Natalia Neres:

I've just put the last piece of clothing inside the suitcase. I close it without difficulty because I didn't have much to take. I sit on the bed with tired eyes and my eyes observe every corner of that room where I lived my whole life. Today marks a month since I lost my parents in a serious car accident, and to fulfill my father's last wish, I will marry one of the sons of the Navarro family.

I will leave everything behind, including my job as a receptionist at a hospital clinic in my city.

The farewell to the childhood room is a melancholic moment, full of memories and longing for my deceased parents. Each object reminds me of a moment we lived together, the laughter, the hugs, every serious conversation. The walls still echo their voices, bringing a bitter comfort to my heart. The reality of the trauma and loneliness after the accident envelops me once again, but I try to cling to my father's wish as an anchor in this tumultuous sea of emotions.

In these twenty-three years that I lived in this house, I had wonderful moments.

My father's name was Alfredo and my mother's, Lucia, both were 43 years old.

Honoring my father's last wish is not an easy choice. Accepting to marry someone chosen by him, without love, without prior passion, is a test of faith in his wishes for me. The expectations and fears for the wedding consume me. What will my life be like with the Navarro family? Will I find space to plant new roots, create new memories, maybe even discover love? In the immensity of my thoughts, I lose myself in noting that this type of marriage could fail at any moment.

I didn't want to get married, as I carry a trauma within me, since I was abandoned by my ex-fiance, but as my father and Mrs. Navarro had already made this arrangement before the accident for reasons I don't know, I can't reject the will of the man who raised me and, alongside my mother, educated me honestly. The Navarro family is one of the most influential and wealthy in the country, and today I am wondering why Mrs. Navarro chose me to be the wife of one of her sons, as she herself told me that she has two sons, one of them will be my husband. I am just a simple young woman who lives in a small town and worked hard as a receptionist at a clinic to help my parents at home.

I know little about the Navarro family, but what my father told me is that he owed them favors. But after my parents' death, a very well-dressed and kind-looking woman came to my house and told me about everything my father Alfredo had already said, and today I am with my bags packed.

That woman's name is Sueli Navarro, my future mother-in-law. As for her two sons, I never bothered to know about them, although in recent days the curiosity has been great, but even so, I am leaving it to meet them when I arrive at the mansion.

Although I found everything strange, I decided to fulfill my father's last wish and marry a completely unknown man.

As the car moves away from the house that was once my home, I feel a mixture of emotions invade me. The sadness for the loss of my parents is still intense, but there is also curiosity and nervousness regarding my future with the Navarros. I look out the window and see the city passing quickly, the lights shining like distant stars. I feel small and vulnerable in the face of the unknown, but also determined to move forward. However, there is also a flame of courage within me, as I have decided to honor my father's last wish and face this new chapter of my life.

The tall buildings pass like shadows along the way, as I move further and further away from my old home. A sense of insecurity mixed with curiosity grows inside me as I think about the unknown future that awaits me as the wife of one of Sueli Navarro's sons. Still, I cannot deny the curiosity and courage in my heart to move forward.

As I crossed the gates of the grandiose Navarro Mansion, my eyes could hardly believe the beauty and majesty that unfolded before me. The architecture was a perfect blend of old and modern, with high walls that seemed to touch the sky while the stones of the walls told stories of centuries past. The gardens were an explosion of colors, with flowers of all kinds that extended around the house.

"We have arrived, Mrs. Navarro."

The driver says as he parks the car in front of the entrance door of the mansion. I confess that I felt awkward, as I had not yet married and he respectfully called me Mrs. Navarro.

As I got out of the car, my eyes immediately got lost in the magnificence of that house that stood majestically before me. The architectural style, the immensity of the gardens, and the almost gloomy silence that surrounded it, all seemed to come out of a fairy tale. My admiration was interrupted only when the door opened.

Suddenly, a very smiling woman comes towards me.

And with a welcoming smile she said to me. "Welcome, my dear," she said with an enthusiasm that immediately made me feel at home. I replied "Thank you" with a shy smile, still absorbed in the surprise of being received so warmly.

