Chapter 26

— Paloma, can you help me to the bathroom, please? — Isa pleaded. It was almost every 30 minutes that Isabella needed to use the bathroom.
Paloma was being well-compensated for taking care of Isabella. Her job was simply to ensure Isa didn’t exert herself and to keep her company, but this seemed to be bothering Paloma. Isabella’s belly was enormous, and she had difficulty getting up.
— I’m coming. — Paloma replied from the next room, but it took longer than Isa expected.
— Paloma, I’m going to pee on myself.
A few minutes later, Paloma appeared with her phone in hand, completely indifferent to the situation and showing no sign of concern. She was intently looking at her phone and smiling.
— What’s so entertaining on that phone that you’re letting me pee on myself? — Isa joked, but Paloma didn’t seem to take it as a joke.
— The bathroom is next to your bed; can’t you get up and go? — Paloma asked, rolling her eyes.
— Taking care of me has become a burden for you, hasn’t it? — Isa grumbled sadly. — I’ll ask Aléssio to let you go. I don’t need someone who helps me in such a humiliating way.
— No! Relax, it’s fine. I was just making sure I didn’t lose a client. Come on, I’ll help you.
— Love, I managed. Love! — Aléssio entered the room announcing.
But upon realizing that neither Isabella nor Paloma was in bed, his heart raced, his hands sweated, and he felt disoriented. He ran to the balcony, shouting for Isabella.
— What’s going on, Aléssio! What’s with the panic? — Isa asked, seeing her husband’s distress.
Seeing Isabella well and Paloma attending to her, Aléssio’s body took a while to return to normal. His hands were shaking. He sat on the edge of the bed next to Isabella and gently stroked her face.
— I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you, my love.
Isabella, with her prominent belly, rested gently on Aléssio’s arm, while he looked at her with a loving and protective gaze. The exchanged glances between the couple indicated a deep connection and a love that transcended words.
Paloma watched the scene with mixed feelings. Her usually impassive face began to show signs of jealousy she could barely contain. Each shared laugh and affectionate gesture between Aléssio and Isabella felt like a tiny needle piercing her heart. Unconsciously, she gripped the towel she was holding tighter, her gaze becoming more distant. She tried to hide her discomfort, but it was hard to ignore the powerful emotion consuming her.
The tension in that moment was palpable, and fate seemed to be weaving new threads into this emotionally charged story. The shadows of jealousy cast by Paloma promised to bring unexpected challenges to the path they were on.
— What did you find out? Tell me! — Isa asked curiously.
— First, let me shake off this feeling of fear and catch up with you. — Aléssio caressed Isa’s belly and stood up, placing a lingering kiss on his beloved’s lips.
This scene made Paloma uncomfortable, so she decided to leave the room.
— I’ll leave you lovebirds alone. I’m going for a walk. — Paloma left, determined to confront the jealousy gnawing at her inside.
The sweet Paloma Eloise walked to the edge of the sea, took a deep breath, and watched the waves clash in their endless struggle. Her distant and vacant gaze scanned the horizon, and without realizing it, a tear ran down Paloma’s face. She decided to enter the sea, stripping off her clothes and staying in her lingerie. It was nighttime and dark, the beach was empty. It was a place rarely frequented by tourists, with bathers only coming during the day.
Paloma dove deep into the sea, letting the waves carry her wherever they would. She held her breath and released the weight of her body, allowing the ocean to guide her on this wild journey. She was so lost in her turbulent thoughts that she didn’t notice a mysterious figure waiting for her on the shore with her clothes in hand. Noticing that the woman was elegant and distinguished, with an air of authority, she immediately recalled what Isa had said about Griselda.
Paloma’s heart raced, now filled with fear. She pretended not to see the woman and continued swimming.
— At some point, you’ll need to come out of the water. — the woman announced.
It was getting late, and Paloma felt cold. Despite it being summer, the beaches in Santa Catarina were freezing at night. Paloma emerged from the water, shivering. She hadn’t brought a towel, as she hadn’t planned to swim. She grabbed her clothes, preparing to put them on with her wet body.
— Wait! — the woman called out, snapping her fingers to a bodyguard who was with her. The man didn’t need to ask what was needed; he went to the car and retrieved a towel, handing it to Paloma.
— Thank you!
— I see you’re staying at my son’s house. — Griselda began her speech.
Paloma’s legs wobbled. She immediately recognized the woman as the infamous Griselda but wasn’t sure how to react, only knowing how dangerous she was.
— I’m taking care of my friend, who has a high-risk pregnancy.
— I need a favor — Griselda spoke more like a command — do as I say, and everyone involved will come out of this alive.
— Whatever it is, I’m not interested — Paloma replied, trembling with fear and lowering her head to leave. But she was surrounded by Griselda’s burly bodyguard.
— I know what your father did and I can put him in prison for the rest of his life. And your mother, the alcoholic, a bullet would solve her problem.
— Do whatever you want; I won’t betray my friend. — Paloma was firm. She hadn’t had a good relationship with her parents and wouldn’t care if they disappeared from the earth. It would actually be doing her a favor.
Griselda, a ruthless businesswoman, was determined to get what she wanted. She didn’t give up easily. Realizing that her threat wasn’t having the desired effect, Griselda decided to change her strategy.
— Ah, but it seems you don’t know everything, Paloma. You know, I did some research on your brother, the former alcoholic who is studying law. — Griselda played her final card. She knew that Paloma was paying for her brother’s studies and was keeping a close watch on him to prevent him from falling back into addiction.
Paloma, who had been unmoved until then, narrowed her eyes. Mention of her brother stirred a sense of vulnerability she wasn’t willing to admit.
— What are you talking about? — Paloma asked, now visibly tense.
— I know you do everything to secure his future. It might be interesting if I shared some compromising information I’ve discovered about him at the university. It could significantly damage his reputation and his studies.
Despite her tough exterior, Paloma felt the ground shift beneath her feet. Her brother, whom she loved dearly, had overcome his alcohol addiction, but the shadows of his past still haunted him.
— What do you want, Griselda? — Paloma whispered, defeated, her expression a mix of suppressed anger and fear.
— I want you to do everything I say from now on. I’ll give you the instructions for what needs to be done. Otherwise, your brother might find himself in serious trouble, and I don’t know if you’ll be able to protect him.
Griselda’s threat hit Paloma hard, placing her in a distressing dilemma. The choices she made in the coming hours would not only shape her own fate but also that of her beloved brother.
— Fine, I’ll do it. But I want 500,000 reais to cover my brother’s tuition.
— You’re not in a position to demand anything here.
— Fine, then I’ll go now and tell Aléssio everything you’ve said, and let’s see the chaos unfold. — Paloma quickened her pace towards the building, but before she reached the lobby, she heard Griselda call out.
— Wait! Alright, I’ll pay 300,000 reais and we won’t speak of this again. But the plan has to work.
With trembling hands and a racing heart, Paloma entered the building without looking back. Each step felt like a sentence, but her determination to protect her brother outweighed the fear that engulfed her. The feeling of defeat was present, but something seemed off. When she returned home, Paloma decided to dig deeper, uncovering a secret that would change everything.
In the end, Paloma wasn’t alone in her struggle, and an unseen force began to reveal itself, setting the stage for an even more intense confrontation. The fate of the family was intertwined with dark secrets, and the real battle was just beginning.