Chapter 2

"When the time's right, she'll understand," Dad said. "A good marriage will teach her what it means to run a household."

"Dad, please," Paulo snapped. "Don't do this to your own daughter. You'll make an enemy of her forever. Listen to what I'm telling you." He grabbed his keys. "I'm going back to work. I hope you think long and hard about what just happened here."

He paused at the door. "Oh — I came by to let you know I'm getting married next week."

"Son, why the rush?" Mom asked.

"Ana found out she's pregnant. I don't want trouble with her parents."

Dad threw his hands up. "Another bomb on top of everything else. Look how irresponsible you are! You think raising a family is easy?"

"Dad, we both work. We'll figure it out. And I'm not irresponsible — I'm stepping up." Paulo's jaw tightened. "Good morning to you both."

"You see, woman?" Dad said after Paulo left. "This is what children are. Ungrateful, every last one of them."

"Honey, don't be like that," Mom said gently. "We left our parents' homes too, remember? We went out and built our own family. You did the same thing to your parents."

Sebastiao sat in silence, his face buried in his hands.

"We're not young anymore," he said quietly. "We're going to need them by our side."

At lunchtime, I couldn't eat. My eyes were red and swollen to the point I could barely see. I called Amanda and told her everything.

"I'm devastated," I said. "My parents don't want what's best for me. They're making everything so difficult. They don't understand that children grow up and go live their own lives."

"Cousin, be patient," Amanda said. "Your dad will come around — just give him time to process it. They were caught off guard, that's all. You'll see, tomorrow they'll wake up in a better mood. Stay calm, okay? I'll talk to my mom so she can have a word with her brother."

"Thank you, cousin. I really hope your mom can convince Dad to let me go."

A while later, Mom came to my room with a bowl of soup.

"Your father wants to talk to you," she said. "But first, eat this."

She sat on the edge of my bed. "You know, Bella, I had dreams too, just like you. I admire you for wanting to fight for yours. I never had that chance."

"Mom, I'm not disappearing from your lives. I'm just fighting to be somebody in this world. Everything I want to achieve depends on my education, and I won't get the same opportunities here."

I ate the soup, then went downstairs to face my father.

"You wanted to talk to me, sir?"

"Sit down, Bella. Everything we do is for your own good."

"I know, Dad."

"Let me finish. Your aunt called and talked to me about your studies. She's going to help you."

"Thank you, Dad."

"But don't think you'll stop visiting us."

"I'll be here whenever I can."

I hugged him and went back to my room, my heart light for the first time all day.

The next morning I woke early and started packing. I got most of my things organized, including my notebooks full of perfume formulas and experiments — those went into the suitcase too.

A week later, I left for my new life. New opportunities. New horizons.

"Cousin, I'm here!" I announced at Amanda's door.

Amanda Silva, twenty-five years old, journalism degree, doing freelance work for Pinheiro Industries. She lived for parties and nightlife, always on the hunt for a good story.

"Welcome, cousin!" Amanda pulled me inside. "I hope you get used to life here."

"That's all I'm hoping for too. But wow, the city is huge. It's going to take some getting used to."

"Come on, I'll show you your room. It's not like the farmhouse — we don't have all that space. But we make it work with what we've got."

"It's perfect. Just the fact that you're letting me stay is more than enough. I want to start working too. I got a seventy-percent scholarship, but I still need money for the rest of my tuition. I can't keep depending on my parents."

"I'll help you find a good job. Tomorrow we'll go out and hand in some resumes."

"Thank you, cousin."

The next day, Bella and Amanda went to the shopping mall and dropped off resumes at several stores. Some wanted experience. Others said they'd call.

"Don't get discouraged," Amanda said. "It's tough at first, but we'll find something."

"Let's stop by the university so I can finalize my enrollment."

Bella completed her registration. Classes would start the following month.

"My coworker's having a birthday party tomorrow night," Amanda said. "I'd love it if you came with me."

"Amanda, I'm not used to parties — especially not here in the city. I just got here. I need to get familiar with the place first."

"Don't worry. It's a private VIP room — invitation only. It's at a nightclub, but it's totally safe. There'll be some rich people there, but that doesn't matter to us. Come on, please?"

"Fine, I'll go."

Amanda and Bella arrived at the nightclub at nine. The place was packed — bodies everywhere, drinks flowing, bass thumping through the floor.

"Come on, Bella. Don't be scared." Amanda grabbed her hand. "Let's find my coworker. He's right over there."

"Hey, ladies!" Gustavo waved them over. "Welcome!"

"Happy birthday, Gustavo!" Amanda said. "This is my cousin, Bella."

"Nice to meet you, Bella. Make yourselves at home."

"Has Henrique shown up yet?" Amanda asked.

"Yeah, he's been looking for you."

"Thanks — I'll go find him." Amanda turned to Bella. "Come on, I want you to meet my boyfriend."

"Hey, my princess!" Henrique wrapped his arms around Amanda. "I'm glad you made it."

"Babe, this is the cousin I told you about."

"Nice to meet you, Bella."

"Nice to meet you too, sir — Henrique."

Henrique laughed. "No need for 'sir.' I'm only a little older than Amanda. It's not that serious."

"Sorry! Force of habit. I've got to get used to the way you city people talk."

Amanda grinned. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Now let's grab some drinks — I want to dance."

A while later, the girls had loosened up. Bella tried a few cocktails and found her rhythm on the dance floor. She moved differently from the other women — not practiced, not polished — but she was perfectly in sync with the music, her body swaying with an effortless sensuality that turned heads across the room.

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