55

"Hi, aunt," said Luana as she entered the house and found her aunt Cristina at the table, looking at some old photos, visibly emotional.

"Come, my dear, sit here. Let's have some blackberry tea," Cristina invited.

"Oh, aunt, blackberry tea, I love it," replied Luana, sitting down and pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Are you looking at that album again, aunt?" Luana asked, looking at the photos in Cristina's hand.

"Oh, Luana, your hands were so tiny. Your hands couldn't find gloves that fit, so your mother ended up making gloves that would fit," Cristina reminisced as she flipped through the photo album. "Oh, how I miss these photos."

"They didn't see me grow up. I miss them," said Luana, emotionally.

"I do too," agreed Cristina.

"And the worst part is that my longing has never diminished, not even a bit. Being successful, having a good education, that's all I wanted so they could be proud. But I didn't make it. They will never be proud of me," Luana confided.

"Don't say that, never say that again. Your parents would be very proud of you, just like I am," affirmed Cristina.

"Really, aunt?" asked Luana.

"Yes, my dear."

"I'm so lucky to have you in my life, aunt," said Luana.

"Oh, my little flower. Don't make me get emotional, I've already messed up my makeup, enough already. Let's stop this topic," Cristina requested, wiping her teary eyes.

"Luana, I know you're engaged to this guy now, but... What about your studies? Tell me, dear?" Cristina asked.

"I'll finish, aunt. You can relax. I won't give up on my dream. Relax," Luana replied.

"Luana, it's just one more year, only one year left. Stop being stubborn, let's talk to your grandmother?" Cristina insisted.

"With my grandmother? We don't need to ask her for anything. We don't need her money, I don't want it," replied Luana, annoyed.

"I've said it a million times, Luana, that money is already yours, it's rightfully yours," said Cristina.

"Oh, aunt, let's leave my grandmother out of this," Luana replied.

"Alright then. If that's what you want, Luana, let's leave it at that."

"You don't know your grandmother like I do. She followed every step of ours over the years. I know her. And I know her well," explained Cristina.

"Alright, aunt, enough of this topic," replied Luana, getting up to hug her aunt. "And let's talk, grandma, we're very happy to see you." And the two repeated in a loud tone.

"You're such a little crazy girl, my crazy daughter, and I love you very much," declared Cristina.

While Cristina and Luana conversed emotionally, Karine was at a romantic dinner with her fiancé, Lucas.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Karine.

"I'm looking because you're wonderfully beautiful," replied Lucas.

"That's good. We went out today, we haven't had much time for just the two of us lately," said Karine.

"But it's you who's been very busy. Otherwise, I'd be with you all the time, looking at you," replied Lucas.

"Do you want to be with me all the time? And lighten my workload?" Karine asked.

"Yes," Lucas replied.

"Then work with me as a consultant. Would that help me? And so we would be together all the time," Karine proposed.

"It would be wonderful, but wouldn't Fred be upset about this situation?" Lucas questioned.

"As for that, leave it to me," Karine replied, excited to see that her plan was working.

"And I'll take care of it," Karine concluded.

Lucas looked at Karine, suspicious and not understanding what was happening, but he chose not to say anything and watched what his fiancée would do. With a smile, Karine took out her cell phone from her bag and made a call. She called Luiz, Fred's father, to recommend her fiancé, Lucas, as the new consultant for the company. Even though Isadora begged Luiz not to accept, he accepted immediately, willingly, leaving Isadora very irritated. But since Luiz loved to annoy Fred, he saw a great opportunity there and didn't think twice when Karine asked him to hire Lucas.

Fred, with his work addiction, couldn't even stop working at home, during his resting time. He typed attentively while looking at his laptop when his phone started ringing with a video call. A big smile spread across his face when he saw that it was Luana on the other end of the line.

"Look at you calling me," Fred said as soon as he answered the phone.

"I thought you wouldn't answer because it's already 10 at night," Luana replied.

"That's true," Fred agreed.

"What are you doing to relax a bit?" Luana asked.

"Usually I do that by working," Fred replied.

"Well, you're boring. And since you won't do it on your own, you'll have to listen to me like we agreed. You'll have to do what I say," Luana said.

"Why are you so concerned about my stress? Are you starting to worry about me?" Fred asked, intrigued.

"No way. Don't be silly. It's just that you seem like you're about to explode all the time. All this tension is getting to me. So just listen to me. You'll have to take 10 minutes a day to relax. It's a deal. Meanwhile, I'll learn to swim," Luana requested.

"Alright, miss. So what do I do?" Fred asked.

"Turn off the laptop," Luana requested.

"Alright," Fred agreed, flipping the screen of his phone and showing that he was indeed shutting down the laptop.

"I'm going to send you a song. There, I've sent it. You have an amazing sound system at your place, listen to it on there," Luana requested again.

"Just a moment," Fred asked as he downloaded the song and played it on his sound system. "There we go," he replied as the music played loudly.

"What did you think?" Luana asked.

"I liked it," Fred replied.

"Now go to the kitchen," Luana instructed.

"Alright, I'm in the kitchen now," Fred replied as he got there.

"What do you want to drink?" Luana asked.

"Water will do," Fred replied.

"Do you have any lemons there?" Luana asked.

"Yes, I do," Fred replied. "Why?"

"Get one," Luana replied.

Fred headed to the fridge, looking suspicious, but fetched the lemon Luana asked for.

"Cut the lemon. Then squeeze half into the water. And the other half, you smell," Luana instructed.

"Why?" Fred asked, suspiciously.

"Come on, just do it, smell the lemon," Luana requested, with a big smile.

And Fred, following her advice, put the lemon to his nose and took a whiff.

"Lemon reduces stress," Luana explained.

"Now go to the garden," Luana requested. And Fred, following her advice, took the glass of water, his phone, and went to the garden.

"Go where you can see the stars," Luana requested.

"Alright, I'm outside now," Fred replied, looking at the sky.

"Now, take a deep breath," Luana instructed.

Luana taught and did it at the same time.

"Do you feel better now?" Luana asked.

"I know you're still going to use this against me, but I am," Fred replied, now much calmer. "I'm feeling much better."

"I knew it. Good night, Fred Oliver."

"Good night, Luana Andrade."