"I'm sorry, miss, only a bone marrow transplant can cure your son..."

"Are you sure there is no other solution?"

"Unfortunately not, the medication would only help alleviate the child's pain..."

I lower my head and leave Dr. Lira's office. For a few days, my son Pedro has been complaining of shortness of breath. Gradually, I also noticed that his gums were bleeding easily, and he was starting to lose weight. I confess I was very scared, so I took him to the doctor.

I arrive at the room where my son is being kept, and he is sleeping. I gently stroke his face and feel my eyes sting. I love my children so much; Pedro and Ana are my biggest strengths for living.

"I'm so sorry, my love..."

The doctor said we should start compatibility tests for the transplant. I say goodbye to my little one and go home. When I get there, my parents have just put Ana to bed.

"Hi, dear," my mother greets me with a hug. "What did the doctor say?"

"Only a bone marrow transplant can save him, Mom..."

"Everything is going to be okay, dear," my father joins the embrace.

"I feel useless..."

"Don't say that, dear. It breaks my heart to hear that," my mother tries to console me.

"If only that jerk had been by my side, supporting me, Mom... But no, he chose to throw me to the wolves, accusing me of all sorts of things."

My parents embrace me even tighter. My life was perfect, but it was only like that until I was seduced by Matheus, that snobby rich guy.

...... Flashback on ......

"Ah, Rafinha... You have no idea how much I've always desired you, how long I've waited to feel your body pressed against mine."

"I still can't understand how you managed to notice me even though I was always hiding in the kitchen."

"My dear, it's impossible not to notice you. You're too beautiful to go unnoticed."

"A few days after our night together, Matt distanced himself from me. Every time he passed by, he ignored my existence. That's when I realized that it had all been a fairytale that had now come to an end. Months later, I started feeling sick. Nothing stayed in my stomach, perfume made me nauseous, I even fainted."

"Pregnant, miss. It's twins."

"My world crumbled beneath me. I tried to hide the symptoms from my parents and even from my bosses, as they were the most loving people I knew. One day, I ended up feeling sick near the pool and was about to fall in, but strong arms caught me, preventing me from falling and drowning."

"Finally awake, little one," Matheus said when I opened my eyes. "Are you feeling better?"

"I am..."

"What's really going on with you? I've noticed you getting sick for a few days, not eating properly."

"I'm pregnant, Matt... With your child, it's twins."

"Pregnant!? Are you crazy? Where did you get the idea that these bastards are mine?"

"Matheus, you know very well that you were my first man. I can't believe that night meant nothing to you."

"Of course it didn't mean anything. You're the maid's daughter, what did you expect? That I would marry you? I wouldn't be surprised if this was all a plan of yours to trap me with a pregnancy."

"His words cut into my heart like knives, each one more hurtful than the last. I stood up from where I had been laid down and walked away from him, but he grabbed my arm before I could take more than three steps."

"You're fired, I want you out of this house."

"Before I could respond, his parents appeared and heard what he said."

"What's going on here? Son, let go of Rafaela" Mrs. Rebeca practically forced him to release me.

"Are you alright, dear? Did this monster hurt you?" Mr. Joseph's concern was evident.

"I'm fine. I need to go, I'll pack my things."

"You're not going anywhere, dear. This is your home too..."

"I can't stay here anymore. I can't be in a place where my children are not accepted by their own father."

...*** *Flashback on* ***...

After that day, my former bosses did everything they could to help me with the twins, Matheus got into a relationship with a plastic and silicone-filled French model, and I... I completely focused on my babies. Within days of being away from my parents, I managed to secure a job at a rival company to the Joneses', I know they had a hand in it, but I didn't mind, especially since I was given a high position that I eventually climbed up from.

Today, my children receive love and attention from their paternal grandparents and Aunt Pri. Priscila has always been so kind to me, loving the nieces and nephews as if they were her own children, but Matt... He never even asked if I went through with the pregnancy, even though he knows the kids are alive and well.

I climb up to the floor with the bedrooms and before going to mine, I stop by the children's room and plant a kiss on Ana Laura. When I get out of the shower, I kneel at the foot of the bed and say my prayer. Each passing day has been increasingly difficult seeing my son in that hospital, but besides asking for his health to return, I also pray that I don't have to rely on Matheus's help.

