Laura, at 23, was finishing medical school with great sacrifice and starting her residency. She aimed to specialize in transplants, a long road ahead, and had put everything aside to dedicate herself to her studies.

With no social life, her only friend shared the same goal, and they were always studying. Laura received no support from her father; her mother, from a wealthy business family, had passed away, leaving an inheritance for her and her older sister.

Her studies were paid for, but she could only receive the full inheritance upon marriage or turning 30. Her father, a businessman associated with her mother's family companies, had a penchant for horse racing and was squandering his fortune, resorting to his older daughter's inheritance, which he'd managed to usurp.

That day, the hospital buzzed with excitement due to the visit of Jason Willis, the current president of the Memorial hospital group.

"Girl, what do you think he's doing here?" Amanda asked.

"I don't know, maybe he's sick. I'm going to check on my patient; I don't want to run into him," Laura replied.

Both were at the nurses' station of one of the wards where they were interns, wearing their impeccable white uniforms and hair tucked under personalized scrub caps allowed by the hospital.

"I'm going to check on the patient in ward 7," said Laura.

"And I'll check on the patient in ward 4," Amanda added.

As they left, they missed the entourage accompanying the CEO of Memorial. Flanked by his fiancee, he walked down the corridor toward the doctor's office. Laura, exiting the patient's room, focused on her notes, bumped into the man's foot, and fell.

She fell right in front of the man and he didn't even make a gesture to help her. When Laura looked up to identify who had put her foot in front of her, she came face to face with the sullen bride, who immediately complained:

"What do you think you're doing? Get up right now. How could a little intern block the path of the great businessman Jason Willis?"

Laura rose quickly, moving aside with her head down.

"I apologize, sir."

"Don't let it happen again," the fiancee said. "Let's go, love."

He looked at Laura, unable to see the young woman's face, and said:

"Don't mind Leda, it was an accident. You just need to pay more attention, that's all." Only then did he move on, not paying attention to Leda's frown.

Laura remained silent until they passed, embarrassed but also angry, for the woman who had admonished her was her older sister, Leda.

"Why did she treat you like that?" Amanda asked, arriving shortly after.

"Go figure. Seems like she's got a stick up her butt. We haven't seen each other since I left home for college. I had no idea she was engaged to a tycoon," Laura replied.

"At least he wasn't so unpleasant to you. You know what? Let them be, let's work."

"Yes, let's go."

Their day went on as usual, a whirlwind of activity. They returned to their small shared apartment, unaware of the CEO's thoughts.

Back in his office after the hospital visit, Jason dismissed everyone, including his fiancee, and sat alone, recalling his doctor's words from a few months ago:

"Your illness is in its early stages, we'll start treatment soon to prevent it from worsening, but I advise you to take precautions while there's still time, by finding potential donors."

"I have no relatives who could be compatible, which is what you're suggesting."

"That you have a child. They have the highest chance of compatibility for a bone marrow transplant. But first, of course, we'll do the usual treatment; you may not even need it."

"I understand, I'll think about it. When will I start treatment?"

"I'll prescribe you the initial medication."

Now he felt lost, not because of what he had to do, but because of the illness itself. As for having a child, he had made an advantageous agreement with his father's partner, and Leda was already pregnant, as confirmed that morning at the hospital. He sighed, looking out the window, and decided to visit her at the marketing department to thank her and give her a gift.

Jason

He walked down the corridor unannounced, and as he approached the ajar door, he heard her voice talking to someone and stopped to listen:

"Don't worry, Paul, he doesn't suspect a thing."

"See? Nothing can go wrong now. If he discovers this child isn't his, it screws up our whole plan to get his fortune; after all, you heard, he has leukemia."

Jason didn't want to hear another word. He returned to his office, so enraged that the first thing he did was call her father.

"It's all off, Onofre. Your daughter is a bitch who's pregnant by another man, and I won't marry a woman like that."

"But we have a contract, Jason!"

"Which your daughter broke by sleeping with someone else. Now, more than ever, I need to be sure that the child my wife bears is really mine."

"Let's not be hasty, give me two days, and I'll take care of it."

"You have two days, although I don't think there's a solution."

He hung up without saying goodbye, called HR to fire the marketing manager, then his lawyer to see how to terminate the contract with the security firm whose boss had impregnated his ex-fiancee.

And with all that, he felt tired and defeated; his life was slipping through his fingers, taking his hope with it. How could he find a compatible donor so quickly?

Laura arrived at the hospital early, wanting to review some procedures from previous surgeries and study. Walking towards the doctors' lounge, she crossed paths again with CEO Jason Willis, accompanied only by the doctor she was interning with.

"Dr. Laura, it's good to find you here. I want you to accompany Mr. Willis during the exams he will be taking." He turned to Jason and introduced her. "This is one of my most remarkable residents, Dr. Laura Peçanha."

"Peçanha?"

"Yes."

