Home / Billionaire / Love in ruins / Chapter forty

Share

Chapter forty

Author: Erica Cristine souza cunha
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

Gonzalo

I clasped her hands behind her head, between the gray strands. Gonzalo Fagundes throws his long legs back in his chair and watches the city of Rio de Janeiro, while trying to imagine where Luke, his eldest son, has gone. Looking out the glass window of his office in the center of the city, while on a break and another sipping his cappuccino, preparing for the meeting that would take place that morning. The well-drawn eyebrows and striking eyes behind wide-framed glasses. On his face there is a skeptical, cunning or dangerous expression. Few people know him well. He knows the man behind that stern and dedicated air. There are books and newspapers scattered throughout the office. Photographs of his family grace the desk. On the walls hang his diplomas and awards he won as the best entrepreneur in recent years. He lives surrounded by over thirty years of fond memories.

He looks up at the clock on the wall. Eight o’clock. His gaze is distant for a few seconds, and his thoughts tur
Locked Chapter
Continue to read this book on the APP

Related chapters

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-one

    AuroraI’m still gripping the phone, and I don’t even realize I’m pressing it against my chest. My eyes burn and I know I’m about to cry. The problem is that the call had ended without me getting any important information about Luke. Naldo is wide-eyed toward me, waiting for me to say something to him.— Come on, Aurora, – he stirred, – tell me what’s going on.— It was Luke’s sister. – I swallowed hard and the expression on Naldo’s face became somber. – He’s missing.— Damn it! - Naldo whispered, put both hands on his head and walked from one side to the other inside the ice cream shop.I walked around the counter, and tried to get him to stop that, look at me and tell me once and for all what was going on with Luke.— You know the truth – I started to speak, but every time I opened my mouth, Naldo quickened his step – you know what happened to Luke.— How would I know? - it was at that time that he stopped and looked at me – I swear I have no idea what could have happened to Luke, A

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-two

    Gonzalofor Helena Fagundes“I will not greet you with a brief hello, as senders are wont to do. Nor will I deceive you by saying I’m sorry for the confession that this letter carries. I do not feel. For you, I am incapable of feeling anything but pity. I write this letter only with the hope that it will be the courage you lack to put an end to your marriage for good. And to clear the way so that I can love Gonzalo without secrets. Firstly, I will introduce myself. I’m your husband’s mistress. My name doesn’t matter. But maybe you want to know that on the nights you slept alone, it was in my arms that he rested. That while you were crying hidden in the bathroom of your beautiful mansion, he was moaning, lost in my body. I am not sorry to inform you that Gonzalo has not loved her for a long time. You no longer want her. That you have become a weight on his heart. And these, for many nights, have been his confessions. I only ask that you have courage and end this marriage once and for a

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-three

    AuroraI couldn’t explain how I managed to get to Naldo’s house on my feet. My hands were shaking as I held the plate of food. Naldo spent the whole time grumbling and saying how much he thought it was a great injustice.— Does your father know about this? - I took the last spoonful, already feeling satisfied.— About today’s episode, no, – I replied with my mouth full, – but about the rest, yes. And honestly, Naldo, I’m alone in this. My father doesn’t care about the damage Rebeca does to me.— How absurd, – he continued. – if you want, you can stay here as long as necessary.— And hand her my house on a platter? - I handed him the plate – I can’t, I need to go home.— That woman can kill you. – He said it so firmly that I even got scared.— I take care of myself – but I wasn’t so sure about that.I continued there, sitting on the couch at Naldo’s house, who lived with his seventy-six-year-old mother, but who didn’t seem to be that age because of her disposition and appearance. I tho

