CHAPTER 2

The small clock on the nightstand read 4:30, and Rachel still couldn't fall asleep. She refused to rely on medication, so sleeping pills were out of the question. Thomas, on the other hand, had taken two pills and was fast asleep beside her, motionless like a stone.

Fifteen years of marriage had left her ears calloused to her husband's incessant snoring, but not even the sharpest sounds could quiet her mind that night. Everything indicated that the guest had stayed over, since Thomas didn't take long to come upstairs after she locked herself in the room, and Thiago soon turned in as well. However, no noise had been heard at the front door and no farewell fuss had been made, so Rachel deduced that the visitor was still in the house. Yet she hadn't left her room since she was caught off guard by the stranger while spying from the mezzanine. A sudden wave of shame had washed over her, something she wasn't used to feeling.

"It must be one of Thiago's friends. After all, he has so many friends I can barely remember their faces… Yes, it must just be a passing friend," Rachel thought, trying to push the thoughts away and convince herself she would manage to get a peaceful night's sleep.

But the attempt was a failure. The alarm clock went off at 6:00, waking only those who had actually managed to sleep. Rachel was already in the bathroom, getting ready to leave for work since she had a team meeting scheduled for 7:30.

— Why do I have the feeling this damn clock is ringing earlier and earlier? — grumbled Thomas, dragging himself from the bedroom into the bathroom with messy hair, a creased face, and his pajamas all twisted. Meanwhile, Rachel silently chose her husband's work clothes.

— Seriously! Before long, time will fly by so fast we won't even notice when it's time to sleep — he muttered, already stepping into the shower.

With every dawn, Thomas seemed to be invaded by unexpected reflections. Some days, he would get lost in the mysteries of the universe and its immensity; on others, he was gripped by an inexplicable anger, as if something or someone were provoking him. And on more random days, ideas for a completely out-of-the-ordinary breakfast would pop into his head. His mind always woke up restless, and his words poured out unfiltered.

At 6:30, Rachel walked down the stairs toward the kitchen, where Sarah, the person responsible for keeping the house in order, was already waiting for her with the table set for breakfast.

Next to the kitchen was the dining room with fine, elegant furniture and a giant dining table, but Rachel had always found all of that an exaggeration and preferred their meals to be served at the small kitchen table.

— Toast or pancakes, ma'am? — Sarah asked, pouring a cup of coffee with milk.

— Toast, please! — Rachel replied with a gentle smile. — And for Thomas, black coffee and pancakes, please.

— Right away, ma'am!

— I want the same thing, Sarah! — exclaimed Thiago, entering the kitchen in two long strides. — Good morning, auntie! — he said, hugging Rachel from behind the chair where she sat.

— What is this? What's all this excitement so early in the morning? — Rachel asked, surprised.

— Didn't you know? — Thiago looked at her, confused. — My childhood friend, the one who moved abroad, came back yesterday. He's going to stay here a few days until his apartment is ready. — He settled at the table, still excited. — Didn't you see him here yesterday?

— No, I didn't. — Rachel answered quickly, without even realizing she was lying.

— Oh, how long have you been standing there? — Thiago said, turning to someone standing right behind Rachel. — Come have breakfast with us! — he gestured with his hand, calling him over.

— Good morning! — a deep voice resonated beside Rachel.

— Good morning! Make yourself at home, sit down and help yourself! — Rachel replied softly, trying to look distracted as she nudged her toast with a knife, avoiding looking directly at the young man.

She was sure it was the same guy from the previous night, and for some reason she feared making some sort of mistake she didn't understand if their eyes were to meet. So the wisest choice for the moment was to pretend to be preoccupied.

— This is the friend I was telling you about, his name is... — Thiago began, but was interrupted.

— Lohan, you're already awake? — Thomas walked into the kitchen, cutting Thiago off. — How can you be so energetic at this time of the morning?

Lohan smiled timidly, observing everyone at the table, playing with his fingertips while noticing that Rachel had already finished her entire cup of coffee without touching her toast. Still standing, he acknowledged them with a slight nod of his head:

— I appreciate it, but I don't want to intrude. — he said, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Rachel, who in turn noticed.

"What is this kid doing?" she thought, confused, trying to read Lohan's intentions and taking action.

— Nonsense! You've been a friend of Thiago's since childhood, haven't you? — Rachel pulled out the chair next to hers and finally looked him straight in the eyes. — Come, sit down and have coffee with us.

Lohan stopped playing with his fingers, brought his arms more naturally to his sides, and broke into a sun-bright smile without saying a word, pulling up a chair right next to Rachel as if he already belonged in that daily routine.

Thomas settled at the head of the table, as usual, and before he could finish his coffee, Rachel was already on her feet, ready to leave.

— I'll go ahead, I have a team meeting. You don't need to come with me, Thomas, you can head straight to the set. We'll meet there. — she said, full of energy.

She then turned to Lohan, smiling casually and extending her hand in a cordial gesture.

— And as for you, young man… — she said with sympathy. — It was a pleasure meeting you. I hope your stay is comfortable, and since you're Thiago's childhood friend, you can call me auntie.

"Let's put this boy in his place," she thought, maintaining her gentle smile, but with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

Lohan smiled, first with his eyes, then letting the smile widen until all his teeth showed, before standing up and, with an elegant gesture, positioning himself before her.

— The pleasure was all mine... — he said, gently holding Rachel's extended hand. — ...auntie! — he finished, whispering at the same time he bowed and kissed her hand, with a touch of daring in the gesture.

Rachel was surprised for a moment, but Thomas soon laughed, breaking the tense atmosphere.

— Take it easy, kid. I know you grew up in another country, but be careful so people don't misunderstand your manners, huh? — Thomas said, laughing at Rachel's astonished expression. — Go to your meeting, darling, and don't scold the boy. I'm sure he was just trying to be polite, right, Lohan?

— Of course, Sir, it was just a courtesy. — Lohan replied, but his smile vanished instantly. Now, he was looking at her with a disturbing seriousness that seemed to hold Rachel in a hypnotic grip.

"This is what I was trying to avoid. This kid has that look. The exact same look from last night. A look that makes my stomach churn," Rachel thought, forcing herself to break away from Lohan's gaze.

Unable to force a smile, she simply turned around, grabbed her bag from the sideboard in the hallway, and slammed the front door behind her.

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