Chapter 36: The Unveiling

"Manoeuvres?" Mariana thought to herself, confused. "What kind of manoeuvres?" "I appreciate you letting me know, Natasha," she said finally, her voice tight. "But honestly, I'll be fine. Tiago and I are getting a divorce anyway. It'll all be over soon." Relief flooded Natasha's voice. "Oh, Mariana, thank goodness! I was so worried about you." "There's no need," Mariana assured her, forcing a lightness into her voice that she didn't quite feel. "It was a business arrangement, remember? Once the divorce is finalized, we'll go our separate ways." A beat of silence followed, then Natasha spoke again, her voice thoughtful. "Mariana, have you ever considered going abroad for a while? Maybe after the divorce is settled, of course. Just a change of scenery, a chance to clear your head." Mariana scoffed. "Abroad? Natasha, I've lived in Portugal my entire life. I don't have any desire to pack up and leave everything behind." "But wouldn't it be nice to get away from it all?"