It's a pleasure, my name is Gabriela Martins Silva, but my closest friends, those in my circle, affectionately call me "Gabi." I'm twenty-two years old, and I never went to college due to financial constraints. I've always worked hard to support myself and my mother, who was always sick. Despite the conditions and some setbacks, I made a great effort to take some short courses, like computer science, administration... often facing rain and danger.

It was always just me and my dear mother, and you might be wondering about my father, well, I don't really like to talk about him, I even find it unnecessary, because a man who always valued only one daughter, knowing another existed, that man doesn't deserve to be called a father.

I'm the type of woman who always values the good things in life. Since I was little, I learned to respect others, to put myself in people's shoes, and these are values that money can't buy.

My mother passed away a year ago and, seeking solace, I continued in a worn-out relationship, which, by the way, was a relationship based solely on my feelings. Even knowing I had to end it, I thought I needed him, that I wouldn't be able to bear losing him, because in reality, I was very emotionally attached.

And I alone carried this relationship, fighting to save what was already over... and I discovered in the worst way how cruel human beings can be. On the very day that my boyfriend, who is now my ex, and I were celebrating our two-year anniversary, I found him having sex with my half-sister, Daniela. I suffered a hard blow from people I never imagined would betray me in this way.

I gathered my courage and broke up with him. And I can't deny that I suffered a lot with the breakup, but I'm relieved to have finally put an end to something that was only valued by me.

My name is Brendon Willians and I am thirty years old. I'm a good guy, easygoing, but don't test my patience or you'll see something ugly. But calm down, I'm not a mobster or a tycoon, I'm just a billionaire CEO who doesn't like injustice or lies, and I especially don't accept flattery from people who try to get close to me because of my money.

Many call me boring and unfriendly because I don't talk to many people and I'm always serious.

I am the CEO of the Willians group, headquartered in Sao Paulo. Today, my company is one of the largest in the world in the technology sector, making my bank account grow by a few digits every year...

I am very reserved; my circle of friends is very limited.

For years, I dedicated all my time to building my company. Technology has always been my passion, and I knew I couldn't waste any opportunity for growth. I became a solitary person in the process, but I was willing to sacrifice everything for the realization of my dreams.

My heart became locked after being betrayed by my ex-fiancee. I met her when I was building my company and didn't have much profit at the beginning, and she left me for a man who was, and still is to this day, very rich. Although I didn't want to accept it, unfortunately, today I know she is a very opportunistic woman, and her heart is tied to money.

And so I hope to continue living, working hard, as I have no interest in getting involved with anyone.

I found a safe refuge in solitude after the betrayal I suffered. My trust was shaken, and now I value my privacy above all else. My work has become not only a source of income but also a therapy. I dedicate myself entirely to building my technological empire, warding off any possibility of being hurt again.

My name is Italo Willians, and I am twenty-four years old. I work as the director of my grandfather's medical clinics. I like luxury and the easy life, and living life enjoying the good things is something wonderful.

I am a young apprentice in the business world; I need to mature a lot to reach the level of my grandfather, father, and uncle, who are three men of great knowledge.

I've always liked meeting new people and kissing a lot. I met a very dedicated, considerate young woman whom I dated for two years, but despite her efforts to please me, I didn't value her, cheating on her with her half-sister Daniela. I even resisted for a while, but Daniela tempted me so much that I ended up having an affair with her even while in a serious relationship, and I confess to you all that this wasn't the only time I cheated on my ex-girlfriend; on other occasions, I ended up giving in to my instincts and getting involved with other women.

Today I am single and without a girlfriend. I regretted the betrayal, or rather, the betrayals, because Gabriela, my ex, was a special and sweet person. But will she really not give me a second chance? I'm suffocating, you know? I want her to come back to me, but I can't abandon my womanizing life, and when a woman shows interest in me, I go after her with everything I've got...

I am Daniela Martins, twenty-seven years old, and I work as a lawyer at a law firm. I've always liked the good life, being the center of attention, having everything my eyes can see and desire. I love my parents, but I hate my half-sister, Gabriela... She pretends to be a poor little thing with that stern face, faking kindness and humility.

I always turned my father against my sister, trying to keep them apart. And my tactic always worked. I won't let her be happy. I already managed to take her boyfriend, poor thing, you know? She caught me on top of him, having sex, can you believe it? That's right, I won't allow Gabriela to be happy; I will always try to destroy her life because she is a bastard.

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Gabriela had always been the type of woman who planted roots. With Italo, her ex-boyfriend, she had envisioned a leafy oak tree, a shelter for the future, a family. Two years of dedication, watering the relationship with affection, love, and many plans, only to discover that the seed of betrayal, nurtured by her own half-sister, Daniela, had sprouted. The discovery left Gabriela completely shaken, transforming the beautiful, flowery garden of her life into an arid, hopeless desert.

A month had passed since the discovery of Italo and Daniela's betrayal.

Daniela always called herself the legitimate daughter of the lawyer Geraldo Martins, despising her sister and always calling her a bastard, as Gabriela was the result of her father's fleeting relationship with her mother outside of marriage.

