I saw her in Paris

Pardon

The day dawned and Helena was already on her feet. Thank the gods, she had no problem re-adapting to her city's time zone. She was used to change.

Samantha was also on her feet, ready to go home. She lives with her parents in a luxurious triplex penthouse located in the most upscale area of ​​São Paulo, but asked to have her own space. Thus, the area dedicated to employees was reformulated to be a kitchenette, inside the parents' large apartment. And she prefers to use the servants' elevator, as she used to tell her mother, going straight to her house so as not to run into anyone.

— I don't know how you can live like this. — Helena said when referring to her friend's family: — Raising at home was totally different. I can't imagine me and my family in the same space and avoiding each other.

— It's not me you have to talk to. I even have a good relationship with both of them, but as far as possible. They are the ones who insist on living like this, in the name of power and social columns. I try to avoid as much as possible so I don't get shot in the middle of that crossfire and even then, I still get hurt preventing the two of them from killing each other!

Helena felt guilty when she heard Samantha's outburst. She knew it wasn't her friend's fault that her parents didn't care much for her.

— Oh friend, forgive me. It's just that it's very difficult to see you in this situation.

— Not everyone is as lucky as you, having loving parents and always being able to count on family.

— Well, I don't know if that's any consolation, but you can consider yourself part of the Petropoulos family.

Hearing this, Samantha smiled. She adored Helena's parents, Constantine and Sophia, whom she called uncle and aunt. They were employees of Rogério Duarte and Marta Ferreira, owners of the largest real estate company in the state, Ferreira and Duarte S/A, until they retired. And they were more present in his life than his parents.

— Then I'm going to the Bom Retiro neighborhood to visit my parents. Are you sure you don't want to go with me? Mom and Dad will love to see you.

— I'd like...but I have to work things out with my parents. One day I'll have to do it. But send them a kiss.

— All right, I'll go. Want me to accompany you downstairs?

— Imagine, you don't have to. I already ordered an Uber. And you have to finish getting ready to go to work. But thanks. And thanks for the trip, I really needed it. Nothing better than the company of best friends to lift your spirits.

That was why Helena admired Samantha. She had everything to be a spoiled girl or a troubled person, but no. She always tries to see the bright side of life, even with that grumpy way of being of hers.

They said goodbye. Helena returned to her tasks when she heard someone knocking on the door. Thinking it was Samantha who probably forgot something at her house and went back to get it, she went to answer it.

— What did you forget, you airhead?

But when she opened the door, she saw that she wasn't her friend... but Dona Maria, Luiz's mother. Helena was very surprised to see her after so long.

— We can talk... if you have a little time, of course.' I promise I won't take up too much of your time.

— Yes sure. I still have a few minutes. And it's okay for me to be a little late. — She invited you in. When she walked in, Helena just wondered what happened for her ex-boyfriend's mother to be there.

— Please have a seat... would you like some coffee or water?

— Actually... what I really wanted was your forgiveness.

Helena looked at her confused. Why did she miss you pardon?

— For what I bastard son did to you... How could he do something like that to a family girl, my God in heaven?

She looked at the ceiling with her hands together and started to cry. At that moment, Helena felt very sorry for Dona Maria. She is not to blame for what he did. She imagined what she must have gone through because of her son's wickedness. If she went through horrors because of Luiz, imagine his mother.

— You don't need to ask my forgiveness. She didn't do anything to me...

— Oh, I do, because since the day I heard about the dog he and that b***h played with you, I haven't been able to sleep properly. I don't have a second of peace. I am mistreated everywhere. I'm even ashamed to be that bastard's mother! For know that this was not the education that my late husband and I, God rest his soul, gave you. This habit of chasing everything that was tail in skirt must have come from that shameless brother, his uncle. And it was because of this habit of getting involved with other people's women that Luiz lost his father.

Helena already knew the history of Luiz's family. When he was little, his father was murdered by a group of mercenaries, all because his brother-in-law, Dona Maria's brother, invented getting involved with the wife, sister or daughter of some farmer, politician, nobody knows... and the poor man happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time... It is not known if it was a mistake or on purpose, but afraid of being next, she fled the northeastern backlands with her son.

— And Luiz?

— I kicked him out of the house. Naughty man doesn't stay under my roof. Let him have that homeless girl next to him.

— But he's your only son, you can't kick him out of the house. What if the Gods who set you free, something happens to you?

— Let it happen. I'd rather die than accept the shameless help.

As much as she was hurt by Luiz's betrayal, Helena didn't want any harm from him. She knew her mother was everything to him and the two of them only had each other in the world. She tried to convince her to take him back home, not for him, but for her.

— Ah, my daughter... — Dona Maria was moved by Helena's request: — you really have a heart the size of heaven. The funny thing is, he said it himself. I was so happy when he took you home. I thought he had finally straightened up... but I think I was wrong. He opened his bag, took out a velvet box and handed it to her.

— What is it?

— It's your Christmas present. That's what he asked me to buy.

Opening the box, Helena was surprised to see that it was a silver ring with small diamonds around the larger one... it was an engagement ring.

— I so wanted him to ask you to marry him...— she explained with tears in her eyes. Under no circumstances could Helena not accept that gift. Even because it was just her will... Maybe it wasn't even his will. She returned it.

— Sorry, but I can't take it.

— Please accept. I can't keep this at home either. Look, take this as a gift from me.

Helena only accepted so as not to offend her. But she promised herself that she's going to do with that ring the same thing she did with some of Luiz's gifts, she's going to sell it.

— Well, I'm going out now. Thank you for seeing me, my dear. Know that you are most welcome in my home and always will be. I know I shouldn't ask you to go there, but I'd love for you to go... I'm going to make that manioc cake that I know you love so much. And don't worry about Luis. We'll schedule the day when he's not home.

Even being a fan of Dona Maria's cake, she didn't really want to go back to Luiz's house. Once again, she just agreed not to be undone. She said goodbye to the old woman with a hug and followed her to the door. She got back to getting ready for work when she decided to look at the ring again. If she asked what would happen if they actually worked out... she'd put the box in her purse to drop off at a jewelry store on the way.

"For sure he would betray me one way or another... and inside my house."