Chapter 2 Gaia Spanos

• Two Years Later
• Gaia Spanos
• "Today will be a wonderful day. There's no reason to panic." I said, looking at myself in the mirror in my room.
• Meanwhile, my twin barged into my closet to grab something. But as she walked past me, she noticed I wasn’t doing so well.
• "What’s wrong? Why do you look like you just tasted something awful?" she asked.
• Atena is the older one between us. We were raised to understand our place in the organization, and since she’s the heir to our father's seat in the mafia, her husband was carefully chosen. My father decided to unite our families with Aunt Carol’s, which is why Matheus was selected.
• As for me, I fell in love with our mother’s work at the museum. Unlike her, I won’t become an archaeologist; I’m studying business administration. I know that once Mom resigns, I can apply for her position.
• Because, as Mrs. Spanos always says, it’s time to rest, to travel the world again, and to experience new cultures. While learning how to manage my mother’s museum, I also specialized in cybersecurity so I could always keep an eye on things for Atena.
• Today is a complicated day for me. My father insists on this arranged marriage. He chose Joaquim for me, who will take care of the community in Rio de Janeiro, the same one that once belonged to Uncle Bruno, who, with some help, became the CEO of "Smoke."
• "There is something wrong!" I replied to my sister. "I can’t stand looking at Joaquim Garcia and not feeling nauseous when he gives me that disdainful look, like he doesn’t even want me around." She rolled her eyes and sat down on my bed.
• "Gaia, have you talked to Mom about this? Maybe she can convince Dad to release you from this commitment." I sighed, looking at my sister.
• Atena looks exactly like me. The only difference today is our clothes and jewelry. Otherwise, we’re identical.
• "I’ve already tried talking to her. She just said she doesn’t like to interfere in Dad’s business and that they had a huge fight about this years ago." I sighed in frustration.
• I sat beside my sister, who hugged me as I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. She gently stroked my back while I wiped away a tear before it could smudge my makeup.
• As we looked at ourselves in the mirror facing the bed, we heard the door open. Before we could react, our brother Apollo threw himself onto my bed, making us laugh.
• Apollo is thirteen now, and when our mother found out she was pregnant with him, she nearly killed our father. We all laughed when we found out. She only relaxed when she learned it was just one baby. After that, she felt much more at ease.
• Apollo came between us and realized how sad I was. He hugged me just like Atena did. I knew that if they could change anything, they would do anything to lift my spirits and ease my burden.
• But there’s no more avoiding it. So it’s better to go downstairs and face the problem waiting for me.
• I got up from the bed, and my siblings hugged me. Apollo wiped away my last tear, and my sister, always by my side, held my hand to give me strength. We descended the mansion’s grand staircase, which overlooked the living room where my family and Joaquim and Thalles’s parents were gathered.
• As soon as we entered the room, I laid eyes on the source of my discontent. His mother stood up and walked toward us, pausing for a moment, unsure of who was who. That drew a small smile from me.
• "I’m Gaia," Atena said, laughing, and our father gave us a stern look.
• "I never taught you to lie. Why are you starting now?" We heard our mother scold.
• "Sorry, Aunt Tânia, we didn’t mean to offend you," my sister apologized. Then she turned to me and hugged me, and I hugged her back.
• "You two still look exactly the same. Over the years, Joaquim and Thalles have changed, but not you..." Her eyes showed a trace of curiosity as she spoke.
• She pulled me closer to her son, and my siblings went to sit near our grandparents. I heard Atena whispering to our grandmother Maitê, who just shook her head and placed her hand on Atena’s knee.
• My mother came closer and held my hand. I remained standing, staring at Joaquim, who was still sitting next to his father and brother. His brother gave me a kind smile.
• "Júlio, we’ve always been close friends. I think it’s only right that our friendship grows even stronger," my father began, speaking to Joaquim’s father. "As you know, I always promised my eldest daughter to Matheus, and so far, that agreement stands firm."
• At that moment, my life was truly being tied to the life of a man who made it clear he didn’t want me either.
• "You know I only have my son Joaquim to offer your daughter. He will lead the community in the future, and his brother will be by his side," Uncle Júlio said.
• I looked at Joaquim, who stared back at me with a look of disgust. He whispered something to his brother, who scolded him, but Joaquim seemed bolder than I was, or at least he didn’t respect his parents the way I respected mine.
• "I already said I don’t want to marry her. She barely speaks our language. She’s just a spoiled little princess, raised to be pampered and not to be a queen by my side. I won’t accept this marriage." We all turned in his direction.
• He kept looking at me with disdain. My only reaction was to turn my back and leave that room. I walked toward the garden on the opposite side of the sea, where I saw Alice reading a romance novel on her device.
• She seemed surprised to see me there, knowing what was supposed to be happening at that moment. I sat near her feet as she set her device aside and hugged me. I felt my emotions explode the moment I was embraced. I wished my sister were here doing the same, helping me while I cried and thought about everything Joaquim had said.
• "Alice, do you think I’m just a stuck-up little princess who can’t be a queen?" I asked. She cupped my face in her hands, making me look at her.
• "It doesn’t matter what anyone said, Gaia. You are the kindest and noblest person I know. My uncles raised you well, and I’m sure that idiot will regret every word he said." I smiled warmly at my cousin.
• She hugged me again and pulled me into her room, helping me clean the smudged makeup off my face.
• After a few minutes, we were surprised by my aunt Selma, who came into the room and looked startled to see me there. But once she walked through the door, she shut it behind her to keep others out.
• "Everyone is looking for you, my love. I heard what happened in the living room and came to check if you were here." She sat beside me and pulled me into a hug.
• "What’s the mood like back there, Aunt?" She didn’t look too cheerful.
• "Your father is furious. Júlio slapped Joaquim, while your mother and Tânia are trying to calm things down between them and figure out what to do next." I hadn’t imagined all this would unfold after I left the room.
• "Is there any chance my father might change his mind and cancel this engagement? I don’t want to be bound to someone who thinks I’m a spoiled child." She took a deep breath and gently caressed my face.
• "My sweet Gaia, the last thing anyone could say about you is that you’re spoiled. I always wished you were my daughter." I burst into laughter when Alice made a face.
• "Thanks a lot, Mom, for telling me you don’t love me," she joked.
• I hugged my cousin, and we kept talking until my aunt finally encouraged me to go and face whatever was still waiting for me back in the living room.