Episode 6

Feeling a mixture of strange sensations, Daniel smiled bitterly. Clearly, he was recalling the times when Lucy had prepared meals for him—soups, cakes, porridge, pies, all kinds of treats. At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder how hurt Lucy must be to deny him a request.

Trying to avoid dwelling on minor issues, Daniel decided to call Beto; he really wanted to confirm if Lucy had indeed enlisted their friend's services. The phone rang several times, and just as Daniel was about to give up, Beto finally answered:

"Good evening, stranger. Don't tell me you're here to put the pressure on too?" Beto asked with a chuckle, although Daniel found no humor in the situation.

"Stop fooling around. I just want to know if Lucy has been in touch with you."

"She has, indeed. I must say, your soon-to-be ex-wife is quite demanding when requesting a service. I had to set aside other work to draft the divorce agreement. I'll deliver it first thing tomorrow morning, God willing," he said, smiling warmly. Daniel also smiled, although he couldn't quite pinpoint why.

"Alright, did she say anything about the divorce terms, or did you write it all up?" he asked, already suspecting that Lucy had bought that dress with the notion of relieving him of his money.

"Don't drag me into this lion's fight. It was all her idea. Now I have to hang up; someone else is calling," Beto said before ending the call, leaving Daniel somewhat aggravated—an irritation that would have worsened had he known who was calling Beto: it was Lucy, once again.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and Lucy feared that Beto might use it to justify a possible delay. She doesn't want to, she can't stand sharing a roof with Daniel any longer, she cannot falter.

Out of options, Daniel went to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. He prepared a modest dish of macaroni and cheese, and as he ate, he couldn't help but remember the times Lucy had cooked for him. He thought she deserved something in return—after all, today was their last day under the same roof. Tomorrow, he could go after Juliana and share the news; he'd gained his freedom.

Pondering this, Daniel dished up some of the macaroni onto a small plate, grabbed a glass of juice, and then headed to the bedroom. The door was ajar, so he entered, saying, "Brought you some food. Hope you like it," as he placed everything on the nightstand, sat on the bed, and began to take off his shoes.

Lucy was seated in an armchair at the corner of the room, engrossed in her phone and basically ignored Daniel's remark.

"That in your hands isn't going to satisfy your hunger, is it? So go on and eat," Daniel said before entering the bathroom.

Lucy laughed at the stress of the foolish man, but nonetheless did exactly as Daniel had ordered. After finishing her meal, she brushed her teeth, charged her phone, then laid down in bed and closed her eyes to sleep.

Daniel was already in bed browsing on his phone, but he stopped once Lucy lay down. Perhaps he was waiting for Lucy to seek him out one last time—a farewell tryst? How absurd. To Lucy, Daniel was pitiable.

An awkward silence filled the room until Daniel started to speak. "She came first and captured my heart. We were never an ordinary couple, but I need to thank you for taking care of me all this time," Daniel said, aiming to end their union amicably. But Lucy said nothing.

"Good night, Lucy," Daniel whispered before turning his back to her, unaware that Lucy had been asleep for a while, exhausted from a lack of sleep and therefore unable to hear his doubtful words.

...

In the morning, Daniel woke up early and whistled his way to the bathroom, looking happier than Lucy had ever seen him. It was then that she considered how much he must have suffered too—her loving him, him loving someone else, and in the end, all of them were hurt.

At that moment, she grabbed her phone and accessed her Facebook, posting a motivational quote with a brief caption: "That's life, keep moving forward."

After that, Lucy waited for Daniel to leave the bathroom. Once he did, she took her shower, performed her morning routine, and then walked over to the closet. When Lucy first arrived at this house, she brought nothing with her, because Leonardo insisted that joining the Gonçalves family would be wonderful—a notion she now saw as a huge joke.

Lucy looked for the clothes she wore when she first came to this house, but they no longer fit. A bitter smile crept onto her lips; she had always cared for the house and her husband, neglecting herself in the process.

"A few extra kilos and a broken heart, that's what I've gained from this failed marriage," she said to herself and then slipped into the dress she'd bought at Dayse's store.

She spritzed on some perfume and applied light makeup—she was going home, back to people who truly loved her, so the occasion called for it.

Once ready, Lucy grabbed her purse with her phone and documents, along with the bag containing her grandfather's gift, and then slowly left the room, growing more certain with each step that she was making the right decision.

Upon reaching the living room, Daniel was already seated on the sofa, likely eagerly awaiting his friend's arrival. Lucy gracefully took a seat, crossed her lovely legs, and started fiddling with her phone, completely ignoring Daniel’s presence, which promptly sparked his indignation.

"Are you sure you were the one who wrote that letter? Where did all the love go? Suddenly, you've changed and now, as easily as breathing, you ignore me," he said, stirring something peculiar in Lucy's chest. "Why is he saying this? Does my disregard hurt?" Lucy silently mused, sporting a phony smile, but she said nothing. There was no point in discussing a relationship that had already ended.

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