Episode 11

Ranielly is on the bed, anxious to see his baby and hear the heartbeat of the being that grows inside him every day. Eric is off to the side, out of Ranielly's sight.

"I'm going to lift your shirt and put this gel on your belly, you'll feel a slight coldness, are you ready?"

Ranielly smiles* Yes.

"You boy, come closer so you can see. Eric stays by the side of Ranielly's bed."

Ranielly looks at him and says nothing, but his thought is, "What is he doing here?"

"Let's begin. He moves the device over Ranielly's belly and explains everything* The baby is developing well, and as for the sex, we'll only know when it's born. Now, you'll be able to hear its heartbeat."

Ranielly looks at the monitor and closes his eyes, concentrating on the sound of the baby's beating heart, and without him understanding why, tears begin to well up in his eyes. Despite everything he has to face, hearing the sound and seeing that little being developing inside him causes an emotion that words cannot express.

Eric ends up holding Ranielly's hand without realizing it. His eyes shine as he looks at the monitor and hears the sound of the baby's heart, something surreal for him.

"Well, it's normal for parents to get emotional. It's their first time, I believe."

Ranielly opens his eyes and wipes away his tears. *Thank you, doctor.

"Continue taking care of yourself and I'll see you at the next ultrasound, and we'll see the baby's sex."

Ranielly realizes that Eric is holding his hand and pulls away, trying to get up. Eric helps him* Take it easy, slowly.

"You can wait outside, the exam will be delivered shortly."

The two leave in silence and sit down to wait for the exams. Ranielly looks at Eric* Why did you come into the room with me?

Eric* The doctor asked me to come in, and since you were alone, I came in. I'm glad the baby is okay.

Ranielly* Hmm.

The nurse hands the envelope to Ranielly. He gets up to leave* I'm leaving now.

Eric* I'll take you home.

Ranielly* No need.

Eric insists and he ends up accepting. The two leave together.

Gustavo smiles* Your car is new and shiny.

Marisa* Thank you.

Gustavo* You're welcome. I'm leaving now, be careful on your way. He leaves.

Marisa gets in the car and smiles* He seems decent. She starts the car and leaves.

Eric stops the car and speaks* Have you been feeling well?

Ranielly* Yes, I'm leaving now.

Eric* Wait, how about we go out to talk and maybe you'll change your mind about me?

Ranielly doesn't understand this behavior from Eric* I already told you, sir, it's all in the past. I'm working at another company and everything is fine. He opens the car door and gets out, entering his house.

Eric returns to the company smiling. Today he saw and heard his baby, the baby he so desired and will do anything to be near.

Mario enters* Did you get to see Ranielly?

Eric, smiling* Better, I saw the first ultrasound, and even better, I recorded everything. And I can't tell you how I feel, it was so magical.

Mario* Boss, have you thought about what you're going to do?

Eric* No, but I want to be close, I want to follow everything.

Mario* People might think badly, you're married.

Eric* I know, I have to talk to Ray, but you know, when I kissed him, it was so... I don't know how to explain it, but now what matters is the baby's well-being. Mario, I want to know about his routine and everything related to him.

Mario* You kissed him, or did I misunderstand?

Eric* I don't even know how it happened, but it happened.

Mario leaves because he doesn't know what to say.

Marisa arrives home and shows the exam to her mother and tells her how beautiful the feeling was today.

Marisa is happy and regrets not having gone.

Eric arrives home and Ray tells him that Greta is going to spend some time with them.

"Alright, I'm going to take a shower."

Ray follows him* And our baby, it's already been three months.

Eric* Everything is fine.

Ray hugs him* Honey, you can tell me anything, we're in this together.

Eric gathers his courage and speaks* The pregnancy happened, but not the way we expected.

Ray* Can you explain better?

Eric* The person I paid to be the surrogate didn't get pregnant, but rather an 18-year-old young man got pregnant by accident, and so, biologically, the baby is mine and his.

Ray gets nervous* And do you know this young man? Because we can give him money and take the child as soon as it's born.

Eric* The situation is more complicated. He doesn't have any contract with me and doesn't know I'm the child's father.

Ray* Honey, what if he uses the child to blackmail you?

Eric* That's not the case, but I don't know what to do or how to tell him that the baby he's expecting is mine.

Ray* He doesn't know the child is yours?

Eric* No, but stay calm, I'll resolve everything.

The next day, Ranielly went to work as usual and could hear everyone in the company commenting on the pregnancy and speculations running wild about the paternity of the child.

Ranielly enters the room and Hyago is waiting for him with the man he met not long ago on the trip for the resort project.

"Good afternoon!"

Hyago smiles* Ranielly, this is Mr. Gustavo, and he wants you to evaluate the project for the house he plans to build with the company.

Ranielly* I'm happy to help.

Gustavo* I'm the one who's grateful, but are you from this city?

Ranielly* Yes.

Gustavo* Do you have siblings?

Ranielly* I'm an only child.

Hyago* Well, let's look at the house project.

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