easy as Vivia

with her daughter. As soon as she was discharged from the hospital, she returned to S

d sold the house and signed the divorce papers just before b

ill frail and much thinner. She was a skinny woman

pered, "He

y another word."

bandoned Pietro. You might have been alright, takin

last night I spent in that house, he assaulted me and raped me. I almo

ed her tearful eyes. She could not accep

ng to the

it, Mom?" Viviane sa

band and still managed to take her granddaughter's side. Using her crutch to support her,

very strong inside her. But what if Sofia needed her? Pietro had refused the child from the very beginning

________________

ysical therapy and her neurology

but the receptionist denied her entry. She even tried to bypass the s

ened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. That same day, her daughter was turning four. Viviane wondered what Pietro would

Pietro had always hated celebrating birthdays. He rarely cele

ia turned on the light.

now what

f over this. You'll hav

er head, shocked

that when my

ful. Viviane's brother had overdosed at a party wh

ry,

and tried to hug her, b

gone too far," Otávia complained. "Take a sho

rought up that topic. Talking about her broth

_______________

hool and spoke with the principal, who was

t private schools in the city. Passing by the Welsch Corporation b

r years ago. Despite his inscrutable expression, he was handsome. Vivia

e said. "Excuse me," he ad

going?" she snapped. "Move o

walking with the help of a crutch. She limped

speak to

y sees people

is on the board

one. "Good morning, is Mr. Müller available?" she asked, frowning. "Thank you, and sorry for the trouble." T

e his phon

rity," the receptionist said,

s. She heard the receptionist murmur something

to find a nanny by

iviane

I can't help you," th

andidates for the

looked at her

low

ng, delicate-looking women arrived and sat next

g her chin at Viviane's crutch. "A child runs a lot a

ther refused to give up. She was determi

ardi," the ma

she struggled toward the do

ume," the woman on the ot

ded me for the position

She raised her

ro Mü

nd organized the papers on her desk.

lling her work. "I love children. I t

ager said, pleased. "D

o!" she answ

manager retur

ut how would you handle a ch

legs and sighed. Her limitation could be an

said, standing. "T

was called while she waited for the elevator. She felt so discouraged that she

ink you're going

te room, adorned with paintings and mirrors that m

skin flushed when she saw the man

still, trying to recover from her emb

n access card and tossing it onto the d

ed off, unable to finish. She was unable to arti

e, but she also felt ashamed of how she had tr

passive expression scrutinized h

she replied, "Viv

iviane realized her chance of finding her daughter was slipping away. So she asked, "Could you

ffice!" he ordered, gestu

limped into

and unkempt hair. Her dull, frizzy strands were pulled into a messy bu