The widowed businessman followed the pregnant maid during the day and uncovered a truth that left him in tears.

Gustavo observed Beatriz from the gate. She glanced around anxiously, gripping her purse tightly. He stepped out of the shadows and moved toward her. He needed answers. He stopped a few steps away, the sound of his shoes striking the stone ground echoing through the quiet afternoon.

Beatriz slowly turned, and when her eyes met his, the breath seemed to leave her body. Instinctively, she stepped back, clutching her purse to her chest as if it could shield her.

“Mr. Gustavo!” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “I didn’t know you were home, sir.”

Gustavo didn’t respond right away. He remained still, studying her face, trying to make sense of everything. He had practiced this moment countless times on the way there, but now, standing before her, the words vanished. He folded his arms and tilted his head slightly.

“Where are you going, Beatriz?”

She blinked repeatedly, clearly buying time. “I have an appointment, sir. Nothing major.”

Gustavo stepped closer. “Every day, Beatriz… Every day you leave here early, and every day you return the next morning looking like someone who hasn’t slept.”

She lowered her gaze. “I have things to take care of, sir. Personal things.”

Frustration tightened Gustavo’s throat. “I saw it, Beatriz.”

Her head snapped up, panic written across her face. “Saw what?”

Gustavo gestured toward her stomach with his chin. “The pregnancy. I saw it.”

Silence dropped between them, heavy enough to feel solid. Beatriz stood frozen, as though rooted in place. Her hands shook as she held her purse. Her eyes filled with tears, but she forced them back. Gustavo waited. He didn’t know what she would say, but he needed to hear it—needed to understand.

Beatriz inhaled deeply, struggling to steady her voice. “I was going to tell you, sir. I swear I was.”

Gustavo stepped closer. They were less than a meter apart now. “When? When you couldn’t hide it anymore?” His voice was sharper than he meant it to be, and he saw how deeply it cut.

Beatriz finally broke down. “I didn’t want to lose my job. I didn’t want you to think badly of me. I didn’t want everything to change.”

Something tightened painfully in Gustavo’s chest. It wasn’t anger—it was worse. It was grief. “Who is the father?”

Beatriz shut her eyes tightly. “It doesn’t matter.”

For the first time, Gustavo raised his voice. “It doesn’t matter? You are pregnant, Beatriz. You are alone. How does that not matter?”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. What he saw there—shame, fear, desperation—made him flinch.

“He left,” she said, her voice shattered. “When I told him, he said he didn’t want to know. He said I had to deal with it alone and walked away. He moved to another city, blocked my number, and disappeared as if I had never existed.”

Anger surged through Gustavo again—but not toward her. It was aimed at the man who had abandoned her, the coward who had walked away so easily.

“And you… what are you going to do?”

Beatriz wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “I’m going to have this baby. I will work as much as necessary. I’ll manage.”

Gustavo studied her in silence. He saw her resolve—but also her fear. Her isolation. The same emptiness he saw every morning in the mirror since Laura’s death.

“You don’t have to manage alone.” The words left him before he could stop them.

Beatriz stared at him, confused. “What do you mean, sir?”

Gustavo ran his hand through his hair, trying to organize his thoughts. “You’ve worked here for two years. You’ve always been honest, always did your job right. I’m not going to abandon you now.”

Beatriz shook her head in disbelief. “Are you saying you’re going to help me?”

Gustavo nodded. “I’ll do whatever is necessary. You won’t go through this alone.”

Beatriz covered her face with her hands and began to cry in a way that broke Gustavo’s heart. She sobbed loudly, her whole body shaking. Gustavo took another step and, without thinking, placed his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s going to be okay, Beatriz. I promise.”

She looked at him through her tears. “Why are you doing this, sir? Why do you care?”

Gustavo hesitated. He didn’t know how to answer—or rather, he knew, but wasn’t ready to admit it. “Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Beatriz wiped her face and nodded slowly. “Thank you, sir. I don’t know how to thank you.”

Gustavo took his hand off her shoulder and stepped back. “Go home, rest. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Beatriz nodded again and began walking toward the gate. Gustavo stood there, watching her walk away. When she disappeared around the bend of the street, he let out the breath he had been holding and felt his legs go weak. He went back inside the house and went straight to the bar. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured a full glass. He drank it in one go. The burning in his throat didn’t help at all. He poured another glass and went to his office.

He sat in the leather chair and stared at the ceiling. What had he just done? Why had he offered to help? Why did this affect him so much? He picked up his cell phone and looked at the photo of Laura, which was still his wallpaper. She was smiling at the camera in that way of hers, with that light in her eyes that always made everything seem easier.

“What do I do, love? What would you do in my place?”

But there was no answer, only silence. Gustavo finished the second glass and put the phone down on the table. He knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep that night, and he didn’t. He stayed awake until dawn, thinking about Beatriz, thinking about the baby, thinking about everything that had changed in a few hours.

When the sun rose, Gustavo showered, got dressed, and went to the company. He tried to focus on work, but he couldn’t. All the meetings seemed meaningless. All the numbers on the screen looked blurred. He could only think of her.

In the middle of the afternoon, he picked up the phone and called his secretary. “Cancel everything I have today. I’m leaving early.”

