He had to run away from home in order not to be murdered. Without a penny in his pocket and with the clothes on his back, he had to start from scratch to build his life away from his family and friends, in a rough area of the city. But , with the strength of his fists and with faith in God, his story is changing for the better. He will be able to build a decent, prosperous and successful life. But, just like in a construction site, the work along the journey will be of blood, sweat and tears.
1980
Josias Rocha opens the door to his room and enters; then he closes it again. He got out of the shower, with only a towel wrapped around his waist, and goes to the wardrobe to put on fresh clothes.
He opens the wardrobe carefully because the doors are warped. His father wanted to assemble the furniture on his own and was not efficient.
As Josias pulls on his briefs, he hears a loud noise from the living room door. His father is watching television. It looks like the door has been broken open.
Next, angry and disturbed voices alternate with the frightened voice of Josias's father. Not just a visitor, Josias hears three or four voices, indicating a gang. There is a fierce discussion going on in the living room.
Curious and a little afraid, Josias goes to the door to listen better. He does not dare to leave his room and see who these men are, but by their tone of voice, you can see that they are not good-natured people.
"I swear to you, I'll pay next month, even if it's half!" That was the voice of Josias's father, almost crying.
One of the visitors said, "We know you don't have a job, and you haven't even left home to look. How are you going to pay us?"
Josias shakes his head. His mother got divorced because she could no longer stand her husband's unwillingness to stay in a steady job. She was so furious that when her ex-husband demanded custody of Josias, she accepted without question, and left, leaving her son behind. She is probably out of town or State now, married to another man.
Josias's father continued to "raise" his son, having a layabout life and avoiding work, until the bills accumulate and can no longer be ignored. Josias, in turn, performed some services properly to his age to have some money. If Josias waited for his father for everything, he would go hungry and deprived.
He spent all elementary and high school period with the cheapest sneakers and the cheapest clothes, using the cheapest school supplies, being a reason for mockery of more neat students. But his zeal for his studies and his good grades made the teachers proud.
Now, at 18, Josias needed to face adult life, but apparently, he won't be able to count on his father again, mainly on the financial issue. It's because apparently, his father is in more and more trouble. As the conversation progresses, Josias discovers that his father took money from a loan shark.
Even a young person like Josias already knows that borrowing money from a loan shark is a risky and foolish decision. They have no qualms about charging, and their faces don't even flush with the extortionate interest on the amount.
Josias is even more concerned with the discussion that seems to have no end. To make matters worse, his father was drinking, which must have irritated the loan shark collectors even more. Tired of hearing excuses, they set off for physical aggression. Josias hears noises of furniture being knocked over and punches being thrown at his father, who screams in pain and calls for mercy.
Josias wouldn't be crazy to leave the room and face them. It's because Josias is only 18 and his build is normal for his age, and the attackers would probably be over 30 to 40; even more knowing that there is more than one.
"No, please, listen to me... NO!"
This was the last time that Josias heard his father's voice. One of the collectors fired three revolver shots. Glued to the bedroom door, Josias only heard the shots. Shocked, astonished, Josias is unable to move.
"Let's see if anything is interesting here for us to enjoy."
Done! If before Josias was unable to move; now he reacts as if he has been struck by a lightning. If the bill collectors find him in the room and see that he is the son, what could happen?
From the two options, one: either they would kill him too to have no witnesses, or they would want to collect the debt through him. And Josias found the second option the worse of the two. He was not going to let strangers intimidate him into paying a debt he didn't owe. But, Josias didn't want to die either. What to do?
Without thinking twice, Josias spotted the gray sweatpants he was going to put on and quickly grabbed them. He also spots some money bills that were on top of the dresser and grabs it.
The bedroom window was open. Josias puts on his slippers, climbs on the bed, and from the bed passes through the window. He looks back, hears the steps of the killer collectors walking down the corridor. Well, they went straight through. It's easier for him to escape.
So, with a sad look, without even seeing his father for the last time... Josias looks at his room for the last time and jumps out the window. His luck was that the house was single-story. Outside, he hastily puts on his sweatpants, puts the money in his pocket, and runs as fast as he can.
Monica Silva wants to be a famous writer. Célio das Graças wants to be a powerful person to help people, and wants to get involved in politics to achieve his goals. Both have known each other since childhood, but the long life has transformed friendship into love. But when the two put their life goals at the forefront, can the love survive?
Eveline married Shane, an obstetrician, at the age of 24. Two years later, when she was five months pregnant, Shane aborted the baby himself and proceeded to divorce her. It was during these dark times that Eveline met Derek. He treated her tenderly and gave her warmth like she had never known before. He also caused her the greatest pain she ever had to endure. Eveline only grew stronger after everything she experienced, but would she be able to bear the truth when it was finally revealed? Who was Derek behind his charismatic facade? And what would Eveline do once she found out the answer?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.