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-four

    LukeI walked the streets of Rio de Janeiro for two days, not knowing where I would end up. Without a cell phone and clothes, I slept on the street. I could stay in a hotel or rent an apartment, but I knew that Gonzalo was watching my every step and as soon as I made any bank transactions in my account, he would know.But I knew a lot of people in that city. After all, I was the son of the owner of beta gonsales. I headed to the house of a friend, who certainly Gonzalo didn’t know. I needed to be discreet and not raise too many suspicions. Elliot was not rich. On the contrary, he lived in a poor community and his house was simple. I called his name, and the boy with a shaved head and a yellow smile on his face soon appeared. He widened his eyes and smiled when he saw me.— Luke fagundes – he was really surprised to see me – what are you doing here?— Hi Elliot – I watched the street movement. The problem was that I had lived in the company of mistrust since the day they sent me to Bra

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-five

    Aurora— Are you sure she will come? - Naldo put his fingers in his mouth, while biting what I left of his nails.We were waiting for Natalia at the departure gate of Brasília airport. And he squirmed, because he knew the decisive moment was finally coming. I would put Naldo against the wall and would no longer be able to lie about Luke.— Why are you angry? – I asked, even knowing the truth. I wanted Naldo to confess his fears.— Well, this Aurora – he became even more agitated – I’m being forced to tell the truth, putting both of your lives in danger.— Don’t exaggerate, – I said, rolling my eyes. – How many times were you in danger after you learned the truth? Did someone come after you? Did you suffer any threat?He knew I was right, and he knew that keeping this secret with the excuse that it would put us at risk was a far-fetched theory. But he wouldn’t give up on that, he would defend his thesis to the death.— You should be worrying about your own problems – he warned me – loo

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-six

    Luke— You’ve been living on the streets this whole time? – he seemed stunned by this information.— I didn’t have many options – I replied – Gonzalo is certainly monitoring my every step.— And you believed that staying on the street would help? – Gomez kept dragging the subject out, as if sleeping on the streets had been a near-fatal mistake.— It’s only been two days – I justified.— Two days that could have cost your life. – He took a notepad out of a suitcase. – You are the son of the richest man in Rio de Janeiro. What did you expect?I hadn’t thought about it that way. My only concern during those days was not being found by my father, while risking being found by far worse people.We were in a small apartment on the east side of the city. Among so many other buildings, it would be almost impossible for us to find Gonzalo there, yet, Gomez was cautious.— While I’m investigating your father, something strictly forbidden you from leaving this apartment.— Leaving one prison to e

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-seven

    AuroraThe car we were in was going along a dirt road, towards the poorer side of the city. There was no sewage treatment or running water. Someone had forgotten that place. As I watched children running barefoot through the open sewer, I wondered why Luke would end up here. When I met him, he had said that he was a civil servant and that he had a good salary. Something didn’t fit with this story.— I can’t believe Magdalena lives in this place – Natalia looked disgusted with the scenario, while Naldo asked the driver to stop the car.We got out of the vehicle under a hot sun and an almost unbearable smell of rot and urine, spreading in the air.— How did you know Luke was here? – I askedNaldo looked me right in the eyes before answering.—He told me,– he swallowed, looking away at a shack in front of us.— He had no choice – Naldo said – Gonzalo forced him to come here.— Why? – Natalia asked. She was in a hurry to find out the truth.That’s when a woman came out of the house. I did

  • Love in ruins   Chapter forty-eigh

    Luke “How do you know everything?” It was a very logical question, someone had told him, and that someone was certainly Naldo. “Luke, I…”, she stopped, and I felt an enormous weight on the other end of the line. But we didn’t have time to prolong this conversation, which we needed to have. So much needed to be said, clarified, but Gomez entered the apartment, and they forced me to end the call without even saying goodbye. When would I have another opportunity like that? When would I be able to talk to Aurora again? My heart was racing faster than usual, and I felt my hands shaking. — Are you okay, kid? - Gomez stopped in front of the bed and studied me. That man was cunning, and it would be useless to lie to him. — Let’s assume that more people know about Gonzalo’s story. – I gulped – what are the chances that these people’s lives are in danger? — Are you referring to your friend, Naldo? – he took a can of beer out of the bag and threw it towards me – no chance. Besides him, does

