I didn't have the strength to do anything. I just managed to get home, get into the bathtub, and cry bitterly while touching my belly, which would soon be swollen with a pregnancy I hadn't asked for. Laura continued to look at me in silence, sympathizing with my sorrow. Until that date, my only problem was knowing that Thiago was married — a matter that, according to my imagination, was solvable. But a baby? What do you do with a baby when you're only twenty-four years old and have a terribly chaotic life filled with dreams of love with a millionaire man?
—"You'll have to get an abortion,"— my friend muttered. I looked at her with a furrowed brow, my face covered in water and tears.
—"I couldn't do that."
—"Then what will you do? Will you let go of your dream of becoming a businesswoman and matching your boss's level?"
—"I won't be able to achieve that, pregnant or not. Thiago is impossible."
—"You know very well that he's not happy in his marriage, and sooner or later, that will end."
—"Yes, but that's not now, and right now, I'm pregnant with someone I don't even know and will never get to know."
—"So what, Lisa? You can't just disappear. We have to face the situation, and the only viable option is the one I've already mentioned."
—"I need to find out the name of the woman who requested the In Vitro,"— I explained. I didn't even know where that idea came from; it just came to me, and when I said it, everything seemed good.
—"And how does that help, silly? You'll have to carry that baby for nine months and give birth."
—"I'm not silly. I could get paid for renting out my womb, sue the clinic, and profit from this tragedy,"— I explained, very convinced. The distress seemed to ease.
Laura looked at me as if I were crazy, and I clarified, —"With that money, I could invest, and then I could fight for Thiago."— Laura fell silent. Though it seemed like a good idea, it was really uncertain. I just got dressed and had a coffee while continuing to think about what was to come. I saw Laura leave my house, worried and upset. I understood why she left; I couldn't even stand myself.
The rain continued to fall. I couldn't tolerate the loneliness in my house; the white walls reminded me of the clinic. An hour after my friend's departure, I had no other option but to leave and close the door behind me. I walked aimlessly in the rain, covered by water and pain. My steps led me to the Siluetas modeling agency. I arrived at the door, heard noises and sobbing. For a moment, fear didn't inhabit me, and I knocked on the door. Then everything fell silent. I insisted and knocked again.
—"Who's there?"— he asked, furious, with a strained voice. I knew it was Thiago, but his way of speaking worried me. I thought about the reasons that would make him stay there when it was already late and not a single worker's car was in sight.
—"Lisa,"— I answered fearlessly.
—"You again? What do you want, Lisa? I told you this morning I'd call you. There's no work for now,"— he responded, sounding frightened.
—"I know, I'm truly sorry. I just have nowhere else to go,"— I said, my voice trembling from the cold.
—"Home, you could go home,"— he shouted because the rain interrupted any silence.
I didn't reply. Minutes later, I heard his chair moving, and suddenly, he was in front of me. The man who drove me crazy, who was slipping through my fingers right now. He grabbed my arm tightly and pulled out a chair for me to sit on. In that gesture, my heart shrank.
—"I always knew you were a childish little girl,"— he laughed as he handed me a towel to dry myself. —"But I never thought you were a thoughtless little girl when it came to yourself."
—"I have only one problem,"— I said, drying my face.
—"We all have problems."
—"You don't, because you're a millionaire, the owner of the best modeling agency in the country, or the world."
—"No, Lisa, not everything in life is about money."
—"But you have it."
He looked at me and smiled. For a moment, I thought his arrogance didn't exist, until he continued.
—"It only takes intelligence to have it. Girls like you, who enjoy getting wet in the rain at night, will never have it,"— he joked.
—"I don't do it for fun,"— I clarified.
—"Then why are you here?"
—"I needed to see you, Thiago,"— I said without hesitation. He turned his back to me and stood in front of his computer, absorbed.
—"I'm married, Lisa,"— he muttered under his breath. —"With a woman who can't give me a child, so this agency, my Ferrari, and my money are worthless."
I looked at him completely stunned. Hearing him say that only reminded me of my growing belly.
