Repentance

Virgínia

After I asked Murilo to let me be alone for a while, I completely regretted my words. Nevertheless, I did not go back on my request and went to finish packing our things so that we could leave for São Paulo.

I knew that I was being unfair to Murilo, and he didn't deserve that I despised him because how could I blame him for other people's attitudes? I knew it was very wrong to always be so hard on the father of my child, even more so when I considered Aquiles' attitude of abandoning Lavinia, just because she didn't know who the father of the child she was expecting was.

In the end, I was thinking of doing the same thing, just because I feared that the child the actress was expecting was Murilo's.

While packing the things that were still out of the suitcases, I thought about the important fact that I still did not have any kind of relationship with Murilo when he had sex with Lavinia.

Therefore, I also had no right to judge him so harshly.

Anyway, I needed time to accept that maybe he too was the father of another woman's child, and still manage to stay by his side. One thing was certain: I would not leave him.

When Murilo came to the room to tell me that the helicopter was already waiting for us, I had all my things packed, and together we walked through the corridors of the huge mansion towards the garden where the helicopter was.

We had already talked with Aquiles and Lavinia during breakfast and preferred not to disturb them before leaving since they had not even come down for lunch, opting instead to order their meal in their room.

Lavinia still seemed a bit shaken and said almost nothing during the whole breakfast, while Aquiles was still quite upset about the whole situation and intended to account for it with Bruna as soon as he could get back to São Paulo.

The trip home was made in silence, each one lost in his thoughts and when we arrived at Murilo's apartment, all I could think about was my parents and how wonderful it would be to receive my mother's advice at this moment. But I didn't want to talk on the phone, so I didn't call or text Ms. Beth.

Then I thought of Mariana, my friend of all hours, even in the craziest moments, like when we decided to go to the Season Hot Club, and smiled at that memory.

I didn't regret a bit what I did, even more when it was from that craziness that I met Murilo, the man I am completely in love with, and that is the only thing that matters.

I was going to call my friend and ask her to come to Murilo's apartment so that we could talk in person and maybe Mariana could help me process everything that happened yesterday.

There was also something extremely important that went unnoticed by everyone after what happened with Lavinia and that something went by the name of Ethan Constantino.

Before I could even pick up the cell phone, Murilo knocked on the bedroom door, and once again a pang of guilt washed over me because that was his bedroom.

" Come in! " I requested.

I imagined that he must have something important to tell me because since we entered the apartment, he had locked himself in his office and didn't even enter the bedroom for a moment.

Murilo was a wonderful man, and he was just complying with my request to leave me alone with my thoughts, even if seeing him standing there, looking insecure just talking to me, made me feel like a bad person.

" You have visitors, " he warned.

He managed to take me by surprise because since I moved into his apartment, I hadn't received a visit from anyone, not even Mariana, but only now I realized the fact.

" Visits? Like that, plural? " I tried to joke because I strangely felt nervous.

" Yes," He confirmed, opening a beautiful smile, which made me a little less tense. "In the living room are Mariana and... your parents.”

I covered my mouth with one hand, thus containing the cry of joy that erupted spontaneously in my throat as I realized that they could have come for any number of reasons, and their presence in the apartment didn't necessarily indicate that it was a peace offering.

" Are you sure? " I still asked, feeling unsure.

"Of course, I'm sure, honey. Go on!”

It seems that this encouragement was all I needed, as I hurried down the hallway, anxiety making my heart beat faster inside my chest.

And when I saw my parents waiting for me, I couldn't contain the emotion inside my chest, and it started pouring out of my eyes. After all, no matter what, I loved them very much, and I was missing them near me.

" Daughter! " Mom was the first to come to me, hugging me and kissing my face several times.

" Mom, how I've missed you! " I said, kissing her too.

After I pulled away from my mother, I stared at my father, a little embarrassed because I wasn't sure yet what the reaction would be.

" Give your father a hug, daughter," he said, making me laugh and cry at the same time "I've been a fool and I want to ask you to forgive me, Virginia.”

" I just want to forget this time we've been apart, Dad," I said, happier than I thought possible "I love you.”