Episode 8

Josiane: Excuse me, Mr. Ad... My God! What happened?

I see Sarah in despair, clinging to Adam on the floor, and my heart races—what has that devil done to this girl this time.

Adam: Sarah lets go and approaches Josiane. I wait for her to calm down to understand what happened. Josiane strokes her back, repeating everything will be alright as if she were a helpless child.

Josiane: Mr. Adam, what did you do to Sarah?

Adam: That's just great! Know your place, Josiane, I have no idea what happened!

Sara: Please... I beg you... let me... go home! I can't take it anymore...

Josiane: Sarah says, crying and sobbing, utterly desperate. Adam becomes enraged, and I fear for her; he moves toward me to pull Sarah by the arm, but I embrace her even tighter, not letting him touch her.

Please, Mr. Adam, give Sarah a moment. Look at the state of this girl!

Adam: I storm out of the house, hopping on my motorcycle for a ride to clear my head. I decide to call my mother during the ride.

Lara: Adam wouldn't let us visit, and I've been feeling terrible, worried about Sarah. My phone rings, and my heart skips a beat – Adam never calls me.

📱 Lara: Son, is everything okay?

📱 Adam: Mom, you know I can tell when something's wrong. Sarah was in despair today; I need you to help with her. Perhaps she'll open up to you.

📱 Lara: What did you do to her, son?

📱 Adam: I did many things and gave her exactly what I promised, but something worse is amiss.

📱 Lara: I'm heading to the mansion right now, remember son. You never misjudge these situations!

Lara: Adam hangs up. I'm anxious, hastily grabbing my things, and quite shaken.

Marcos: What happened?

Lara: Adam called.

Marcos: Is Sarah alright?

Lara: No, something is not right with her. But knowing our son, he likely made her life hell this month, and doubtless, he knows she won't confide in him.

Marcos: Will you go there?

Lara: Believe it or not, he asked me to. Maybe you're right; Sarah might be Adam's redemption.

Marcos: But now, knowing she's unwell to the point that Adam calls you, I repeat what I said... At what cost?

Lara: I quickly arrive at Adam's mansion; he's not there. Sarah's in her room, curled up in the fetal position, crying intensely.

Josiane: She's been like this for at least an hour, Mrs. Lara, and she hasn't told me anything!

Lara: How has Adam behaved this past month?

Josiane: He's been inhuman to Sarah, barred anyone from helping her, and she got hurt badly. She was hospitalized with a concussion and needed stitches in her head and foot because of him.

Lara: My goodness! Here's my number, call me if anything like this happens again. Please let me spend a moment alone with her.

Josiane: Yes, ma'am.

Lara: Dear Sarah, do you remember me? I'm Lara, your mother-in-law.

Sarah doesn't respond, just cries some more.

Let me help you, dear.

Sara: Get... me... out of here...

Lara: It's not that simple, Sarah. As far as we know, you married of your own free will. Tell me what happened.

I break inside as Sarah stays silent. I sit down on the bed and pull her into my arms. After a long while, she falls asleep, and Adam enters the room.

Adam: Did she tell you what happened, mom?

Lara: No, son, she just cried for hours; she seems to have reached her limit. You’ll kill this woman, son; she's going to give up. Don’t you see she's a good girl? Everyone has a breaking point, so does she. Do you want to see her take her life?

Adam: Everything comes at a price for me; Sarah made a fool of me, and no one makes a fool of me!

Lara: Son, you’ve never called me or asked for my help, I saw your desperation in that call. Don't wait until it's too late to realize this girl is special.

Adam: I feel nothing for Sarah, not even pity. I just like things clear and straightforward.

Lara: If that's all and you only want to see her suffer, you've succeeded. This is not the same Sarah you introduced to me at your wedding; her eyes have no sparkle, she's submerged in pain and desperation. You've broken this girl, son, now let her go.

Adam: For the first time, I listen to my mother in silence. That was the plan, to make Mileide, Sarah, and Lize pay. But now, hearing my mother's words and seeing Sarah as I’d envisioned, I don't know what to think.

I’m leaving on a business trip today, back Saturday for the event. Will you stay with her?

Lara: Of course, son. Do you truly want to travel at a time when your wife needs you?

Adam: If all you’ve said is true, she'll be better off without me. I'll arrive in time for the event, I'll come to pick up Sarah ready, understand the importance of these events.

I get ready and leave, glance at the sleeping Sarah sniffling and head straight to the airstrip.

Lara: Adam takes one last look at Sarah and leaves; for the first time, he seems confused and lost. I've never seen anyone as implacable as Adam in my life; he never gives up on anything or goes back on his word. He hates being crossed and has a dark side only a few know—those who provoke it often wish for death. Marcos taught him to be this way, but Adam didn’t learn to restrict it to the business world and carried it into his personal life. He’s never been romantically involved with a woman, using them only for pleasure and discarding them when they get confused. I wish Sarah were his redemption, but not at the expense of her sanity. All I know is, after seeing her like this, I will do everything to get her out of this house if Adam doesn't change! I inform Marcos that I will be sleeping over with Sarah; I fear leaving her alone and her doing something rash. Hours pass, and I fall asleep with her in my arms, feeling like I am protecting my own daughter.

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