Because if he rejected my children back when they were just tiny seeds... Who would guarantee that he would accept them now? Especially when he's about to marry a silicone-filled and hair-extension-wearing parasite.

MATHEUS JONES...

I wake up early for another day of work and Madson's fully aesthetic procedures body is clinging to me. I roll my eyes and leave the bed, going to my room. I have been with Madson for almost six years, but I have never taken her to my bed. We always have sex in the guest room, which is at the opposite end of the hallway, far away from my own room. Only one person has my heart and the right to sleep in my bed.

It's a shame that this person hates me. I know I am the one to blame for this happening. I blame myself every day for not believing her. I don't blame her for hating me so much...

I take a long shower and put on one of my many tailored suits. I grab one of my most expensive watches, sunglasses, cellphone, and head down to breakfast. Madson is already sitting at the table with a gossip magazine and talking on the phone. Her irritating voice sounds high-pitched and strangely childish.

"Darling, I need a new dress."

"Another one? You bought seven last week, and all of them were insanely expensive."

"Darling... I've already worn those. I need a new one for a party Megan is throwing on Saturday. Please."

"Buy it with your own card. One dress paid with your own money won't make you poor. I have to go, my day is filled with meetings."

I leave her talking to herself. My driver is already waiting for me in front of the house. I get in and he already knows where we are going every day before eight in the morning, for over a week now: the hospital. I arrive at the hospital and go to the reception.

"Good morning! Can you tell me if there's anyone in Pedro Henrique Cameron Jones' room?"

The lady looks and tells me no, so I go to my little one's room. Whenever I arrive, he is always sleeping. That's the only thing that gives me the courage to show up here every day.

I go to him and his little face resembles his mother's so much... My little one... I love that woman so much, but I can't be with her knowing that I broke her heart in the worst way. I gently stroke Pedro's black curls, being careful not to wake him up. I am not ready yet to explain to him that I am his father and I abandoned him when his mother needed me the most.

"Hey little son... You need to be okay, you know? You need to take care of mommy since daddy can't..."

I stay a few more minutes with him and leave his room. I go to the doctor's office responsible for him, and as soon as I enter, he raises an eyebrow.

"My friend, you know I can't hide this from Rafaela for much longer, right?"

"I know... but I was the one who messed up. I deserve to suffer even more than this. I know it's wrong to take advantage of the situation my son is in just to spend five minutes with him... It still hurts a lot to remember all the words I said to Rafa that day."

"You were a piece of sh.t."

"I really wanted to meet Ana... I saw some photos of her on Pri's phone... But it's not the same."

"Sorry I can't help with that. I am already breaking one of the hospital's rules by allowing you to see Pedro."

"I know... How is he?" I say, a little sad.

"He needs a bone marrow transplant. From what I've seen in his tests, you might be the only compatible donor."

"Transplant? My God... He's only five..."

"It's usually at this age that this kind of disease appears..."

"I want to do a compatibility test... If I'm compatible, you don't even have to tell Rafa, I'll accept being an anonymous donor."

"Unfortunately, I can only allow you to do the test after she does it."

"Damn it! If I'm the only compatible one, she won't want to talk to me... She'll want to put others through the tests..."

Natan looks at me, a little sad. I know he understands my pain, even though he has no idea of its density. I say goodbye to him and go to the company. I need to occupy my mind with the new jewelry production for this season. We have a large number of orders, and our catalog is becoming richer and richer with exclusive pieces.

Our exclusive sets are a success with each release. Every year, I create a special set for Rafa, hoping that one day she will forgive me... The jewelry can be worn. They are displayed in the store, but never sold, as they are my creation and I have placed a value too high for anyone to purchase. Several times, my father has asked me to at least put one of the sets up for auction, but I always refuse.

"God... Help me..."

Rafaela Cameron, 28 years old, 5 feet 3 inches tall, jewelry designer, the female protagonist of the story, loves flowers, especially a Cattleya, a rose cultivated in South America and mainly found in Brazil, always puts her children first, her favorite song is "Love My Self" by singer Hailee Steinfeld, prefers colorful and cheerful clothing that makes her comfortable rather than fancy and designer clothes, loves pasta and home-cooked food, prefers comfort over luxury, simplicity over extravagance, chivalry over egocentrism, and what she admires most in a person is the ability to express themselves and be sincere.

