Episode 18

Ranielly slowly opens his eyes and realizes his face is on someone's neck. He lifts his head to see the other person and is shocked to confirm that he's in Eric's arms.

He tries to move away, but Eric holds him tight and speaks with his eyes still closed: "Don't go..."

Ranielly is embarrassed and notices that they are both naked: "I... I'm going to the bathroom.”

Eric opens his eyes to find Ranielly's face flushed: “Right," he says, releasing Ranielly, who quickly gets out of bed and enters the bathroom, locking the door.

Ranielly leans on the bathroom sink, trying to put his mind in order.

"I slept with him. What was I thinking, getting involved with a married man?" he feels a headache. "Why does my head hurt so much?" He turns on the shower and starts to bathe.

Eric uses the room's landline to make some requests to the inn owner, asking her to buy clothes and other items, and to bring food.

Sitting on the bed with a sheet covering his lower body, he thinks: "Should I tell him that I'm the father of the baby? Should I be honest? What do I do? How am I going to explain that I went so much further?"

Doubts trouble Eric, but he has only one certainty: he wants Ranielly for himself, and that is indisputable.

Knocks on the door bring Eric out of his thoughts. He goes to open it. The inn owner hands him the clothes and a young man beside her delivers a tray of food.

“Thank you, ma'am. Don't worry, I'll settle everything later."

The woman smiles. "Sure." She leaves knowing that Eric is not just any guest. Judging by his watch and the model of the car he arrived in, she's sure that whoever he is, money won't be a problem.

Eric realizes that Ranielly is taking a while and gets worried. He knocks on the door.

“Elly, are you alright?" He only hears the sound of water, but no answer from Ranielly.

Not hearing Ranielly's voice, he gets nervous, breaks down the door and rushes into the bathroom. Ranielly is sitting on the floor, water running over his body.

He turns off the shower, grabs a towel and wraps it around Ranielly.

“Come on, don't stay on the floor." He lifts Ranielly out of the bathroom and places him on the bed.

Ranielly had heard him calling, but at that moment he feels guilty for being with Eric, and even more guilty for liking being with him.

"The lady from the inn brought clothes and food. Let's get dressed and eat something."

Ranielly says, his head down: "This shouldn't have happened."

Eric senses Ranielly's emotions and sits beside him. "Don't blame yourself for anything."

Ranielly lifts his face, now streaked with tears. "How can you say that? You're married, and I'm pregnant. I don't want to destroy anyone's family. I shouldn't be here with you. What kind of person goes to bed with a married man while pregnant with another's child?”

Eric takes Ranielly's hand and lifts his chin, making their eyes meet. "Answer my question honestly, Ranielly. Do you regret being in my arms? Don't lie."

Ranielly closes his eyes and remains silent, but Eric insists.

"Do you regret it?"

Ranielly opens his eyes and replies in a firm voice: "No." Then, softly, "That makes me an even worse person, destroying a family."

Eric smiles with satisfaction at his answer and kisses him tenderly, taking his lips urgently in a sweet kiss. "I don't regret anything, and I'd do it all over again."

Ranielly pulls away. “You're crazy! You don't realize the situation we're in now."

Eric nods. “We need to talk, but first eat something. I have to clarify things between us."

Mariana called Gustavo and asked to meet him at a restaurant.

Gustavo is happy that Mariana finally took the initiative to talk to him and confirms the meeting.

Ray is stressed out at home and goes to the gym to workout.

"Hey handsome, I thought you weren't coming to see me today,” a man says, hugging Ray from behind.

Ray pushes him away. “Don't be reckless, someone might see us.”

"Relax, there's no one here at this hour. But if you're here, it's because your hubby left you stressed.” He presses his body against Ray's. “I know how to end your problem. I'll give you what that stiff didn't."

Ray puts his hands around the man's neck and smiles. “You dare compare yourself to him?"

With a brazen smile, the man says: "If he's so good, why do you always come looking for me?”

Ray kisses the man. “Fun, that's all I'm looking for. You think it's easy? I'm young, and my husband is very serious. Now shut up and do what you do best."

The two begin to make out in a secluded part of the gym.

Mariana arrives at the meeting place, where Gustavo is already waiting for her.

“You're here already!”

Gustavo smiles. “Yes, punctuality is one of the things I appreciate. I've already placed the order, I hope you don't mind having dinner with me.”

Mariana looks at him. "It's okay."

The food is served and Mariana ends up dropping her purse on the floor. As she leans down to pick it up, her forehead bumps into the corner of the table when she lifts her head, but to her surprise, Gustavo's hand was on the corner.

They look at each other, and it's as if time stops at that moment, without a word, their eyes locked in a magnetic fixation that somehow held them both captive.

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