Gabriela's tireless friends tried, in vain, to sow some joy in her life. "Get over it, Gabi!", "He didn't deserve you!", "There are many better people out there!". The advice, though well-intentioned, sounded like echoes in an empty valley.

She had no strength to react; it was too disappointing to find Italo with Daniela in his apartment, having sex on the very day they were celebrating their two-year anniversary.

But she had her loyal friends by her side who visited her in her apartment every day.

Gabriela lived alone and had been unemployed for two months. She used to work at a dairy company but was fired after it declared bankruptcy.

She had always worked hard to support herself; her mother had passed away a year ago, leaving the current apartment to Gabriela.

Now, at twenty-two years old, "Gabi," as she was affectionately called by her closest friends, didn't reach out to Geraldo for anything, even if she needed something.

Her father had always been distant, and contact between them was difficult. Gabriela knew he didn't believe she was really his daughter. But even so, she never wanted to do a DNA test.

On a beautiful Saturday night, in a desperate attempt to reintroduce Gabriela to the world of the living, her friends dragged her to a trendy nightclub in Sao Paulo. The music pulsed with footsteps in the middle of the dance floor, colorful lights flashed relentlessly, and alcohol flowed like an underground river, promising temporary relief. Gabriela let herself be carried by the current, drinking more than she intended, seeking to numb the pain that still throbbed in her chest.

The drunkenness made her disoriented. Amidst the crowd, her friends mistook her for another woman wearing an identical dress, causing them to leave the venue.

Alone, Gabriela sank onto an empty table, the world spinning around her. The loud music turned into a distant hum, and the vibrant lights seemed like blurred spots.

A waiter approached, offering her a drink. Unaware, Gabriela accepted the glass. She didn't see the predatory gaze of a man from across the dance floor, nor the waiter's furtive gesture of adding something to her drink at the stranger's request.

Taking a deep sip of the drink, Gabriela tasted something strange, metallic. A wave of nausea hit her. With difficulty, she stood up, seeking refuge in the restroom.

She was close to reaching the door when she felt rough hands grab her arm forcefully.

"- Slut, you're one delicious woman," growled the man who had been watching her since she arrived.

Terror washed over her. Gabriela screamed, struggling uselessly against the firm grip. But before he could drag her elsewhere, a figure emerged from nowhere. With a swift and precise movement, the unknown man threw the aggressor to the ground, landing a series of punches to his face, knocking him unconscious.

Stunned, Gabriela watched the scene, her vision blurred by alcohol and fear. The nightclub lights illuminated her protector's face. Hard, yet handsome features, framed by dark hair. Deep, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her, but Gabriela couldn't see clearly due to the effect of the drug in her blood.

Who was this man? A stranger, shrouded in a mystery as thick as the smoke that was beginning to fill the nightclub. The venue's security finally appeared, dragging the aggressor out. The man who had protected Gabriela turned to her, visible concern in his eyes.

"- Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse and comforting at the same time.

Gabriela nodded, still trembling.

"- Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. She couldn't articulate anything else. That man, a complete stranger, had been her benefactor.

"- Do you want me to help you call someone?" his serious and concerned voice echoed in the room with sensitivity, leaving Gabriela completely lost in thought.

"- I don't know what's happening, but my body is burning up inside."

Gabriela stopped talking, feeling uncomfortable. In reality, the drug was already acting in her blood, and its effect was immediate.

The man looked at Gabriela's pale face and immediately guessed she had been drugged.

"- Did you drink anything brought by a stranger?" the man asked, concerned.

Gabriela, unable to remember, just whispered softly: "-- I can't remember, I'm feeling dizzy."

"- I need to get you under a shower right now."

He firmly held Gabriela's hand and entered the restroom, which also had a shower.

Gabriela was put under the shower, fully clothed, while simultaneously trying to grab the man, and then she suddenly fainted.

When she woke up the next day, she was in an unfamiliar hotel room. Gabriela was confused for a moment. The memory of the previous night's events quickly returned to her mind – the unknown man rescuing her at the nightclub, taking her under the shower to get rid of the drug's effect... But where was he now? Gabriela was startled when she noticed she was wearing different clothes, completely different from what she had worn the night before.

"- Could it be?" She worried about what had really happened.

She looked around the empty room and found a note left on the table:

"- I hope you're feeling better today. I couldn't stay and wait for you to wake up, but I wish you a speedy recovery. I don't know women well, but I'm sure you're reading this note scared, thinking we had an intense night of love yesterday, right? Actually, we did, but not in the way you're thinking. So don't worry, nothing happened between us. You vomited and were completely euphoric on the bed, but you surely don't remember that. The room is already paid for, and so is your breakfast. And just to remind you, miss, your dress is already at the hotel laundry; call them and request delivery to your room. Everything is at your disposal. Goodbye, sincerely BW."

Gabriela felt relieved reading the note left by the mysterious BW. Confusion and uncertainty still clouded her mind; she simply couldn't remember her benefactor's face.