He grabbed his car keys and went straight to the address on Beatriz’s employment file. When he arrived, the sun was already starting to set. The street was simple, with small houses and low walls. Gustavo parked and sat in the car for a few minutes, looking at her house. The living room light was on. He saw a shadow moving behind the curtain, took a deep breath, and got out of the car.

He walked to the gate and knocked three times. The curtain moved. A few seconds later, the door opened. Beatriz appeared with an expression of total surprise. She was wearing simple clothes, a light blue dress, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail.

“Mr. Gustavo, what are you doing here?”

Gustavo put his hands in his pockets. “I need to talk to you for real this time.”

Beatriz hesitated for a moment, but then opened the gate and gestured for him to enter. The house inside was small but tidy. An old sofa, a coffee table with some magazines, photos on the wall; it smelled of fresh coffee. Gustavo sat where she indicated and waited. Beatriz sat at the other end of the sofa, hands clasped in her lap, clearly nervous.

“Would you like some coffee, sir?”

Gustavo shook his head. “No, thank you. I just want to talk.”

Beatriz nodded and waited.

Gustavo leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened yesterday, and I realized I don’t know anything about you, Beatriz. Nothing real. You’ve worked in my house for two years and I don’t even know where you came from.”

Beatriz looked at her own hands. “There isn’t much to tell, sir. I was born right here in this city. I grew up in a simple family. My father died when I was 15. My mother worked her whole life as a seamstress to raise me. When I finished high school, I started working in homes to help her. And that’s how it was until I got the job at your house.”

Gustavo listened to every word. “And your mother? Is she okay?”

Beatriz shook her head slowly. “She died 3 years ago. Cancer. It was fast.”

Gustavo felt his chest tighten. “I’m so sorry.”

Beatriz gave a sad smile. “Thank you. She was a good woman, strong. She taught me never to give up, no matter what happens.”

Gustavo nodded. “And the baby’s father… this Tiago. How long were you together?”

Beatriz sighed. “A year. We met at a mutual friend’s party. He was funny, attentive, made me feel special. I thought it was real. I thought we had a future.” Her voice cracked. “But when I told him about the pregnancy, everything changed. He got angry. He said I had done it on purpose, that I wanted to trap him. I tried to explain it was an accident, that I hadn’t planned it, but he wouldn’t listen. By the next day, he was gone.”

Gustavo felt the anger return. “He didn’t deserve you.”

Beatriz looked at him in surprise. “Do you really believe that, sir?”

Gustavo looked directly into her eyes. “I believe any real man would have stayed, would have taken responsibility, would have taken care of you.”

Beatriz felt the tears return, but this time she smiled. “Thank you for saying that.”

They sat in silence for a few seconds. Gustavo looked around the house again and noticed a photo on the wall. It was a younger Beatriz next to an older woman. Both were smiling at the camera.

“Is that your mother?”

Beatriz followed his gaze and nodded. “Yes, that photo was taken on my 18th birthday. It was one of the happiest days of my life.”

Gustavo got up and went to the photo. He looked closely. “She seemed like an incredible person.”

Beatriz got up too and stood beside him. “She was. She always said life would give me challenges, but that I was strong enough to face anything. I try to believe that.”

Gustavo turned to her. “You are strong, Beatriz. More than you imagine.”

Their eyes met, and something changed in the air. Something neither of them could name, but both felt. Gustavo took a step back, breaking the moment.

“I’m going to help you, not just with money. I’ll be here. I’ll accompany you to appointments. I’ll help with whatever you need.”

Beatriz shook her head in disbelief. “You don’t have to do that, sir.”

Gustavo crossed his arms. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.”

Beatriz covered her face with her hands and started crying again. Gustavo stepped closer and, without thinking too much, pulled her into a hug. She let herself go and rested her head on his chest.

“I was so scared… so scared of doing everything alone.”

Gustavo tightened the hug. “You are not alone.”

They stayed like that for a few minutes until Beatriz calmed down. When she pulled away, she wiped her face and smiled. “I’m sorry for crying so much, it’s just that it’s been so long since anyone cared about me like this.”

Gustavo placed his hands on her shoulders. “I care, Beatriz. More than I should, perhaps, but I care.”

She looked at him with an intensity that made Gustavo’s heart race. “Why? Why do you care so much, sir?”

Gustavo let go of her shoulders and took a step back. “Because I know what it is to be alone. I know what it is to lose someone and feel like the world has ended. And I don’t want you to feel that.”

Beatriz took a step toward him. “You are not alone, Mr. Gustavo. You have friends, you have family, you have the company.”

Gustavo gave a bitter smile. “I have all that, but none of it fills the void. Since Laura died, I’ve just been existing. I’m not living.”

Beatriz touched his arm, a small gesture but full of meaning. “So, we are in the same boat.”

Gustavo looked at her and felt something move inside his chest, something he hadn’t felt in years. He stood there, not knowing what to do or say. Beatriz withdrew her hand and took a step back.

“Would you like to have dinner here, sir? It’s nothing fancy, but I made soup.”

Gustavo hesitated, but then nodded. “I would love to.”

They had dinner together in the small kitchen. The soup was simple but delicious. They talked about trivial things, about work, about the weather, about nothing and everything at the same time. Gustavo couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so at ease with someone. When they finished, he helped wash the dishes. Beatriz tried to protest, but he insisted. Then he said goodbye and left.

