Gabriela had always been the type of woman who planted roots. With Italo, her ex-boyfriend, she had envisioned a leafy oak tree, a shelter for the future, a family. Two years of dedication, watering the relationship with affection, love, and many plans, only to discover that the seed of betrayal, nurtured by her own half-sister, Daniela, had sprouted. The discovery left Gabriela completely shaken, transforming the beautiful, flowery garden of her life into an arid, hopeless desert.
A month had passed since the discovery of Italo and Daniela's betrayal.
Daniela always called herself the legitimate daughter of the lawyer Geraldo Martins, despising her sister and always calling her a bastard, as Gabriela was the result of her father's fleeting relationship with her mother outside of marriage.
Gabriela's tireless friends tried, in vain, to sow some joy in her life. "Get over it, Gabi!", "He didn't deserve you!", "There are many better people out there!". The advice, though well-intentioned, sounded like echoes in an empty valley.
She had no strength to react; it was too disappointing to find Italo with Daniela in his apartment, having sex on the very day they were celebrating their two-year anniversary.
But she had her loyal friends by her side who visited her in her apartment every day.
Gabriela lived alone and had been unemployed for two months. She used to work at a dairy company but was fired after it declared bankruptcy.
She had always worked hard to support herself; her mother had passed away a year ago, leaving the current apartment to Gabriela.
Now, at twenty-two years old, "Gabi," as she was affectionately called by her closest friends, didn't reach out to Geraldo for anything, even if she needed something.
Her father had always been distant, and contact between them was difficult. Gabriela knew he didn't believe she was really his daughter. But even so, she never wanted to do a DNA test.
On a beautiful Saturday night, in a desperate attempt to reintroduce Gabriela to the world of the living, her friends dragged her to a trendy nightclub in Sao Paulo. The music pulsed with footsteps in the middle of the dance floor, colorful lights flashed relentlessly, and alcohol flowed like an underground river, promising temporary relief. Gabriela let herself be carried by the current, drinking more than she intended, seeking to numb the pain that still throbbed in her chest.
The drunkenness made her disoriented. Amidst the crowd, her friends mistook her for another woman wearing an identical dress, causing them to leave the venue.
Alone, Gabriela sank onto an empty table, the world spinning around her. The loud music turned into a distant hum, and the vibrant lights seemed like blurred spots.
A waiter approached, offering her a drink. Unaware, Gabriela accepted the glass. She didn't see the predatory gaze of a man from across the dance floor, nor the waiter's furtive gesture of adding something to her drink at the stranger's request.
Taking a deep sip of the drink, Gabriela tasted something strange, metallic. A wave of nausea hit her. With difficulty, she stood up, seeking refuge in the restroom.
She was close to reaching the door when she felt rough hands grab her arm forcefully.
"- Slut, you're one delicious woman," growled the man who had been watching her since she arrived.
Terror washed over her. Gabriela screamed, struggling uselessly against the firm grip. But before he could drag her elsewhere, a figure emerged from nowhere. With a swift and precise movement, the unknown man threw the aggressor to the ground, landing a series of punches to his face, knocking him unconscious.
Stunned, Gabriela watched the scene, her vision blurred by alcohol and fear. The nightclub lights illuminated her protector's face. Hard, yet handsome features, framed by dark hair. Deep, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her, but Gabriela couldn't see clearly due to the effect of the drug in her blood.
Who was this man? A stranger, shrouded in a mystery as thick as the smoke that was beginning to fill the nightclub. The venue's security finally appeared, dragging the aggressor out. The man who had protected Gabriela turned to her, visible concern in his eyes.
"- Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse and comforting at the same time.
Gabriela nodded, still trembling.
"- Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. She couldn't articulate anything else. That man, a complete stranger, had been her benefactor.
"- Do you want me to help you call someone?" his serious and concerned voice echoed in the room with sensitivity, leaving Gabriela completely lost in thought.
"- I don't know what's happening, but my body is burning up inside."
Gabriela stopped talking, feeling uncomfortable. In reality, the drug was already acting in her blood, and its effect was immediate.
The man looked at Gabriela's pale face and immediately guessed she had been drugged.
"- Did you drink anything brought by a stranger?" the man asked, concerned.
Gabriela, unable to remember, just whispered softly: "-- I can't remember, I'm feeling dizzy."
"- I need to get you under a shower right now."
He firmly held Gabriela's hand and entered the restroom, which also had a shower.
Gabriela was put under the shower, fully clothed, while simultaneously trying to grab the man, and then she suddenly fainted.
When she woke up the next day, she was in an unfamiliar hotel room. Gabriela was confused for a moment. The memory of the previous night's events quickly returned to her mind – the unknown man rescuing her at the nightclub, taking her under the shower to get rid of the drug's effect... But where was he now? Gabriela was startled when she noticed she was wearing different clothes, completely different from what she had worn the night before.
"- Could it be?" She worried about what had really happened.
She looked around the empty room and found a note left on the table:
"- I hope you're feeling better today. I couldn't stay and wait for you to wake up, but I wish you a speedy recovery. I don't know women well, but I'm sure you're reading this note scared, thinking we had an intense night of love yesterday, right? Actually, we did, but not in the way you're thinking. So don't worry, nothing happened between us. You vomited and were completely euphoric on the bed, but you surely don't remember that. The room is already paid for, and so is your breakfast. And just to remind you, miss, your dress is already at the hotel laundry; call them and request delivery to your room. Everything is at your disposal. Goodbye, sincerely BW."
Gabriela felt relieved reading the note left by the mysterious BW. Confusion and uncertainty still clouded her mind; she simply couldn't remember her benefactor's face.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 70 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments