Chapter 10
TEN
VALENTINA MUNIZ
Hours after seeing Enrico again, I could still feel his cold, cruel gaze burning into my skin.
Every poisonous word he’d spoken had embedded itself in my mind, echoing relentlessly, tearing pieces of calm out of me with a cruelty only he could deliver.
I couldn’t focus on anything. I was exhausted—emotionally and physically. I even managed to burn an entire tray of muffins, which had never happened in my life.
The house was deeply quiet. Clara was sleeping in the room next door, unaware of the storm slowly gathering around her.
I sat on the living room couch with my head in my hands, trying to find a way out—anything that could loosen the tight, crushing pressure around my chest.
Enrico Ferrara wasn’t just a ghost from my past.
He was a real, present threat to the future I had built with so much effort and determination.
A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
When I looked up, Júlia stood there, worry written all over her face.
“Hey,” she said quietly as she stepped in and sat beside me. “Clara asleep?”
“Yes,” I murmured, my voice tired but steady. “Finally. She was restless today. She felt something was wrong.”
Júlia exhaled and touched my shoulder—silent support.
“And you, Val? How are you?”
I closed my eyes briefly, trying to push away the pain that surfaced every time I attempted to answer that question.
“Honestly?” I let out a humorless laugh. “I don’t know. I thought I was past this, Júlia. I thought the past didn’t have power over me anymore.”
“And it doesn’t,” she said firmly, squeezing my hand. “You’re not that girl he left at the altar, Valentina. You’re stronger than you’ve ever been. Don’t let him take that from you again.”
A weak smile tugged at my mouth. I was grateful—desperately—for her presence. Júlia had been my rock since the day I arrived in this town—alone, pregnant, and desperate. Without her, I probably never would have rebuilt anything.
She listened when I needed to speak.
And when I didn’t have words, she sat in the silence with me, making sure I wasn’t alone.
“I won’t let him,” I said, firmer, even though my heart was still racing too fast for it to feel entirely true. “But he came in hard today. And I know he won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
Júlia’s expression tightened.
“Do you think he could do something to you… to you and Clara?”
A cold shadow moved along my spine.
“Knowing Enrico, he’s capable of anything,” I admitted. “When he threatened me today, I realized how much he still hates me.” I swallowed, looking away. “It doesn’t matter how much time passes—he’ll never forgive me for what he thinks I did.”
“And you never tried to explain?” Júlia asked carefully.
A sad smile cut through me, old pain rising like smoke.
“He never gave me a chance to explain anything. Once Enrico decided I was guilty, there was no conversation. To him, I’ve always been guilty. Always the traitor.”
Silence stretched between us. Júlia breathed in slowly and then looked at me with quiet, determined seriousness.
“It doesn’t matter what he believes, Valentina. You don’t need to prove anything to him.” Her grip on my hand tightened. “What matters now is protecting Clara—and protecting this town we love. We can’t let Ferrara win.”
I nodded. She was right.
“I’m scared for my daughter,” I admitted, my voice breaking at the edges. “I never wanted her to feel rejected by her father. I…” I dropped my head, pressing my hands to my face. I didn’t know how to continue.
I didn’t know what to do.
How long would Enrico stay in town? How much risk was Clara in if I kept her in the same orbit as him?
God.
I had loved that man with my whole heart—once—and now I was forced to wonder whether he would be capable of hurting a four-year-old child.
His child.
The child he never wanted.
A silent tear slid down my cheek. I hated feeling fragile, but I didn’t know how to stop it.
Júlia didn’t push. She let the silence breathe until I could.
Minutes crawled through the night, but none of them carried my anguish away. I didn’t want to give up my life. But I couldn’t stop asking myself how much damage I might be doing to Clara if I didn’t.
If I disappeared… Enrico would likely leave me alone.
But that wasn’t fair. Not to me. Not to Clara. Her life was here too.
As if he sensed I needed him, Theo padded down the hallway and dropped at my feet with a heavy sigh. I let out a sad laugh and scratched behind his ear. His golden fur bristled under my fingers.
“He says it’s going to be okay,” Júlia tried to joke.
Before I could answer, my phone rang—loud enough to startle me.
My stomach tightened when I saw the unfamiliar number. I hesitated—then answered.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Muniz, good evening,” a man said. “I apologize for the late hour. This is Cláudio, the mayor. This isn’t an official call—more of a courtesy.”
I blinked, stunned.
The mayor of Tiradentes was calling me? At eight at night?
“The mayor?” I repeated reflexively.
“Yes, ma’am. Me.”
“Um…” I faltered. “How can I help you?”
“I believe you requested a meeting between the Association and Ferrara Group’s representative,” he said. “Is that correct?”
My heart slammed against my ribs. My fingers tightened around the phone as I forced my voice to remain steady.
I had—before I knew who that representative was.
“Yes,” I said.
“Well, in the interests of the town, I’m willing to mediate. The representative currently in the city—the CEO himself—is willing to meet with you.”
A bitter laugh scraped out of my throat.
He was willing to meet with me. What a cruel joke.
“When is the meeting?” I asked, realizing I’d been silent too long when he cleared his throat.
“Tomorrow morning at ten,” he said. “At city hall.”
I closed my eyes, a sick chill running through me.
Facing Enrico again—so soon—felt almost unbearable.
“Fine,” I said finally, low but firm. “I’ll be there.”
I ended the call, the silence in the room suddenly heavy. Júlia stared at me, worry deepening.
“They want a meeting,” I said. “They accepted the one I asked for, actually. Between the Association… and Ferrara.”
Júlia’s eyes widened.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Valentina?”
I bit my lip, fighting the subtle tremor in my hands.
“I don’t have a choice,” I said. “If I don’t face him now, everything I’ve fought for all these years will collapse. I can’t let that happen.”
Júlia squeezed my hand again—support, strength.
“You won’t be alone,” she said. “Me, Camila, Renata—everyone in this town is with you. Enrico Ferrara has no idea what kind of resistance he’s about to face this time.”
A small smile formed, gratitude mixing with a thousand other emotions trying to drown it.
“Thank you, Ju,” I whispered. “I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
“Of course you would’ve,” she said firmly. “But you won’t have to find out tonight.”
I inhaled slowly and nodded.
“I’m going to face Enrico Ferrara tomorrow,” I said, steady now. “I won’t back down—no matter what he says or does. He can’t hurt me more than he already has.” My voice hardened into certainty. “Now I know who he really is. And more importantly, I know who I am.”
Júlia smiled, proud.
“That’s the Valentina I know.”