"Come on, come in. Mrs. Navarro is waiting for you in the living room," continued the smiling woman, guiding me inside. The interior of the house was as impressive as the exterior, with every detail revealing meticulous care in the decoration. Then, I spotted Sueli Navarro.

With firm steps and a smile that lit up the room, Sueli came to meet me.

"Natalia, I'm so glad you came. Welcome to the Navarro mansion," she said, enveloping me in a hug so tight that for a moment I was speechless. The surprise of such a warm welcome left me without words.

"How was the trip?" she asked, with genuine interest, as soon as we moved away. The simplicity of the question, asked after a hug so full of meaning, left me even more surprised. There, at that moment, I felt that the Navarro mansion held much more than stories and antiques; it held human warmth and possibly, many secrets.

Sueli Navarro invites Natalia to sit down. Her anxious gaze followed her future daughter-in-law as she settled into the large, luxurious sofa.

"" I have everything prepared; tomorrow will be your wedding with my son Bryan.

Sueli says with a calm voice, but in her heart, a doubt insists on making her nervous.

"" Okay, madam. Natalia responds gently.

"" That's good, my dear. I have a few things to talk about regarding the wedding and my son Bryan, but I know the trip was long, and I want you to rest a bit, take a bath, and dinner will be served shortly.

Sueli calls one of the maids named Noemi, the same one who welcomed Natalia when she arrived at the mansion. Noemi accompanied Natalia to one of the mansion's rooms.

"" Here, madam. This is the room.

Natalia enters and admires the beauty of the place once again. The room was on the second floor of the mansion, and the large windows had a perfect view of the large garden.

"" This place is very beautiful. She says smiling as she approaches the window.

At dinnertime, only Natalia and Sueli were at the table, where everything went smoothly.

"" My dear, let's go to the mansion's office. I need to talk about the wedding and my son Bryan.

The two women left together for the office.

"" Natalia, perhaps you already know, my son Bryan has been in a vegetative state for almost three months. He will need your help very much; although Bryan doesn't speak, walk, or move his body, I believe that with a wife taking care of him, we may have a chance to get my little boy back as he was before.

Natalia is paralyzed by the news. Her future husband was a vegetative man. Natalia's mind began to imagine what it would be like to take care of someone so dependent. Would she have the strength to face all the challenges that would come with this responsibility? But, looking into Bryan's mother's eyes, she saw a mixture of hope and despair that made Natalia feel even more determined to help. She took a deep breath, trying to process all the information she had just received. Although she felt disoriented and scared by the situation, a wave of compassion ran through her heart. Natalia knew she couldn't back down, despite the news being so unexpected.

"" Are you okay, my dear? You've gone so pale with the news about my son. I believe you didn't know he was vegetative.

Sueli feels frustrated. She knew Natalia was a good girl, obedient to her parents, the perfect candidate to be her daughter-in-law, and that she would be a great wife for her son Bryan.

"" It's not that, madam. I have no prejudice against having a future husband in a vegetative state, but what bothers me is that perhaps I won't be a good wife to take care of someone so special.

Sueli holds Natalia's hands firmly.

"" Don't worry, my dear, I will be here to help you. Bryan is already being monitored by a family doctor who comes here three times a week. I personally take care of my son; I don't trust anyone, but I trust you, my dear. I know Bryan will be in good hands.

Sueli, with teary eyes, expressed herself in a trembling voice.

"" Thank you, madam. I am flattered by your trust. I will try my best to be a good wife.

"" Thank you very much, Natalia. Now come and meet your future husband.

Sueli, holding Natalia's hands firmly, takes her to Bryan's room. Natalia was a little apprehensive. After all, her future husband was a vegetative man who needed special care, and this would be the first time she would see the man she was going to marry.

Upon entering the room, Natalia finds herself in a welcoming and serene environment. The soft light from the lamp illuminated Bryan's beautiful face, who was lying on a comfortable bed with his eyes closed, exuding an impressive beauty... Even in a vegetative state, Bryan emanated nobility.