"Any relation to Onofre Peçanha?"

"Yes, he's my father," she replied, serious.

"Well, well, well, this is what I call a coincidence. It's a pleasure, doctor."

He extended his hand to greet her and she reciprocated. Together, they followed to the lab and he smiled, thinking she might be a good possibility.

"How old are you, doctor?"

Laura frowned, thinking about the reason for the question, but saw no reason not to answer.

"23, sir."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"I am married to medicine, I have no time for anything else."

He then devised a strategy to win her pity, since she didn't seem to be open to love. With each exam he completed, his expression was one of grief and fear. He even leaned on her, feigning weakness, and blurted out:

"I am young, rich, I have always had an iron constitution, and now I may die without even having an heir."

"Don't be like that, sir, there are very good and efficient treatments, you will certainly be cured," she comforted him, letting him hold her hand.

"What woman would want a broken man?"

"You're great," she smiled sweetly at him, "any woman would love to marry you, but you don't need to, you already have a fiancee."

"She cheated on me with the head of security at my firm, I ended everything," he frowned, speaking with self-pity.

"Calm down, sir, everything will be alright."

"Just Jason, please, don't make me feel old."

They were walking down the hall, the exams already done, and he invited her for coffee. But she excused herself, as she still had patients to visit.

"I enjoyed talking to you so much, it did me so good, that I didn't want to leave," he said, feigning regret at having to leave.

"I really can't right now, but when you come for your consultation, you can count on my support," she smiled simply.

"Thank you, doctor, I will count on it."

His assistant approached, seeing that he had finished the exams, and quickly escorted him away, reporting that the driver was waiting for them at the hospital entrance. He followed, smiling at his triumph and excellent performance.

Laura watched him leave and her smile faded, that kind of man didn't appeal to her at all. Rich men like him were manipulative and thought they owned the world. She went back to work and forgot about him. She had been nice at her superior's request.

Meanwhile, Jason straightened his imposing figure, resuming the expression of a strong, superior man, and ordered:

"Tell Onofre I want to see him in my office as soon as he arrives. Also, call the lawyer responsible for the marriage papers, we're going to have some changes."

"Yes, Mr. Willis," the assistant replied, opening the car door for his boss to enter and taking the passenger seat, typing the orders into his cell phone.

Onofre was not at the company, he was at home, arguing with Leda:

"It wasn't my fault for falling in love! You're the one who always uses me to pay off your debts" - he didn't even finish speaking and his face was met with a violent slap, which knocked her to the floor.

"Don't be insolent, I am still your father and this is my house, respect me!"

Leda wanted to say that to be respected, he needed to respect himself. But she remained silent, afraid of making things worse.

"Sorry, Dad."

The cell phone notified him of a message and he read the summons and warned his daughter:

"I have to go now, otherwise you would see how I accept your apologies" - he turned to leave and when he was at the door, he turned around and ordered - "Take care of getting rid of that thing you have in your belly, I will not support a useless man's child."

They arrived at the office at the same time, entered, and Carl, the assistant, closed the door. Jason started the meeting:

"I think I've found a solution to our issue, Onofre."

"I thought of one too, Willis," said Onofre, who had known his partner's son since childhood and had always called him that.

"I met your youngest daughter today. Is that what you were thinking?" he asked ironically.

"Yes, it was. Unfortunately, she left home when she was eighteen, since she went to college. I haven't had any contact with her since."

"That must be why she managed to graduate and be upstanding, don't you think?"

"Would you accept her, instead of the other one?"

"Yes, but I want guarantees. Dr. Fagundes, take care of the marriage papers, instead of Leda, enter... what's her name?" he asked Onofre.

"Laura. Thinking about it, I brought a copy of her birth certificate."

"There you go, now go convince her, but don't mention my name or our agreement. I've already softened her up by provoking her pity, see if you can do it right, I'm in a hurry."

Jason ended the meeting and went to his desk to take care of his business. Carl rushed to give him his schedule while the two men managed to get over their astonishment and left. The lawyer was thinking about the amount he would have to pay and Onofre was thinking about how he would manage to bend his rebellious daughter.

Laura had no idea of the plans of those disrespectful men and worked all day. Once she started her residency, she received a scholarship, which was what supported her. At least she no longer had to work two jobs, in addition to college, to support herself.

She decided to leave home when she realized her father's abusive behavior. He managed to spend her sister's inheritance, which was not linked to the marriage, like hers. Maybe her mother knew her husband well and protected her from her father. So, she got a job as a waitress and went to live with a friend, sharing a rented studio apartment near campus.

Would her father dare steal what she didn't have? At least not yet.

To be continued.

Amanda approached Laura and asked, after completing her patient rounds:

""All done, Laura?

""Not yet, thanks to the CEO who came in for tests and cried on my shoulder.

""Let me see what’s left, I’ll help you.

