CHAPTER 6

HENRICO

It's torture to see you so happy with someone else, knowing that there is someone taking the place that is rightfully mine drives me insane, in fact, brings out the worst in me. It feels like my life has been ripped away without me having a choice and everything is out of place.

I clung to our love when I was arrested, I believed that she would turn against her father and support me, or even find proof of my innocence and get me out of there, but not even a visit did she deign to pay. Aurora is four years older than I am, and she had me spellbound with all her security, beauty, and independence when we first met.

She married a country boy not caring about the gossip and criticism, but she believed the first lie she heard.

I'm not a boy anymore. I'm not so naive anymore and definitely not so passionate.

She doesn't look like my Aurora anymore.

However, my thoughts are always guided to the times we lived together, the few months we spent loving each other on my farm were real and meaningful to me.

I refuse to believe that for her it was a lie, a hobby, it had to have meant something.

“Are you still in it?” Guilhermino takes the small photo I was looking at and pushes it away from me.

I look at him in surprise, I didn't hear the sounds of his footsteps, even though we were in the stable and there was a lot of hay on the floor. I frown, now irritated at being caught in a moment of fragility and intimacy.

I take the photograph back and put it in my wallet, ignoring his gaze.

“It's none of your business.” I grumble, stuffing the wallet back into my pants pocket.“You have to get over this woman, in fact you have to get over all these people.”

"She was my wife.” I speak, possessive, irritated, tired. He looks at me appraisingly, trying to absorb the full meaning of my words and expressions. His gauze hardens and I prepare for the worst.

" She's married to someone else and doesn't give a damn about you, so let it go and mind your own business, boy." My fists clench. I feel my whole body tense defensively. He's testing me, I've never been an explosive man, but the chain has also taken care to change that.

He didn't understand that I'm not the same anymore. The big-brother stance won't make me flinch or freak me out. I've seen and done worse.

Just give up trying to stop me.

"It's none of your business." I still haven't finished with Aurora, I need to understand why she left me and filed for divorce without even listening to me.

"Heavens, do you still want her?" he asks in disbelief.

I want many things right now, but my revenge takes off in a hurry.

He snorts.

"Do you still love her." I maintain my silence, still clenching my fists.

"Okay, do whatever you want." I'll worry about the farm and let you take care of your own stuff.

He leaves, turning his back without another word.

"You don't understand, while I was trapped in that place they celebrated here." My misfortune was Leal's happiness for a long time, now they have to pay.

I release my fingers from my grip and loosen my grip.

He stops his steps, taking a few seconds to turn his body and stare, taking a deep breath before looking deeply into my eyes.

"You're still stuck, Henry. You're still stuck here and here." He points to his own head and then to his chest, right where his heart is.

He starts walking again, turning his back to me again.

I watch him move further and further away, feeling the bitterness his words bring. My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I push away the jumbled thoughts I don't want to deal with right now.

I let a smile play across my lips as I read the message, replying immediately.

I sent you a new number, guys. I discarded the previous one and saved another one to speak with Soares and his group.

They will come in handy when the time is right, best now is to let them think they are in control.

The game is mine.

Here everyone is my pawn and not even the queen will get away with it.

Amelia: Seriously, are you some psycho?

Me: If I were, I wouldn't respond positively, Amelia.

Amelia: You're right, I better stop answering you.

I frown, not understanding why that possibility makes me uncomfortable.

Me: You can't live without me anymore, your days are better with me.

Amelia: Put the ball down, Mr. Masked. I have a queue of suitors."

I arch an eyebrow at his response. She looks sassy today.

Me: Oh, yes. Tell me more about it.

Amelia: I can't, I have an appointment now.

Me: What could be better than talking to me?

Damn it!  I feel like a teenager playing this little game.

I look at my phone screen waiting for his answer. If we were chatting on some social network right now, I could check if she is online and saw my message.

What am I talking about? See message. Fuck, this isn't happening.

Amelia: Talk to someone for real?

I don't miss the sarcasm. That was a message, right?

Me: I am for real.

Amelia: I'm not sure about that, you could very well be a figment of my imagination, I was so drunk that day.

A smile appears on my face. I run my fingers over the keys and hit the send button.

Me: I thought you didn't drink with strangers. smiley emoji*

Amelia: Only when they're figments of my imagination.

Me: All it takes is a very fertile imagination to create me, pure perfection.

Amelia: Your ego is suffocating me even by text, for you it's goodbye.

Me: Seriously, what's better than talking to me?

I look around, checking that there aren't any farm workers spying on me right now, I must look like an idiot and I don't want to get caught again.

The bastard isn't so bad.

I await another message from you, but the minutes drag on and I get tired of waiting. I pick up the other phone and dial one of the five saved numbers.

"Tell me you have news." I speak.

A pause ensues, the man on the other end of the line must be studying my voice for recognition as I haven't introduced myself.

"Yes, it seems that Augusto Leal's son-in-law is not as loyal as he seems, it seems that a daughter is not enough for him.

I press the phone to my face. Feeling my entire body burn at the man's suggestion.

"Then?" I ask.

"Amélia Leal, the younger sister of his ex"wife, exchanges caresses with her own brother-in-law."

I throw the phone away, feeling my chest rise and fall as my breathing increases.

I should be happy with this information, but for some reason I want to chew on something.

"Amélia Leal, the younger sister of your ex-wife, is exchanging caresses with her own brother-in-law."

I throw the phone away, feeling my chest rise and fall as my breathing increases.

I should be happy with this information, but for some reason I want to chew on something.