Heitor
To everyone's joy, Lourdes Heeren was discharged from the hospital the next day, but with several medical recommendations to follow. Faced with this condition, Lizandra fully agreed with her stepfather to withhold from Lourdes the news that Lucrécia had been arrested for involvement in an international human trafficking ring, to prevent her from ending up back in the hospital.
We decided to stay in Gostoso until after the Carnival holiday so that Lizandra could have more time with her mother and they could take the opportunity to get to know each other better.
However, to avoid any contact between Lizandra Juliana, and Samuel, something I suspect must not be easy given the lies that the cousin lived for years, I suggested to Dann Heeren that they stay at the same hotel where
HeitorThe days in Gostoso had passed quickly, and on Ash Wednesday, we were packed and ready to return to Rio, excited after those wonderful days. At least, that's what I thought until I went to Lizandra's room and realized she was still packing, and she even seemed a bit sad."Everyone is ready. We'll be leaving soon," I commented, offering to help her with the task. "Need help packing your bags?""In fact, I..." Lizandra didn't finish what she intended to say, and I felt my heart tighten. A strange mix of warmth and cold took over my body.Seeing her hesitancy to continue speaking, I quickly remembered the night when I felt she was hiding something from me.
Lizandra (Lily to her friends)Today was quite busy at my aunt's inn, and I barely had time for even a simple meal. My arms were already sore from the repetitive effort with the broom and various other tasks I had been doing since I woke up in the morning. It's always like this in the summer, especially on the last day of the year when the chalets are fully booked for the traditional New Year's Eve celebration in São Miguel do Gostoso.It was a great relief when my work hours finally came to an end, and I began dreaming of a good shower and meeting up with my boyfriend. I was in the process of putting away the cleaning tools for the guests' chalets when I smelled the sweet and strong perfume of Aunt Lucrecia, and a sense of dread crept over me."Lily, dear," she said immediately, and I shuddered with disgust. "I know you were finishing your shift, but one of our best guests just arrived, and you need to provide some extra towels for him.""But, aunt..." I began to protest."No complai
LizandraI'm in shock. Were my ears deceiving me? The female voice moaning like a cat in heat, and the name she repeated incessantly, was what I thought I was hearing. Maybe it would be better to leave and pretend that none of this was happening."Delicious!"Now it was a male voice's turn to speak and then release something very similar to a roar, which left me completely disgusted, and a strong feeling of indignation with the situation I was experiencing at that moment started to form within me. I needed to take action, but my feet seemed to be planted on the expansive veranda floor."Let's get up, Jú. I'm covered in sweat and need a shower."There was no doubt about the owner of the male voice anymore, and I was facing a harsh betrayal."Wait, let me fix my dress, Sam," Juliana requested with a smile in her voice.I could hear their steps and the laughter getting closer. I was at the front of the veranda, and I deduced they were right at the beginning of the lateral part, as quick
HeitorAfter much insistence from Heloísa, I had agreed to accompany her to spend New Year's Eve in São Miguel do Gostoso, and now I questioned why I always ended up giving in to the whims of my annoying and impulsive sister. Soon, I answered myself: I love her, despite everything."You should try to have some fun, Heitor!" Heloisa repeated the same phrase for the umpteenth time that night. "You're always so proper.""I'm a responsible guy, is that what you meant?" I suggested ironically."A bore! That's what Heloisa meant," Bernardo said, butting into the conversation."I don't remember anyone asking for your opinion, Bernardo," I replied rudely."Guys, can we just enjoy New Year's Eve?" Heloísa tried once again. "Is that possible or not?""Heloísa is right," Catarina says in a conciliatory tone. "What do you think about going down and joining the other guests to watch the fireworks?"Everyone agreed to Catarina's suggestion, and we asked for the check for the drinks we had at the ho
LizandraAfter seeing Samuel and Juliana together in front of the entire town on New Year's Eve, it was impossible to stay strong and pretend that nothing was happening when I was bleeding inside.I ended up accepting a glass of some drink Luciano offered me, drinking the entire contents in one gulp, which immediately made me dizzy and gave me a strange sense of euphoria in the midst of what I was experiencing as I saw the two traitors happily smiling after making a fool out of me.Despite feeling dizzy and tempted to laugh at my misfortune, I tried to control myself at all costs and dodged Luciano the first chance I got. The drink hadn't completely taken over me, and I wandered along the beach, dipping my feet in the waves, desperately wishing those strange sensations would disappear, which wasn't happening.Without even realizing what I was doing, I sat on the sand and admired the sea and the waves breaking ever closer to where I was as if enchanted by the sight. Gradually, reality
