Chapter 12 - ALINE'S FATHER
Aline’s father, Roberto Ferreira, had been a site supervisor on a Vale project.
Twenty years earlier.
A retaining wall collapsed.
Two workers died.
Roberto died three days later in the hospital.
The official report blamed subcontractor negligence.
Aline’s mother accepted a settlement.
Small.
Final.
Then Helena showed them an internal memo.
Roberto had warned Eduardo about the wall.
Twice.
Eduardo delayed repairs to avoid missing an opening deadline.
After the accident, Vale Development altered inspection records.
Aline felt numb.
“My mother never knew.”
Helena looked down.
“No.”
“Did Samantha?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She found the old file during the refinancing review.”
Aline understood.
Samantha saw the surname Ferreira on the vendor permit.
Looked deeper.
Realized Aline was the dead supervisor’s daughter.
Then saw Heitor buying her cake every morning.
Two threats merged.
Jealousy.
And liability.
If Aline ever learned who Heitor was and asked questions about the building owner’s financing relationship with Vale, old records might surface.
Samantha pushed first.
Hard.
Aline stood.
“I need air.”
Outside, she leaned against the brick wall.
Heitor followed but stayed several feet away.
“Don’t say sorry.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Good.”
He paused.
“I was going to say your father deserved better.”
Aline closed her eyes.
“That’s almost worse.”
“Sorry.”
She laughed despite herself.
Then cried.
Heitor waited.
After a minute, she reached for his hand.
Only then did he move closer.
No kiss.
No speech.
Just hands.
The old construction records triggered a new civil investigation.
Vale Development’s restructuring became more complicated.
Employee jobs were still protected.
Eduardo’s personal exposure increased dramatically.
He blamed Samantha.
Samantha blamed Helena.
Helena filed for divorce.
The Vale family exploded.
Then Samantha’s trial began.
On day three, her lawyer produced a surprise witness.
Aline’s mother.
Maria Ferreira.
Aline stared as her mother walked into court.
They had not spoken in two years.
Maria took the stand.
Samantha’s lawyer asked.
“Did your daughter always dream of marrying rich?”
Maria hesitated.
Then said.
“Yes.”
Aline felt the room tilt.
The lawyer smiled.
“Did she ever tell you she would do anything to escape poverty?”
Maria looked at Aline.
Tears in her eyes.
“Yes.”
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
Samantha smiled for the first time in weeks.
May you like
Aline’s own mother had just handed her the weapon she needed.
