The sun began to bid farewell on the horizon, painting the sky with gentle shades of orange and blue as Helena parked the pickup truck in the garage. She took a deep breath, feeling the tension of the afternoon still lingering, but seeing her children playing in the garden brought a sense of calm.Isabel, Antônio, and Emanoel ran across the lawn, immersed in their games, oblivious to the challenges the adult world could bring. Helena approached slowly, admiring them. As she joined them, she crouched down to their level.“Do you know how special you are?” Helena began, looking into her children's eyes.The curious gazes of the children fixed on their mother, eager for the conversation. Helena continued with a gentle yet firm voice, “I want you to promise me something. Promise me that you will never let anyone treat you as if you are worth less than you truly are.”Surprised by their mother's request, the children nodded in unison. “We promise, Mom,” Isabel replied, while Antônio and Em
The Poconé farm's living room was filled with tension as the Forensic Medical Institute collected Nilton's body from the porch. The police meticulously examined every corner of the property, searching for clues about the sudden death of the family patriarch.Meanwhile, Helena tried to keep calm in the room with the children. Isabel, Antônio, and Emanoel were eager for answers. Isabel, the eldest, innocently asked, “What happened to Grandpa Nilton, Mom?”Helena, careful in choosing her words, replied, “Grandpa Nilton fell and got hurt, my love.”Antônio, the family observer, noticed more than Helena intended to reveal. “But he has a wound on his head, Mom.”Helena, maintaining composure, insisted on the explanation. “It's from the fall, my son. Sometimes, when someone falls, they can get seriously hurt.”Isabel wasn't convinced. “Doesn't look like a fall.”Helena tried to reassure the children. “It's from the fall, dears. Sometimes, these things can seem scary, but Grandpa Nilton is in
The room in the house in Cuiabá was filled with tension, with the gazes of Helena and Bruno revealing the gravity of the unfolding conversation. Helena took the initiative, suggesting that they needed to decide what to do with the farm. Her mother's suggestion to sell the property lingered in the air as a sensible option.“Bruno, we need to seriously consider the idea of selling the farm. It's getting increasingly dangerous, especially with Graciliano on the loose there,” Helena argued, seeking a prudent solution to the situation.Bruno's response was firm and uncompromising. “I'm not selling the farm.”Perplexed by her husband's inflexibility, Helena calmly asked, “So, what do you intend to do?”Bruno's response carried determination. “I'll run the farm on my own.”Helena vehemently disagreed with this decision. “Bruno, this is madness! The farm is becoming dangerous, and facing Graciliano alone is not the solution.”Bruno, looking seriously at Helena, responded with conviction, “I'l
The shock hit Bruno like a blow. He had barely emerged from an intense argument with Helena when he now found himself facing a revelation that would forever change the dynamics of his life.“Excuse me, ma'am, there must be some mistake. I don't have a child other than with my wife...” Bruno began, but was interrupted by Rosaria.“I know it's hard to believe, Bruno, but Dante is your son. He's always wanted to meet you, and I thought now would be the right time for that.” Rosaria's voice carried a mix of determination and sadness.Dante remained silent, observing Bruno with curious and hopeful eyes. Bruno, still incredulous, stared at the boy, searching for resemblances that could confirm the connection Rosaria claimed existed.The tension in the air was palpable when Bruno finally addressed Dante. “Do you know why you're here, Dante? Why does your grandmother believe we're father and son?”Dante nodded timidly, appearing nervous. “My mom always told me about my dad, but I never met yo
The guest room was illuminated by the gentle golden glow of the lamp as Helena adjusted the sheets and pillows. Her heart raced, and tension hung in the air. The possibility of Dante being Bruno's son loomed like a shadow, leaving Helena uneasy. It was when Bruno entered the room, interrupting her thoughts.“I imagine you're wondering if I knew about Dante,” Bruno said, breaking the silence.Helena turned to face Bruno, her eyes serious. “Did you know?”Bruno shook his head. “No, Helena, I swear I didn't know. I found out today at the gate when Rosária and Dante arrived.”Bruno's response didn't completely ease the tension on Helena's shoulders. “So, we need to do a DNA test to confirm paternity,” Helena stated, seeking clarity in the situation.Bruno nodded. “Alright, we can do the test. But, Helena, I feel like Dante is my son. Not just because of the prophecy, but there's something about him that feels familiar.”Helena crossed her arms, looking at Bruno seriously. “We can't rely s
Helena was sitting in the home office in Cuiabá, focused on her daily tasks, when her attention was captured by an email that had just arrived. It was a message from the children's school, confirming a meeting with the principal for that afternoon. However, Helena didn't recall scheduling such an appointment.Intrigued, she picked up the phone and dialed the school's number. After a few rings, the receptionist answered, and Helena identified herself as Helena Matos. The employee politely asked how she could assist.“I received an email confirming a meeting with the principal this afternoon, but I believe it's a mistake,” explained Helena.The receptionist requested a moment and, after a brief wait, confirmed that the meeting was scheduled, and it had been requested by Bruno Matos, Helena's husband. Surprised, Helena inquired about the reason for the meeting. The receptionist explained that Bruno had requested the meeting to discuss matters.Thanking for the information, Helena hung up
Helena and Bruno were sitting in the silence of the room, the DNA test envelope open on the bed. Helena held in her hands the paper that confirmed Dante was indeed Bruno's son.“What does the result say?” Bruno inquired, visibly nervous.Helena took a deep breath before speaking, her eyes meeting Bruno's. “Dante is your son, Bruno.”The expression on Bruno's face was a mix of surprise, relief, and, at the same time, sorrow. “I'm sorry, Helena. I'm sorry for all of this.”Bruno looked at Helena with a mix of relief and sadness. He had prepared himself to accept any result, but now, with the confirmation, complicated feelings filled his heart.Helena, in turn, faced Bruno with a serious expression. “Don't be sorry, Bruno. I doubted and questioned too. Now, what matters is what we'll do from here.”“Yeah, it looks like the gypsy was right...” Bruno murmured, with a serious expression.The conversation gave way to a reflective pause until Helena decided to confront what she considered the
The tension settled in the Matos household, among the walls that witnessed joys and now faced challenges. Isabel, Emanoel, Antônio, and Dante, the children of Helena and Bruno, attended school together, but the differences in Dante's behavior became increasingly evident.While Isabel, Emanoel, and Antônio maintained exemplary academic performance, Dante was a constant cause for concern. Helena, in her tireless quest for understanding, made frequent visits to the school, trying to explain that the loss of Dante's biological mother might be causing these behavioral deviations.However, meetings with the teachers and the principal brought no good news. Dante continued to cause problems, getting involved in inappropriate situations. One day, after another call from the school, Helena decided it was time to have a serious conversation with Bruno. She was busy finishing washing the dishes while Bruno, focused, analyzed the crop quotations from the farm.Helena, determined, dried her hands a