Page 114 of Please, Forgive Me

That cold edge I’d always carried was still there, but I understood now that it didn’t have to be my only shield.

I knew work would demand a lot from me again, but this time, I had something stronger to balance it. Clara, Arthur, and even Maria Gabriela, in a way—they’d become my center.

They reminded me that there was more to life than success, and that, in the end, what truly mattered were the connections we build and nurture.

So, I got to work. I reviewed reports, read through piles of emails—but every so often, my mind drifted back to those quiet mornings with Clara, to Arthur’s laughter echoing through the house.

I felt a small ache of longing, but also a deep gratitude for the chance to start over.

“Welcome back, Narcissus.”

Alexandre’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I sighed, letting a faint smile tug at my lips, even though my eyes still carried the fatigue of returning to the grind.

“When are you going to stop calling me that?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He shrugged, his mouth curving into a satisfied grin.

“Never. Even if you change completely, I’m keeping it. Deal with it.”

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I knew the nickname—annoying as it was—was his way of holding on to a piece of our childhood, something that always connected us.

And despite the seriousness of my job, despite the weight of everything I carried, I appreciated those moments—a reminder that, before anything else, we were brothers.

“So,” I said, shifting my attention back to the papers on my desk, trying to mask the faint discomfort that always came with coming back to work. “How are things around here?”

Alexandre moved closer, taking the seat across from me, his sharp gaze softening with something that looked like understanding.

“Things ran fine while you were gone, but everyone knew you needed the time off. I handled what I could. What matters now is how you’re doing.”

I looked at him, catching the concern hidden in his tone. He knew better than anyone how hard it was for me to let go of control—to admit I needed help. But there was no room for pride now.

I’d changed, and it was time to own that.

“I’m good, Alexandre. Better, actually,” I admitted, feeling a weight lift off me as I said it. “These past few months… they were a time to figure things out. About myself, about what really matters.”

He nodded, like he’d expected that answer. He knew what Clara and Arthur meant to me now—how they’d become the anchor of my life.

And he knew how much therapy had helped me find the balance I’d once thought was impossible.

“I’m glad to hear that. I know it wasn’t easy, but I think you’re on the right track,” he said, his voice honest in a way I didn’t hear often from him. “As for work, don’t stress. Things will fall into place. The priority right now is you—and your kids.”

That hit deeper than I expected. For so long, my entire identity had been wrapped up in work that it was hard to imagine anything else as a priority.

But Clara and Arthur were my priorities now. Work would have to find its place.

“Thanks,” I said quietly, the sincerity of the moment settling between us. “I just hope things stay that way—at the office, and with my kids.”

“I hope so too, brother. And you know I’m here, like always, if you need me. Now let’s keep this company growing—but without losing what really matters.”

Balancing work and family would be a challenge—but for the first time in a long time, I felt ready to face it differently. More human. More aware.

And so, I went back to work—but with a renewed purpose.

I knew the road ahead would be long, but now, with Clara and Arthur at the center of my life, I had something bigger to fight for.

Something that made me want to be better—not just as a CEO, but as a father. And maybe, one day, as someone worthy of Maria Gabriela’s forgiveness—and her respect.