Finally, free

Mariana

So I didn't even think twice when the opportunity came up at the nightclub auction and with the money I won, I could buy our new house.

With the little money I had left, I entered into a partnership with Virginia, but with a much smaller participation than hers, who invested a much higher amount than mine.

"I slept through the night, honey. No need to worry, everything is fine here.

I dropped my suitcase in one of the corners of the room and sat down on the sofa next to my aunt, happy to know that she didn't have any difficulties during my absence.

"I can't believe you're watching the episodes of this soap opera again, Aunt Cilene," I complained, but I was smiling.

"I'm sorry, Mari. "she asks, embarrassed. "I know you told me that Lavinia Moura is a snake, but I like her performance in this soap opera so much..., but I'm only watching it today.

I burst out laughing at my aunt's words since I knew that she is a fan of the actress and would watch the chapters of the soap opera when I wasn't there, knowing that I didn't like Lavinia.

"Lavinia's not that bad, Auntie," I tell her.

"No?" she asks, already very curious.

I explain to my aunt about everything that happened the night before, during the party at Murilo's mansion in Guarujá, and her eyes shine with emotion when she learns that Lavinia apologized and even helped Virginia not to fall down the stairs, and was sad when she said that she had suffered a small fall in the end.

"I knew that deep down that girl couldn't be that bad," my aunt comments, clearly pleased to know that her favorite actress had regenerated. "But this Bruna, huh! What a disgusting woman.

"A venomous snake indeed, Auntie.

"So, Lavinia is pregnant? What a mess!

My aunt was always very spontaneous and took everything as lightly as possible, besides being very jovial and using even the expressions of the younger ones.

Despite this, she was not attached to the question of age or appearance, she didn't mind that she was getting older, like some people her age, who seemed not to want to accept their age.

We continued to chat animatedly, and shortly after lunch, I received a message from Murilo, telling me that he and Virginia were also back in São Paulo and that my friend was still a little shaken by what had happened the night before with Lavinia.

So when Virginia's parents contacted me, wanting to know about their daughter, I took them to Murilo's apartment, and I ended up not being able to keep the story behind the anger that Ethan had only Murilo secret and told them everything, who was very sad and feeling guilty for the tragic end of young Beatriz.

" Now at least we know the reason for Ethan's pursuit of Murilo. " Virginia commented the next day when we met at our store.

It was around sixteen o'clock, the agreed time for me to arrive at the store and Virginia could leave for home.

" True. " I agree with my friend.

" Mariana!" Virginia catches my attention.

" Hi!" I reply, smiling at all that alarm.

"Why don't you try to show Ethan how wrong he was about this Beatriz thing? It seems to me that she's not this girl he's been idealizing in his passionate head.

I look at my friend incredulously.

"Do you want me to try to show reality to a man like Ethan Constantino, who thinks he's superior to us, mere humans full of flaws? "He won't even begin to listen to me!

"You're right." she quickly changes her mind, looks sad, and all the previous animation is gone. "I so want Constantino to leave Murilo alone. Leave us both alone.

I felt a little guilty for denying her theory, but I knew Ethan would never listen to me, after all, what power could I possibly have over him?

Ethan

The day after I returned from the beach house, I did not wake up in my best mood and went into the office feeling tired, even though the week was just beginning.

I had a terrible night, and my impression is that I spent the whole time dreaming, and those responsible for such misfortune were the two women who kept popping into my head.

However, dreaming about Beatriz is something I am already quite used to, as it is common to happen.

But this was the first time I dreamed about a woman other than her, as was the case, since Mariana haunted me in my dreams as well, which is quite strange to me.

The most intriguing thing is that it hasn't even been two days since I met Mariana, and she is already so present in my thoughts, which only proves the need I have to have her in my bed as soon as possible so that I can get her out of my bloodstream and pursue my revenge with more commitment.

I am stuck in these thoughts, not doing anything useful with my time when I see a few more messages from Bruna arrive, which makes me quite angry.

He is now a problem that I need to solve as soon as possible and I decide to finally answer her messages, asking her to come to my office.

I needed to get my FERZ shares back, now that they were no longer of any use to me and I would have to tolerate her annoying presence for a few more hours.

I asked my secretary to call my legal and finance team for a meeting, and when Bruna arrived, we were all already waiting for her in the conference room.

"-Hello, dear. " she greets me with her annoying pout. "I see we have company.

She doesn't understand why some employees are with us too, and I purposely make her believe the opposite of what is happening in that room, after all, it's not that hard to fool that bitch.

"I have some papers for you to sign. "I clarify. "These are shares that I am buying and I need you to follow all the lawyer's instructions.