Sueli smiles at Natalia and says:

"" He may not speak or move, but be sure that he hears everything around him. My mother's heart doesn't deceive me... Sueli was confident that Bryan heard her.

Natalia approaches the bed, with her beautiful dark green eyes attentively observing Bryan's handsome face. She feels a mixture of emotions, a mixture of uncertainty and compassion. She knows that life by his side will not be easy, but something in Bryan's peaceful face reassures her. She holds his hand delicately and whispers softly in his ear:

"" Bryan, I'm here. I will take good care of you. Even without an apparent response, she feels an instant connection between them, leaving Sueli with a broad smile on her face.

"" I am sure that he will love you unconditionally, and you will be very happy together, "" She expressed herself emotionally.

Natalia looks at her mother-in-law and admires her for the hope of seeing her son, one day, recovered.

"" I'll leave you alone for a bit. Talk to him. I'll be back shortly.

Sueli smiled contentedly and left soon after.

Natalia observes Bryan's peaceful face for a moment, feeling a mixture of emotions. She settles into an armchair next to the bed, the small piece of furniture was comfortable, made of soft fabric and a cozy design, and gently holds Bryan's hand. She begins to share her hopes and dreams with him as if she were talking to a close friend. Although there is no apparent response, she feels that there is something special happening between them.

"" Bryan, I was already forgetting to introduce myself: my name is Natalia Neres. Nice to meet you; I will be your wife starting tomorrow.

Time seems to fly as Natalia talks to Bryan about her dreams for the future - a house full of love and laughter, a happy family. She imagined what it would be like to see him smile and promises to be by his side throughout the rehabilitation process. As her words echo in the silent room, there was a deep sense of hope lingering in the air. Natalia was like Sueli; the two women believed in Bryan Navarro's recovery.

The next day was the wedding, but unlike usual weddings, Natalia entered the mansion's large ballroom alone under the attentive gazes of the guests.

The hall was full of flowers and bright lights as Natalia walked slowly toward the solitary altar. Her delicate white dress floated behind her as she advanced with grace and confidence, exuding an enchanting charm of a pure woman. There was no sadness on her face, only the promise of eternal love that she was about to make.

Natalia's eyes meet those of the wedding officiant, who awaited her at the altar with a comforting smile. He begins the ceremony with words full of hope and encouragement, reminding her of the power of true love to overcome any obstacle.

The guests' eyes were on the bride, who not only exuded beauty and humility but also courage to marry someone in a vegetative state. Many even murmured that Natalia was greedy and only agreed to marry Bryan because of the Navarro family's fortune.

After the wedding, there was a luxurious dinner. Natalia, feeling unwell, asked her mother-in-law to be excused.

Natalia goes straight to Bryan's room. Now that they are married, she has finally managed to organize her things in the couple's closet. After taking a refreshing bath, she puts on her favorite pajamas and snuggles into the large bed next to her husband. The warmth of the sheets caresses her skin as she closes her eyes and, tired of the day's tedium, soon falls into a deep sleep next to Bryan.

The next day, Natalia woke up early as she usually did. She puts on another outfit and goes around the mansion to do her morning walk, which was routinely part of Natalia's life.

After walking for a few minutes, she sees a man of about her age.

"Good morning!" He says politely as he approaches her.

"Good morning!" She replied gently.

"So, you're the one who married my brother Bryan? Gosh, my mother could have introduced me sooner..."

The boy jokes with the words, smiling at Natalia.

"So, you're my brother-in-law? Mrs. Sueli told me she had two sons, but I haven't seen you around the mansion these days."

"I'm Gustavo Navarro, sorry sister-in-law for not attending the wedding, I had an unforeseen event abroad and could only come today."

Gustavo Navarro was one of the managers of the Navarro family company, the company of which Bryan was the president.

"Don't apologize. I understand. Now excuse me, I need to finish my walk."

Natalia left without looking back. Gustavo was admiring her remarkable beauty.

