OthonI arrived at the hospital that morning determined to have a frank conversation with Mrs. Fisher. I knew she would be in her office, on the top floor of the imposing Central Hospital building. I didn't follow my usual work routine that morning. I didn't even stop by my own office to check for urgent demands. I had a clear purpose in mind and was determined to fulfill it.I still felt perplexed by the whole story behind my encounter with Karen in Fernando de Noronha. I could never imagine that Valquiria harbored such an obsession with me. I couldn't think of another word to describe her feelings. If what she felt for me was healthy, she would never have gone to such lengths to fulfill her desires.I couldn't even understand the mindset of a person like Valquíria. She grotesquely manipulated me. I couldn't think of a friendship between us in the future when everything she did in the past was shaped by lies and schemes.The fact that Karen arrived at the bathroom exactly when Valquí
ColinI decided to face the challenge of telling Othon the whole truth in person, so I traveled to Curitiba right after the conversation with Valquíria. However, the fact that Valquíria was at her brother's house that weekend made my "mission" more complicated. The uncertainty of not being heard or, worse yet, not being believed, weighed heavily on my mind.With this burden on my shoulders, I sought support from Noah, who happened to be in the city as well. I explained the whole situation and asked for his help, along with Camila's. As Karen's best friend, Camila could increase my chances of meeting Karen, someone Othon would certainly listen to.With their help, I managed to find Karen and reveal the whole truth. Even with the uncertainty of the outcome, I chose to stay in Curitiba for a few more days. My work in investments allowed me that flexibility, so the city I was in didn't matter.I was determined to face the consequences of my actions and ensure that the truth came to light.
KarenI woke up to knocks on the door of the room, which soon swung open with Otávio's entrance. He burst into the room with a bright smile, jumping onto the bed to hug me affectionately."Good morning, mommy!" His cheerful voice echoed through the room as his arms wrapped around me.I returned the hug, feeling warmed by my son's affection."Good morning, my love," I replied, squeezing him gently.Otávio informed me that my mother was calling for breakfast. I agreed, saying I would get ready and soon join them. He barely heard the response, already hurrying towards the door, but I stopped him with a request."Slow down, Otávio!" I asked, making him turn back to me, sm
OthonAfter a day of intense work, coming home next to Karen brought me an indescribable feeling of satisfaction. We fell into a routine now that our relationship no longer needed to be kept secret. In the morning, we took Otávio to school together and went to work. I had managed to adjust Karen's work schedule to be compatible with mine, which allowed us to pick up Otávio from school and have lunch together at her parent's house, then return to work.Having Karen by my side in all these everyday activities filled my heart with joy. Seeing how she interacted with Otávio, how we shared our work experiences, and how we supported each other was something I deeply valued.On the other hand, I had completely cut off contact with Valquíria. I didn't answer her calls or messages anymore. I had no intent
KarenEveryone was ready and eagerly awaiting Othon's arrival, but Otávio seemed especially restless, asking constantly if his father would still take a long time to get there. Each time this happened, I patiently replied, informing him of the minutes remaining, as Othon had agreed to pick us up at home at 8 p.m.Otávio accepted my answer with a nod and went back to jumping and playing, enjoying the ample space that had opened up in Karen's living room. The decoration company had removed all the furniture from the room, creating an open and inviting environment for the approaching celebration.Othon had invited not only me and Otávio but also my parents for dinner that night. While he believed I was unaware that it was his birthday, I was already planning how to make that day special for him. I didn't intend to let that date go unnoticed.I was determined to make that day a memorable moment for my son's father. Since early on, I had been organizing everything down to the smallest deta
OthonI could hardly believe what my eyes were seeing. A surprise for me? My heart swelled with gratitude and emotion at this very special gesture of affection. As everyone around me sang "Happy Birthday," I felt a mix of surprise and happiness envelop me.When the song ended, Otávio was the first to come to me. He ran over, brimming with excitement, and threw himself into my arms, wishing me a happy birthday and revealing that the surprise had been prepared by his mother. I was genuinely touched by his words, but I decided to play along with my little one."You did all this for daddy? That's amazing!" I exclaimed, looking at his eyes shining with excitement.Otávio laughed upon hearing my words and quickly corrected me, "Of course not, daddy! It was mommy who did everything for you."Pretending to be surprised by Otávio's revelation, I raised my eyebrows in an exaggerated gesture that made him laugh even more. "I thought you had prepared everything!" I joked, letting out a knowing sm
KarenI was still floating on cloud nine from Othon's marriage proposal. Although I had been expecting that moment, since he had made his intentions clear, the way he did it deeply enchanted me. It was at that moment that we noticed Valquíria's entrance, and my heart skipped a beat at seeing her step across the threshold of my house.All this happiness was abruptly interrupted by Valquíria's untimely entrance.I was perplexed by the intrusion, a mixture of indignation and surprise coursing through my veins. As much as I had already noticed Valquíria's obsession with Othon, I never imagined she would dare to invade my home just when we were celebrating his birthday.What did she think she was doing there? How dared she enter my house without permission? I took a deep breath, trying to control my nerves, as I watched her standing in the doorway, a strange gleam in her eyes."What are you doing here, Valquíria?"Othon was the first to break the tense silence that followed Valquíria's abr
ValquíriaThere was no time to think about strategies or meticulous plans. Anger propelled every step I took as I made my way down the hallway toward the living room where Othon and Karen were.My heart pounded with a mix of excitement and rage as I entered Karen's house, uninvited but uncaring. My desire to confront Karen and Othon was stronger than any social etiquette. I cannot allow the man I love to be taken from me by another woman. Worse yet, a promiscuous woman who didn't think twice before sleeping with Othon just hours after meeting him.It was painful to see Karen's face lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. As I made myself visible to everyone in the room, Karen looked from one to another, her expression shifting from joy to confusion and concern.I felt a wave of contempt rising within me. How dare they celebrate Othon's birthday without me? How could they act like everything was fine when they knew that Othon belonged solely and exclusively to