Karen
I am determined to avoid any encounter with Othon, especially after the embarrassment of the previous night. The fact that I'm dreaming about him is something that makes me extremely uncomfortable, and I fear he might come seeking explanations about it. So when Otávio calls me during lunch to go for a walk in the street while he rides his skateboard, I agree on the condition that we go earlier than usual.
I already have an idea of the time Othon usually goes out for a walk with his dog, and I plan to avoid any coincidence. I don't want to risk crossing paths with him.
As I accompany Otávio around the neighborhood, I watch him with pride as he gains more confidence on the skateboard with each turn. He seems so happy and focused that for a moment I find myself lost in thought.<
OthonWhen I arrived at Central Hospital on Monday morning, I felt my energy renewed, despite the busy weekend with Colin and Noah's visit. After several conversations and a succession of events with negative outcomes for me, I was determined to leave behind anything related to Karen and focus on what mattered: my work and my happiness.However, as soon as I stepped foot in the hospital that morning, everything changed. My spirits instantly evaporated when I came across Karen in the corridors, wearing the institution's uniform. That abrupt sight hit me like a punch to the gut, bringing forth a flood of conflicting emotions.I couldn't help but relive the moments of last Saturday, the cutting words and disdain Karen directed at me. And now there she was, occupying the same space as me, forcing me to act
OthonFor a moment that felt like an eternity, a dense silence, laden with tension, hung between us. Expectations pulsated in the air, and seconds stretched as I awaited Karen's reaction, my heart pounding so loudly it seemed to echo in the silence. Her eyes betrayed the whirlwind of thoughts assaulting her, every muscle in her face contorting into a complex array of emotions. Then, notably, an expression of disbelief formed on her face."You... you should be ashamed to utter such words!" Her voice was laden with resentment and hurt, filled with disgust and revolt.Those words struck like arrows, but what haunted me most was the look of pure disdain she cast upon me. That was anger, pure and unadulterated. How could she hate me so much?"Why... why should I
KarenI needed to vent to someone I trusted and invited Camila to dinner at my parents' house that night. Camila has always been my closest confidante, someone I can entrust with my deepest secrets.After hearing about my recent encounters with Othon, Camila makes an unpleasant suggestion."It's obvious that it's affecting you more than you want to admit," she tells me, her voice laden with concern.I take a deep breath, trying to control the avalanche of emotions threatening to overwhelm me."Having Othon living next door to my house and still having to work at the same hospital as him is proving to be more complicated than I could have imagined," I confess.After o
OthonI still couldn't believe Karen had agreed to Carlos Lopes's suggestion, the supervisor in charge of managing client reception, and appointed by the administrative manager to represent the department. Carlos suggested that one way to reduce the costs of the trip to the conference in Porto Alegre, which was scheduled for two days from now, would be for all of us to go together in the same car. The group designated to represent the Central Hospital consisted of four people, besides the director, which was me.I had the feeling that Karen wasn't entirely present in that meeting. She seemed distracted, and when I asked her again, expecting her to decline, I was surprised to see her accept the suggestion.I couldn't impose my will on the group, especially when the other four members had agreed to Carlos's suggestion. Karen's acceptance only reinforced this dynamic, although I suspected my colleague wasn't fully present in the meeting.With the group's decision already made, I realized
KarenAs I waited for Othon to open the door, my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest from racing so fast. When the door finally swung open, I met his piercing gaze, staring at me with coldness and a question in his eyes."Miss Buarque..." Othon said, in a tone of realization, his voice sounding impersonal.I was momentarily speechless, my face likely revealing all the surprise I felt at Othon's icy reception."Yes?" he prompted, pressing me with his inquisitive gaze.I shook my head slightly to gather my thoughts. I then decided to adopt the same impersonal tone in response."I need to talk to you, Dr. Arraes."Othon looked at me with a mix of concern and caution as he asked if I preferred to talk right there or somewhere else. His expression said it all: he was nervous about the possibility of us being seen together. I took a deep breath before responding, aware that my choice could further increase the tension between us."It's better if we talk in your suite," I s
