Vera and Thiago were talking about cities that have social projects similar to Ariadne's, when Aline enters the office with a thick folder. She smiles, excited and hands it to the candidate who looks at her, curious:
— What is it? – asks Thiago, opening the folder — Don't tell me that...
— Yes, it's the Institute's project – confirms Aline, smiling.
— At last – grumbles Vera, taking the project from Thiago's hands — We were stopped for two weeks waiting for this.
—I know, but they only had a sketch. I had to work it out from scratch – explains Aline — Anyway, now we have the missing foundation for everything to happen.
— We? – Vera asks, looking Aline up and down. —You only created a project... I'll have to fit that into the campaign. I had to rearrange cities, some will have to go back. Others will be left out. And we have two weeks less in our schedule to deal with the population of Curitiba.
— Aline, would you like to go on a caravan with us? – asks Thiago bluntly.
— Thiago, this is unacceptable – Vera reacts, annoyed.
— Why do you think that? – asks Thiago.
— Well... She has to take care of Malú, isn't that what I brought her for? – Vera asks nervously.
—My mother can very well take care of my daughter. In addition, Malú is responsible and is already too big to need a babysitter – answers Thiago, receiving a surprised look from Tia de Malú — Aline will be a fundamental part of my speeches.
— Fundamental piece? Are you kidding? How can Aline help us? – Vera asks, annoyed.
— Vera, our audience is not formed only with people who use conventional language... And Aline learned Libras recently, so she will be able to speak for us with the audience that uses Libras.
— The disabled… – Vera concludes, disgusted.
— Never say that again – asks Thiago, seriously — Never speak like that again. So Aline, do you accept?
— Thiago, thank you for considering me, but I don't have that much practice in Libras… – Answers Aline, embarrassed.
— But that's not the only reason I'd like to have you in my campaign – claims Thiago — People listen to you. By the way, you are a great influencer. In addition to having grit, being open–minded, which we need more than ever in the final stretch of the campaign.
— I don't know… – Aline answers, thoughtfully.
— If you want, I'll hire an interpreter to go with us – proposes Thiago.
— Of course, because our budget isn't even tight with this new plan of action – mocks Vera.
— Vera is right, your budget is already tight. Putting me on the campaign and anyone else doesn't seem viable.
—Aline, I need you to go. – Asks Thiago — I want to know everything about my daughter's childhood and only you know everything she's been through. I want to come back from the campaign knowing as much as I can about Malú. So please come with us.
— Alright, I'll go – agrees Aline crossing her arms – But know that you can't know sixteen years of a person's life in a few weeks.
— Thank you, Aline – thanks Thiago, smiling.
—Okay… – Aline lets out.
She walks towards the door being watched by Thiago who has a silly smile on his lips until he leaves. Unlike Vera, who looks at him, seriously. He then shakes his head and goes back to looking at the map on his desk.
— Thiago, are you liking Aline? – Vera asks with her arms crossed.
— What? What nonsense is this, Vera? – asks Thiago, irritated by the audacity of public relations.
— A simple question: Yes or no? – reinforces Vera analyzing her ex–brother–in–law.
— Of course not. Where did you get this from? – asks Thiago.
—Oh, that's what it looks like. Even more so now with you practically drooling over her – comments Vera.
— No, I'm not liking Aline. I'm just treating the woman who helped raise my daughter with respect – Thiago replies — Besides, I would never get involved with my wife... – He stops for a few moments and then turns towards the map — We can go back to what were we doing?
—With the wife of your...? – Vera asks, curious — Whose wife is Aline, Thiago?
— No one's – answers Thiago — Can we go back to work, or will you want to gossip?
— As you wish, Thiago. – Vera answers looking at the map — Just one piece of advice: You need to believe your own lie so that everyone else believes it too.
***
Aline walks through the garden towards the bandstand, where Malú and Ricardo are in yet another session. She sits watching the young woman finish the exercises guided by the speech therapist who smiles:
— And we're done for today – concludes Ricardo — Congratulations Malú, as always, you proving to be a great student.
