Chapter 56: A Prank, a ReliefBraston woke up sweating and breathless, his heart pounding in his chest. Looking around, the dimness of the room enveloped him in a cloak of distress. Molly, beside him, had also woken up, her wide eyes full of concern. The baby, calm, slept in his crib.“What happened?” Molly asked, her soft voice breaking the silence of the dawn. Braston curled up, hugging his knees, the image of the nightmare still vivid in his mind. “Did you have a nightmare?” she pressed, trying to get his attention. He only nodded, his voice faltering.“Ah... so that’s it, come here,” she whispered, opening her arms to embrace him. Braston let himself be enveloped by her warmth, seeking comfort in her embrace. “It was just a nightmare.”“But I hurt you in it... I hurt our son, it was the worst dream I’ve ever had in my life,” he confessed, his voice breaking. The image of Molly lying on the floor, blood staining the stairs, tormented him.“It was just a dream, love,” she repeated,
Chapter 57: Matheus's Plan That Belongs to BrastonThey finally managed to register the baby. The happiness should have been complete, but Braston felt a weight on his chest. The disturbing dream from the previous night had left him uneasy."You're acting strange since that dream, are you okay?" Molly asked, noticing the concern in Braston’s eyes."I’m thinking... You’re happy about the marriage, right?" he asked suddenly, looking away."Yes…" Molly answered, confused. The car drove on in silence, the tension growing with each passing minute.As soon as they arrived, Braston left the baby with Liziane and went upstairs with Molly to the room. The environment, once cozy, now felt charged with a strange energy."Before… what I’m about to tell you, you need to wait until I explain everything, okay?" Braston began, his voice low and hoarse."Why are you adding so much suspense? Just tell me what's going on," Molly said, trying to stay calm, but apprehension was evident in her eyes.Brasto
Cap.58: Are You Sick?Molly was in her room with the baby almost asleep when someone called. "Hello! Nate!" Molly said, confused by the call, since Nate never called. "It's not Nate, Molly," Matheus sighed upon hearing her voice. "Matheus..." she murmured his name, feeling like crying. "I missed you, I'm sorry for what I did to you... Please!" "You stole my child!" "I just wanted to save you..." "I'm happy with Fabrízio. He isn't dangerous." Those words made Matheus frustrated. "He's married. Even though he's married, you still want to be with him?" "That... will be resolved," she mumbled, trying to stay calm, despite the pain. "You won't marry him, if that's what you think. Come home with me, okay... Molly? Molly?" he called, but she hung up on him. "It’s impossible that he won her over, even after the rough start they had," he muttered, still looking at the contact, then dialing another number, becoming thoughtful. "Hmm... I don’t know who to call first, Kenia or her fath
Chapter 59: Freedom vs. TruthAs soon as Braston arrived at the location, he spotted the three cars parked right in front, gleaming under the cold morning light. He took Molly and Brady with him, accompanied by three other men, their faces impassive. The tension was palpable, and Molly felt a chill run down her spine."Why are we here?" Molly asked, her voice trembling. Braston remained silent, guiding her through the building toward the elevator. The doors closed, isolating them from the outside world."I have an important meeting, but I will take you to Nate. You won't stay..." Braston started to explain, but was interrupted by Molly. "Will it take long?" she asked, her anxiety evident in her voice. "As soon as possible. I just need to make a deal with a supposed ally, it really can't wait." He looked her in the eyes, trying to convey calm, but his expression showed concern. "Okay," she agreed, trying to maintain composure.Once they arrived on the floor where Nate's clinic was, oth
Cap.60 Fragments of a Dark Past“Mustafa, take her home, I’ll trust you with her just one more time. Take her home and make sure she’s safe,” ordered Braston as Mustafa seemed restless, still holding both the child and the baby. Braston helped him by taking the child and handed him over to Nate. “Take him. I don’t want either of them in this place…” he pleaded, but the more he spoke, the more troubled he became.“Braston,” murmured Nate, taking the baby and holding Braston by the shoulder, looking at him apprehensively. “Molly is supposedly in the early stages of pregnancy,” he whispered to him, leaving Braston speechless.“Okay... I’ll get home as fast as I can,” Braston said, still distracted, though pleased with the news.Nate and Mustafa, accompanied by other men, went to the parking lot and finally headed to Braston’s house.Meanwhile, Kenia’s husband, who had been waiting for her leaning on the car, noticed the movement and the number of men and went up to meet his wife.“Now st
Chapter 61 – Nate's NurseMolly's nausea was getting worse, and the next day, she began to experience intense pain.“It’s better to take her to a hospital. I’ll supervise everything, I promise nothing will happen,” Nate said, clearly worried.Braston, with a serious expression, responded firmly:“We’ll take her, but everything has to be done discreetly. With Kenia out, she could send people to keep an eye on us.”Nate nodded, trying to calm the situation:“I know, but if we leave here with her, no one will know exactly where we’re going. We can use two more cars to shake off any followers. It will be fine. If she stays here, we’ll definitely be more vulnerable.”Braston narrowed his eyes, analyzing the situation.“What does she really have?”“Lots of stress,” Nate explained. “She’s been going through very exhausting situations for days, and that’s not good for the pregnancy. Especially considering she had problems with her first pregnancy.”Braston shook his head, determined:“Let’s t
