Chapter 25-26-27

Chapter 25 – Love in the Outdoors

It was a sunny day in Florida, and Gisele decided to spend the morning in her garden, surrounded by the greenery and the scent of the flowers she loved so much. Ricardo was with her, helping her organize some plants, something he did clumsily but with good intentions.

"You know that putting too much water can kill the plant, right?" Gisele said with a smile as she watched him with the hose.

Ricardo laughed, turning off the water. "I'm better on the mat and as a black belt, not as a green belt."

She approached, touching his arm lightly. "You're good at everything you do. Even watering plants."

There was something in the way she looked at him at that moment. Ricardo noticed, but chose not to say anything. He knew her words came from the heart.

After lunch, Gisele was sitting on the couch with her cell phone in her hand, browsing social media. Ever since she had started dating Ricardo, the media had been speculating about their relationship.

Paparazzi had captured pictures of them together a few times, but nothing had been officially confirmed. She glanced at Ricardo, who was across the room, reviewing a list of new students for the gym.

"Ricardo," she called.

He looked up. "Tell me, Gis."

She bit her lip for a second, hesitant. "What do you think about us confirming our relationship? Like, officially?"

Ricardo put down the papers and looked at her. "You mean… post something?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I was thinking of a simple picture, nothing extravagant. Just to make it clear that we're together and put an end to the rumors."

He shrugged, smiling. "If it makes you feel better, that's fine by me. Just let me know before you post it, because my mom will freak out."

Gisele laughed. "I bet your mom would love it. She seems like an amazing person."

"She is. And you'll love to know that," he replied, approaching her on the couch.

Gisele opened her phone's photo gallery and started looking for a picture that would represent their moment well. After a few minutes, she found the perfect one: it was a spontaneous photo she had taken weeks ago, during a walk.

They were side by side, smiling, with the sunset in the background.

"What do you think of this one?" she asked, showing the screen to Ricardo.

He analyzed the image and smiled. "It's perfect. Simple, beautiful... just like you."

She blushed slightly. "Then, I'll post it."

Gisele opened Instagram and uploaded the photo. She was silent for a few seconds, thinking about the caption. She didn't want something long or complicated. Just a heart emoji would be enough.

After typing the emoji, she pressed the post button.

"Done," she said, looking at Ricardo.

"And now?" he asked.

"Now, we wait for the internet to explode," she replied, laughing.

Within minutes, Gisele's phone began to vibrate incessantly. Comments, likes and messages began to arrive in droves. Among the messages were reactions from famous friends.

Alessandra Ambrosio: "FINALLY! ❤️"

Renzo Gracie: "I knew this guy would steal your heart. He's one of the good ones! 👊"

Demi Lovato: "This couple is fire! 🔥"

Ricardo watched everything calmly, while Gisele enjoyed the messages.

"Did you know it would be like this?" he asked.

"Of course! People love a good love story," she replied.

Within hours, Gisele's post began to circulate on news sites and social networks. Headlines like:

"Gisele Bündchen confirms romance with jiu-jitsu teacher"

"Love is in the air: Gisele and Ricardo confirm relationship"

"From teacher to boyfriend: meet the man who won Gisele's heart"

Gisele's fans reacted positively, with many praising the couple. "She deserves someone like that," commented one follower. "Ricardo seems like an incredible man. Congratulations to the couple!"

That night, Benjamin and Vivian were sitting in the living room, watching a movie, when Gisele joined them.

"Kids, I need to talk to you about something," she began.

Vivian paused the movie and looked at her mother. "What's wrong, Mom?"

"I posted a picture with Ricardo today. Now everyone knows we're together."

Benjamin shrugged. "So what? Everyone already knew, Mom. I was just waiting for you to confirm it."

Vivian smiled. "Ricardo is cool. We like him. And you seem happy. That's what matters."

Gisele was touched by her children's support. "Thank you, my loves. You're amazing."

While the children slept, Gisele and Ricardo stood on the porch, looking at the stars.

"Today was a busy day," she said, holding his hand.

"It was, but it was worth it," Ricardo replied.

She looked into his eyes. "You make me so happy, you know that?"

He smiled, leaning in to kiss her. "And you changed my life, Gis. I can't wait to see where this takes us."

And there, under the starry Florida sky, they began a new chapter together.

Chapter 26 – Two Families, One Love

Ricardo was sitting in Gisele's living room, adjusting the angle of his laptop on the coffee table. He had just called his family in Brazil and was anxious. His mother, Dona Helena, had already expressed interest in meeting Gisele, especially after the couple's photo went viral on social media.