Matheus Jones, 31 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, CEO of a chain of exclusive jewelry stores, the male protagonist of the story, loves sports, egocentric, doesn't enjoy contemporary music, prefers classics like Beethoven, Sinatra, Mozart, and Michael Buble, has a neutral color palette for clothing, always varying between white, black, and gray, rarely wears blue, which gives his wardrobe a "unique touch", Italian and Thai cuisine are his weakness, luxury and ostentation define Matheus Jones.

Ana Laura and Pedro Henrique Cameron Jones, monozygotic twins, 5 years old, Ana is 3 feet 6 inches tall and Pedro is 3 feet 8 inches tall, both love to play pranks, always pulling pranks on "mommy" and grandparents, Ana is always sweet to everyone, easily brings smiles and is in love with her brother, always feels safe by his side; Pedro has his more stubborn ways, but he is a smart and playful boy with everyone, protects his sister from everyone, making her his "good luck charm". Ana and Pedro love sweets, but it is grandma Marília's "escondidinho" that makes them "lick" their fingers.

Márcio and Marília Cameron, 60 and 58 years old respectively, Márcio is 5 feet 7 inches tall and Marília is 5 feet 4 inches tall, both have immense pride in their children Rafaela, Murilo, and Talita, unconditionally love their grandchildren and always do everything to spoil them, they, together with Matheus's parents, have been hoping for years for their children to make peace, and they will make this story a little more fun.

Joseph and Rebeca Jones, 62 and 60 years old respectively, Joseph is 5 feet 7 inches tall and Rebeca is 5 feet 4 inches tall, are also very proud of their children Matheus and Priscila, and just like their friends Márcio and Marília, they do the possible and impossible for their grandchildren, always giving them various gifts and taking them on trips throughout the country. They, along with their friends, will do everything to bring their children back together.

.

Murilo and Talita Cameron, 32 and 24 years old respectively, Murilo is 6 feet 3 inches tall and Talita is 5 feet 3 inches tall, are siblings of Rafaela, Murilo is an engineer and Matheus's friend but has distanced himself a bit from him after he rejected his children, he is dating a Brazilian actress and does not want to get involved in his parents' plans to bring the friend and sister back together: Talita is a psychotherapist, lesbian, loves her nieces and nephews, but does not want to have children, dreams of the day when her sister will forgive Matheus.

Priscila Jones and Natan Clark are married, 29 and 31 years old respectively, Priscila is 5 feet 7 inches tall and Natan is 6 feet 2 inches tall, Priscila, Matheus's sister, designs most of the jewelry sold in the family stores, but what she loves most is painting pictures, she has already had two exhibitions where she became known as an artist in plastic arts; Natan is one of Matheus's best friends and a doctor for both families, sees Rafaela as a sister and always throws in the face of his friend the mistake he made in hurting the heart of the woman he claims to love. Both will help the older ones bring the protagonist couple back together.

Ricardo Logdi and Brenda Mason, 30 and 28 years old respectively, Ricardo is 6'2" tall and Brenda is 5'4", Ricardo is Matheus' best friend, his personal lawyer and the lawyer for his businesses, he lives for parties but can't wait to find the one who will make him leave this lifestyle behind, he really wants to meet Rafaela's children but he fears she won't approve of their closeness because she knows how close he is to Matheus; Brenda is Rafaela's best friend and a lawyer, but she is currently studying to become a judge, she doesn't enjoy parties and is trying to move on from her last relationship, she loves Rafaela's children, she sees them as her own nieces and nephews, and she hopes that one day her friend will find happiness.

Madson Ropper, 30 years old, the female antagonist of the story, she is 5'8" tall, a model, arrogant, self-centered, she humiliates anyone who is not in her social class, she is obsessed with Matheus but doesn't understand why he never lets her sleep in his room, they always sleep in separate rooms. She will be the first one to try to separate Matheus from his children.

These are the characters that will appear the most throughout the story, there may be additional characters introduced as the story progresses, and I will introduce them in the chapter they appear in, for now these are the main ones.