Malú places his right hand flat inward in front of his forehead and the left hand flat inside in the middle of his chest and moves them away from his body towards Ricardo, thanking him.
— Now it's your aunt's turn, who, unlike you, is very lax with her classes – Ricardo comments, staring at Aline.
— In my defense – begins Aline — I've been working on the Institute's project and haven't had time for anything else.
— Not even for me – pins Ricardo.
— And I'll have much less – comments Aline under the curious eyes of Malú and Ricardo. She smiles and announces — Your father invited me to join the caravan... And I accepted.
—And what will you do in that caravan? – asks Ricardo seriously.
— Some things, among them, help in communication in Libras – answers Aline.
'But you're not ready to do that yet,' says Ricardo, with mild irritation.
—Well, I know. That's why I said it would be better to have an interpreter on the side. Even though I'm not ready, I still think it's a great opportunity to develop my communication – explains Aline.
— We've already finished the session, Malú – informs Ricardo. The young woman realizes that the mood is heavy so she gets up, going inside the Mansion. As soon as Malú enters, the speech therapist stares at Aline — Is that your only reason?
— That's one of my reasons – answers Aline, calmly admiring the garden.
— I bet that among them is Thiago de Almeida – comments Ricardo.
— Reasons that only interest me – defends Aline, serious.
— Aline, how long will you choose this family? – asks Ricardo, irritated — After everything they did to you...
— Hey? – Aline looks at him, confused.
—Exactly what you heard. You remember very well what they did to Malú's mother, the whole plot... Thiago abandoned Anna... Icaro deceived you for years... And Mrs. Maria, the person behind the whole thing. bad. And even so, you continue to support them… – Ricardo replies, disgusted.
—How do you know all this? – Aline asks with a raised eyebrow.
— Well, since you decided not to say anything about him, I went to the mansion's ears: the employees – Ricardo replies — And just like them, I'm in doubt if you still love Ícaro, or if you're liking Thiago, the man that you disowned and the love of your best friend's life. Anyway, you really want to be part of the family. The family you said you hated.
— And all this is none of your business – Aline counters, angrily. —Ricardo, understand one thing: Instead of listening to employee gossip, you should just be here for work.
— Yes, but I didn't expect to fall in love with you, Aline – confesses Ricardo holding the hand of the woman in front of him — And you have no idea how much I want you to choose me.
— So let me be very clear with you – says Aline smiling. She holds Ricardo's hand — I know my choices well and I don't regret almost any of them. And I want you to know that you haven't been... You're not... And, above all... YOU WILL NEVER BE among them – she finishes releasing his hand from the phone and getting up — And your attitude of thinking you can judge me, just me made you more certain that you are not the man you appear to be.
—Then you prefer to reject me, precisely I who have never done you any harm? – asks Ricardo, confused.
—Yes, I'm turning you down. And I think it was a bad idea to ask you to teach me... So from now on, I'm dismissing you as my teacher. – Determines Aline.
— You will regret it, Aline – comments Ricardo, head down — This family will still make you suffer a lot, know that.
— I only have one regret in my life and you can be sure it will stay that way – finishes the woman walking back to the mansion.
***
Reginaldo puts his bags in the trunk of Thiago's car, while Aline and the candidate say goodbye to Malú and Maria Luísa.
— Good luck – wishes the matriarch, holding her son's face in her hands — Take care and touch the heart of each one wherever you go.
— You can, mom – answers Thiago looking at Aline — Now I have the right weapon by my side.
— We won't go back without being sure that this project will get off the ground – comments Aline. She hugs her niece — Judgment, young lady and care. We'll be back soon.
— Take care, my daughter – asks Thiago, holding Malú's shoulders — Know that I love you.
She nods her head towards Thiago who walks away beside Aline. Now the social project depends entirely on them .