Between Love and Power

Prologue

Leonardo

Today was the day I would take command of the largest state in the country. My inauguration as governor of São Paulo would take place in a few minutes. I asked my parents to leave me alone for a moment. My life changed so much from the moment I took on the role as director until I was elected in the first round. During the four years I spent as health secretary, I did my best. I worked hard, dedicated myself wholeheartedly to everything I did and continued to be the same man my parents raised. Even though some things happened along the way and I almost deviated from what was right, in the end everything ended well and now I would start to deal with a new phase in my life. My campaign was clean, without attacking the opponent and fair with everything I set out to do. Marcelo was convicted of the crimes he committed and was now serving his sentence in Brasília. From what I heard from some acquaintances, he was fighting to get out of prison early. I had a good relationship with practically all the party members, I even managed to maintain a civilized relationship with Pedro and I never stopped helping Estrela Guia. The few times I was there, when I met Viviane she treated me well, and I realized that the feeling I once had for her no longer existed. I lived very single, with no one in my life. Sara and I returned to our relationship after she returned to Brazil, I discovered much later why she had gone abroad and that she needed to spend another year abroad now to control the disease and thus not need to undergo aggressive treatment again. turn.

Through my office window I saw the movement of people and the press outside. My name became important on the political scene due to the clean way of doing politics. I was fully aware that many hated me, but nothing would make me change who I really was.

The door opened and my advisor came in telling me it was time to go down. I straightened my suit, checked my tie in the mirror there and took out my cell phone and the folder with the speech I would give for the first time as governor-elect.

We left the office together towards those people who trusted me and my work. I would never dirty my name, I would continue to carry out my mandate honestly, cleanly and without lies or deceit.

Jessica

Rio de Janeiro

Taking care of a smart four-year-old girl who didn't stop for a minute was quite tiring. Valentina was a girl who was very intelligent for her age, curious and loved playing doctor with her dolls. My daughter was the exact copy of that man. The eyes, the smile and everything reminded me of that person I hated. I lived in a house in a neighborhood far from the center with my friend Fernanda. She was the one who welcomed me when I decided to leave everything in São Paulo and start over somewhere else.

"Mommy, look what's on TV " distracted, I didn't see that my daughter had put it in the afternoon newspaper and when I saw the image that was on television, I put down the vegetable I was cutting in the sink to change the channel.

Hearing what that man said, the anger inside me was so great, when he said that he would fulfill his promise to create full elementary schools from the first grade onwards and that he committed to working in partnership with the city hall with the construction of daycare centers for communities and thus help single mothers.

It was funny to hear what that bastard said. He conquered everything, with that conversation of his, with his demeanor as a good man who in the end was nothing more than a masked character he played. Boba was the woman who let herself be deceived by the damn thing.

I change the channel, putting it on random and I hear Valentina fighting me about it.

"Mommy, I want to keep watching the boy on television.

My daughter tries to take the control from my hand, but I'm faster and put it on the shelf high up so she can't reach it.

"You're not old enough to watch these things and let's go to the room where your aunt Nanda will arrive shortly.

I point to the door to our room. Seeing Valentina pout when she was sulking trying to convince me to change my mind. I point to the bedroom, she makes a sad face, even so, she accepts what I say and goes to change her clothes to take a shower before dinner.

As soon as my daughter enters, I take the remote and put it back on the newspaper. The report on the inauguration of the new governor of São Paulo continued and seeing that man again only brought back memories that I wanted to forget. It was hard enough having my daughter remind me every day who her father was. I hated him so much, but I loved my daughter so much and for her I would do anything to keep her identity hidden from the world. Nanda managed to free me from many things, but one day I would end up being discovered. Running away from my past was the best thing to do.

I saw her face for the last time, before turning off the television and going to the bedroom to see what my daughter was doing. It was better to forget Leonardo, what he represented and everything I went through after he kicked me out of his life.