Chapter 62 – LunchtimeAs soon as they arrived, Liziane quickly recognized the woman, with whom she had worked before and trusted completely. Molly was carefully taken to her room, but Braston insisted on doing everything himself, leaving the nurse almost without a role.“I didn’t know you were really going to try to do everything, but let the nurse work,” Nate said, reprimanding him.“I still don’t trust her, so I’m going to take care of Molly as much as I can,” Braston replied, showing his bad mood. “Do you know what she said? That I, her husband, couldn’t sleep next to her! Ha! I can’t sleep next to my wife? We’re not doing anything!”“Braston…” Nate tried, flustered. “It’s not appropriate. We’ve already talked about her pregnancy being at risk. One fall, and Molly will experience a lot of pain. She needs total rest.”“What better place than next to her husband?” Braston grumbled, irritated.“For God’s sake! I’ve already said!” Nate snapped, losing his patience.“Okay, okay. No sle
Chapter 63: Braston's Attitude.It didn’t take long for Molly to start feeling unwell. Nate noticed and took the plate from her hands. She began to delirious and could barely keep herself seated.“Molly…” Nate murmured, desperate. “What happened? What are you feeling?” he asked, trying to think clearly.“I don’t know… What was in the soup…” she mumbled, feeling an intense sharp pain.Nate was lost, running his hand through his hair, trying to understand what could have gone wrong. But seeing Molly writhing in pain, groaning, and turning pale, he scooped her up and hurried down the stairs.The driver took them to the nearest hospital, as Nate’s hospital was too far for an emergency. He tried to keep Molly awake, but she was already unconscious, which made him even more anxious.At the hospital, Molly was quickly attended to, but her heartbeats were weak. Within hours, tests showed traces of poison in her blood.“How did this happen?” Nate murmured, restless.He called Braston numerous
Chapter 93: Closing.Molly and Braston continued their journey to New Orleans. They had their moments of peace, and during their stay, Braston showed her his favorite place, where he creates perfumes, with the master perfumer who taught him how to craft fragrances."So, he’s the one who taught you how to create fragrances?" Molly asked, surprised, as they walked through the luxurious boutique, a truly charming place."Yes, when I arrived here, I couldn’t handle people, not even those I liked, except you. When I met you, I think it was because you were the most innocent and pure thing my hands had ever touched," Braston said nostalgically. "But Chief Pierre taught me how to look at people and imagine what scent would be perfect for them, and then refine it. You were my peach, but it’s been a while since you entered my life, and everything has taken on a different scent. You changed everything. I’m happy to be by your side," he confessed, looking around. Molly, on the other hand, felt u
Chapter 92: Cave‘No…’ he muttered with a grunt, wanting to curse loudly but holding himself back. ‘What the hell do you want? Weren’t you sleeping?’ he asked, clearly annoyed. ‘I was, but I saw you leaving… Everyone left with their partners and it’s just the two of us. Let’s go out together?’ she asked, as he unceremoniously removed her from his back. ‘Go back home!’ he stated, not even looking her in the eyes. ‘And what about what happened at the hotel?’ she insisted, quickening her pace to stay by his side. ‘Nothing happened! I was drunk, woke up the same way I fell asleep, except without my shirt and with my car vomited in. That’s because this little thing, who doesn’t know how to drink, ruined everything.’ He spoke with irritation, but without raising his tone. ‘When are you going to stop treating me like a child? Are you blind?’ Laysa asked indignantly. ‘I treat women like women. I treat children like children. And you need to stop thinking you’re a woman,’ he grumbled, ir
Cap.91: What Happened to Matheus"Matheus had moved in with Mariana, returning to his old house in Russia. He didn’t understand why she chose this destination, the same city where his mother had lived."Why are we here?" he asked, confused."My family lives here, and this is our country. Besides, it's been a long time since you visited your mother's grave, right?" she replied, her tone apprehensive.Matheus had only visited that place once after becoming an adult. His last memory of being there was when he was nine. Now, being back made his heart tighten. Life seemed so unfair, and all of this because of the greed of a cruel man."To think my mother was his woman... And that, in the end, he traded her, reduced her to a mistress. I always judged her, thought she was greedy for wanting a rich man. I remember well... One time, I even yelled at her, just days before she was murdered," he said, his voice choking, as his knees touched the snow-covered ground in front of his mother’s grave.