On the way back home, Gustavo turned on the radio and let the music fill the silence. But his mind was far away. It was in that small house, with that pregnant woman, on that strange feeling that was growing inside him.

In the following days, Gustavo kept every promise. He raised Beatriz’s salary, scheduled appointments with the best doctors, bought vitamins, bought maternity clothes. Beatriz was speechless every time he showed up with something new.

“Mr. Gustavo, you don’t need to do all this.”

Gustavo would smile. “I know, but I want to.”

And gradually, something began to change between them. The glances lasted longer, the smiles were more frequent, the conversations were deeper. One day, Gustavo arrived home and found Beatriz in the garden. She was sitting on the stone bench, hands on her belly, looking at the sky.

Gustavo approached slowly. “May I sit?”

She looked at him and smiled. “Of course.”

Gustavo sat beside her and remained silent for a few seconds. “What are you thinking about?”

Beatriz continued looking at the sky. “I’m thinking about how everything changed so fast. A month ago I was alone and scared, thinking I wouldn’t make it. And now… now I have you.”

Gustavo felt his chest tighten. “You will always have me.”

Beatriz turned her face to him. “Do you promise, sir?”

Gustavo looked into her eyes. “I promise.”

They stayed like that, looking at each other, until Beatriz looked away. “I feel like I’m feeling something I shouldn’t.”

Gustavo felt his heart race. “What do you mean?”

Beatriz took a deep breath. “I think I’m starting to like you in a way that goes beyond gratitude.”

Gustavo was speechless. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Beatriz stood up quickly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Forget it.”

Gustavo stood up too and held her arm. “No, don’t forget it.”

Beatriz looked at him, her eyes full of tears. “You don’t need to say anything, sir. I know this is strange. I know it doesn’t make sense. I know that…”

Gustavo pulled her close and kissed her. It was a soft, careful kiss, but full of emotion. Beatriz froze for a second, but then reciprocated. When they pulled apart, both were breathless.

Gustavo rested his forehead against hers. “I’m feeling it too, Beatriz, and I don’t know what to do with it.”

Beatriz closed her eyes. “I’m scared.”

Gustavo held her face with both hands. “Me too, but I don’t want to run from this anymore.”

Beatriz opened her eyes and looked directly at him. “And now?”

Gustavo smiled. “Now we find out together.”

In the following weeks, Gustavo and Beatriz grew even closer. They didn’t hide it from anyone. Gustavo took Beatriz out for dinner at restaurants, for walks in the park, to meet his friends. Some looked with judgment, others with curiosity, but Gustavo didn’t care. He was happy, truly happy.

One night, they were lying on the sofa at Beatriz’s house, watching a movie. Her belly was already quite big, and the baby kicked frequently. Gustavo put his hand on her belly and felt a strong kick. He laughed.

“This baby is going to be a soccer player.”

Beatriz laughed too. “Or a fighter.”

Gustavo turned to her. “Beatriz, I need to ask you something.”

She looked at him curiously. “What is it?”

Gustavo hesitated, but then continued. “Have you thought of a name for the baby?”

Her eyes sparkled. “Yes. If it’s a girl, I wanted it to be Laura… because of your wife. She was very good to me when I started working at the house. I will never forget her.”

Gustavo felt tears burn in his eyes. He tried to hold them back, but couldn’t. A tear ran down his face. Beatriz got scared.

“Gustavo, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

Gustavo shook his head and wiped his face. “No, you said something perfect. Laura would be honored.”

Beatriz smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “And if it’s a boy?”

Gustavo thought for a second. “Pedro. I’ve always liked that name.”

Beatriz nodded. “Pedro. I like it.”

They stayed embraced until they fell asleep, but the peace didn’t last long. A few days later, Beatriz started receiving strange messages, messages from an unknown number. The first one just said: “I know about the pregnancy.” The second: “We need to talk.” The third: “I made a mistake.”

Beatriz showed the messages to Gustavo. He read each one with a stern face. “It’s him, isn’t it?”

Beatriz nodded fearfully. “I think so.”

Gustavo handed the phone back to her. “Block the number.”

Beatriz hesitated. “What if he really wants to talk? What if he’s changed?”

Gustavo looked at her firmly. “He had months to change. He chose to do nothing. Now it’s too late.”

Beatriz nodded and blocked the number, but the messages didn’t stop. Tiago started appearing first near her house, then near her work. Gustavo noticed and was furious. One day he was leaving the company when he saw a man standing on the sidewalk opposite—young, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, hands in his pockets.

Gustavo approached. “Are you Tiago?”

The man looked at him in surprise. “Who wants to know?”

Gustavo took another step. “I’m Gustavo, and I know what you did to Beatriz.”

Tiago gave a nervous smile. “Ah, so you’re the rich guy who’s bankrolling everything.”

Gustavo felt his anger rise. “I’m taking care of her because you didn’t have the courage.”

Tiago took a step toward him. “I made a mistake. I want to fix it.”

Gustavo crossed his arms. “Where were you when she needed you? Where were you when she cried alone? Where were you when she was afraid of losing her job because she was pregnant?”

Tiago lowered his head. “I was a coward. I know that, but I’ve changed. I want to meet my child.”

Gustavo took a step forward, standing face to face with him. “You have no rights over this baby. You gave them up when you left, and now you’re going to disappear again. And if I see you near her one more time, I’ll make you regret it.”