"What a beautiful woman. How could my mother do this to me? Why does she always prefer Bryan even though he's vegetative? It just makes me angrier..."

Gustavo stood in the same place, watching Natalia walk away. He felt a mixture of admiration and resentment towards her. After all, how could his mother choose Bryan over him to marry Natalia? He had always worked at the Navarro family company, but it seemed that his mother could only see his brother Bryan, and because of that, Gustavo was willing to show everyone that he was as capable as Bryan, if not more. He decided that he would do everything to get his mother's attention and prove his worth...

Gustavo enters the mansion while Natalia continues her walk.

An hour later, Natalia and Sueli were at the table for breakfast.

"Natalia, this is my youngest son Gustavo. He lives traveling on business and that's why he wasn't at the wedding yesterday."

Sueli says to her daughter-in-law as Gustavo approaches the table.

"We've already met, Mom. I even told my sister-in-law about it. She understood me."

Sueli smiled insecurely and then asked Natalia.

"Where did you meet Gustavo?" The mother-in-law's curiosity made Natalia blink her eyes quickly.

"This morning while I was walking, I met him in the mansion gardens."

Sueli is thoughtful for a moment, but putting her thoughts in order, she answers her daughter-in-law.

"Okay, my dear."

"Mom, will Natalia work at the company? As Bryan's wife, she will need to perform some function in the family business."

Gustavo knew that all members of the Navarro family worked at the company, and with Natalia, who was the president's wife, it would be no different.

Natalia listens to Gustavo's words and chokes on coffee.

"Sorry."

She, embarrassed, says lowering her head.

"Natalia, the Navarro family is very productive and hardworking. Actually, we don't need to work, we have people who can do that, but since my father founded this company, he taught us that the owner's hand should always be in his business. And I've always put my sons, my brothers and nephews to work in the company, and I want you to be able to work too."

Sueli had not yet talked about this, so Natalia was very surprised.

"Okay, mother-in-law. I like to work. But I don't know if I'll do the job right in such a successful company."

Sueli holds Natalia's hand comforting her.

"Don't worry. I myself will teach you. As Bryan's wife, you must learn everything about business and help me manage the family business."

While they talked, Gustavo watched everything in silence.

"Now let's take care of Bryan... Our baby needs to change."

Sueli and Natalia go up to the couple's room.

"Always thinking about her oldest son. My mother always puts Bryan first."

Gustavo murmurs swallowing some milk.

In the room, Sueli teaches Natalia how to care for Bryan. Now the responsibility of taking care of him was on Natalia.

"Have you never thought about hiring a nurse or nursing technician to take care of Bryan?"

"Yes, I hired one at the beginning when he got like this, but they didn't take good care of my son. That's why I took care of him myself until today..."

"I understand perfectly. Don't worry, I'll take good care of my husband."

Natalia expressed herself making Sueli happy.

"In the next few days, I'll take you to the company. How about working as a public relations manager? I think it would be a good role for you..."

Natalia raises her eyebrows respectively.

"Public relations manager? Mrs. Navarro, it would be better if I were a secretary or receptionist."

Sueli looks seriously at her daughter-in-law.

"No way, Natalia. You are the wife of the company's president, how could you be a simple secretary? I will put you as a public relations manager, but don't worry. I will hire a professional who will help you teach everything you need to know about this function."

Natalia admires Sueli's determination.

"Okay, ma'am. I will strive to learn quickly."

Sueli continued explaining to Natalia about Bryan's care.

A few days passed, Natalia was already more familiar with the Navarros.

It was Sueli's birthday. And every year she had a luxurious dinner for her family and close friends.

The mansion's living room was full of people, especially curious to know more about Natalia.

Natalia excuses herself after dinner and goes to the garden to breathe some fresh air.

"The night is beautiful. The stars shine brightly in the sky."

Natalia was admiring the night when Gustavo arrived silently and observed her carefully.

"Yes, sister-in-law, the night is beautiful."

He said startling Natalia.