Episode 4

The alarm clock rang even before seven, but Clara was already awake.

She had spent a sleepless night, between anxiety and a strange excitement she hadn't felt in a long time.

She got up with determination, went to the wardrobe, and chose a simple but elegant outfit: blue tailored trousers, a white blouse with lace detail on the sleeves, and comfortable shoes.

In the mirror, she applied light makeup and tied her hair in a casual ponytail.

Looking at her reflection, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: pride.

In the kitchen, she found Eduardo sitting at the table in pajamas, fiddling with his cell phone with a silly smile on his lips.

Clearly, texting Amanda.

She walked past him as if he were invisible. She grabbed her bag and keys with the naturalness of someone who owed no explanations.

But before she left, he raised his eyes.

"Are you going out again at this hour?"

She took a deep breath, without turning around.

"I am. First day of work."

He raised his eyebrows.

"Seriously? I thought it was just a passing whim."

She spun on her heels, facing him with a smile of pure irony.

"Eduardo... the only whim I had was taking you seriously for so long."

And she left, leaving him speechless in the chair.

Upon arriving at the agency, Clara was greeted with smiles and good energy. Miguel formally introduced her to the team early on.

"Guys, this is Clara. Our new marketing coordinator. And before anyone asks... yes, she's brilliant." He said, winking at her.

Clara smiled, blushing slightly.

She spent the day immersed in briefings, quick meetings, and team dynamics. With each suggestion she made, her colleagues were receptive and attentive. Little by little, she loosened up, realizing that she still knew how to do it. That she still had ideas, that her opinion was relevant.

Miguel, always nearby, made a point of including her in everything.

Around five in the afternoon, when most people were starting to shut down their computers, the creative colleague, a girl with short hair and an easy smile named Luisa, brought up the subject:

"Guys! Clara's first week... we need to celebrate! Happy hour today? Who's in?"

The others quickly agreed.

"Good one!" Miguel added, excited. "Clara, you're summoned. No excuses."

She hesitated for a second.

Part of her thought about going straight home...

Part of her thought about Eduardo...

But, in the end, the part of her that mattered most at that moment shouted louder.

"I'm in."

The group headed to a charming little bar a few blocks from the agency. The place had hanging lights, wooden tables, music in the background, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Beer, caipirinhas, snacks... laughter and stories of old clients began to fill the night.

Clara, who at first only listened, soon began to loosen up. She told funny episodes from her college days, laughed at the team's inside jokes, and realized that... it had been years since she had felt so light.

At one point, as she grabbed a napkin to wipe a drop of beer that had fallen on her blouse, Miguel leaned over to her and said in a low voice, just so she could hear:

"You have no idea how good it is to see you like this... again."

She stared at him for a moment.

His gaze was gentle... but there was something more there.

A silent intention, a genuine care.

Her stomach gave a slight jump, but she just smiled, looking away before the conversation took a turn she didn't know if she was ready to follow.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Eduardo was at Amanda's apartment.

Lying on the couch, with her nestled against his chest, laughing at some silly TV show.

He was comfortable... relaxed...

Having no idea that, at that very moment, the woman he always judged to be submissive... was busy being happy... away from him.

It was already past ten o'clock at night when Clara arrived home.

She entered silently, took off her shoes at the door so as not to make noise, and went up to the bedroom. Eduardo wasn't there.

Great.

She lay down on the bed, with a light heart and a head full of good thoughts.

Before falling asleep, she picked up her cell phone and saw a message from Miguel:

"Thanks for today. It was good to have you around. :)"

She smiled.

She replied only:

"It was good for me too."

And, with this small exchange of messages... what was once just a dormant friendship... was slowly beginning to gain a new meaning.

While Clara slept at home, with a light smile on her lips after happy hour with her colleagues, Eduardo was living a completely different reality... and totally oblivious to his wife's new phase.

At Amanda's apartment, the atmosphere was different.

The clock already read almost two in the morning, and Eduardo was sprawled on her bed, his body still sweaty, with the sheets tangled around his waist.

Amanda, beside him, smiled contentedly, her hair disheveled, her lips marked by the hot kisses of hours before.

Five times.

They had had sex five times since he arrived.

Like two uncontrolled teenagers.

And even so... she wanted more.

More of him. More attention. More presence. More everything.

But now, he was sleeping soundly, exhausted, his chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Amanda watched him for a few seconds, with the look of someone analyzing every detail. The way he breathed... the shape of his shoulders... the slight sleepy smile he had after sex.

She reached out to the bedside table, picked up his cell phone, and unlocked it easily. Eduardo had never put in a new password.

Too much trust.

Too much naivety.

She opened the camera... and carefully adjusted her hair, leaving her own bare shoulders on display. She lay down next to him, leaning in close, positioning her face close enough to seem intimate... too intimate.

She clicked.

A photo.

The two of them together in bed. He sleeping, she with a satisfied smile.

Amanda analyzed the image... it was perfect.

Suggestive enough to drive any wife out of her mind.

Without thinking twice, she opened the list of recent contacts.

Clara's number was there, right below the last calls Eduardo had made days before.

She typed a quick message:

"While you sleep alone... he sleeps like this."

She attached the photo.

And, before her conscience could shout anything, she pressed the send button.

Eduardo's cell phone vibrated on top of the dresser.