Tiago looked at him with anger, but didn’t answer. He turned and walked away.

Gustavo stood there shaking with rage, trying to calm down. When he arrived at Beatriz’s house that night, he told her everything. Beatriz turned pale.

“He came to your company?”

Gustavo nodded. “And I made it clear he isn’t welcome.”

Beatriz held his hand. “Thank you for protecting me.”

Gustavo squeezed her hand, but the feeling that this wasn’t over hung in the air.

And Gustavo was right, because a few days later, when Beatriz was at the market, Tiago appeared again, and this time he wasn’t alone. He was with an older woman whom Gustavo later discovered was his mother. And the two had a proposal that would change everything.

Beatriz called Gustavo in despair. “He wants custody of the baby. He said he’s going to court.”

Gustavo felt his world collapse around him. He was in the meeting room when his phone vibrated in his pocket. When he saw Beatriz’s name on the screen, his heart raced. She never called during work hours. He answered immediately.

“Beatriz, what happened?”

Her voice was laden with panic, interrupted by sobs. “Gustavo, he showed up at the market. He was with his mother. They cornered me near the vegetables and said they are going to court to take custody of the baby.”

Gustavo stood up so fast his chair fell backward. The executives in the room looked shocked, but he didn’t care.

“Where are you now? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

Beatriz sobbed louder. “I’m in the market parking lot. I haven’t managed to get in the car yet. My hands are shaking too much. Gustavo, I’m so scared. What if they succeed? What if they take my baby from me?”

Gustavo was already grabbing his keys and wallet. “Breathe deep, Beatriz. I’m leaving right now. Get inside the car, lock the doors, and wait. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

He hung up and ran out of the room without explaining anything to anyone. In the elevator, he pressed the ground floor button repeatedly, as if that would make it go down faster. His brain was working at 1000 miles per hour. Tiago wanting custody. After abandoning Beatriz, after disappearing for months… anger burned in Gustavo’s chest like fire.

He got into the car and drove faster than he should have. He ran yellow lights turning red, made risky overtakes, ignored angry honks. Nothing mattered except getting to her.

When he finally entered the market parking lot, he saw Beatriz’s car parked in a corner. She was inside, hands on her face, shoulders shaking. Gustavo parked next to her and ran to the passenger door. He knocked on the glass.

“Beatriz, open up. It’s me.”

She looked at him with red, swollen eyes and unlocked the door. Gustavo got in, closed the door, and immediately pulled her into a hug. She collapsed on his shoulder, crying so hard her whole body shuddered.

“Calm down, calm down, I’m here now. No one is going to take your baby from you. I won’t allow it.”

Gustavo held her firmly, rubbing her back in circles, trying to soothe her. He felt her belly pressed between them, the baby inside, oblivious to the storm forming around them. After a few minutes, Beatriz managed to breathe more calmly. She pulled away a little and wiped her face with the back of her hand.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to bother you at work, but I didn’t know what to do. I panicked.”

Gustavo held her face with both hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. “You are never bothering me, never. Now tell me everything—exactly what they said.”

Beatriz took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts. “I was choosing tomatoes when I felt someone watching me. When I turned, it was him, Tiago. He was with an older woman he introduced as his mother, Mrs. Marlene. She was polite, but her manner was fake. She said they had thought a lot and wanted to be part of the baby’s life. Tiago said he made a mistake, that he regretted it, that he wants to be a father. I said it was too late, that he had his chance and chose to leave. That was when his mother changed her tone. She said they have rights, that blood is blood, that no judge will deny a father the right to know his own son. And Tiago said if I don’t accept, they will go to court and ask for joint custody. He said a judge will see that I’m just a maid, uneducated, without stability, and that they have a big house, financial stability, and can offer a better life for the child.” Her voice broke at the end.

Gustavo felt bile rising in his throat. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. “He said that? That you have no stability?”

Beatriz nodded, crying again. “And the worst part is he’s right, Gustavo. I have nothing. I live in a rented house that barely has two bedrooms. I didn’t even finish high school. I can’t compete with them.”

Gustavo shook his head vehemently. “No, don’t say that. You have love, you have dedication. You carried this baby alone for months while he was enjoying life elsewhere. No minimally decent judge will ignore that.”

Beatriz looked at him with eyes full of despair. “But what if they do ignore it? What if they succeed? Gustavo? I won’t survive if they take my baby from me. I’d rather die.”

Gustavo pulled her into another hug, tighter this time. “No one is taking your baby. I promise. I will do everything within my reach. I’ll hire the best lawyers. I’ll move mountains if necessary. You are not alone, Beatriz. You have me.”

They stayed like that for a few more minutes until Beatriz stopped shaking. When they pulled apart, Gustavo wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs.

“Let’s go to my house. You need to rest, and we need to make a plan.”

Beatriz nodded. Gustavo got out of her car and got into his. She followed him the whole way. Gustavo didn’t stop looking in the rearview mirror, making sure she was right behind. When they arrived, he helped her out of the car and took her inside. He made her sit on the sofa, brought water, covered her legs with a blanket.

“Stay here, I’m going to make some calls.”

Gustavo went to his office and closed the door. He grabbed his cell phone and called the best family lawyer he knew, Dr. Roberto Almeida. He had defended a friend of Gustavo’s in a complicated divorce case and had won brilliantly. The phone rang three times before being answered.

