Chapter 41
Alice Mendes
I'm six months along now, and my belly is huge—after all, I'm carrying two babies. Two boys. I was expecting just one, but who am I to argue with God?
Today is my day off from the hotel, so I decide to take a walk. Since I'm so far along, I try to stay close to home in case I need help.
I spot the bench in the middle of the park—the same one where I usually sit to watch the sea. Late afternoons, this place fills with children, and I love watching them run, play, and laugh with their mothers. Soon I'll be one of them. I smile, rubbing my belly.
I feel a light kick and place my hand on the spot.
It's an indescribable sensation—knowing I'm carrying two little rascals who never stop moving.
Dr. Karla keeps saying they're restless.
She's become a friend after so many appointments where I cried and poured my heart out to her.
I felt so alone, even though I had friends like Cata, Gabriel, and Denis—the branch president—who took me in and kept me hidden all this time.
Gabi, as I call him, always comes with me to appointments, set up the babies' room (which turned out beautiful), and treats them like they're his own. He even tried to make something happen between us, but I love Oliver. And I don't want a relationship, not now.
I miss him, especially at appointments, at ultrasounds… That's when the longing hits hardest. But he must be married and happy with his wife by now. Maybe he even lives in another country. I've gotten used to being without him—though in the beginning, it was devastating.
I practically lived at the hospital—nothing would stay down, and I needed IV fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. And every single time, Gabi was there. Always. Even so, Oliver's absence was crushing.
Catarina, Denis, and even Alberto know about my pregnancy, and they've promised not to tell anyone. They all think I should call and tell him—after all, it's the father's right to know. But I don't have the courage. I don't want to risk a woman answering the phone. So my answer is still no.
Recently, I discovered a theft at the company. Since I'm taking business classes, I decided to review the departments, and to my surprise, I found irregularities in accounting. They were hiding money from the dividends.
I investigated, gathered evidence, and tomorrow the employee will be fired.
I snap out of my daydreaming and decide to head home—the sun is already setting, and I need to be back at my apartment before seven, or everyone gets anxious. They were protective before, but once they found out about the twins, it tripled.
But I'll admit: I like being taken care of. Since it can't come from the person I love most, I'll take it from my true friends.
I walk slowly, admiring the view. This city is beautiful—the sea, the birds, people strolling… The hotel was built in the perfect spot.
Suddenly, I hear someone calling me. It's Denis.
“Alice, I was looking for you! You know you're almost seven months along and can't be wandering around by yourself!”
“Oh, Denis… I wish you were the father of my babies. You're so good to me,” I say, laughing.
“I can be, just say yes. But I'll have to face Gabriel,” he jokes, and I laugh even harder. Denis is a handsome man—straight hair swept to the side in an almost-blond shade, deep blue eyes, and a light beard. A few inches taller than me, and a great friend on top of it all.
“I'm a lucky girl, you know? Two heartbreakers interested in me. But you both know I still love Oliver. I've tried to forget him, but I can't. So… just friends, for now.”
He pouts, and I smile. But suddenly I get a strange feeling—like someone's watching me. I turn and see a woman staring at me. When our eyes meet, she looks away and starts walking toward the hotel.
She looks like Andréa. But what would she be doing here? It must be my imagination.
Denis gets my attention and walks me to my building.
“Do you really want to be at the meeting tomorrow?” he asks.
“Of course! I'm the one who discovered the theft. I want to be there.”
“All right. I'll pick you up tomorrow.”
“You don't have to, I'll go by myself. There's still a while before the babies come, and I'm fine,” I say, glancing at my swollen feet. “Besides, Gabriel will be home.”
“Sure…” he says skeptically. “I'll set you up in an office next to mine. That way you won't have to keep going up and down stairs.”
“What would I do without you, Denis? Thank you for everything. Now go—I need to put these feet up.”
“See you tomorrow, stubborn,” he says, kisses my forehead, and leaves.
The next day, I wake up rested. I shower, get ready, and pick out a loose dress with low heels. Light makeup, hair pinned up with a few strands loose. I have breakfast under Gabi's watchful eye, and he drives me to the hotel, promising to pick me up later.
I go in, greet everyone, and head to the executive floor.
I'm talking with Clara, a shareholder, when a familiar scent hits me. A voice… unmistakable.
My heart races.
It can't be.
Oliver.
I turn slowly, but he's already looking at me. And then time simply stops.
There's no anger. No hurt. No resentment.
Just two people who love each other—and know it.
The world around us fades away.
Only his gaze. His scent. The memory of everything.
He's thinner, worn down… but he's still the most handsome man I've ever seen.
Every part of me recognizes him. And, as if they understand, the babies stir inside me.
I hope he doesn't notice my belly. God, I hope.
Denis appears, breaking the spell.
“Oliver! What a pleasure to have you here. I didn't think you'd come,” he says, intrigued.
“I need a word with Alice,” Oliver responds, his eyes never leaving me.
Denis, sensing my discomfort, kisses my forehead.
“Can you hold the meeting for a few minutes?” I ask, struggling to breathe.
“Of course, beautiful,” he says, winking at me, then turns to face Oliver with a serious look.
I leave, feeling his gaze burning into my back.
What is he doing here? Does he know about the pregnancy?
I take a deep breath and enter the room. He follows right behind me.
“What do you want, Oliver?” I ask without turning around.
“What do you mean, what do I want? You just disappear, leave me with a new secretary and a resignation with no explanation, and you're asking me what I want?” His voice is sharp as he moves closer.
I feel his warmth too close, and my body reacts.
I step back, take a deep breath, and turn to face him.
“You're the one who wanted it this way, Oliver.
You broke up with me. Or have you forgotten?
Your house was all set up, your wedding scheduled…
did you want me to stay there watching it all?
Or be your mistress? I'm sorry, but I'm not that kind of woman,” I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“What did you want, for me to be like your fake little wife? You two deserve each other.”
He takes another step closer.
“Hey, my little one, you got it all wrong. It wasn't like that at all. I'm crazy about you, Alice. Crazy. I had to lose you to understand what I feel. And there was no wedding,” he says, with the most sincere look I've ever seen.
I'm floored.
“I don't believe you, Oliver. You can't just show up here and dump all this on me like nothing happened. I've changed. And now I realize it really was Andréa I saw yesterday watching me.”
“What do you mean Andréa is here?” he asks, confused.
“Don't play dumb! I saw her yesterday, and now you show up. Too much of a coincidence, don't you think?”
I feel a twinge in my belly and hold my breath. I need to calm down.
I'm about to leave, but he stares at me—and his gaze drops to my belly.
He swallows hard.
“You're pregnant…?” he asks, his voice catching.
I roll my eyes.
“I think it's pretty obvious, isn't it? Now let's go. Enough of this show.”
I leave, slamming the door behind me, feeling my heart racing.
He showed up just to turn my world upside down.