Karen
I found myself completely paralyzed when Valquíria pointed the gun at me. It was as if time had slowed down, each second stretching out to feel like an eternity. My mind was clouded with shock, unable to fully process what was happening.
The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, and I instinctively closed my eyes, waiting for the impact of the bullet. But nothing happened. The silence that followed was deafening, interrupted only by the grinding of my teeth in anticipation of what would come next.
When I finally mustered the courage to open my eyes, I was met with the sight of burning rage plastered on Valquíria's face. Colin was there, holding her from behind and aiming her gun towards the ceiling, preventing her from firing again. But Valquíria struggled a
OthonI could barely believe my own eyes as I witnessed the shocking scene of Valquíria firing a shot. Chaos ensued, but Valquíria stared back at me with cold eyes and a satisfied smile on her face. I was too bewildered to form a coherent sentence as I knelt beside Colin, trying to contain the damage and administer first aid."Someone call an ambulance!" I shouted, struggling to make my voice heard over the reigning chaos in the room. "Dad, Noah, restrain her! And also call the police."I didn't need to specify what I was talking about. They understood perfectly that it was Valquíria, who remained still, as if contemplating her dark deed with a macabre satisfaction.Acting with the serenity my profession granted me, I knelt beside Colin
KarenThe last three months have been like an emotional rollercoaster for all of us since Colin was shot by Valquíria. His health remained delicate for weeks as he fought in a coma. We all waited anxiously, praying and bearing the heavy weight of seeing such a brave friend in that state.As a nurse in the same ward where Colin was hospitalized at the central hospital, I walked slowly to the room where he was staying. When I arrived for my usual visit, my heart raced as I realized Colin was awake, his eyes scanning the room in an attempt to understand what was happening. A shock of joy ran through my body, an overwhelming urge to shout and jump for happiness. But I held back, knowing that wouldn't be appropriate.I took a deep breath to calm my agitation and approached Colin with a gentle smile.
KarenI hurried into the women's restroom, every step echoing down the hospital corridor. My breath came fast and shallow, my stomach twisting with a familiar sense of nausea. Anxiety consumed me, fearing I wouldn't make it to the stall in time.Finally, I reached the privacy of the stall and let myself empty everything into the toilet. The sound of my retching was deafening, echoing against the white bathroom walls. I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, trying to block out the overwhelming sensations.When it finally stopped, my body felt a momentary relief, but my ears still buzzed with the intensity of the moment. I took several deep breaths, trying to calm my heart which seemed to want to leap out of my chest.That's when I noticed the sound coming from the stal
OthonMy steps echoed through the hospital corridor as I made my way to the wing where Karen was. My mind was swirling with thoughts about what could have brought Karen to the lab.When her secretary mentioned seeing her in that hospital wing, worry flooded through me. Was she sick and didn't tell me? That seemed quite probable, considering Colin had just woken up from a three-month coma and was still undergoing rehabilitation before he could be discharged.With great anxiety, I entered the room where Karen was awaiting the results of her blood test, only to find her with an expression of pure nervousness. Before I could say anything, she approached me, her eyes shining with emotion."Othon, I... we..." Karen began, her voice choked with emotion. "We're expecting a baby."An incredulous smile spread across my face as I processed her words. I could hardly believe the wonderful news I was receiving. In a burst of pure happiness, I hugged her tightly, feeling a wave of warmth and love fl
KarenI looked out the window of the room we were staying in, and the view was truly spectacular. The sea was right there, so close, and the entire pool complex was inviting for a swim. But I was too nervous to enjoy these wonders. It was my wedding day. The big day had finally arrived.I returned to the front of the mirror and stared at myself. Was I really beautiful or were my friends just trying to please me? I let the question slip out loud, and I saw Letícia and Camila rolling their eyes simultaneously. It's amazing how they seem to be in sync as if they've known each other for much longer than they have.These moments of relaxation are a relief for the nerves that are on edge. After all, today is the day I take one of the most important steps of my life, alongside the man I love. But even with all the anxiety, I feel blessed to have so many special people with me on that day.After finding out that I was indeed pregnant, I sought out Dr. Letícia Bernardi and shared the news with
**Letícia**I was thrilled to see Karen so happy and radiant. Othon Arraes, the man about to become her husband, was a familiar figure to me, though we had never spoken directly. As the director of the hospital where I work, I have heard many stories about his integrity and character. He is a fair man, always committed to improving both patient care and working conditions for the staff. It was comforting to know that Karen was marrying someone so admirable.The setting was breathtaking: the central aisle set up in one of the resort's gardens where we were staying, surrounded by flowers and under a flawlessly blue sky. Karen's father was by her side, visibly emotional, ready to walk her down the aisle. Camila and I took our places near the altar, where Othon and his groomsmen were already waiting.I had yet to meet the groom's friends, Noah and Colin, although I had heard a lot about them. The previous night had been quiet for me; I preferred to stay in my room, while today was dedicate
**Colin**I was quite surprised by the coincidence in front of me. Discovering that the woman with whom I had a drunken night and woke up in bed was also a friend of Karen's was quite unsettling. Not just a friend. She was also a doctor working at the same hospital where Othon was the director and Karen a nurse. It was too much of a coincidence.The fact is that from the moment I recognized her as the woman from the hotel, I couldn't take my eyes off her. It was as if a magnet was constantly pulling me towards her. But Letícia Bernardi, as I discovered her name to be, didn't seem even remotely interested in me. On the contrary, the times she glanced in my direction, there was something very much like hurt and resentment in her eyes, which was quite strange.I couldn't understand her reaction. Sure, I didn’t get in touch after that night, but how could I? We didn't even exchange pleasantries the next morning. Being honest with myself, I also had to admit that I hadn't thought about her
**Letícia**I couldn’t believe Colin’s audacity. What happened to make him decide that I now deserved his attention? I left the elevator feeling furious. I entered the suite reserved for me and tried to calm down. I closed my eyes and did a controlled breathing exercise. He wouldn’t be able to affect me. I wouldn’t let him have that power over me.Determined not to let Colin shake me and now feeling calmer, I decided I wouldn’t stay at the resort the next day. I didn’t want any more encounters with him. Finding out that he and Othon were great friends made everything more complicated. I knew Colin would also be at the resort to enjoy the day with his friends, just as planned.Without wasting time, I started packing my suitcase. I had brought only one for the weekend. With everythin
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