Latest chapter

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eighty-seven

    FinalPOV: LukeToday is the thirty-seventh day since Aurora was shot and nearly perished. Every day I come here and spend most of the time with her, telling her about how things in her life have changed, even if she is not awake, they are happening. I read books; I convert. The most important fact was when Rebeca was arrested, still in the hospital. She finally got the punishment she deserved. He spent the rest of his life in severe pain, even though he was free. We know Brazilian laws well.It was already late at night. I should have gone to Luke’s house to rest, but for some reason I couldn’t explain, I decided to sleep there, in the hospital with her. Sitting in the armchair, I read a book and ended up falling asleep. That’s when I heard a cry of “Mom” and when I opened my eyes, Aurora was sitting wide-eyed, panting. My eyes widened too, in surprise, but most of all, happiness. Aurora is back. I got up in a hurry and sat next to her. I don’t remember what I said or if I said anythi

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eghty-five

    Luke— They set Aurora’s house on fire. – I was leaning against a hospital counter, waiting for the receptionist to come back with information about empty ICU beds, when Naldo dropped that bombshell on me.— That’s not possible! – I exclaimed, completely dumbfounded. But I knew it was possible.— I spoke with Claudio, – he continued. – He was desperate on the phone, saying that Rebeca entered the house and set fire to it, until she left with severe burns.— Does that woman have no limits? - really the nightmare that Aurora lived, it seemed to never end – and how is Claudio doing? I asked him to go home.— He said he’s fine - Naldo, he was completely ecstatic, but he forgot to give me more information – I need to go back. Claudio needs my help.I agreed with Naldo and let him go towards Aurora’s house, if there was still a house, without knowing the rest of the story. For a moment, I wished she would die, for all the harm she was causing me and Aurora. The thought of her in a hospital

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eighty-four

    POV: third person written by the authorClaudioClaudio watched Luke carrying Aurora in his arms, under a heavy rain, still unable to believe that it was actually happening. The tears mixed with the raindrops, and no one could tell if her face was soaked by the weather or the pain.The distant voice, at least he had this impression, that Rebeca was running away, generated a great doubt in him: catch the woman who tried to murder his daughter, or stay at Aurora’s side, begging God not to take her only one. Daughter. It was at that time that the maternal feeling, which had been hidden for a long time, surfaced within him. The police had an obligation to capture Rebeca, so he would stay there, holding Aurora’s hand until the last moment.They took her, unconscious, in the police car. Speeding through the empty city streets, Luke watched his heartbeat every ten seconds. By a miracle, Aurora made it to the hospital alive. They took her straight to the operating room, and Claudio almost col

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eighty-three

    POV: third person written by the authorNataliaIt’s been more than six hours since Luke had left for Brasília, putting the responsibility of foreseeing the beta gonsales on Natalia’s shoulders. She knew how almost impossible that mission would be, in a company where male command predominated. Gonzalo never considered handing over the management of his company to a woman, much less one so inexperienced.Natalia thought about it a lot, so much so that she even lost her appetite. The problem was that outside; it was already dark and if she wanted to save the family company, she would have less than twelve hours to decide.She got up from the sofa once more, because anxiety was on the point of driving her crazy, when she saw that man enter the mansion. Watched the slow steps walk towards her. Hector Fagundes, her grandfather, Gonzalo’s father, hadn’t been to that house to visit her for many years. When he looked at her, the man gave her a smile and his eyes filled with tears. Despite the

  • Love in ruins   Chapter Eighty-two

    Luke— We should separate, – Naldo suggested, but I didn’t like the idea. – that way they would cover a larger area.— I don’t agree. – Claudio expanded the same thought I had on that subject.— Any suggestion where Rebeca would take Aurora? – I looked at Claudio, and for the first time, he was being clear in the accusation against Rebeca.— I have no idea – he confessed, and a sadness expanded even more on his features – it’s strange to say that, but I lived so long with this woman and I don’t know her favorite places.I looked at Naldo, as if we were talking through signs. We understood, just looking at each other, that silence was the best answer.—I shouldn’t have put that woman in our house,– he whispered, lamenting.What I had also noticed was that he no longer pronounced Rebeca’s name, as if he couldn’t, or it was too difficult for him.— Guilt won’t help you find Aurora, – I said, looking at him. – You need to concentrate now.During that entire afternoon, we walked around the

