Second Chance: Reunited with My Ex, the CEO

Episode 11

...Before...

...Guilherme could hardly contain the joy that was taking over him. He climbed the escalator quickly, without waiting for the steps to take him to the top....

...When he finally felt calmer, he took out the small pocket notebook that he always carried with him, secretly used to write down Daniel's preferences. As he went over his notes, he decided to give his boyfriend a camera so he could practice his passion. Without wasting time, he went to an electronics store, choosing a model within his planned budget. He then rushed to buy a pair of rings. His heart was pounding, hoping Daniel would like the gesture....

...Upon entering the jewelry store, a friendly employee greeted him with a warm smile. Guilherme promptly explained what he was looking for. Understanding his preferences, she presented several sets of rings. One in particular caught his eye, and the money he kept in the account would be enough to buy them....

..."If you wish, we can engrave the names on the rings...."

...Guilherme smiled, surprised. "Really?"...

...The attendant nodded, confirming what she had just said. "It will take less than half an hour, you can wait here a little while...."

...He agreed and provided the names for the engraving. A few minutes later, the attendant returned with the box containing the rings. She offered a special bag to accommodate them, but Guilherme took them directly from her hands and kept them inside his jacket....

..."It won't be necessary, thank you!"...

...Upon arriving home, Guilherme was faced with the grandeur of his mansion. At the entrance, he was surprised by his father's firm voice calling him into the living room, where he was comfortably seated in an armchair, reading his newspaper....

...At that moment, the reasons for choosing to study at a distant school, preferably boarding, came to Guilherme's mind. The relationship between him and his parents was far from harmonious. The pressure, especially from his father, Mr. Alves, and his fawning stepmother, who had a habit of sowing discord between them, was constant....

...Thus, when researching a school away from their influence, Guilherme discovered that both his father and grandparents had studied at that institution. Opting for boarding school seemed like a plausible excuse, and his father readily agreed, wanting his son to follow in his footsteps....

...Upon entering the room, Guilherme took a seat on a nearby sofa, and without delay, his father's questions and observations began....

..."I noticed your grades have improved since you entered that place. You used to get only low grades. It seems that the environment really does have an influence...."

...Initially, Guilherme remained silent. His grades had improved not because of the new school, but because of Daniel, who was dedicated to teaching him patiently, helping him with the subjects he didn't understand due to his dyslexia. However, he preferred to keep this detail a secret. Daniel represented his world at that moment, and Guilherme didn't want his father to find out about their relationship. So omission seemed the most appropriate course of action in that situation....

..."Yes, you are right, father. The environment really does influence the students. The teachers are more demanding, and I have all day to study...."

...His father smiled slightly. "Great, keep it up. Now go upstairs and get ready; dinner is almost ready...."

...Guilherme cautiously left his father's presence. Upon reaching the top of the stairs and verifying that there was no one around, he hurried to his room before his younger brothers or stepmother saw him....