Maria Gabriela
“I thought I’d feel worse, but honestly… I’m relieved.”
What I’d done hadn’t been intentional, but after the fallout of the week, Diego would probably go through with the paternity test, and I’d finally prove I’d been right all along.
Carol sat next to me on the couch, her brown eyes bright with concern mixed with that familiar urge to cheer me up, the way she always did.
“Seriously?” She arched a brow. “Relieved about starring in a public scandal with your egocentric boss?”
Her tone was teasing, but I knew she meant well.
I sighed and shrugged.
“As much as I’d like to say I’m completely at peace, the truth is the doubt still eats at me. The fear of how Diego will react when the truth comes out never really goes away.”
Carolina smiled, leaning over to bump my shoulder lightly.
“Well, if it’s any comfort, maybe now he’ll stop acting like king of the universe and finally realize the world doesn’t revolve around him.”
A short, genuine laugh escaped me. It amazed me how my friend always knew exactly what to say to make me smile, even at my lowest.
“I highly doubt Diego Bittencourt’s going to change that easily. He’ll probably keep being impossible.”
“True,” Carolina said, laughing too. “But who knows? Maybe he’ll find a new hobby—like, I don’t know, building another company just to prove he can create an empire with nothing but a pen and a napkin.
And of course, he’ll beg you to be his secretary again, because without you the man barely functions. ”
“That’s where I draw the line. If he asks me back, I’ll just say, ‘Not even with triple the salary, Diego!’”
Carol widened her eyes and put on a mock-serious voice.
“Not even with a lifetime bonus and unlimited first-class coffee? Are you sure?”
Another laugh slipped out, and for a moment the weight of the past few weeks eased.
“Okay, maybe I’d reconsider for unlimited coffee,” I admitted, joking as I sank deeper into the couch, feeling a little lighter inside.
“See? Even you have a price.” She grinned, pleased with herself, before pulling the blanket over both of us. “Now, let’s focus on good things. How about we talk about your new life? Have you started thinking about what you’ll do when the baby arrives?”
My thoughts drifted, and for a second the calm I’d felt vanished.
The baby… it was still hard to believe that in a few months I’d be a mother. The idea of raising a child on my own scared me, but at the same time it filled me with a fierce determination.
I knew I’d give it everything I had, even without Diego by my side.
“You know,” I began, a soft smile forming on my lips, “now that I’m out of that job, I’ve been thinking about taking the first steps toward opening my own business. Something small, of course, but it’s something I’ve always wanted.”
Carolina snapped her fingers, like she was seeing my future unfold.
“That! That’s exactly what you need. A fresh start. And I’ll be right here to help with every step, whatever it is. We can even brainstorm a cool name for your business. What do you think?”
I smiled back, a spark of hope rising in my chest.
“I’d love that. I’m going to need all the help I can get.”
“And you’ve got it.”
The relief I’d mentioned earlier settled over me again, but this time it came with a new kind of energy.
For the first time in a long while, it wasn’t fear or uncertainty steering me—it was a genuine desire to move forward, to create something new, something that was mine.
Something no one, not even Diego Bittencourt, could take away from me.
As I thought about that, Max—my loyal four-legged companion—jumped onto the couch beside me, resting his head in my lap. I smiled and stroked his soft fur. He seemed to sense the weight of the moment, as if he knew he was there to remind me everything would be okay.
Carolina looked at him and, of course, couldn’t resist a joke.
“See? You’ve already got the perfect team. A dog who understands you better than any man and a friend who lifts you up. Honestly, Gabi, life’s headed in the right direction.”