“Gustavo, my friend, long time no see. To what do I owe the call?” The voice was deep, confident.

Gustavo took a deep breath. “Roberto, I need help. It’s urgent.”

The tone changed immediately. “Tell me what happened.”

Gustavo told him everything from the beginning—from the day he discovered Beatriz’s pregnancy, through Tiago’s abandonment, to the threat today. Roberto listened to everything in silence. When Gustavo finished, there was a pause.

“I understand. It’s a complicated situation, but not impossible. Abandonment during pregnancy weighs heavily in the mother’s favor, but if he files for recognition of paternity, the judge will likely grant at least visitation rights. As for joint custody, it’s harder for him to get, but not impossible, especially if he proves he has the means and genuine remorse.”

Gustavo felt his stomach churn. “And what can we do?”

Roberto thought for a moment. “First, we need to anticipate, not wait for him to file the lawsuit. We file first. We ask for recognition of the emotional and material abandonment. We document everything. We talk to witnesses. Second, and this is important, Gustavo: what exactly is your relationship with Beatriz?”

Gustavo hesitated. “I… I take care of her, I pay for the medical appointments, I bought things for the baby, I’m always present.”

Roberto made a sound of understanding. “Are you in love with her?”

Gustavo fell silent. The question took him by surprise, even though he had known the answer for weeks. “I am.”

Roberto gave a low laugh. “Then that changes everything. If you are officially together, if you accept the child as yours, that strengthens her position immensely. A present father, even if not biological, will always weigh more than an absent biological father.”

Gustavo felt something light up in his chest. “Are you saying I should marry her?”

Roberto laughed again. “I’m saying that if that’s what you truly want, not just for the case, then yes. But only do it if it’s real. Gustavo, judges can identify sham marriages. It has to be true.”

Gustavo didn’t need to think twice. “It is true. I love her. I just hadn’t had the courage to admit it until now.”

Roberto clapped his hands on the other end of the line. “Great. So, here is the plan. You formalize the relationship, get married as soon as possible, you file for adoption as soon as the child is born, and we build a solid case showing she has family structure, emotional and financial support, and that the biological father gave up all rights when he abandoned her. We’re going to win this, Gustavo. Trust me.”

Gustavo felt enormous relief. “Thank you, Roberto. Thank you so much.”

Roberto laughed. “Invite me to the wedding.”

When Gustavo hung up, he stood for a moment, processing everything. Marry Beatriz, adopt the baby, be a father, be a husband. It all seemed unreal, but at the same time, it seemed like the most right thing in the world. He went back to the living room. Beatriz was lying on the sofa with her eyes closed, but he knew she wasn’t sleeping. He knelt beside her and touched her arm gently.

“Beatriz.”

She opened her eyes. “Did you manage to talk to someone?”

Gustavo nodded. “I did. I have a proposal for you.”

Beatriz sat up slowly, supporting her belly. “What kind of proposal?”

Gustavo held her hands. “Marry me.”

Beatriz blinked several times, as if she hadn’t understood. “What?”

Gustavo squeezed her hands. “Marry me, Beatriz. Not because it’s strategic, not because it will help in the lawsuit. Marry me because I love you, because I can’t imagine my life without you anymore. Because when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I think about is you. Because when I see this belly growing, I feel like this baby is already mine. Marry me.”

Beatriz covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes filling with tears again. “Gustavo, are you serious?”

Gustavo smiled. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

Beatriz started crying, but this time it was a different cry. It was tears of happiness, relief, love. “Yes, yes, I accept.”

Gustavo pulled her in for a kiss. It was a long, intense kiss, full of promises. When they pulled apart, both were smiling.

“We’ll need to do this quickly, before the baby is born, before Tiago files any lawsuit,” Gustavo explained.

Beatriz nodded. “I don’t care if it’s a simple ceremony. I just want to be with you.”

Gustavo kissed her forehead. “It will be perfect, I promise.”

In the following days, Gustavo organized everything. He sorted out the documents, scheduled the ceremony at the registry office, bought simple but beautiful rings. Beatriz chose a simple white dress that accommodated her belly.

On the morning of the wedding, Beatriz was nervous. She was getting ready in the guest room of Gustavo’s house when he knocked on the door.

“Can I come in?”

Her voice was shaky. “Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before?”

Gustavo laughed. “We aren’t very traditional anyway.” He entered.

When he saw her, the air left his lungs. She was beautiful. The white dress highlighted the shine in her eyes. Her hair was loose, falling in soft waves on her shoulders. She had a white flower tucked behind her ear.

“You look beautiful!” Gustavo whispered.

Beatriz blushed. “Thank you. You look very handsome too.”

Gustavo was wearing a navy blue suit, no tie, just a white shirt. He approached and held her hands.

“Are you scared?”

Beatriz nodded. “A little. What if we’re doing everything wrong? What if we’re rushing things?”

Gustavo shook his head. “We aren’t. I know it seems fast, I know people will judge, but I also know what I feel, and I know this is real.”

Beatriz smiled. “I know too.”

They got married that afternoon in a small ceremony at the registry office. Just two witnesses, the Justice of the Peace, and the two of them. When it came time for the vows, Beatriz was crying. Gustavo wiped her tears with his thumb and began to speak.

“Beatriz, when you came into my life, I was dead inside. I only existed, I didn’t live. But you changed that. You brought the light back. You showed me that love still exists, hope still exists. And I promise to take care of you and our child forever, because you are my family now.”