HeitorI should just go my way and continue searching for Catarina, who had drunk more than recommended the last time I saw her and for whom I am responsible. That was my intention, but as I walked just a few meters, I noticed some visibly drunk men heading toward the unbearable girl, and that was enough to make me uneasy in a disconcerting way.I didn't have to worry about that girl, but it was impossible to keep walking without making sure those individuals wouldn't bother her. I slowed down my steps completely just to confirm that they wouldn't notice the presence of the lonely girl sitting by the seashore."Look what we have in front of us, my friends," one of them spoke loud enough for me to hear. "A beauty like that alone here. Must be lost...""Or she's just waiting for someone to find her," another suggested. "I think today's your lucky day, beauty."I didn't need to see what was happening to understand clearly where that would lead, and I was sure nothing good would come out
LizandraAll the adrenaline from the recent events must have interfered with my emotions, and even though I was aware that I was crying copiously in front of a stranger, I couldn't help it.Upon hearing his offer, however, I decided to put an end to my weakness and wiped my face, or at least tried to do it somehow, but I knew I must look completely disheveled. But that doesn't matter to me. That night was becoming too long, and I had reached my limit. So when that stranger offered to accompany me to a safer place, I simply accepted.The fact that he didn't say he would accompany me home made me feel more at ease, even though it might be a great foolishness on my part. I knew I shouldn't trust someone I just met on the beach, and he was undoubtedly a tourist, someone just passing through Gostoso, who could very well take advantage of the situation. After all, at this moment, I am a very easy prey.We walked in silence along the beachfront, and even though the crowd of people was visibl
HeitorAfter leaving the girl in a bustling place, I hurried back to the hotel, which was only a few minutes away. I felt guilty for the time I ended up losing by being with the girl on the beach.To my relief, I quickly arrived and found Heloísa waiting for me, coming towards me in a hurry."Where were you?" she asked anxiously. "I was getting worried.""Did you manage to find Catarina?" I asked, avoiding the compromising question."Catarina is fine, don't worry," she told me. "Bernardo found her on the beach."Something in that information made me a little uncomfortable, and it surely has to do with what the girl insinuated during our strange encounter."How did Bernardo know we were looking for Catarina? He wasn't here when I left...""I called Bernardo and asked for his help to locate Catarina," Heloísa explained. "She seemed perfectly normal, to tell the truth. Still, I accompanied her to your suite. I was trying to warn you."Only at that moment did I remember that my phone was
HeitorThe days in Gostoso had passed quickly, and on Ash Wednesday, we were packed and ready to return to Rio, excited after those wonderful days. At least, that's what I thought until I went to Lizandra's room and realized she was still packing, and she even seemed a bit sad."Everyone is ready. We'll be leaving soon," I commented, offering to help her with the task. "Need help packing your bags?""In fact, I..." Lizandra didn't finish what she intended to say, and I felt my heart tighten. A strange mix of warmth and cold took over my body.Seeing her hesitancy to continue speaking, I quickly remembered the night when I felt she was hiding something from me.
HeitorTo everyone's joy, Lourdes Heeren was discharged from the hospital the next day, but with several medical recommendations to follow. Faced with this condition, Lizandra fully agreed with her stepfather to withhold from Lourdes the news that Lucrécia had been arrested for involvement in an international human trafficking ring, to prevent her from ending up back in the hospital.We decided to stay in Gostoso until after the Carnival holiday so that Lizandra could have more time with her mother and they could take the opportunity to get to know each other better.However, to avoid any contact between Lizandra Juliana, and Samuel, something I suspect must not be easy given the lies that the cousin lived for years, I suggested to Dann Heeren that they stay at the same hotel where
LizandraI looked at the woman lying on the hospital bed, not knowing what to do or say when they left us alone. Despite appearing quite debilitated among the white sheets, she remained extremely beautiful, and her smile added a different sparkle to her face."My dear daughter," Lourdes said, breaking the silence. "I'm so happy you came to see me.""I... I'm sorry," was the most I could say.Despite my awkwardness, Lourdes continued to smile and extended her arms in a silent request for a hug, which I accepted, even though I wasn't prepared for it. However, as I felt my mother's arms around me for the first time in so many years, emotion took over my entire being, and I felt that it would overflow through my eyes, as tears were about to roll down my face.
