Chapter 35

Moments Before...

Helena felt as if the ground had been pulled from under her feet. Marcelo's words echoed in her mind, revealing a reality she hadn't foreseen. The veil covering her face seemed symbolically representative of the veil that had kept her away from the truth for so long. With accelerated breathing, she stared at her mother, seeking confirmation of Marcelo's words in her eyes.

Regina avoided Helena's gaze for a moment, but then, realizing she couldn't escape the situation, she sighed and finally confirmed, searching for words to explain herself. "Helena, I wanted... I just thought I was doing what was best for you. I wanted you to have a secure future, to be happy."

Her mother's words echoed in the room, but Helena was still struggling to assimilate the impact of what she had heard. She turned to Marcelo, her eyes moist with emotion. "So, is this the truth? Leandro... he's marrying me because of this agreement?"

Marcelo nodded solemnly, observing