His jaw clenched. “She didn’t waste any time, did she?”
Julio glanced at him nervously. “She’s not what you think—”
“Save it,” Ademir snapped, dismissing the thought. “This is just a transaction. Nothing more.”
But somewhere deep down, something about Karina’s quiet defiance lingered in his mind.
Eunice’s loud, theatrical cries echoed through the hospital room. “Oh, my poor daughter! Canceling her wedding is as good as killing her!”
“Mother, stop,” Vitória said weakly, her tear-streaked face pale. “Mr. Ademir has already married someone else. I wasn’t lucky enough to be his choice.” She sniffled, her voice trembling. “But thank you for coming to see me, Mr. Ademir.”
Ademir stiffened, his patience waning. He had little tolerance for tears, but Vitória had once been his first choice, and guilt compelled him to show restraint.
“Vitória,” he said firmly, “marrying her was necessary. There’s no love between us, and a divorce is inevitable. I’ll keep my promises, but I need you to wait.”
Vitória’s tear-filled eyes widened. “Really?”
Ever the opportunist, Eunice interjected, “You’re not lying, are you, Mr. Ademir? My daughter’s future is at stake!”
Ademir’s gaze turned sharp. “Are you questioning my word?”
Eunice faltered under his glare, but Vitória, desperate to calm the tension, clutched his sleeve and cried, “I believe you! I’ll wait as long as you need.”
Ademir’s hardened expression softened slightly. “Good. Rest and don’t dwell on negative thoughts.”
“Yes, Mr. Ademir,” Vitória murmured obediently.
Satisfied he had calmed her down, Ademir left the hospital room. But as he walked through the lobby, his sharp eyes caught a familiar figure.
Karina.
She wasn’t at Mission Hills Mansion as she should have been. Instead, she was walking into a doctor’s office. Ademir’s gaze flicked up to the sign above the door: Gynecology.
His brows knitted together in suspicion, and without a word, he decided to wait outside.
Half an hour later, Karina emerged, her face pale, her steps unsteady. She leaned against the wall, only to freeze when she saw him.
“Ademir? What are you doing here?”
His cold eyes bore into hers. “The better question is, what are you doing here?”
“That’s none of your business,” Karina replied, her voice barely steady. She looked away, avoiding his piercing gaze.
The door behind her creaked open, and a nurse stepped out, holding a file. “Karina, you forgot your medical records!”
“Oh, thank you,” Karina hurriedly, reaching for the file.
But Ademir was quicker. He snatched it before she could react, his height advantage making it impossible for her to retrieve it.
“Give it back!” Karina exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. “Don’t read it!”
“I will read it,” Ademir retorted, flipping the file open despite her desperate protests.
Karina’s heart sank as she watched his expression shift from confusion to disbelief, then anger.
“You—what kind of shameful wound is this?” he demanded, his voice low but venomous.
Karina clenched her eyes shut, her face drained of all color.
Unable to stay silent, the nurse stepped in, her tone sharp. “You’re her boyfriend and don’t know? You should be ashamed. She has third-degree lacerations and needed multiple stitches! You don’t value her—only your pleasure.” She shot him a withering look before muttering, “Without experience, don’t try to perform difficult movements.”
The words hit Ademir like a slap. Lacerations? Stitches? Difficult movements?
His mind raced. The implications were clear, but his temper flared, and he jumped to the worst conclusion. “Karina,” he hissed, his voice dripping with disdain, “calling you shameless doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Karina opened her mouth to respond, but he grabbed her arm, his grip firm and unrelenting. “We’re going to see Grandpa. He deserves to know exactly what kind of woman you are!”
Ademir shoved Karina into Otávio’s room, his fury palpable. Karina stumbled forward, nearly losing her balance.
Otávio, propped up in bed, looked up, confused by their abrupt entrance. The doctor had just finished an exam and addressed Ademir.
“Mr. Ademir, your grandfather is stable for now, but he’s weak. He needs rest and, most importantly, no emotional shocks.”
The doctor left, leaving a tense silence in the room.
Otávio smiled weakly. “Ademir, Karina, why are you here? You just got married. Shouldn’t you be enjoying your honeymoon?”
“Mr. Otávio, I—” Karina began, her voice trembling.
