I took a large suitcase, threw it open on the bed and started to fill it with beach clothes, mine and Athos 's . His options were few, just a few rare shorts and T-shirts that were in the closet, but mine were many, the pieces that Marina and I bought for our trip to Australia. I could not wait to use them, to fulfill my dream of finally discovering the sea. I could bet that Marina would love the idea and would certainly come with us.I was engaged in the task when she came into the room, still drowsy from having just gotten up. Now she occupied one of the guest rooms on the second floor, and it had been weeks since she had done the housework around the house, although she continued to receive the salary that Athos did not mind paying, glad I had her for company."What are the bags for?" Will you run away without me? - she asked, lying casually on the bed, while my face turned red with the memory of everything that Athos and I did in that same bed.“ Shhh …do not mention our escape he
Gently, Athos pulled out one of the chairs for me to sit in and then sat down in the other. As we helped ourselves to the plate, which I was not even sure what it was – it looked like some kind of fish stew, with a few crab legs as a garnish – I wondered how many women he'd already brought there, how much fancier they certainly were. than me, with sophisticated manners, very different from my clumsy country girl way.- You come here often? — I asked, after taking the first mouthful of food, enjoying the almost too spicy taste.“Not as much as I would like."Have I brought many women to this place?"“Not as many as you might imagine.I would bet the receptionist who greeted us was one of the ones who'd already been there with him.— When you went to SaintClair City, did not you have anyone in São Paulo? Like a girlfriend?Athos smiled, as if amused by the question.- No.“It seems impossible to imagine a man like you not having a relationship, or several.I do not believe in this relat
Athos slid his body down and, as he used to do, showered kisses over the bulge in her belly, tenderly, making my heart overflow with a genuine affection, never experienced before. At that moment I was sure what I wanted for my life and that was to be with Athos forever, to be his real wife, to see my son grow up by his side. I loved him with all my heart and it was painful to imagine a lifetime without him.The emotions that washed over me were so intense, my eyes filled with tears. So I grabbed both sides of Athos 's face and brought him to me, pressing my mouth to his, kissing him lazily, allowing the passion to explode in my chest. The hope that we could be together, that this could work, had never been so alive and real inside me.Marina was right, we belonged together and we needed to raise our son together. That was now crystal clear to me.Under the last vestiges of that day's light, I broke the kiss and looked into Athos 's eyes .“I love you,” I whispered. "I want to spend th
When the ambulance arrived, I was still in shock but a little calmer. Hastily, two nurses put Arnaldo on a stretcher and carried him towards the vehicle. For some unknown reason, I wanted to go with him, back there, with the security guards following us in another car. Ryleea also wanted to accompany us, but I asked her to stay at home, as the hospital where her mother had worked for several years was not a safe environment.At the hospital, I waited in a room for several hours until the only doctor in town came to see me.— Are you Arnaldo Brandao's companion? he asked, as if he did not know that I was the man's son and the only relative outside of jail.- Yes. How is he?- Not good. I managed to extract the bullet, but I am not a neurosurgeon. I won't know the extent of the damage done until after he wakes up. That if you wake up.I could put that damned old man in the helicopter and take him to a renowned neurosurgeon in São Paulo, if only to assuage my guilt in the slightest."Is
“No, Rylee . What I want is for you not to run away with my son!”- I do not need it, thank you. I am fine. Just leave me alone.Clearly disappointed, she swept her gaze across the table, as if suspiciously checking to see if I was really involved with the work, or just avoiding her.- Clear. Sorry to bother.With that said, she left the office, head down, while I continued to sit behind the desk, overcome by that myriad of love and hate that burned in my veins, threatening to drive me crazy.I never left the office that night. After a few shots of whiskey, I ended up falling asleep right there, in an armchair, which made me wake up the next morning with a bad backache. Upon realizing that I was awakened by the insistent ringing of the cell phone, I answered the call, still sleepy. It was from the hospital, a nurse calling to say that Arnaldo had woken up, a miracle, according to her. In my opinion it was just the confirmation of that saying that a bad vase does not break.I analyzed
The feeling of being betrayed is one of the most painful experiences one can go through. It's a blow to the heart that shatters trust and leaves deep emotional scars. Betrayal is like a shadow that looms over a relationship, leaving a sense of deceit and helplessness.Betrayal can take various forms, whether in the context of a romantic relationship, friendship, work, or family. Regardless of the context, the feeling of being betrayed is overwhelming. It triggers a whirlwind of emotions, including anger, pain, distrust, and sadness.The sense of betrayal is often accompanied by questioning one's trust in people and their ability to judge the character of others. The victim of betrayal may feel helpless, as if they have been thrown into an abyss of uncertainty and disappointment.Overcoming the feeling of betrayal is a lengthy and arduous process. It requires forgiveness, both for the person who betrayed and for oneself. It also involves rebuilding trust, which is a complex challenge.
After examining me, he discharged me and I went back to Athos 's house , accommodated in the back seat of the car with Marina, while he drove it. Arriving there, that scoundrel had the audacity to take me in his arms and start carrying me up the stairs, in order to prevent me from going up alone."Would you please put me down?" I am not an invalid who can't get around on her own! I roared, pummeling his chest with my clenched fists, struggling in a feeble attempt to break free."Will you stop hitting me?" I am so much stronger, it is useless to try to break free.Defeated, I crossed my arms over my chest and turned my face away as I let the rascal take me."I am disgusted with you," I muttered through clenched teeth, not looking her in the face.“You hate me and I understand. Disgust is something else.- Everything that is bad, is what I feel for you.— Be careful that all this radiation does not affect the baby.The fact that he did not get upset, like he did not care how I felt, onl
"We are not criminals who need to be sought out by the police!" I snapped, watching him with my peripheral vision.I entered the house fast as lightning and up the stairs as quickly as possible, seeking refuge in my room, but he was on my heels, following close behind, glaring at me with a face contorted with a frightening rage.I was really screwed!- It is not about this! You know that your mother still poses a great risk to this child and to you! You can't go out there without security protection!“I was not without protection. There were two adult men with us. They weren't going to let my mother get close.I entered the room in a hurry and tried to close the door from the inside, but Athos was too close and ended up getting inside.Damn it!"And who were these men?" Who was that kid you were making out with? he yelled this time, stoking the rage inside me.My nerves on edge, I turned to face him. Looking directly into his face, I felt a thud inside, a mixture of passion and longin