LizandraAfter a long sleepless night, when morning came, I felt ready for anything. I re-evaluated everything that happened in my life, not just what happened in the last few months, but my life as a whole, and I came to the conclusion that love was not meant for me.My mother abandoned me, my aunt never treated me with love, and my first and last boyfriend cheated on me with my cousin, whom I always considered a sister. Still, I insisted on believing that a man like Heitor Alves de Bragança could fall in love with me, a simple girl, with no social skills, no money, no family. How foolish I was.The conversation with Heloísa had been important to me. I realized that even she, a beautiful, intelligent, and extremely rich woman, can be disappointed in love, and
HeitorIt was challenging to focus on work when my greatest desire was to talk to Lizandra and clarify things between us. She couldn't just leave me without even a conversation. Without giving me the chance to express my point of view and show that things weren't exactly as Heloísa said. But three days had passed since she had been completely avoiding me, and it was making me nervous.I couldn't bear another day with this uncertainty, unable to work properly, constantly thinking of a way to convince Lizandra to give me a second chance. We both need to talk, and it can't be postponed any longer.I checked the time on the computer and saw that it wasn't the end of the workday yet."Ah, I'm the boss here... I ca
LizandraI threw my bag onto the bed with more force than necessary and went straight to the bathroom. I turned on the sink, washed my face, and looked at myself in the mirror. I had dark circles under my eyes, and it didn't take a psychic to notice that I was extremely tired as well.I spent the last few days searching for a job, but I couldn't find anything. I tried in shops, cafes, and any place where there might be a vacancy. But my search didn't end when I got home. After showering and having something to eat, I sat in front of the computer and searched for available positions on the internet, but I still didn't get any responses. According to the various people I talked to, it wouldn't be easy to find a job since I don't have qualifications or experience.I couldn't rely on my experience at my aunt's inn because it would be a huge risk. There's always the chance that the employer might try to contact Aunt Lucrécia, and she could claim not to know me or even harm me by speaking i
HeitorI looked at the closed door and the shadow moving underneath it, trying to restrain myself from ruining everything. Any word could end all my chances of getting back together with Lisandra, and I don't want that to happen. I want her."We need this conversation, Liz," I tried to argue sensibly.I had waited all night for Lisandra to join us. First, I waited for her in the dining room, but she didn't show up. Then, I joined Grandpa, Jaime, and Cristina in the TV room. I watched a reality show with them! But Lisandra didn't show up there either, frustrating my plans to try to convince her to clarify things between us.It was well past midnight when I managed to convince the guys to turn in, and I tried to do the same. Of course, I couldn't fall asleep. My bed felt like it had thorns, and I spent the night tossing and turning until I gave up on sleeping and decided to try talking to Lizandra. Perhaps, if I insisted enough, she might agree to talk to me. I realized I was right to t
CatarinaThings have been getting more complicated every day since Heloísa overheard my conversation with Heitor and found out about my relationship with Bernardo. It's too much to handle at once, and I feel totally confused and torn between what I want and what is right.My parents still didn't know the whole story, but surely this wouldn't last forever, I know that. Mr. Vicente hadn't visited them yet, but it's just a matter of time until he does, and it will be at that moment that the whole story will be revealed, and I could never handle the disappointment they will feel. And it's not just the chance of Mr. Vicente exposing everything. I also have to deal with the fact that Heloísa knows everything and is very upset with me.That's why I decided to talk to Heitor again.
HeitorWhen I turned my back on Catarina and entered my office, my only intention was to grab my briefcase. I needed to leave that office, and the fact that I had a scheduled meeting was quite providential at that moment. Besides not being able to accomplish anything throughout the morning, I was now also very angry with Catarina after realizing, through the monitor of the cameras installed in my office, that she was simply eavesdropping on my conversation with Heloísa.How can she be so vile like that? I took my time leaving the room because I didn't feel capable of acting in a civilized manner, so I let Heloísa leave first. Only when I felt calmer did I join the two, who were already having a heated discussion.With my briefcase in hand, I nearly bumped into Catarina, who
LizandraI came home early that Friday. I was a bit disheartened after days of looking for a job without even getting a promise of a callback. I intended to go straight to my room and stay there until dinner. If Heitor wasn't home, I would join Mr. Vicente and Heloísa at the table. Otherwise, I would again have my meal in my room.My plans were thwarted when I found Heloísa coming down the stairs, ready for an afternoon by the pool. She simply didn't allow me to refuse her invitation to join her. To make everything more challenging, Mr. Vicente soon appeared, and even Cristina joined in to help convince me."You're pressuring me, and that's not cool," I said, attempting to escape the proposal."It's not cool for you
HeitorThe fact that Lizandra accepted the job as my secretary's assistant didn't make my life easier. Quite the opposite. She continued to completely ignore me, and her attitude was extremely professional, always treating me with courtesy and respect, proving to be an excellent employee, as Joana made a point of repeating for the thousandth time that week."I've already understood that Lizandra is a good girl and that she's been a great help to you, Joana," I said with annoyance. "Can we go over my schedule for today now?"I'm fed up with hearing Lizandra's name. Isn't it enough that my brain repeats it in my head? Or all the dreams I have about her at night? Maybe the fact that I wake up hard and think about her every morning.
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
LizandraI couldn't handle the whirlwind of emotions that engulfed me upon discovering that my mother had never truly abandoned me. I simply ran, and sprinted, until I was sure I was alone once again. The thought that my mother was taken away from me by people I trusted, Juliana and her mother, is too painful. So, my aunt, the woman who raised me and whom I had always been grateful to, never did anything out of pure kindness. She must have benefited from everything I could have enjoyed all those years. Most importantly, she kept me from receiving the love of my mother all that time.How many nights did I go to sleep crying because I didn't have a mother? How many nights did I lament the absence of someone who loved me, feeling extremely lonely? Lonely was the right word.I remembered the moment when Heitor called us to sit and talk. I even had difficulty walking to the chair reserved for me next to Heitor and Mr. Vicente, so nervous I was at that moment. But I knew I couldn't postpone
HeitorWhen I told Juliana's boyfriend to hold her and her mother, I believed he would do that. From what I could understand from his behavior at the table and based on what I read in his messages to Lizandra, I suspected that he was not at all pleased with the situation. Why he chose to remain by that girl's side is something I couldn't comprehend, and I didn't care at the moment."I think it's best if we all sit down," I pointed out, seeing that we had attracted the attention of everyone dining in the restaurant. "We have some things to clarify."The waiters had already cleared the used dishes, and there were only a few wine glasses on the table. I seriously considered downing the contents of one of them but restrained myself."Can someone explain w