—"And I'll be a mom by accident."
—"Certainly, wings are given to those who don't want to fly,"— he added remorsefully but with a smile. He looked up and saw me contentedly.
—"It was In Vitro,"— I said, and he interrupted.
—"In Vitro?"
—"It was a mistake at the clinic,"— I explained.
—"You should report them."
—"I spent all my savings on the Women's Health Clinic for a simple consultation that turned into this. It's prestigious, and I'll never win a lawsuit."
—"Yes, that's where the woman who was going to rent her womb for my child was. But we couldn't achieve fertilization,"— he explained. Many things passed through my mind at that moment, but I didn't specify them. I thought about suggesting that he adopt the child I was carrying in my womb, but I could only ask why he didn't do it naturally. He looked confused and laughed.
—"As I said, my wife doesn't want to ruin her body or go through what pregnancy entails, let alone giving birth."
—"She doesn't love you,"— I added as if he had asked me.
—"There are so many things you don't know about me, Lisa. Maybe you're right, but it's a long story."— he replied, annoyed, while arranging some papers. For a moment, I forgot we were talking about my pregnancy. I approached the desk and said,
—"I would give everything for you, but I don't have the appropriate status to even give you a kiss."
He grabbed me by the waist with a lot of anger, pulled me closer, and brought his face close to mine. My breath accelerated as I felt his hands on me, and I stared at his pink, full lips that tempted me to bite them. His hands encircled my body, and I felt his warmth. Desire and pity were in his gaze.
—"You're beautiful, Lisa, and that's enough. You're simple and tender, and that's enough,"— he said in a low voice. He pressed his lips to mine softly. I let myself go with his rhythm. He tasted my lower lip and then moved to the upper one. I felt my legs trembling, and my chest throbbed at an indescribable pace. His hands touched my back, reaching my hair. He held it tenderly. I closed my eyes, wishing that the moment would never end. I wrapped my arms around his neck and surrendered to that kiss, which felt like the first one. We kissed passionately and delicately. Slowly, he pulled away, looking at me as he sighed.
In response to that, I returned to reality. That kiss was just another trap for my increasingly unattainable illusion.
—"Why are you doing this to me, Thiago?"
—"Because ever since I saw you taking pictures of Laura with so much simplicity and enthusiasm, I knew you were charming, Lisa. And when you spoke to me with such humility and confidence, politely asking for a job and apologizing for coming to the agency without permission, you stuck in my heart. And that emotional state surprised me because you've seen that not just anyone pleases me. But Lisa, look at yourself; you're adorable,"— he commented in a low voice.
I looked at him in astonishment, touched my arm, thinking it was a dream, but he was still in front of me, with his eyes full of pity.
—"Life is just unfair, or rather, destiny is complicated."
He held my arm gently to prevent me from running away. —"Very unfair; I'm a man who doesn't know what to do with so much money, luxury, and fame. And you're a girl who's entangled in such a huge problem that's the solution I need in my life. But you're not the person who should fulfill that, nor am I the man you deserve in your life, Lisa. You have to leave. The rain has stopped, and we can't continue with this because it's pointless."
I didn't know how to respond. I grabbed my jacket and walked toward the door in silence. Before reaching it, I turned around, but he wasn't looking at me anymore; his eyes were fixed on the window of his office, his fists clenched, resting on his chin.
