06

Lázzaro was so relieved that he almost gave Lia a strong hug, but he contained his emotion. He stopped for a second to analyze that he had never thought about getting married before, never had the vision of marriage as something sacred or important in his life. This way it wouldn't be so difficult for him, it was just roles and a situation in which there would be no physical or emotional involvement.

He was going to die soon and as much as that thought consumed his soul, as he was a lover of the good things in life, he would have to conform and make the most of his last days.

Nothing would change, he would just have Lia under his radar at all times for the money and nothing else. He would remain practically single and live life as he always had. Taking care, above all, that his heritage and that of his father would yield much more and then leave it to a future heir, who knows, that was a likely consideration.

— And then doctor? — Lázzaro asked after minutes of examinations.

— The impact was not very strong. The lady is fine. But, do you feel anything?

- No, I just feel my body weak.

- OK. Let me see... — Doctor Garcia checked some papers in his hands — You have anemia, haven't you been eating very well?

- In truth no. Lazzaro looked strangely.

"How many days have you not eaten?" — the man asked the question before the doctor.

She pondered.

"I think a week or more..." He felt horrified.

“She just wasn't getting anything to eat these days. But since, apart from that, it's all good now I'm going to take her home. Thanks. — Lázzaro got around the situation by shaking the doctor's hand, who didn't hide the concern in his eyes.

Minutes later, Lia was on her feet again, her hair in a high bun. The same dirty clothes also intrigued everyone at the hospital who found out that she was Lázzaro Bartholomeu's "wife".

“We need to buy you new clothes. My wife can't walk like that. He pointed at her as they walked.

— I have new clothes. Don't think that I walk like this because I want to. Before that I lived with my mother and she gave me everything, I only dress like this so I can go out on the streets, I won't waste them when I have no reason to wear them. he defended himself.

"Okay, so let's go get your things." And by the way, we're going to need your documents. Is everything okay with them? — the boy opened the car door for the girl and then got in.

“Yes, it is. But there's one thing you need to know before we go get it. Lia was nervously playing with her fingers.

- He speaks.

“My aunt and cousins hate me and maybe they don't take me very well, but if they see me with you they can pretend to be nice people. Just don't fall for them. he warned.

— Don't worry, I recognize bad people from afar. But tell me, what were you doing on that side of town so far from where I met you the other day?

— I was expelled and I was walking the streets without direction. He felt his heart tighten.

"Is that why you went so many days without eating?" There was an unfamiliar lump in his throat and deep fury shot through him at whoever put her through this.

- Yes. He looked down, remembering the last time he saw his relatives.

How cruel they had been, telling her that she must die, that she was a nuisance and good for nothing. All this and much more that they told her only contributed to her quick acceptance of Lázzaro's proposal.

So what if he had thought before about getting married and having a beautiful romance? Those impossible dreams no longer existed for her, so a fake marriage wouldn't hurt her honesty at all. All that was no longer important or special to her.

On the way, while Lia pointed out where her aunt lived, the two exchanged a few words, even too much for Lázzaro's liking, who wasn't used to talking much with people he didn't know. However, the girl would be his wife, even if on the surface he needed to know a little more about her.

"So you finished high school?"

“Yes, my life was great with my mother. She always gave me everything and suddenly... —a painful tear fell and she couldn't hold back — She left, my mother and I stayed with my aunt, that's when my world turned upside down and I saw myself as the most beautiful person. unfortunate in the world.

"What did your mother die of?" His question didn't sound very polite but he didn't care.

- Cancer.

The man nearly choked on the wind. For a few moments he felt his world stop. Who was that girl that despite so many bad things happening to her, she still managed to be so sweet and good?

- I'm very sorry. he lamented.

- Everything is fine. In fact it isn't, but we pretend that it is... —he smiled weakly — Look, we're coming, it's right there in that fifth house, the green one.

“Listen, aren't you mad at them? he wanted to know.