Beatriz sobbed and tried to speak through the tears. “Gustavo, I never thought I would find someone like you, someone who truly saw me, someone who wasn’t afraid to love me with all my imperfections. And I promise to make you happy every day of my life, because you deserve all the happiness in the world.”

When the judge declared them husband and wife, Gustavo kissed her slowly, carefully, as if she were the most precious thing in the world. And to him, she was.

When they left the registry office, already married, Beatriz held his hand tightly. “And now?”

Gustavo smiled. “Now we fight.”

The next day, Roberto filed the lawsuit. It was a detailed petition, with testimonies, proof of Tiago’s abandonment, records of the medical appointments Gustavo paid for, receipts for everything he bought for the baby. It was a solid document, but Tiago didn’t stay still.

A week later, Beatriz received a summons. Tiago had filed for recognition of paternity and visitation regulation. When Beatriz showed the document to Gustavo, she was pale.

“He did it… he actually did it.”

Gustavo took the paper and read it carefully. His jaw was tense. “We already expected this. Roberto said it would happen.”

Beatriz sat on the kitchen chair and held her belly. “I can’t take this anymore, Gustavo. I just wanted to have my baby in peace.”

Gustavo knelt in front of her and held her hands. “I know, love. I know. But we’ll get through this together.”

The next few days were a whirlwind. Roberto prepared the defense, talked to witnesses, gathered more evidence. The hearing date was set for two weeks later. Beatriz could barely sleep. Every night she woke up sweating, having nightmares about losing the baby. Gustavo was always there, holding her, calming her down. One night, when she woke up from another nightmare, Gustavo pulled her to his chest and began to sing softly. It was a song his mother used to sing when he was a child. Beatriz closed her eyes and listened, letting his voice calm her.

“You’re going to be an incredible father,” she whispered.

Gustavo kissed the top of her head. “And you are already an incredible mother.”

On the day of the hearing, they arrived early. Roberto was waiting at the courthouse door. He greeted them and took them to a private room.

“How are you?” Roberto asked.

Beatriz was visibly nervous, terrified. Roberto smiled sympathetically. “It’s normal, but you need to trust. We have a strong case, very strong.”

Gustavo was holding Beatriz’s hand. “And what will happen in there?”

Roberto opened the folder he had brought. “The judge will hear both sides. Tiago’s lawyer will try to paint him as a repentant father who deserves a second chance. We will show the abandonment, the lack of commitment, and mainly that the child already has a solid family structure with you two.”

Beatriz swallowed hard. “What if the judge doesn’t believe us?”

Roberto looked directly into her eyes. “He will believe. You just need to be honest. Speak the truth, show the love you have for this child. I’ll handle the rest.”

When they entered the courtroom, Gustavo felt his stomach turn. On the other side, Tiago was sitting with a lawyer in an expensive suit and his mother beside him. When Tiago saw Beatriz, he tried to smile, but she looked away.

The judge entered, and everyone stood up. He was a middle-aged man, gray hair, serious expression. He sat down and began to flip through the file.

“Good morning, everyone. We are here to address the request for recognition of paternity and visitation regulation filed by Mr. Tiago Moreira against Mrs. Beatriz Silva, now Beatriz Almeida.” The judge looked over his glasses. “We also have a request for proof of emotional abandonment filed by Mrs. Beatriz. Let’s start by hearing from Mr. Tiago.”

Tiago stood up, adjusted his tie, and began to speak: “Your Honor, I know I made a mistake. When Beatriz told me about the pregnancy, I panicked. I was young, immature, and not ready to be a father. So I ran, I admit that. But during these months I thought a lot. I matured, and I realized I made the biggest mistake of my life. That baby is my son, my flesh and blood, and I want to participate in his life. I want to be a father. I have stability now. I have a steady job. I have a house, I have my mother to help me. I can offer a good life for my son.”

His lawyer added, “Your Honor, the Civil Code is clear regarding parental rights. Mr. Tiago has the right to know his son. The temporary abandonment, although regrettable, does not annul the biological bond.”

The judge made some notes and then looked at Roberto. “Would the defense like to speak?”

Roberto stood up. “I would, Your Honor. Mr. Tiago speaks of ‘temporary abandonment’ as if it were something acceptable. But for 9 months, while Mrs. Beatriz faced a pregnancy alone, with financial and emotional difficulties, where was Mr. Tiago? He didn’t send a dime, didn’t make a call, didn’t show the slightest interest, and only returned now when he learned that Mrs. Beatriz married a wealthy man. That isn’t repentance, Your Honor; that is opportunism.”

Tiago stood up again, irritated. “I’m not an opportunist. I truly regretted it.”

Roberto turned to him. “Then why didn’t you come back sooner? Why wait until now?”

Tiago hesitated. “I needed time to organize my life.”

Roberto gave a sarcastic smile. “Nine months weren’t enough?”

The judge banged the gavel. “Order. Mr. Tiago, sit down. Now I would like to hear from Mrs. Beatriz.”

Beatriz stood up, her legs trembling. Gustavo squeezed her hand one last time before letting go. She walked to the front, hands on her belly.

