Chapter 5 - The Box Snaps Shut
Ricardo looked at the diamond necklace.
He had bought it to celebrate love.
Now it felt like evidence of how blind he had been.
He closed the jewelry box.
The snap echoed through the kitchen.
Everyone went still.
Patrícia’s confidence cracked at the sound.
“Ricardo,” she said carefully, “you’re tired. You just flew in. We can discuss this tomorrow.”
“No.”
Dona Lourdes stepped forward.
“You will not embarrass your mother in front of guests.”
Ricardo looked at her.
“You embarrassed my wife in front of staff.”
“That is different.”
“Because you thought she wouldn’t tell me?”
Dona Lourdes said nothing.
Patrícia tried again.
“Camila is sensitive. She exaggerates. You know how she is.”
Ricardo’s eyes went cold.
“No, Patrícia. I know how you are.”
A few guests stepped back.
Marcelo appeared behind them, flushed from wine and confusion.
“What’s going on?”
Ricardo did not even turn toward him.
“Everyone living off my money leaves tonight.”
The sentence landed harder than shouting would have.
Patrícia blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Dona Lourdes’s mouth opened.
“My son, this is our home.”
“No,” Ricardo said. “This is Camila’s home. You forgot that because I paid for your comfort too quietly.”
Camila let out a small, broken sound behind him.
May you like
He stepped between her and his family.
For the first time that night, she was no longer standing alone.