Cap.90: Beware of him, not me.Cassius hadn't realized that he had held Laysa in his arms the entire night. She had completely passed out, and both of them were drunk. In the morning, no one remembered anything. Cassius was the first to wake up and, to his surprise, found Laysa’s arms wrapped around him, resting peacefully on his chest. For a moment, a faint smile appeared on his face as he gazed at her serene, smiling expression.However, as his eyes traveled down her body, he noticed her shirt was lifted, revealing part of her backside. His conscience weighed heavily on him, and his expression shifted to concern. Discreetly, he pulled her shirt down to cover her better. He sighed in relief when he saw that she was still wearing her underwear. "Thank God nothing happened," he thought. Then, he checked his own clothes and felt even more relieved to see he still had his pants on."Supposedly, she doesn't remember sleeping on top of me. If I move her slowly, she won't notice. Damn it...
“To think that I love you,” she muttered, crying.“Cut the crap! I already told you, stop saying that bullshit,” he snapped, annoyed.“Look!” Laysa said, pointing at where they were.“I see it, a hotel. So what?” he replied with disdain.Laysa stared at him in disbelief while he laughed incredulously.“No way. The last time I went into a hotel with you, and mind you, it was an apartment, I got arrested. You’re trouble.”“But I’m a woman now, there’s no problem with that. Look at me! I need a shower; this smell is making me sick.”“The mix of booze and vomit is hell, baby girl. That’s your punishment. And I don’t know who put it in your head that you’re a woman.”“What the hell? What do you think I am, then?” she asked, unable to believe what she had just heard.“Look, I’ll take you there, you’ll clean yourself up, and we’ll leave before the cops show up,” he said seriously.Laysa almost jumped with joy, but Cassius kept his distance from her, clearly uncomfortable.He rented a room an
Chap. 89: Your View of MeCassius stayed on the party floor, not far from the stage where the dancers performed. Francine and the girls were going wild, while he, with a stern expression, kept disapproving of the situation. He was close to his limit, thinking about ending the party with gunfire, but he suppressed the urge with alcohol even though he was responsible for taking the group home.Laysa remained near Francine but didn’t blend in. The poor thing only watched Cassius from afar. After three failed attempts to approach him, she drowned her shame in mixed drinks, even after so many rejections.“Lay, stop staring at that brute! Look at how many hot, handsome guys are around!” Francine shouted, trying to compete with the loud music as she pulled her friend to dance.But Laysa had no enthusiasm for anything.“You don’t understand… I love him… I’m crazy about him!” she confessed, her voice thick with alcohol and emotion.“Look, girl, I’ll be honest,” Francine said, already slurring.
"He pushed me?" Laysa murmured to herself, confused. "But there's only one man who would do that..." she said, while Molly fought Braston and Layane practically assaulted Frederick's chest.Laysa didn't waste time."I knew it! Cassius!" she exclaimed, ripping off his mask and throwing herself at him in a hug.Annoyed, Cassius pushed her away and left the stage without saying a word."What?!" Layane reacted, her heart racing. When she took off Frederick’s mask, he stood up furiously and dragged her off the stage without giving her a chance to react."Layla... what is going on?" Molly asked, her face pale and eyes brimming with tears.Layla just stared at her, full of remorse."Oh, Molly... You were advised not to come." That was all she said before turning her back and jumping off the stage straight into Caio’s arms.Molly looked at Braston, hesitant. Summoning her courage, she removed his mask, and as soon as she saw her husband's face, she nearly fainted."Is this a party?" Braston g
88: The Sisters’ Punishment"Oh, so Layane went to see naked men?" Frederick asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm and anger."But there's still time for you to catch them before the party starts!" Layla assured, anxious about her friends' fate."What do you mean?" Frederick frowned, intrigued."It's only seven o'clock; the dancers don't arrive until eight. You can go now and catch them by surprise!" Layla suggested, clearly uncomfortable."Right now!" Frederick declared, already preparing to leave, but Braston grabbed his arm, thoughtful."Wait, I have a much better idea," Braston said, a malicious smile sparking everyone's curiosity."My wife will have to explain this nonsense to me. A married woman, really? Does she think I'll forgive this? What’s your idea, Braston? Because time is running out." Frederick crossed his arms, impatient."Layla, you're going to take us there. From what I understand, there will only be three men on stage at this party. We'll catch them off guard.""Ge
87: The Final Judgment"Everything is ready. All the suitcases are already downstairs," Cassius announced, carrying his own luggage. The living room was already packed with the belongings of the four men. That night would be the trial, and in the morning, they would leave for Europe.Braston was on the brink of emotional exhaustion, his anxiety eating away at his patience. As a result, he spent most of his time with a closed expression and a distant gaze, almost oblivious to his brothers' conversations."Married life. Ugh!" Cassius spat the words out, noticing Braston’s distracted state and immediately understanding the reason.Braston’s mind seemed dark and turbulent, but he wasn’t the only one in a bad mood."Today is going to be a tense day for the youngest. Let’s get everything organized since he’s convinced that tomorrow he’ll reunite with his beloved. But, honestly, I don’t even want to go. Damn it! Not even with the best investigators can I find my damn wife. If she’s cheating