Episode 5

Chapter 5

The day dawned overcast, perfectly reflecting the whirlwind of emotions inside Helena. She had spent a sleepless night, replaying everything that had happened in the last few days. The broken engagement, the double betrayal, the embarrassment at work… Nothing made sense to her there anymore. There was no longer any reason to stay at that company. She needed to leave. She needed to start over.

With trembling hands, she picked up her computer and set about writing her resignation letter, which she hadn't finished the previous day, and so she wrote. Each word felt like a blow to the past she wanted to leave behind. When she finished, she reread the text several times to make sure there was no hesitation. It was final. She was ready.

She took a deep breath, picked up the paper, and walked through the office with firm steps, even though she was falling apart inside. Her colleagues watched her out of the corner of their eyes, perhaps curious about her decision. She ignored their stares and continued on her way to the department head's office, where she knew she would find Guilherme.

Without ceremony, she opened the door and went in. Guilherme was sitting at his desk, reviewing some papers. Upon seeing her, he looked up, surprised. Before he could say anything, Helena threw the resignation letter onto his desk.

“What’s this?” he asked, picking up the paper.

“My resignation,” she replied, her voice firm, even though her heart was racing inside.

Guilherme raised an eyebrow and quickly read the contents. When he finished, he let out a low, mocking laugh.

“Resignation? So this is how you deal with your problems? By running away?” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with an ironic smile on his face.

Helena stared at him for a few seconds. In the past, those words might have made her doubt herself. But now, they only reinforced her certainty.

“This isn't running away, Guilherme. It's freeing myself. I have nothing more to do here.” Her voice came out cold, controlled, even as a storm brewed inside her.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room, feeling the weight of that cycle ending. Her steps were hurried, as if she wanted to get out of there before the pain caught up with her.

When she reached the elevator, she saw a group of employees from another department talking animatedly. The curious stares of some of them made her stomach churn. She didn't want anyone to see her vulnerability. The last thing she needed was more gossip about her life.

She changed her mind and opted for the stairs. With each step she descended, she felt her heart tighten more. Her chest felt heavy, and her breathing was ragged. The urge to cry was suffocating, but she remained steadfast, trying to maintain her composure.

Upon reaching the parking lot, she unlocked her car with trembling hands and quickly got in. She placed her hands on the steering wheel for a moment, taking a deep breath. She felt exhausted. All she wanted was to go home and forget this chapter of her life.

She started the car and began to maneuver out. But, distracted by her thoughts, she didn't notice the vehicle parked right behind her. The impact was strong enough to make her heart race even more.

She looked in the rearview mirror and saw the damage. Her car had collided with an extremely expensive-looking vehicle. Nervousness took over her body. What else could go wrong that day?

She quickly got out of the car to assess the damage, feeling panic rise. The other car's bodywork had a considerable dent. Before she could think about what to do, she heard footsteps approaching.