“Your Honor. When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy. I thought I was going to build a family with Tiago. But when I told him, he said horrible things to me. He said I had destroyed his life, that I was irresponsible, that he wanted nothing to do with it, and he left. He blocked my phone, moved to another city, disappeared. I spent months crying, feeling alone, not knowing if I would make it. Until Gustavo appeared. He had no obligation to me. I was just his maid. But he saw me, he cared, he paid for my appointments, bought things for the baby, supported me emotionally. And when we realized we were falling in love, we didn’t run from it. We committed, we got married. And now Tiago wants to come back. Now that the baby is almost born, now that I’ve finally found stability… I can’t let that happen, Your Honor. I can’t let my child grow up thinking it’s normal for a father to disappear and come back whenever he wants. I want my child to grow up knowing what a real father is. And that father is Gustavo.”

Her voice broke at the end, and tears streamed down. The judge remained silent for a long moment. Then he looked at Gustavo.

“Mr. Gustavo, would you like to speak?”

Gustavo stood up and walked until he was beside Beatriz. He took her hand. “Your Honor, I know this all seems strange. I know people might think we’re doing everything wrong, but I can look into your eyes and say with all the certainty in the world that I love this woman and I already love this baby. It doesn’t matter if it’s not my blood, it doesn’t matter if we don’t share DNA. What matters is that I am here. I’ve been here since the beginning. I watched her belly grow. I held her hand when she was scared. I dried her tears when she cried. I am the father of this child in every way that truly matters. And I will fight with all my strength to protect my family.”

The silence in the room was absolute. Even Tiago’s lawyer seemed speechless. The judge took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“I will analyze everything presented here. The sentence will be released in 15 days. Hearing adjourned.”

When they left the courthouse, Beatriz could barely walk. Gustavo held her and took her to the car. She was shaking.

“I don’t know if I managed to speak properly. I was so nervous.”

Gustavo kissed her forehead. “You were perfect.”

Roberto approached. “You both were perfect. Now we wait.”

The 15 days of waiting were the longest and most agonizing of Beatriz’s life. She couldn’t concentrate on anything. She spent all day on the sofa, caressing her belly, talking to the baby. Gustavo took time off work to stay with her. He cooked, kept her company, tried to distract her with movies and games, but the tension was always there.

On the tenth day of waiting, Beatriz began to feel contractions. It was 3 a.m. She woke up with a sharp pain in her belly and groaned. Gustavo woke up immediately.

“What is it? What’s happening?”

Beatriz clutched her belly. “I think they are contractions.”

Gustavo jumped out of bed and turned on the light. “Are you sure? There’s still a week to go.”

Beatriz groaned again. “I know, but it hurts a lot.”

Gustavo grabbed his phone and called the doctor. After describing the symptoms, the doctor told them to go to the hospital immediately. Gustavo helped Beatriz get dressed, grabbed the bag that had been ready for days, and took her to the car. On the way, Beatriz squeezed his hand so hard it hurt.

“Is everything okay? Is it going to be okay?”

Gustavo repeated like a mantra, “It’s going to be okay.”

When they arrived at the hospital, the medical team was already waiting. They took Beatriz straight to the delivery room. The doctor examined her and confirmed: “It’s labor. The baby is coming.”

Beatriz looked at Gustavo, eyes wide with fear. “It’s too early. What if there’s a problem?”

Gustavo held her face. “There won’t be a problem. Our baby is strong. You are strong.”

The following hours were the most intense of Gustavo’s life. He stayed by Beatriz’s side the whole time, holding her hand, wiping her sweat, whispering words of encouragement. Beatriz screamed in pain, cried, begged for it to be over. Until, finally, after 6 hours of labor, the baby’s cry echoed through the room.

“It’s a girl,” the nurse announced.

Beatriz collapsed onto the pillow, exhausted but smiling. Gustavo had tears streaming down his face. The nurse brought the baby wrapped in a pink blanket and placed her in Beatriz’s arms. She was small, perfect, had a tuft of dark hair, eyes squeezed shut, a little red face. Beatriz kissed her little head and looked at Gustavo.

“She’s perfect.”

Gustavo touched her little face with a finger, marveling. “She’s ours.”

Beatriz smiled through tears. “Laura. Her name is Laura.”

Gustavo felt something break inside his chest. He remembered his wife, the first Laura, and felt as if she were there blessing it all. “Laura,” he repeated, voice choked with emotion.

They spent three days in the hospital. Gustavo didn’t leave her side for a minute. He helped with changing, bathing, everything. Every time he held Laura, he felt as if his heart would explode with love.

On the second day, Roberto called. “The verdict is out.”

Gustavo felt his heart race. And then Roberto paused for just a second to create suspense, then laughed. “You won.”

Gustavo closed his eyes and let relief take over. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Roberto continued. “The judge denied the custody request and limited visitation rights only if Beatriz agrees and always with supervision. But more importantly, he recognized the emotional abandonment and gave a deadline of 30 days for you to file for adoption. After that, Tiago’s rights will be completely annulled.”

Gustavo hung up and went back to the room. Beatriz was breastfeeding Laura. She looked at him expectantly.

“It was Roberto.”

Gustavo approached, sat on the edge of the bed, and held her hand. “It was. We won, Beatriz. We won.”

Beatriz started crying, but it was a cry of pure happiness. “We won for real.”

Gustavo nodded, crying too. “For real. She is ours forever.”

Beatriz leaned in and kissed him, Laura still in her arms.

