Episode 4

I spent most of my life alone.

I lost my wife too early to a cruel disease, and since then, I haven't allowed anyone to occupy that space that was left empty. Loving her was a privilege, but also a curse. The pain of seeing her go, of seeing her wither little by little, was the kind of suffering I never wished on anyone.

After she was gone, I focused on what was left: my son and the family business.

But Eduardo was never a worthy man.

I raised him to be strong, to be responsible, to understand that the Vasconcellos name carries power and respect. But instead of becoming the man I expected, he chose arrogance. He always made thoughtless decisions, always thought he was above the consequences.

And when I found out he was about to get married, I was surprised. Until I found out who the woman he was marrying was.

Mariana.

I already knew who she was.

Even before that wedding.

I had seen her before, years ago, when she was still a girl. Someone who drew attention not by exaggerated brightness, not by the need to be noticed, but by her silent essence, by the strength in her eyes, by the delicacy in her gestures.

I saw her crossing the street, back when she was leaving school. I always admired her in silence. But it was just admiration, with no ulterior motives.

And when I found out that it was her whom Eduardo was taking as his wife, I was happy for them.

But I soon realized that, contrary to what I imagined, that marriage was nothing of what it should be.

I discovered the truth.

I discovered that my son didn't want her. I discovered that he despised her. And, worse, I discovered that he was not a husband, not even a worthy man by her side.

In fact, Eduardo spent his nights in another woman's bed.

He thought no one would notice, that I, Leonardo Vasconcellos, wouldn't know how to track my own son's steps.

But I knew.

I knew that, after work, Eduardo didn't go home.

I knew he went straight to his mistress's apartment, where he spent his nights as if he were a free man.

I knew every damn step he took.

And that only served to increase my revolt.

But what really made me act, what really made me return from the United States and stay by Mariana's side, was when I found out what Eduardo did to her.

The first thing I did was investigate her life.

I wanted to understand why a woman like her remained in a marriage where she was not wanted.

And that's how I found out about her father.

The accident.

The fragile health.

The expensive treatments.

And then came the final blow: Mariana was paying for everything alone.

She worked in a cafeteria, using her own sweat to pay for her father's medical expenses, while my son, her husband, slept in silk sheets in the arms of another woman.

That infuriated me in a way I hadn't felt in years. Not out of pity for her, but out of hatred for Eduardo.

He not only despised his wife, he abandoned her, and left her to sacrifice herself alone.

Now, sitting at the table for lunch, I watched her once again.

Mariana tried to hide the discomfort she felt with my presence. She tried to pretend she didn't notice I was looking at her.

But I noticed everything.

Every contained gesture, every avoided look, every barrier she tried to erect between us. And that only made me more interested.

I have never desired a woman since I lost my wife. I never thought I would feel anything for anyone again. Not until Mariana

awoke something I didn't know still existed within me.

And I couldn't ignore it anymore. I desire her, and I want her for myself.

When I finished lunch, I remained seated around the table, watching Mariana out of the corner of my eye. She tried not to look at me, focusing all her attention on the food, but I saw her restless fingers on the cutlery. With each passing second, it was as if she was planning her exit.

The cell phone in my pocket vibrated, announcing a call. I picked up the device and saw that it was a work matter.

I got up without haste, adjusting my jacket.

"Excuse me, I need to take this call."

Mariana simply nodded, without raising her eyes.

I walked to the balcony with the cell phone still vibrating in my hand. The name on the screen indicated that it was Michael Carter, the director responsible for the company's branch in the United States.

I answered, holding the phone to my ear.

"Carter, what's wrong?"

"Mr. Vasconcellos, we're having problems with the suppliers of the branch in New York. Constant delays, demands for readjustments in contracts, and now a threat of termination."

I sighed, resting my elbow on the balcony railing and massaging my temples.

"What do they claim?"

"That they are not receiving payments within the established deadline."

"Which doesn't make sense, because all the transfers were made correctly."

"Exactly, sir. We're reviewing the bank transactions, but there's something strange about this. Also, one of our main investors wants an urgent meeting. He's worried about the situation."

My jaw tightened. This was not a simple administrative failure.

"Who is the investor?"

"Ethan McGregor."

I closed my eyes for a moment.

McGregor was a shark in the market. If he smelled blood in the water, he wouldn't hesitate to attack.

"Schedule the meeting for tomorrow. I will participate remotely."

"Understood. And about the suppliers?"

"Find out where the problem is and if the transfers really left the company's accounts. If there has been any diversion, I want to know who is behind it."

"We will do that immediately."

"Anything else, Carter?"

The man hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Sir… your prolonged absence is being commented on in the hallways."

I let out a low laugh.

"Since when am I the type to care about gossip?"

"Since never. But they know that your stay in Brazil is not just for business matters."

My expression hardened.

"And what are they saying?"

"That you are… closely monitoring the family business."

"They're not wrong."

Michael laughed, but there was something contained in his voice.

"I just hope that doesn't end up diverting your attention from what really matters."

I gripped the cell phone tighter.

"What really matters is ensuring that no one is trying to sink my company behind my back."

"I completely agree, sir."

"Keep me updated on any news. Tonight I'll be traveling to go, to resolve this once and for all, don't worry."

"Yes, Mr. Vasconcellos."

I ended the call and put the cell phone in my pocket, taking a deep breath.

I knew that my prolonged presence in Brazil was attracting attention.

When I finished the call and returned inside, the table was already empty.

Mariana had disappeared. That made me smile.

She flees from me like the devil flees from the cross. It's funny. If she keeps running like that, she'll end up cornered sooner or later. And then, I want to see how far she can pretend she doesn't feel anything.

Because I already feel.

And I'm no longer willing to ignore it.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***