OthonThe impact of Karen's words hits me like a bomb, leaving me stunned and reeling. Her sincerity-laden gaze moves me, and for a moment, I find myself unable to process the enormity of what she has just revealed."You... were pregnant with me?" I murmur, my own words sounding distant and unreal to my ears.Karen nods slowly, her eyes reflecting the pain and truth contained in her words."Yes, Othon. I was pregnant, and... you have a five-year-old son," she replies, her voice choked with restrained emotion.Her confession leaves me dazed. A son... I'm a father. The idea seems so distant and surreal as if belonging to an alternate reality."A son...?" I whisper, my
KarenBefore Othon's lips met mine, his intention was already evident, yet it didn't deter him. Today, there were no excuses for my lack of awareness of what was happening, as on the night we met at the club and had a moment in his car. Today, I couldn't contain the flood of emotions that always overwhelms me when I'm near this persistent man, determined to disturb my peace.I decided not to rationalize, just to feel. I longed for that touch, that kiss, that moment. Othon is the father of my child, and all we shared was one night. It wasn't enough. He always knew he wanted more. And now, at this moment, I realize that Othon's hands gently but firmly and determinedly hold my face.I analyze nothing, just surrender fully to the moment, and the kiss, which started softly, intensifies, becoming hotter and
OthonAs Karen rose from the bed with wide eyes, wrapped in the sheet, I remained calmly lying down. I wouldn't confront her, nor engage in an argument with Karen right now, especially since we had finally come to understand each other and discovered that we have a son. No. I want to make the most of that night with her, and the next day, I want to meet Otávio and give my son a tight hug."Not using protection wasn't something I planned, Karen," I said calmly. "Nor did I hear you ask about it.""Are you blaming me?" Karen asked, placing her hand on her chest dramatically."My tests are up to date, Karen. And I'm sure you're not involved with anyone else either," I said, trying to reassure her. "There's no need to worry."
ColinThe moment of meeting with Letícia came quicker than I expected. As I sat in the car, staring at Letícia's front door, a knot formed in my stomach. I had spent the last few days trying to sort things out with my family, but nothing compared to the nervousness that now consumed me. Taking a deep breath, and trying to gather my courage, I finally got out of the car.I walked up to Letícia's door, and before ringing the doorbell, I hesitated for a second. Would she believe me after everything? Could I prove to her that I was here to stay? Without further delay, I rang the doorbell and waited.The door opened, revealing Letícia with a look of apprehension mixed with determination. Even in her simplicity, she looked radiant, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
LetíciaThe week passed without any news from Colin. At first, I believed in his intention to truly take responsibility. I even discussed with my mother the possibility of not allowing Colin to be part of our lives. She, with her wisdom and calmness, made me see that it wouldn't be fair to deny our child the right to know his father, as long as he was willing to be a positive presence."Daughter, we all make mistakes. If Colin truly wants to be present, you should give him that chance," my mom pointed out.But as the days passed in silence, I began to think that everything he had said was nothing but lies and deceit. Cynically, I thought he must be just like his twin brother, a liar. However, this realization didn't stop the sadness from settling in. I attributed these feelings to pregnancy horm
ColinI returned to São Paulo with a heavy heart. The memory of the pain in Letícia's eyes haunted me. She accused me of things I would never do. The shock of discovering Patrick's involvement gave everything a new perspective. How could he? Despite our disagreements, I never imagined he would stoop so low. I need to sort this out. Clarify everything and somehow try to correct the wrong that has been done to Letícia.But the desire to do things right this time, coupled with the fear of causing more damage to our relationship, left me confused and unsure of what to do next. Patrick's revelation once again meddling in my life was like a punch to the gut. He crossed all boundaries this time, meddling in something as serious and intimate as Letícia's decision about her pregnancy.Letícia... her name echoed in my mind, bringing back memories of that one unforgettable night we spent together. A night that changed everything. I knew I shouldn't let myself be affected so much by someone I bar
Continuation - Four months agoLetíciaYears passed, and I tried to move on. My mother was my rock through it all. She worked hard so that I could study and become a doctor. She did everything to make up for my father's absence, but that absence was a wound that was hard to heal.However, fate has its twists and turns. One day, without warning, someone rang the doorbell of our house, and when I opened the door, there he was, Osvaldo, the man I hadn't seen in years.My father, the stranger who had abandoned me. He looked older, and tired, but he still had that smile I remembered from childhood."Letícia, I...," he began, but couldn't finish the sentence.The shock left me paralyzed for a few seconds. I wanted to scream, cry, and ask why, but I just stood there, looking at him. Finally, I managed to say something."What are you doing here?" My voice came out colder than I intended, but I couldn't hide the pain and anger.He sighed, seeming to search for the right words."I heard you gra
LetíciaI spent a long time awake that night, tossing and turning in bed, thinking about the past and my ghosts. Hearing about the crazy story involving not only Colin and his twin brother but also Othon's sister made me reflect not only on what was haunting him that night we met at the bar but also on what led me there.All of that stirred up a still-open wound in me. It was hard to simply forgive Colin and involve him in my child's pregnancy after so much hurt. Finding out that he didn't cause it didn't seem to change much within me.I've always dreamed of having a child to give all the love in the world to. I love children; that's why I chose to be a pediatrician. But I wasn't prepared to have a child by a stranger, whom I only remembered the name of. He introduced himself as Colin Salles as soon as we toasted and
LetíciaThe meeting with Colin was very different from what I expected. When I decided to look for him, I imagined he might use all sorts of excuses to justify his rude behavior when I told him about the pregnancy. But it never crossed my mind that he would use the excuse that his twin brother had impersonated him.As I walked back home, trying to process everything he had told me, I found myself torn between believing or not believing this story. I didn't doubt that he had a twin brother; after all, that wasn't so extraordinary. What left me incredulous was that this brother could be so despicable as to impersonate Colin and mistreat the woman who was pregnant with his brother's child. But, as Colin himself had said, it wouldn't be difficult to find out if he was telling the truth about something so serious.When I
ColinThe first thing that caught my attention when Letícia entered the café was her protruding belly. It was subtle but a few months into pregnancy. She looked radiant and beautiful, but the coldness with which she treated me quickly refocused my attention on what truly mattered at that moment.As we sat down, I still felt somewhat incredulous that Letícia had agreed to meet me. Even more shocking was that she had reached out to me, and set up the meeting. Now we could talk more calmly and clarify things between us."Thank you for coming, Letícia," I began, trying to find a friendly tone.She only nodded in agreement, her eyes not meeting mine directly. I noticed her gaze shifting to the table next to us, where the waiter had just left some doughnuts
LetíciaI woke up that Saturday with a sense of excitement I hadn't felt in a while. The idea of starting to buy things for my baby was thrilling, even though I still didn't know their gender. As I had my breakfast, my mind was filled with thoughts of baby clothes, toys, and everything else I could buy. I had the day free and wanted to make the most of it.I mentioned to my mom about my desire to start shopping, but also about Karen being on her honeymoon and not wanting to go alone. My mom then suggested that I invite Camila."You and Camila have been getting along so well, Letícia. Why don't you invite her to go with you? I'm sure she'd love to."She was right. Camila had been a great friend, always there and willing to help. I grabbed my phone and called her.
ColinBack in São Paulo, I can't stop thinking about Letícia and all the confusion this story has become. Her image is always present, disturbing me with every moment of silence. While I try to focus on the new project for an important client, I feel restless and uninspired. Normally, my work as an architect flows easily; I have a well-established company in the market and have always been recognized for my creativity and efficiency. However, days have passed since Othon's wedding and I still haven't been able to regain my rhythm.If I were honest with myself, I couldn't attribute my lack of concentration to the time I spent in a coma in the hospital. I was already physically and mentally recovered before the weekend wedding. No, this restlessness had a name: Letícia.My phone vibrates on the table, interrupting my thoughts. Othon's name appears on the screen, and I answer with a sigh."Colin, my friend, how are you? I heard you already knew Letícia," he says, and I can almost hear th