When they returned home, life changed completely—sleepless nights, endless crying, diapers, bottles, but there were also the smiles, the first little noises, the feeling of completeness.

A month later, Gustavo filed for adoption. The process was fast, considering Beatriz was the mother and they were married. Six months later, the adoption was official. Laura was now officially Laura Almeida, daughter of Gustavo and Beatriz. Tiago tried to make contact a few times, but after being ignored repeatedly, he gave up. He rebuilt his life in another city, married, had other children, and never appeared again.

Laura grew up in a house full of love. By the time she turned three, she called Gustavo “Daddy” with the naturalness of someone who never knew another reality.

One afternoon, Gustavo was in the backyard with her. Laura was running after butterflies, laughing loudly. Beatriz was on the porch, watching the two with a smile on her face. Gustavo approached her and kissed her.

“Thank you.”

Beatriz looked at him, confused. “For what?”

Gustavo looked at Laura, then at Beatriz. “For giving me a second chance to be happy. For showing me that love still exists in this world. For giving me a family.”

Beatriz held his face. “I’m the one who thanks you for saving me when I needed it most, for loving my daughter as if she were yours, for loving me when I thought I would never be loved again.”

They kissed while Laura ran to them and threw herself at Gustavo’s legs. “Daddy, play with me!”

Gustavo picked her up and spun her around. Beatriz watched the two, her heart overflowing.

That night, after putting Laura to sleep, Gustavo and Beatriz sat on the sofa. She rested her head on his shoulder.

“Do you regret anything?”

Gustavo thought for a moment. “No, not for a second. And you?”

Beatriz shook her head. “No. Everything we went through brought us here. And here is perfect.”

Gustavo kissed her head. “Yeah, we built something beautiful.”

Some years later, Laura was already 6 years old. She was a smart, talkative child, full of energy. One day she came home from school with a question.

“Daddy, the teacher said we had to draw a family tree. I put you and Mommy, but Pedro said I should put my real father. Who is my real father?”

Gustavo felt his heart squeeze. He looked at Beatriz, who was equally tense. They knew this day would come, but they weren’t prepared. Gustavo knelt in front of Laura and held her little hands.

“Laura, do you know what makes someone a real father?”

Laura shook her head.

Gustavo smiled. “It’s not blood, it’s not DNA, it’s love. It’s being present, it’s caring, protecting, teaching. I’ve been here since before you were born. I held your mother when she was scared. I was there when you were born. I changed your diapers, gave you your bottles, healed your cuts, dried your tears. I am your real father. In everything that truly matters.”

Laura looked at him with those big dark eyes. “So Pedro is wrong?”

Gustavo laughed. “Yes, Pedro is wrong.”

Laura smiled and threw her arms around his neck. “I knew it. You are the best daddy in the world.”

Gustavo held her tight, feeling tears burn. Beatriz approached and hugged them both. In that moment, Gustavo understood it had been worth it. All the pain, all the struggle, all the uncertainty. Everything had been worth it to get there.

Years later, when Laura was a teenager of 15, she asked for the full story. Gustavo and Beatriz sat down with her and told her everything: the abandonment, the court battle, the marriage, the adoption. Laura listened to everything in silence. When they finished, she had tears in her eyes.

“So you fought a lot for me.”

Beatriz held her hand. “We would do it all again.”

Laura looked at Gustavo. “And you never regretted taking on a child that wasn’t yours?”

Gustavo shook his head vehemently. “You were always mine, Laura, from the very first moment. It doesn’t matter who contributed the DNA. You are my daughter, and I am your father forever.”

Laura threw herself into his arms and cried. “I love you, Dad.”

Gustavo held her tight. “I love you too, my daughter.”

Beatriz watched the two of them, her heart brimming with love and gratitude.

The years rolled on. Laura grew up, went to university, graduated, and built a life of her own. Gustavo and Beatriz aged side by side, their love deepening with each passing day.

One afternoon, their hair silvered and fine lines etched around their eyes, Gustavo sat on the porch while Beatriz came out carrying two glasses of juice. She sat beside him, and for a long moment they said nothing, simply watching the sun dip toward the horizon.

“Do you remember the day it all started?” Beatriz asked.

Gustavo smiled softly. “How could I forget? I followed you because I was worried and ended up discovering the greatest gift of my life.”

Beatriz laced her fingers through his. “I was so scared back then, so scared of being alone, of not making it, of losing everything.”

Gustavo tightened his grip. “But you were never alone. From that day on, I promised you never would be.”

She rested her head against his shoulder. “And you kept it. Every day, you kept it.”

They remained there until the sun disappeared completely. When the first stars emerged, Gustavo turned to Beatriz with a gentle smile.

“You know what? If I could go back in time and change anything, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because everything, absolutely everything, brought us here. And here is where I always wanted to be.”

Beatriz smiled through her tears. “Me too. Every tear, every fear, every fight, it was all worth it.”

Gustavo drew her closer and kissed her softly. In that quiet moment, shaped by decades of love, struggle, and shared understanding, Gustavo realized he had found what he had searched for all along. Not wealth. Not success. But love, family, and a true sense of belonging.

And as Beatriz drifted to sleep in his arms beneath the star-filled sky, Gustavo whispered the words that captured their entire journey.

“I love you, Beatriz, and even if I lived a thousand lives, in all of them I would choose you.”