Karen
I wasn't surprised by what happened after Valquíria's visit, and I perfectly understood the reason for the delay in Othon's reaction. He called me, wanting to know what I had said to his sister, as Valquíria had arrived home crying profusely.
"Karen, what happened? Why is Valquíria like this?" Othon's voice sounded concerned on the other end of the line.
"I didn't do anything, Othon. Valquíria came here, first insulted me, and then started a whole act of being a good aunt, and now you're accusing me?" My frustration was evident in my response.
"Sorry, Karen, that's not what I meant. I'm just trying to understand what happened."
His lack of trust deeply irritated me. In a rash an
KarenWhile indignation still simmered within me, I noticed the confused looks from Camila and Noah directed at me and Colin. That sense of disbelief consumed me, but at the same time, the confusion of my friends only increased my frustration. How could I explain to them what was happening when I could barely believe it myself?Feeling like a fool for not recognizing Valquíria as the same woman who deceived me in the hotel room in Fernando de Noronha, I realized that my words had been disjointed and full of curses, explaining nothing to the other two. Colin hadn't shared anything with Noah and Camila."What's going on?" Camila broke the silence, her confused expression reflecting her bewilderment. "What do Valquíria and Othon's fake fiancée have to do with each other?"
OthonI had no idea how long I had been staring at the ceiling of my room, but it was certainly quite some time. After getting up and looking out the window, I found that night had already fallen. The fact was that I was perplexed by the tension between Valquíria and Karen. It was as if two parts of my world were on a collision course, and I didn't know how to intervene.I walked to the bathroom, still lost in thought, and faced my reflection in the marble countertop mirror. I made a mental note to shave before heading to work the next morning. That night, all I needed was a good night's sleep, something I found difficult to achieve.On one hand, there's the unwavering love I feel for my sister, with whom I've always had a peaceful, conflict-free relationship. On the other hand, there's Karen, t
KarenAs I stepped out of the Human Resources office, an overwhelming sense of helplessness enveloped me. The news of my dismissal still echoed in my mind, leaving me disoriented. Working at Central Hospital had always been more than just a job to me; it was my passion. Ever since I decided to study nursing, I dreamed of being part of the team there. Now, seeing that dream crumble before me was distressing.As I walked down the corridor toward the nurses' locker room, I felt a heaviness in my chest, a mix of sadness and indignation. Why did my relationship with Othon have to cost me my career? It was unfair, downright cruel. I fought the urge to break down right there, maintaining my composure and holding back the tears.Upon reaching the locker room, I gathered my things, thinking of all that I was about to lose. But I did
OthonI was perplexed by Karen's abrupt change in attitude. I couldn't understand how she could blame Valquíria for our problems."Karen, calm down. Let's not mix things up. The dismissal has nothing to do with Valquíria.""She's to blame. She always has been!"Valquíria raised an eyebrow, but her smile remained insolent."Oh really? And how did you come to this brilliant conclusion, dear?" she taunted, showing no sign of surprise at Karen's accusations."Do you really think we're idiots?" Karen continued, completely enraged. "How can you not see something that's right in front of your eyes, Othon!?"Valquíria's cal
KarenUpon entering the house, anger still bubbled within me at Othon's blindness to Valquíria's machinations. But when I found my parents and Otávio in the living room, immersed in laughter and entertained by a new giant puzzle, I decided to swallow my frustration for the time being. Seeing my son so happy brought me some comfort amidst the chaos of emotions I was facing.With a forced smile on my lips, I joined them for a moment, feigning interest in the game, while my heart remained heavy with the news I was about to share. I decided it was best to save the revelation of my dismissal for dinner after Otávio was asleep and away from any worries.I was prepared for the difficult moment of sharing the news of my dismissal with my parents, but nothing could prevent the sadness that hung over the table. M
OthonI stood in the center of the bathroom, completely stunned and unable to fully process what had just happened. On one hand, I felt an overwhelming urge to chase after Karen, to explain everything to her, to fix whatever mess Valquiria had caused. On the other hand, a growing wave of anger engulfed me, directed at my sister for barging into my shower and causing such turmoil.Not even the robe I hastily grabbed from the closet made me feel less vulnerable and exposed to the situation. I knew I needed to have a serious conversation with Valquíria, to confront her about her utterly insane actions. But seeing Karen's abrupt departure, I understood that it would be better to leave that for another time. My absolute priority was Karen; my loyalty was with her.Determined, I left the bathroom and headed to the bedroom, my heart heavy. I needed to put on some clothes and find Karen, explain everything to her, and hopefully begin to mend the damage that had been done. Then, I would have a
KarenI couldn't bear to look at Valquíria after the scene I witnessed in the bathroom. I didn't feel capable of answering for my actions at this moment. However, I was determined not to leave without having a very important and revealing conversation with Othon. My heart was pounding in my chest, uncertainty surrounding me as I descended the stairs of the house towards the living room, but I knew it was the right thing to do.I couldn't just leave things as they were. Despite the emotional confusion that engulfed me, I needed to confront Othon with the truth I had discovered about Valquíria. It wasn't fair for him to remain in the dark, ignorant of his own sister's manipulations and lies.A few minutes passed as I impatiently waited for his arrival. When Othon finally descended and saw me there, sitting in his living room, his expression of surprise was evident. It would have been almost funny if we weren't involved in such a delicate situation. However, he didn't ask what I was doin
OthonI arrived at the hospital that morning determined to have a frank conversation with Mrs. Fisher. I knew she would be in her office, on the top floor of the imposing Central Hospital building. I didn't follow my usual work routine that morning. I didn't even stop by my own office to check for urgent demands. I had a clear purpose in mind and was determined to fulfill it.I still felt perplexed by the whole story behind my encounter with Karen in Fernando de Noronha. I could never imagine that Valquiria harbored such an obsession with me. I couldn't think of another word to describe her feelings. If what she felt for me was healthy, she would never have gone to such lengths to fulfill her desires.I couldn't even understand the mindset of a person like Valquíria. She grotesquely manipulated me. I couldn't think of a friendship between us in the future when everything she did in the past was shaped by lies and schemes.The fact that Karen arrived at the bathroom exactly when Valquí
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