CHAPTER 6
“True wealth lies in the connections we build with others…”
DIEGO BITTENCOURT
The weekend came faster than I expected, and what was supposed to be a small get-together had grown a little bigger. Not that I could complain. It was always complicated to gather my whole family.
Or even part of it.
I was in the living room of my mansion, watching Arthur play in the yard with Theo, while my mother, Celina, sat beside me on the couch.
She was sixty-five, retired for some time now, but still carried herself with elegance. Her gray hair was always perfectly styled, and her green eyes, filled with wisdom, reflected that rare mix of gentleness and strength. She’d always been that way—a quiet fortress, the foundation of everything.
“My grandson looks more and more like you, son,” she said with a soft smile, watching Arthur run across the grass.
“I just hope he inherited more than my looks, Mom,” I answered lightly, joking on the surface, though we both knew there was truth buried in the words.
Arthur was a miniature version of me, physically. But I hoped he’d grow into qualities I had neglected in myself over the years.
She laughed under her breath, and I could feel her gaze settle on me, assessing me the way she always did. My mother had a way of seeing past the facade that so few could pierce.
“He has your spirit, Diego. Strong, determined… but also sensitive,” she said. And I knew she was right, as always.
“How’s Dad?” I asked, shifting the subject. It was never easy to talk about him without feeling that heaviness in my chest.
“He’s doing as well as he can,” she explained, her voice soft but tinged with a quiet sorrow. “He had a few better days this week. But… you know how it is.”
And I did.
Since my father, Amaro, had suffered a stroke, he hadn’t been the same. His mind was still sharp, but his body no longer obeyed him. It was like he was trapped inside a silent prison, unable to move or communicate the way he once had.
Sometimes it was unbearable to look at him—this man who’d once been so powerful, now so vulnerable.
“I’ll visit him soon,” I said, trying to sound casual. But my mother knew that was a promise I made more often than I kept.
“He’ll like that.” She nodded, her smile tinged with sadness.
Her words hit harder than I cared to admit.
The truth was, it had become painful to face my father like that. The man who had inspired me to become who I was, who helped shape the empire Alexandre and I had built.
Amacel.
The name itself a fusion of theirs—Amaro and Celina. They were the foundation of our story, the strength behind everything we had created.
I knew I should visit him more often. But something in me always resisted. Maybe it was the fear of confronting what the future might hold for me too.
Work was always the easier distraction. Easier to drown myself in meetings, decisions, numbers. But in moments like this, reality crept in, and there was no escaping it.
“I’ll do it. I promise, Mom,” I said more firmly this time. And I knew I meant it. Because no matter how hard it was, he was still my father—and time… time was merciless.
My mother had always been wise enough to give me space, even when she knew exactly what I was avoiding.
While Arthur and Theo laughed and chased each other through the garden, I felt the weight pressing down on my shoulders. Not just the weight of business, but of family. And in that moment, I realized I had to find balance. Not just for myself, but for them.
And that started with something as simple as visiting my father.
“Enjoy these moments, Diego,” my mother said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Life moves too fast, and sometimes we only see what matters when it’s already too late.”
I looked at her, into those wise eyes, and knew she was right.
“I’m trying, Mom,” I said with a faint smile. “I really am trying.”
“Having fun, son?”
“Yes, Daddy!” Arthur shouted, eyes sparkling as he and Theo darted around me.
The two of them were completely lost in their superhero world, as if nothing outside of it existed.
I crouched down to their height, pretending to be one of the “villains” they had to defeat.
I couldn’t stop smiling at the way Theo threw himself into the game with the same intensity as Arthur.
Watching my son and my nephew like that—carefree, happy—brought me a peace I rarely felt.
“Daddy, you’re gonna lose!” Arthur cried, pretending to strike me with his little hands.
I overdid the reaction, tumbling back onto the ground as if his attack had knocked me flat.
“Defeated by the strongest heroes in the world!” I exclaimed dramatically, making both boys burst out laughing.
Their laughter was contagious, and before I realized it, I was laughing too—something that didn’t happen nearly as often as it should.
That’s when Alexandre appeared, watching with a grin. He walked closer, stopping beside me while I was still sprawled on the ground.
“Looks like you lost,” he teased, crossing his arms as the boys celebrated their victory.
I got to my feet slowly, brushing off my pants, trying not to smile too much even though I was still caught up in the fun.
“Yeah, looks like I did,” I admitted with a shrug. “They’re unbeatable.”
The boys went running back into the yard, picking up their game again, while my brother and I sat down on the porch sofa where we could watch them.
“Haven’t seen you that relaxed in a while,” Alexandre said, glancing at me sideways.
“I don’t always get the chance,” I muttered, keeping my eyes on the kids. “But being with Arthur… it helps. Reminds me what really matters.”
Alexandre nodded, also watching the boys play. For a moment, we sat in silence, letting the calm settle around us.
“So, what’s going on outside of work?” he asked casually, shifting the focus.
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “I keep things simple when I’m not at the office. Spend as much time as I can with Arthur.”
“And what about Maria Gabriela?” he pressed, tossing her name into the air with a sly smile that immediately put me on edge.
I knew he was teasing, but there was something in his eyes—something sincere—that told me he wasn’t only curious. Alexandre genuinely wanted to understand what was happening between me and Maria Gabriela.
And the truth was… so did I.
“What about her?”
“Oh, come on. Do you just enjoy messing with the girl, or is there something real there?” my brother asked bluntly.
I drew in a breath. No point hiding it. Alexandre had always been better than anyone at reading between the lines.
“We spent the night together last weekend,” I admitted, my voice heavier than I expected. “That’s it. Nothing more. I was careful—I used protection. I won’t let what happened with Arthur’s mother happen again. And I don’t want to be a father all over.”
Alexandre’s expression shifted, a mix of surprise and understanding. He knew how delicate the subject of Arthur’s mother was—something we almost never spoke about. And I preferred to keep it that way.
“Right…” he said quietly, not pushing for more. “Just be careful. Sometimes all that teasing turns into something we’re not ready to deal with.”
“I know,” I said, my gaze drifting back to the yard where Arthur and Theo were still laughing, still playing. “I’m aware.”
And I was.
Maria Gabriela was different. She provoked me, challenged me, and pulled me in a way I couldn’t control. But there was fear too. Fear of things spiraling out of control, of repeating mistakes from the past that still haunted me.
For now, I’d keep things as they were. Professional—or as close to professional as I could manage.
The problem was, ever since that night, something had shifted. And no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, the spark between us kept growing—quiet, relentless.
My brother gave me a light tap on the shoulder, snapping me back to the moment.
“Well, whatever it is, you know where to find me if you need me,” he said with a grin.
“I know.”