The hotel room was elegant and well-decorated, but she couldn't help but wonder how she had ended up there. The memories of the previous night were fragmented; only flashes of the unknown man appeared in her mind. She decided to enjoy the breakfast that was already paid for and called the hotel laundry to request the delivery of her dress.

To Gabriela's surprise, her purse with her cell phone, credit cards, and money was on top of the small chair next to the bed.

She turned on her cell phone, which was off, and was startled by several missed calls from her friends. Many messages also arrived on her cell phone; although her ex and her father didn't value her, Gabriela could count on her loyal friends.

Gabriela decided to call Cintia to reassure her.

"- Hi, Gabi? Where are you? I couldn't sleep all night. The girls and I went to the police to report your disappearance, but they said we had to wait twenty-four hours."

Cintia spoke with great concern when she answered the phone call.

"- Cintia, you don't need to worry about me. I'm fine. I need to sort something out now, but I'll tell you what happened this afternoon."

Cintia nodded, relieved to have finally been able to speak with Gabriela.

Surprised by all the messages on her cell phone, Gabriela felt grateful to have friends so worried about her. She quickly replied to the messages and promised to meet them soon to tell them what had happened.

While waiting for her dress to be delivered, Gabriela looked around the elegant room. The mystery about the unknown man still lingered in her mind. Who was he? Why had he helped her without asking for anything in return? The questions hammered in her head as she tried to piece together the fragments of the previous night's memories.

When she arrived at her apartment, her head still ached. Gabriela took some medicine and lay down on the bed. She soon fell asleep again that Sunday morning.

On the other side of the city, a thirty-year-old man, exuding a charming beauty, was sitting inside his car. His fingers played on the steering wheel of the vehicle as he patiently waited for the large iron gate of the mansion to open.

The man was Brendon Willians, the youngest son of the great pharmacist and doctor, Leon Willians. Brendon Willians was the owner of the large Willians group, a technology company headquartered in Sao Paulo with several branches spread abroad.

Gently, a security guard approached:

"- Good morning, Mr. Willians. Your father is in his room, awaiting your arrival. I'm happy to see you again."

Brendon lightly nodded his head and passed through the gate, parking the car next to the garage.

Brendon got out of the car and walked towards the mansion door. His mind was full of thoughts, especially about the mysterious woman he had rescued the night before. He still couldn't get Gabriela out of his mind; her beautiful face and eyes, bright as stars, had taken root in his mind.

"- Uncle, you finally decided to visit us --" Italo exclaimed upon seeing Brendon enter the room with a serious and somber look.

It had been more than three years since Brendon had visited his family.

"- Hello, Italo, how are you? -" Brendon asked casually, without much interest.

"- My son is fine! --" Bruno Willians, Brendon's brother, appeared in the room, taking the lead in answering for his son.

"- That's good --" Brendon smiled faintly.

"- And you, my brother, how have you been? --" Brendon asked curiously.

Exactly three years ago, Brendon's mother had passed away due to health complications, and around the same time, he discovered that his father was cheating on his mother with a doctor from the private clinic belonging to Leon Willians.

Soon, Brendon couldn't contain himself, even fighting with his father, and his brother Bruno interfered in the argument, causing even more offense and disunity between them, and even physical altercations between the brothers. In the end, Brendon distanced himself from the family and only decided to visit his father again after discovering he was very ill and at risk of death.

"- I'm fine --" Bruno replied coldly, "-- have you come to visit our father? He always talks about you, but he's not like he used to be."

Bruno and Brendon stared at each other intensely.

"- Uncle, sit down for a bit --" Italo approached, gesturing towards the sofa.

"- Thank you, Italo. But I don't want to sit. I'm going to talk to your grandfather --" Brendon replied to his nephew, but then turned towards Bruno.

"- Who is Dad's doctor?"

Bruno, darkly surprised, replied: "-- Doctor Edgar Junior Melo, --" Bruno noticed a shadow of doubt in his brother's eyes.

"- I don't know him, but I want to meet him."

Brendon started up the stairs towards his father's room.

In his father's room, Brendon found him being cared for by a nurse. He approached the bed and held the weakened hand of the family patriarch. Leon's eyes shone with happiness at seeing his son after so long.

The room was silent as father and son looked at each other for a moment before starting to talk. There was so much to be said, so many words unsaid during all these years apart. Brendon knew this visit could change everything between them, bringing healing or just more pain.

Brendon's eyes welled up seeing his father's debilitated state. Guilt weighed on his shoulders as he reflected on the lost years and the harsh words spoken during their last argument. He decided it was time to set pride aside and rebuild family ties before it was too late.

"- Please, Camile, leave us alone for a moment --" Leon's hoarse and low voice reached the nurse's ears. She promptly left the room, leaving father and son alone.

"- Son, --" Leon began slowly, speaking with difficulty.

"- I wronged your mother; I cheated on her even knowing she was in a hospital bed. But God knows, my son, that I am deeply sorry."

Leon's eyes began to shed tears, moved.