- I always wanted to be totally well, to have a real family, someone who truly loved me for who I am, to be able to discover what the true meaning of that word was: TO LOVE, Lisa, sometimes you think that to love is to marry someone and that's the end of everything, but no, when my mother forced me to get married I thought that things were really like that, and no, everything was falling apart completely - said Thiago with a contrite voice - I also thought that money could solve everything, but you know when I wanted to be a father, I understood that even if it could be solved with money, I had to choose well, I had to know who I was going to give the task of being the mother of my child, and then you appeared, with that light, and I know you should hate me for not telling you, you know it was so hard for me to pretend, I don't even know how I managed it, but it hurt me so much to do it, now it doesn't matter, I know I chose you well, that I didn't make a mistake with you, because now
- Thank you, Marcelo, really, I don't know what we would have done without you - I answered with tears in my eyes, feeling a huge relief at his words, it was as if everything was finally over for good.- There is nothing to worry about, my friends. All this is coming to an end and soon you will be able to resume your lives in peace," said Marcelo.- You are my lawyer for a reason - Thiago praised him - now with this good news, I feel more convinced that going to where his parents are, is the best thing to do, away from the press and everything that this could drag, besides I think it is time for all of us to get together and share the good news - Thiago proposed with a smile.Marcelo and I nodded excitedly. Marcelo called Clara and Diego, who were at the cinema, to inform them that everything was under control and that they could return. In the meantime, they helped us pack some things for the trip and prepared everything to make the baby comfortable. The next day Clara and Diego left
I knew that saying those words in a situation as complicated as the one we were living was not at all pleasant, but I only wanted peace for my life, far away from all pain, when I fell in love with Thiago I created a very silly fantasy about the things of love, and only now I realized that nothing was as rosy as one thought, I loved him precisely because in the midst of everything we had lived through we had always won together, but now I had something else that surpassed the word love, and that was my son, and I only wanted tranquility for him, and being close to Thiago and his problems with Esmeralda I was never going to get it.He stopped looking at me with anger, as if he hated me and at the same time let me know that I was annihilating him.- I'm just tired - I repeated again before he could get any closer to me or as if he wanted me to omit what he had just said.- I am too - was the driest answer that managed to come out of his lips - but now we have a son, and I won't let this
Everything was too strange, but they only had to look for help as quickly as possible. At that moment, Diego, Thiago's close friend and lawyer, arrived at the house to support them in this difficult situation, Marcelo, the same one who had saved them in the previous trial.- They have emptied my bank accounts without my authorization, someone took out a large amount of money. This is a nightmare, Esmeralda has come with the press to warn me, claiming that the check I gave her is without funds, I don't know what to do, especially because she also brought the press and it was a terrible embarrassment - alleged Thiago in total desperation after the arrival of the lawyer.- Yes Thiago, this is serious. You have any idea who could have done this, don't you? Your cards, Thiago, think about it - Marcelo pointed out giving Thiago a clue, for a moment I thought he would react immediately, but it was clear that he was blinded by the complicated situation.- I don't know, I don't know, they clai
-Do you think Martini is involved in this? -I asked, feeling a mixture of concern and frustration.Thiago clenched his fists, reflecting his displeasure. -I don't know, Lisa, but we can't rule out that possibility. Esmeralda could be conspiring with him to harm us or even to profit from the money I gave her. We must take precautions and find out the truth.We looked at each other, sharing a mutual determination. We knew we had to act fast to protect our son and ourselves. Clara and Diego took the baby and me to bed, they washed the room, while Thiago stayed in the living room, together with his security team giving them orders not to let anyone in, however before they could act, Thiago looked out the window at Esmeralda getting out of the car, the press took all the pictures they could, it was clear that she had taken them herself, and that no, she had not left.- Tell Lisa that it's nothing bad what is happening, tell her not to worry, and not to get out please - She ordered Hugo and
Suspense hung in the air as Thiago held the ring in his hands, anxiously awaiting my answer. My eyes filled with tears of joy, of emotion for all we had been through together and for the future that awaited us.- Yes, Thiago, I do want to be your wife - I answered with my voice cracking with emotion.The room was filled with applause and exclamations of joy from our friends. At that moment, Thiago slipped the ring on my finger and hugged me tenderly. Our friends celebrated joyfully all around us, filling the room with laughter and well wishes.As I held our precious baby in my arms, I felt a deep gratitude for all that had happened. I had overcome my fears, stood up for my desires and was now in a moment of fulfillment and love beyond compare.Fate had brought us together on a roller coaster of emotions, but we had overcome every obstacle with courage and determination. Now, together, we would write our own ending, filled with love, happiness and a new life full of possibilities.- I