- Of course I am. I never did anything bad to them or anyone else, they did inhuman things to me that if I told you, you wouldn't believe.

"I'm glad you are." So I won't have to be kind.

When he stopped the car, the two got out together. Even before entering the fence, the window was opened, revealing Mara's face.

— I ask that you leave the door so that Lia can go in and get her things. — Lázzaro said without further ado and fiddled with a button on his suit.

- Who are you? - Martha asked looking at the charming man standing in a sexy pose - And what are you doing here? He pointed to Lia, who felt a little huddled next to Lázzaro.

He sneered.

— I'm Lázzaro Bartholomeu and I'm going to marry Lia. She's here to pick up her things. I think that's clear to you, now would you excuse me or do I need to move them out of the way for her to pass?

Everyone opened eyes the size of an apple and their jaws dropped. Lia felt a strange satisfaction at the reaction at the same time that her heart burned and her body shivered at the way in which Lázzaro defended her.

The way was free and so she entered not without first gaining a look of security from her future "husband".

"Can I offer you something?" — he denied — What do you mean you're going to marry my niece?

- Your niece? He chuckled irritably. "She wasn't your niece when you left her wandering the streets at risk of all sorts of things!" She wasn't your niece when you mistreated her and sent her begging on the street so she wouldn't starve, damn it! — he felt his veins burn with hatred for those people.

For everything they'd done to that girl. He still didn't know everything and what little he did know already made him anxious.

“Everything I've done has been for her own good. Martha with premature interest said.

“We all love Lia. She left here and never heard from her again. Mara lied.

— We want to be part of her life... We found out she's our sister! - one of the boys who was quiet spoke up.

The fury that man felt could make glass explode just with the death stare he gave them. He was used to facing cold people at all times in his work, but here were people who had wronged an innocent girl and were pretending to care just because he said he was going to marry her. They certainly knew of their power, their last name was known, and all the hatred for them multiplied when he remembered the stepmother's gold digger whom he hated more than anything.

“Shut the fuck up. Don't be ridiculous! Who do you think I am to fall for your damn talk? He did his best not to break anyone's face there.

Then he saw his body calm down like magic so quickly as Lia appeared with two large bags in her hands carrying them with difficulty. He pushed whoever was close and took them from her hands and then held tight to her waist.

— I think it's very good that you forget about the existence of this person here. he decreed and followed her back to the car.

Lia couldn't ignore the majestic touch that Lázzaro gave her when he firmly held her waist, giving her security and firmness, at the same time sending small flames inside her leaving her almost feverish.

In the distance, they heard their murmurs trying to convince him that they liked the girl among other things, but he totally ignored them. She felt satisfaction reign within her chest, it was good to see them regret everything they had done, even if it was out of pure interest on their part. It was good.

The subjects that came up inside the car were as random as possible. Lázzaro even smiled, lighting up his whole face, leaving Lia's eyes shining, he looked so good when he smiled, the girl felt like telling him but she didn't.

“We're here. he warned, stopping the car.

When the girl's eyes looked at the gigantic house that she only saw in movies, she almost cried with surprise and emotion, she knew he was rich but not that much. The house simply looked like a palace – no exaggeration – she tried not to drool and closed her mouth in time for the man not to notice her fascination. She was extremely enchanted and almost wanted to pinch herself to see if it really wasn't a dream.

Lázzaro removed his seat belt and got close to Lia, he got really close... He felt enchanted with the well-made features of her face, he looked at her and stopped his gaze on her neck, so smooth and apparently soft. She wanted to blink but couldn't even breathe. I was almost completely enchanted.

In a sudden movement he unbuckled her seat belt and was out of the car as fast as lightning.

— It came with this little problem from the factory. — She looked at him from the outside — The belt is bad to unlock.

She just nodded, her heart pounding, and joined him on the sidewalk. Both trying to ignore the fact that they felt as if they were lacking air and for that their heart had to speed up, becoming so erratic that it was almost possible not to hear the beats.