Episode 4

Helena's heart felt heavy as she entered the company again. It had only been a few days since her life had crumbled. Catching Guilherme and Isabella still burned in her mind, an open wound that insisted on throbbing. But there she was, back at work, forcing a smile and pretending everything was fine.

Fate seemed to laugh at her, as her desk was still next to Isabella's. And, worse still, Guilherme, her ex-fiance, remained as sector manager. The office, once an environment of comfort and routine, now seemed like a minefield, ready to explode at any moment.

On the second day of work, the inevitable happened. Isabella approached her as soon as Guilherme stepped away for a meeting.

"Helena, I need to talk to you." Her voice sounded melancholy, almost rehearsed.

Helena crossed her arms, holding firm.

"What is it?"

Isabella sighed dramatically.

"I'm so sorry for what happened. I never wanted to hurt you..." Her eyes filled with tears, as if she were the victim.

Anger grew inside Helena. It was astounding how Isabella could manipulate the situation to her advantage. She wasn't apologizing because she regretted it, but because she wanted to ease her own conscience.

"You never wanted to hurt me? Then why did you do it?" Helena's voice came out firm. "If you hadn't wanted to, you would have stayed away. But instead, you ran into my fiance's arms."

"I didn't plan any of this, it was something that just happened..." Isabella sniffled, wiping away a lone tear.

"Happened?" Helena laughed, but without humor. "Betrayal doesn't just ‘happen’. You made a choice. Both of you did."

Before Isabella could answer, Guilherme appeared, as if he had sensed the tension in the air. He shot Helena a hard look.

"What's going on here?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Your little girlfriend is playing the victim" Helena replied, out of patience.

"Helena, you don't have to be so harsh. Isabella is trying to fix things" Guilherme argued.

Helena's patience ran out.

"You have the nerve to say that to me? After everything you've done? You betrayed me, humiliated me, and now you come telling me I should accept her feigned apologies?"

Isabella sobbed beside him, as if she were about to faint. Some colleagues started looking in their direction.

"I think you'd better calm down" Guilherme said, adopting the cold, controlling tone Helena knew well.

She faced him, feeling her heart pound in her chest. But instead of shouting or crying, she just smiled.

"You know what? You two deserve each other. I hope you enjoy this relationship built on lies and betrayal."

She turned and walked to her desk, feeling stronger than ever. She still ached, still bled inside, but a certainty grew within her: she would never again let anyone make her feel so small.

Helena then makes a crucial decision for her life—it didn't matter to her if they were happy together—she sits in her chair, turns on the computer, and begins to write a letter of resignation from that company.