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eighty-one

    Aurora.The smell of wet grass, mixed with the wind that hit my exfoliated skin, gave me a feeling of peace and despair. As I slowly opened my eyes, I felt a throbbing pain in my head. I looked up at the sky, which felt really weird. I was tied up in the open air. The shades of gray and black blended together perfectly, and I had this perception because lightning streaked across the sky, indicating an approaching storm.I observed the surrounding environment. Even though it was already getting dark, I realized that I was surrounded by woods. I had no idea where I was. Until I heard footsteps towards me and saw those hideous shoes. She loved to wear so much.Rebeca crouched down to look into my eyes. Sitting on the cold floor, hair disheveled in my face and clothes completely dirty, I looked up at her, panting.— Hi, Aurora, – she said, with an ironic smile on her lips. – Do you know why you’re here?I did not answer.— I heard that you have a relationship with the son of a man who die

  • Love in ruins   Chapter eighty

    LukeI drove like crazy through the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Next to me, on the passenger seat, my cell phone kept ringing. The screen indicated that it was Dionysus. It was clear to me that he wasn’t going to accept my decision that easily, but I didn’t care. I was giving up on Gonzalo’s plans, and they would have to accept Natalia in my place. I parked the car outside the mansion and ran into the house, scaring Helena and Natalia who had gathered in the garden. — What happened? – Natalia was right behind me, going up the stairs. — I’m going to Brasília – I informed as soon as I entered my room and took the dusty suitcase off the top of the wardrobe – I need you to assume the presidency of beta gonsales. — You must be going crazy. – The second piece of information made her forget the importance of the first one. — Aurora disappeared. – I widened my eyes when I looked at her – I can’t stay here, managing a company while the woman I love is at risk of life. — I agree with you, –

  • Love in ruins   Chapter seventy-nine

    Aurora There was no sun outside. The thick drops of rain fell steadily and ferociously on the roof, causing a loud noise that made me wake up. I was having a nightmare where huge hands grabbed me and pulled me into a puddle of black mud. I could feel the air escaping my lungs, and when I was close to dying, the rain came and saved me. Likewise, I sighed in relief when I realized it had been a dream. But I was drenched in sweat. In addition to the rain, another sound came from outside. A woman’s voice mingled with Claudio’s laughter. I knew that timbre; it was Lourdes. I looked at the clock, which was hanging on the wall, it was about to strike nine o’clock in the morning. Not only that, but I changed clothes and went to meet them two. — Good morning, Aurora – Lourdes held a cup in one hand and smiled when she saw me. – are you okay? I didn’t understand the reason for the question, or why I was so concerned about my appearance that it could show that I had had a nightmare. In fact,

  • Love in ruins   Chapter seventy-eigth

    Luke I pulled away almost immediately. The sweet taste of coffee coming off her lips reminded me of Aurora. For doing this, I felt like a traitor. I walked around the table, headed down and walked towards the window. Julie was behind me when I heard her footsteps. — I’m sorry, – she didn’t seem sorry – I was sad and ended up mixing things up. I looked at her and realized how embarrassed I was at that moment. Then I, Luke Fagundes, whose favorite hobby was making out with beautiful women, awkwardly because he had kissed one. — Julie, – I took a deep breath – I… But the words stopped right in the middle of my throat. I didn’t know how to say it. — You have a girlfriend, – he stated with almost certainty. – I shouldn’t have done that. — It shouldn’t,– I said finally. – I hope our relationship is just professional.” — Clear! – he let out a dull smile. – Gonzalo spoke so highly of you, that I thought… — Was it in Gonzalo’s plans for you to conquer me, too? She looked at me, startl

DMCA.com Protection Status