Declaration

**Isadora**

I knew this conversation would happen sooner or later, but nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of facing Vincent and Thomas together. Both of them stared at me, waiting for answers, and the tension in the air was almost palpable. My heart was racing, but I took a deep breath. It was time to lay everything on the table.

Vincent looked more hurt than angry, which only made this harder. On the other hand, Thomas maintained an analytical posture, but his eyes studied me as if trying to read my soul. There was no way out.

"I know you have many questions, and I came here because I want to be honest," I began, my voice sounding as firm as I had hoped. "But first and foremost, I want you to understand that I didn’t do any of this out of malice or because I didn’t trust you."

I glanced at Esmeralda, who sat with her impeccable posture and a discreet smile as if she knew exactly what was coming.

"When I found out my mother needed surgery and that it would cost a fortune, I had no other choice. The medical expenses were outrageous, and I knew I could never pay for them on my own. That’s when Esmeralda stepped in and helped me. She covered everything without asking for anything in return at the time."

I saw the surprise on Vincent’s face, followed by a flicker of hurt that struck me like a blow.

"Why didn’t you come to me?" he asked, his voice low and laden with pain.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his disappointment.

"Because I knew that if I asked for your help, I would feel indebted to you. And I didn’t want our relationship to be tainted by that."

Thomas raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he listened in silence. Vincent seemed on the verge of saying something, but Esmeralda intervened.

"Vincent, it was better this way. Isadora needed help, and I was in a position to assist her without creating that kind of emotional dependency. Now, she’s here because she chose to be. Not out of obligation, not out of debt…"

It was the truth, but hearing someone like Esmeralda say it out loud still felt strange.

"I came back because I realized I couldn’t keep running from what I feel for you two," I confessed, looking at both Vincent and Thomas. "I love you both, but I need to be whole to face whatever comes next."

Vincent seemed to struggle to process what I was saying. Thomas, on the other hand, surprised me with a slight smile.

"So, are you ready to face the world with us?" he asked, using that teasing tone to mask his seriousness.

I nodded, feeling my heart warm a little.

"Yes, I am."

Vincent finally broke the silence, but his voice still carried a note of pain.

"I just can’t understand this sudden turn of events… I’m being honest. Why did you change your mind about Isa, Grandma?"

"I realized that, even though I don’t agree with this strange relationship you’ve developed, the feelings between you are real, and I only want you to be happy, Vincent. If your happiness depends on having this young woman by your side, then so be it."

I nodded, feeling the weight of Esmeralda’s words. I believed her, and that’s why I accepted her help. Now my mother is recovering wonderfully, and I decided to return to Curitiba guided solely by the feelings that bind me to Thomas and Vincent, with no ulterior motives.

"I’m here, Vincent. Body and soul."

Esmeralda stood up, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"You have a lot to work out, but I believe this is a good start. And, Isadora, remember: no one else has the right to judge the choices you make."

She left the room immediately, leaving us alone to face the consequences of that night.

Esmeralda’s departure brought Thomas closer to me, and I felt my heart race. There was something in the way he looked at me as if he wanted me to understand his feelings without needing to say anything. He touched my face with a tenderness that made me close my eyes for a moment, savoring the long-awaited contact.

"I missed you so much, Isadora," he said with an intensity that made me shiver. "I love you."

I opened my eyes, letting him see the truth reflected in them.

"I love you too, Thomas. And I missed you more than I can express."

Vincent, standing just a few steps away, merely watched us. His silence was almost tangible, heavy with emotions he refused to reveal. I knew he was processing everything, but his apparent indifference stung deeply.

Thomas leaned in and brushed my lips with a delicate, almost timid kiss as if testing whether I was truly there, willing to return. My heart warmed, and I kissed him back, fully certain that this was where I belonged.

"Do you want to go back to the apartment?" he asked, a faint smile on his lips that reminded me of the moments we had shared before everything fell apart.

I smiled back, feeling a glimmer of hope.

"Yes, that would be wonderful."

But Vincent’s silence lingered, an invisible wall between us that I didn’t know how to break. Always direct, Thomas held my hand and turned to his partner.

"And you, Vincent? Will you come with us?"

There was a moment of tension as if time itself had stopped. Vincent finally spoke, but his voice was cold, almost distant.

"No."

My heart sank, but I held my composure. I looked at him, trying to decipher what was going through his mind.

"It’s a shame you feel this way, Vincent. But if you change your mind... it’s never too late to come back."

He didn’t respond, merely averting his gaze, and that broke me a little more inside. Still, I knew he needed space, just as I had needed time alone to understand that being with them was where I truly belonged.

Thomas squeezed my hand, as if trying to comfort me, and led me out of the room. As we left, I glanced back one last time at Vincent, hoping he would say something, do something. But he remained where he was, silent, and I knew it would take time to heal the wound between us.

For now, all I could do was cling to the hope that, in the end, he too would find his way back to me.