my waist and we walked to the garage as if we were once again going to one of the usual parties. He chose the Ferrari this time and before long we were crossing Rio de Janeiro.Damien kept silent about our destination and really surprised me when he maneuvered the car and parked it in front of the international airport.- You'll be well looked after, Mr. Mason. - A man in a suit with an airport badge met us. - The platform is ready for you.- Platform? - I looked at Damien without understanding.He just smiled and led me into the airport. Another employee greeted us with a smile and I was stunned when we stepped onto the take-off platform.- Your private jet is ready, sir. I wish you a safe journey.He waved goodbye.- Jet? Damien, we're going...- We're going somewhere special. And since I know how much you like that airplane movie, I got a bit of inspiration since I know how to fly and I think I look better than Tom Cruise. - I let out a laugh.- Wait
David had a huge smile on his face when he entered the house and the first thing he did was announce that it was time to catch up on his series. Jenny and Arianna were also with us. Aunt Meiry had gone to the hospital, but couldn't follow us home, promising to come and see us later.- Things seem to be getting back to normal. - Arianna glared at me as I finished sorting out the chocolate cake I had made for David.- Yeah. It looks like they are. - I agreed.- What is it, Ell? - Jenny stopped pouring herself a soft drink next to me and stared at me. - You don't seem very excited.- I am. - I smiled at her. - I'm very happy that David is finally home.- But... - Jenny insisted. - You can't fool us, my friend. Go ahead.She gestured to Arianna who went to the door leading to the living room and then came back.- David is explaining something about that series he likes to Julia and Renata. We can talk about it.- I'm fine. - I assured them. They both looked at me incredulously. - Damien i