DIEGO BITTENCOURT
“What were you talking about with Maria Gabriela?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral, though an odd tension was building inside me.
Arthur looked up at me with his big, innocent eyes and shrugged, like it was nothing worth mentioning.
“Nothing, Dad,” he said quickly, his tone light as his eyes wandered around my office, clearly searching for something more interesting to focus on.
But I knew my son better than that. That kind of quick, dismissive answer was always a red flag. I planted my hands on the desk, leaned forward slightly, and repeated the question—this time, with more weight.
“Arthur, what did you say to her?” My tone was calm but firm, a hint of authority creeping in. I didn’t want to scare him, but I needed to know.
He hesitated for a moment, his little legs swinging back and forth from the chair. Then, after a few seconds, he lowered his gaze, cheeks flushing, and mumbled, “I told her… that I heard you say her name while you were sleeping on the couch the other day.”
My whole body went rigid. The space between my eyebrows tightened as I tried to process what he’d just said.
I said her name in my sleep?
That was news to me. I hadn’t even realized it happened. But the truth was, ever since things had shifted between me and Maria Gabriela, she’d been on my mind more than I wanted to admit.
Arthur looked up at me, waiting for a reaction—probably expecting me to scold him—but I just leaned back in my chair with a frustrated sigh.
“It’s alright, son,” I said, forcing a calm tone.
He nodded quickly, relieved, and—like kids do—switched topics in the blink of an eye.
“Uncle Alex told me to wait here. He’s coming to get me so we can go to the park,” he said, his voice bright with excitement.
Of course my brother had brought him to the office. That wasn’t unusual. Alexandre had always been more relaxed when it came to balancing work and family. He’d show up with Arthur and Theo now and then, especially when he had a meeting or just wanted some time with his son.
I didn’t mind, honestly. Having Arthur around was a welcome distraction amid the chaos of running the company—especially when my thoughts were already too crowded with a certain woman’s name.
A moment later, the door opened and Alexandre stepped in, looking as carefree as ever.
“Thought I lost this little explorer somewhere in here,” he joked, giving Arthur’s shoulder a light tap. Arthur giggled and jumped up to hug him.
“He was exploring,” I said, keeping my eyes off my brother. My mind was still spinning from Arthur’s confession, and I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
I watched as Alexandre crouched down to whisper something in his nephew’s ear. They laughed together, and I just sat there, watching—but my thoughts were miles away, stuck on the image of Maria Gabriela.
I’d tried to ignore it these past few weeks, but there was no denying it anymore—she occupied too much space in my head. And it was becoming unbearable.
I was trapped in a vicious loop—anger, desire, frustration—a mess of emotions I didn’t want to deal with.
Deep down, though, in the part of me I didn’t want to acknowledge, I knew Maria Gabriela wasn’t the kind of woman who’d do something out of manipulation or gain. I knew her—maybe better than I should—and that was exactly what made this internal war so damn hard.
I realized then that what truly enraged me wasn’t her. It was the fact that I couldn’t control her. I couldn’t predict her. I couldn’t understand what was happening—to her, or to me.
“You okay?” Alexandre’s voice broke through my thoughts.
There was no point in explaining. Not when I barely understood it myself. I simply nodded.
“Yeah. Everything’s under control.”
But Alexandre didn’t look convinced. He glanced from me to Arthur, then back again, as if he could see something I didn’t want him to.
“If you need anything, you know where to find me,” he said quietly.
I gave another nod, trying to shut the mental door on the chaos spinning inside me.
Everything was under control.
At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.
Now, I just had to stay calm, face Maria Gabriela, and somehow find a way out of this mess—without losing the control I valued so much.