Episode 5

When Sofia regained consciousness, the first thing she smelled was the scent.

A cold, slightly woody aroma, mixed with something metallic — exactly like Bruno.

She remained motionless for a few seconds, just breathing, until she realized she was lying on a soft bed, with light and perfectly stretched sheets. The environment was too silent to be a hospital.

It was the break room in Bruno's office.

Sofia's heart beat fast.

She tried to sit up immediately, but her head spun, forcing her to support her elbow on the mattress. Her body was still weak, as if all her energy had been drained just minutes before.

The door opened.

Bruno entered with firm steps, holding something in his hand.

"You finally woke up," he said, in a surprisingly calm tone.

Sofia looked up, suspicious.

"What am I doing here?"

"You fainted in my office," he replied, as if it were something trivial. "I didn't think it appropriate to send you away in that state."

He approached and placed something on the side table.

It was a chocolate bar.

"Eat," he said. "It will help you regain your strength. I've already called a doctor."

Sofia's body stiffened instantly.

Doctor.

The word sounded like an alarm.

"No need," she said, too quickly. "I'm already fine."

Bruno raised an eyebrow.

"You just fainted."

"It was just a drop in blood pressure," she insisted. "It happens when I don't eat."

She pulled the blanket discreetly, as if that could hide the panic that was beginning to rise.

If a doctor came in there...

If he decided to examine her...

She didn't allow herself to finish the thought.

"Besides..." she continued, forcing naturalness "...Isabela said that my mother went to your house to cause problems. I'm going to check that. If it really happened, I myself will prevent it from happening again."

She made a move to get up.

"As soon as I leave here."

Bruno watched her for a few seconds in silence.

Then, suddenly, he laughed.

It wasn't a funny laugh. It was short. Ironic.

"So that's it?" he said. "Are you staging all this fragility to gain something more?"

Sofia froze.

"What are you talking about?"

Bruno picked up the chocolate bar.

"This," he said, twirling it between his fingers. "The staging. The fainting. The drama."

And, without warning, he threw the chocolate in the trash.

"If you want money, just say so," he continued. "There's no need to go so far."

Sofia's chest tightened.

"I already said I don't want anything."

"You say," Bruno retorted. "But your actions say otherwise."

She took a deep breath.

"I signed the agreement," she said, in a low voice. "I wrote in my own hand that I wouldn't take anything. Neither money, nor goods."

"And do you think that makes you noble?" he mocked. "Or do you think I'm going to be moved?"

Sofia felt her eyes burn, but forced herself to maintain her posture.

"I'm not asking for your compassion," she replied. "I just want the divorce."

She stood up.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

Before she could take two steps, Bruno grabbed her arm.

The touch was firm.

"We're not done yet."

Sofia turned, her eyes finally filled with anger.

"Let go."

"You were cruel to Isabela," he said. "You didn't have that right."

Something inside her broke.

"Cruel?" she repeated, incredulous. "She provoked me from beginning to end. In your office. In your territory. And you call that cruelty?"

"She just wanted to resolve things peacefully."

Sofia laughed, humorlessly.

"Peacefully?" she asked. "Sitting on the legitimate wife's sofa, accusing me, humiliating me?"

Bruno squeezed her arm tighter.

"Watch your tongue."

"No," Sofia retorted, finally exploding. "I've been silent for too long."

She pulled her arm, managing to break free.

"You're in such a hurry to get rid of me that you don't even pretend anymore. You want to be free to run after her, don't you?"

"Be careful what you say," Bruno warned.

"Or what?" Sofia retorted. "Are you going to force me to apologize again?"

Silence weighed.

Bruno stared at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.

"You've changed," he said. "You're too sharp."

"Maybe I've just stopped swallowing everything."

She took a deep breath.

"If you want, we don't even have to get divorced," she said, suddenly. "I can simply drag this out. Not sign anything. Leave you trapped."

Bruno was visibly surprised.

"You think you'd have the courage?"

"Test it," Sofia replied.

For a second, Bruno's gaze darkened.

"Now I understand," he said, slowly. "You want to get rid of me quickly because you already have someone else."

The world seemed to stop.

"What?"

"Don't play the saint," he continued. "You're so eager for the divorce... it's because you already have somewhere to run to."

The anger exploded.

"Are you serious?" Sofia took a step forward. "You betrayed me first."

"Don't lie."

"And now you still try to throw the dirt on me?" she shouted. "Do you look in the mirror?"

Bruno pushed her against the wall.

His hand rested next to her face, blocking her escape.

"Say it," he demanded. "Why did you marry me?"

Sofia stared at him, without blinking.

"If you have something to say, say it now."

Bruno recoiled suddenly.

A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Two in the afternoon," he said. "At the registry office."

"Don't be late," Sofia replied. "I won't be there to wait for you."

She passed by him.

"I'll get my coat."

The door opened abruptly.

"Sofia!"

The scream was accompanied by disordered footsteps.

Before she could react, Rosa entered the room like a whirlwind.

Her eyes were red.

Her hair disheveled.

"You ungrateful wretch!" she screamed, advancing.

Sofia felt her entire body freeze.

And everything was about to get completely out of control.

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