Chapter 72: The Confrontation

The insistent rumble of the departing furniture truck that had accompanied Lorenzo and his men faded into the distance, leaving behind a hollow silence that echoed Mariana's own emptiness. Shame washed over her in waves. She regretted taking out her anger on Lorenzo, knowing fully well that he had always been nice and good to her. She had unintentionally transferred the anger and aggression she felt towards Tiago to him. Hunger, however, transcended her emotional turmoil. Her stomach growled insistently, reminding her of the grocery bags she’d shoved unceremoniously into a corner the night before. Pulling them out, she surveyed the random assortment of ingredients – a forgotten impulse buy while returning home from work the previous day. With a sigh, she decided to tackle the unfamiliar. Firing up her laptop, she navigated to a familiar cooking tutorial website, searching for inspiration. Following the pixelated chef’s instructions, Mariana meticulously prepped and chopped.