Amanda was an excellent friend and they had been through many hardships together and managed to achieve their goals, together. They always lent each other a hand and that's how they succeeded.

They finished their duties and left, but when they reached the hospital door, Onofre was there, waiting for Laura, with the look of a loving father.

Onofre

""Hi, daughter. How about having dinner with your old man today? It's been a long time, hasn't it?

""Hi, Dad. What’s up?

Amanda stepped back a bit, but waited for her friend.

""I miss you, honey, I'm your father. Come have dinner at home. Your sister is sad, she lost the baby and her fiance broke off the engagement, help me console her, please.

Laura looked at Amanda, who nodded in consent, and reluctantly she agreed to go with her father. His car was parked nearby and they walked towards it. They got in and drove off and Amanda had to go to her studio apartment by herself.

Laura had always been suspicious of her father's actions and paid close attention to what he said and did, and so she entered the family mansion, which at the moment looked more like a mausoleum. Leda was already in the living room, waiting, and she knew what her father was going to do and she was furious.

""There she is, the prodigal daughter returns home, but what a sly one you are, little sister"," she said, getting up and going over to Laura.

""What did I do?"asked Laura, already prepared, with both feet back."

""Don't think you can fool me with that Mother Teresa face, defender of the destitute? You're a snake, a fiance stealer, that's what you are.

Laura just raised her eyebrows and kept her distance.

""Calm down, Leda. The only one to blame for your problems is yourself. Your sister came to dinner with us, at my invitation, to support you and not to receive your insults. Come on, Laura, sit down.

Laura became even more suspicious. Her father had never defended her, she lost count of how many times she had to hide to avoid being unfairly beaten by him or Leda, who accused her of everything wrong that happened. She walked towards the sofa, but Leda was quick and grabbed her by the hair, throwing her to the floor.

Laura was no longer that silly child of the past, who took the beatings quietly and silently. She simply reacted, turned, and when her sister approached, she kicked her shin hard, knocking her to the floor, and sat on her hips, holding her wrists pinned to the ground.

""What’s up? Do you think I'm still that defenseless little girl who would just take a beating without fighting back? I came because they told me you were sad because you lost the baby, but apparently, you are doing just fine.

Leda squirmed, but couldn't break free and started screaming:

""Let go of me, you treacherous bitch.

""Why treacherous, what did I do to you?

""You left and left me here alone with him"" she looked at her father accusingly, and Onofre lowered his eyes.

""Why did you stay, you could have just left too and you had the money to do so. Coward, always a coward.

""Stop it, girls, this fighting won't solve our problems.

Laura looked into her sister's eyes, let go of one of her hands, and slapped her to destabilize her and get up without getting hit back.

""Dinner is served, sir", announced the cook, since they had fired the butler due to lack of funds."

""Let's have dinner.

They went to the dining room, where a huge mahogany table stood, with only three places set at one end. There were no more butlers and after they sat down, they had to serve themselves from the stew that was placed in the center of the table, between them, in a fine china platter.

""From the looks of it, things are grim around here", commented Laura, after seeing the lack of care for the mansion and the staff."

""Tough times, daughter.

""Tough times, daughter", mimicked Leda."Tough times my ass, it’s all the drinking and gambling! You gambled away all our money"."

""If things are so bad, why don't you sell the mansion?

""Because it's yours, you idiot! It's tied to your inheritance", spat Leda, without mincing words."

""I see, and is that why you called me here? Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do, you know about the marriage clause,"Laura reminded them."

""So, daughter. My partner's son, your sister's ex-fiance, needs a wife and an heir, urgently. He is ill and may die without a compatible bone marrow transplant.

""I know, so what?

""He took a liking to you and asked me if an alliance would be possible.

She knew there was something fishy going on. Her father was being too nice to her.

""How much do you owe, Dad?

Leda's laughter was loud.

""I told you you wouldn't fool her with that 'pity the dying man' talk.

Onofre punched the table and shouted:

""Stop it, Leda. You had your chance and you threw it away, now shut up.

""Just tell me, Dad."Laura was the only one eating, as she was hungry and missed her nanny’s cooking, which was unmistakable."

""My life is being threatened and I'm only still alive because Jason promised to settle the debt as soon as the wedding takes place.

""And why do I need to sacrifice myself for you, it wasn’t me who incurred the debt,"said Laura, sucking on a chicken neck bone."

""My, you eat like a peasant,"Leda implied, disgusted."

""And you, are you a queen or a duchess? Last time I checked, you were more like a courtesan.

""Both of you, stop it!"He took a deep breath and went back to the subject."Marrying Jason Willis will be advantageous for you, he is very rich, handsome and only asks for a child. You don't have to stay with him after that and you can have your inheritance in your hands.

""And we will still have a place to live.

""He just wants a child, a place to live, is that all you can think about? What about my life, what about everything I’ve dedicated myself to achieve, is it worth nothing? I hope you both rot in hell!