HeitorThe distance between São Miguel do Gostoso and Natal is only a hundred and fifteen kilometers, but the time we spent getting to the state capital was extremely distressing for Lizandra, and it was noticeable to all of us in the car with her.We left Gostoso at seven in the morning because Lizandra wanted to get to where her mother was as quickly as possible. If it were up to her, she would have done it the night before, as soon as she received the news from Bernardo. However, Dann Heeren informed her that the hospital did not allow visits outside normal hours and that it would be pointless to hit the road at night just to be in Natal.Despite my grandfather's insistence, Heloísa managed to convince him to stay at the hotel with Cristina and Leonardo, while my sister and Berna
LizandraFaced with the veiled threat made by Heitor, Juliana widened her eyes with genuine horror, and at that moment, she broke into compulsive sobbing, pleading with me repeatedly to forgive her. Meanwhile, Samuel hugged her protectively, his gaze also seeming to plead the same from me. It became clear to me at that moment that he truly cared for Juliana, but it didn't bother me, and I concluded that I didn't feel anything for Samuel anymore."Please don't send me to prison, please... please..." Juliana repeated in tears, hands clasped together. "I'm pregnant!"I had no intention of filing any kind of lawsuit against my aunt and Juliana. However, I didn't try to calm her down because she needed to feel at least a little fear to understand how serious what she did was. Now, however, upon hearing her revelation, I felt obligated to soften things."Calm down, Juliana," I said empathetically. "I don't intend to send anyone to prison."Juliana visibly sighed in relief, but her crying to
HeitorWhen Bernardo and Heloísa returned to Grandpa's suite, we all decided to go down for breakfast. It was already past nine in the morning, and there was no point in continuing to talk about Luciano's deceit, now that Lizandra seemed to be calmer."How about a dune buggy ride?" I suggested with enthusiasm. "Since we're here, we might as well enjoy the beauty of the place.""I love the idea!" Heloísa exclaimed."I'm not young enough for these adventures," Grandpa remarked. "I'll wait for my old friends right here at the hotel. But you should enjoy our little vacation.""I have a commitment, so I can't join you either," Bernardo explained. He didn't need to specify who the commitment was with; we all knew it was related to the formalities of the contract with the Heerens. I was pleased that he didn't mention the couple's name, as it's still a delicate topic for Lizandra, precisely when I'm trying to help her forget these issues for a few hours."And you, Lily?" I asked, noticing she
HeloísaWhen Bernardo looked up from his phone and stared at me with an expression of disbelief, I concluded that he still knew nothing about my crush. Catarina didn't tell him, and he found out at this exact moment, precisely when we were together in Grandpa's suite. I was even more surprised when he called me for a conversation, something I have no desire to do at the moment."Can we go to the suite?" Bernardo asked already in the hallway.I didn't want to talk to Bernardo right now, but as I couldn't avoid it, nothing more sensible than doing it in the privacy of my hotel suite, which is right next to Grandpa's room."I had no idea, Heloísa," was the first thing Bernardo said when we entered my suite. "We've always been
LizandraI was trying to explain to Heitor why I didn't involve him in that problem after Luciano's call. However, it is quite clear to everyone in that room how upset Heitor is with me for doing that. And it's going to get worse when he finds out what happened."When Lizandra told me about that coward's threat, I quickly contacted some acquaintances, and they solved the problem," Vicente explained."How so?" Heitor asked an expression of disbelief on his face."A hacker wiped out all of Luciano's files. Everything he had saved," Vicente spoke in a way that would have been funny because it was as if it were something simple to solve, "I didn't know, however, that there were more things for him to use against us."
HeitorI woke up the next morning to the phone ringing, still groggy with sleep. I answered without even checking who was calling me so early and had a big surprise when Grandpa summoned me to his suite as quickly as possible. Since Grandpa would never do something like that unless it was really serious, I put on the first clothes I found and hurried out to the hallway.The first thing I saw upon opening my room door was my sister coming out of the room next door, which didn't cause any immediate reaction from me as I was still not fully awake at that moment."Grandpa called you too?" I asked, rubbing my face.However, noticing the genuine horror on Heloísa's face left me curious and unable to understand the reason for her reaction, until Bernardo also came out of the room. Without realizing I was standing next to Heloísa—his attention was focused on closing the door—he commented to my sister."We need to hurry, Helô. Grandpa seemed worr..."Bernardo didn't finish his sentence because