Finding Peace in Friendship

At the Costa's residence, Andrea's mind drifts back to the years she and Christian spent together. She remembers the times when she was the center of his attention, when he would look at her with admiration and desire. How did things shift so quickly? How had this woman managed to capture his attention and keep it?

Her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway. A moment later, her mother, Helena, enters the room, gliding across the floor with her usual grace.

"Andrea," Helena begins, her voice calm but firm, "have you given more thought to what we discussed this morning?"

Andrea sits up a little straighter, nodding. "I have. But this isn't going to be easy, Mother. Marilena is different. She's not going to just disappear."

Helena's lips press into a thin line as she takes a seat across from her daughter. "No one said it would be easy. But you've always been resourceful. You know how to handle situations like this."