Across the room, Gisele was playing with Vivian and Benjamin, trying to hide her nervousness. Despite having been a public figure for years, the idea of ​​meeting Ricardo's family made her heart race.

"All set?" she asked, moving closer.

"Yes," Ricardo replied, looking at the laptop. "My mother is very excited. She might overdo it a little, just letting you know."

Gisele laughed, sitting down next to him. "I want to meet her anyway. It'll be fun."

The screen flashed and, within seconds, Dona Helena's smiling face appeared. She was accompanied by other members of Ricardo's family, including his sisters, nephew, and even an uncle who always made a point of appearing on the video calls.

"Hi, Mom!" Ricardo greeted enthusiastically.

"My son!" replied Dona Helena, with the energy of someone who hadn't seen him in years, even though it was just a video call. "And you must be Gisele!"

Gisele leaned closer to the camera, smiling warmly. "Yes, it's me. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Oh, my dear, the pleasure is all ours!" said Dona Helena. "You're even more beautiful than in the magazines. How did my son manage to win you over?"

Ricardo rolled his eyes, but laughed. "Mom, take it easy."

"Sorry, but it's true!" continued Dona Helena. "We're so happy that you're in Ricardo's life. He deserves someone special."

Ricardo's sisters also chimed in, asking about how the couple met and joking about how Ricardo seemed happier since they started dating.

"He's always been so serious, you know?" one of the sisters said. "But now he's different. It must be your influence, Gisele."

Gisele laughed. "I think he's always been amazing. He just needed a little push."

The conversation flowed naturally, with Ricardo's family showing genuine interest in learning more about Gisele and praising the positive impact she had on his life.

Later, it was Gisele's turn to call her own family. She was especially excited for Ricardo to meet her mother and sisters, with whom she has always had a close relationship.

When the video call began, her mother appeared first, followed by her sisters, who quickly filled the screen.

"Hi, mom!" Gisele greeted.

"Hi, my daughter! And is this the famous Ricardo?" her mother asked with a smile.

"Yes, it's me," Ricardo said, a little more shy this time. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Vânia."

"It's my pleasure, dear. My daughter has been talking about nothing but you. It seems like you've truly won her heart."

Gisele blushed and gave Ricardo a gentle shove. "Mom!"

Her sisters joined in the conversation, asking pointed questions and joking with Ricardo about how he was dealing with the media attention.

"So, Ricardo, what's it like dating a celebrity?" one of them joked.

"Well," he replied, smiling, "I think she's more normal than she seems on TV. She even got me to water the plants!"

Everyone laughed, and the conversation became even more relaxed.

When the calls ended, Ricardo and Gisele sat on the couch, exhausted but happy.

"It was better than I expected," Gisele said, leaning against Ricardo's shoulder.

"Yes," he agreed. "Your family is very welcoming. I think my mom is already planning to have you in Brazil."

"And my mom is probably thinking about visiting us," Gisele joked.

He held her hand, looking into her eyes. "I think we took a big step today. It's nice to see our families getting to know each other, even from a distance."

"Yes," she said, smiling. "I feel like we're building something really special."

In the days that followed, Ricardo and Gisele continued to receive messages from family and friends. Ricardo's sisters sent old photos of him, which Gisele loved to see, while Gisele's mother sent recipes for Ricardo to try.

Benjamin and Vivian were also excited to hear that their families were connecting.

"Is Ricardo officially part of our family now?" Vivian asked curiously.

"We're getting closer to that," Gisele replied, stroking her daughter's hair.

Benjamin looked at Ricardo. "You know that if you hurt our mother, you'll have to deal with us, right?"

Ricardo laughed, but answered seriously. "I would never do that. I promise to take care of her and of you."

With every call, every message and every interaction, Ricardo and Gisele felt their lives becoming even more intertwined. It wasn't just their love that grew, but also the bonds between their families.

And while they were planning a visit to Brazil for Gisele to meet Ricardo's family in person, they knew they were building something solid, a strong foundation that would sustain them in the challenges and joys of the future.

Chapter 27 – Reflections of a Lost Champion

Tom Brady sat on the couch in his sprawling mansion, surrounded by trophies and mementos from his legendary NFL career. The television was on, but he wasn't paying attention. His mind was in another dimension, lost in memories and regrets.

The recent visit from his children, Benjamin, Vivian, and Jack, had brought up conflicting feelings. They spoke enthusiastically about life with their mother and about Ricardo, her new boyfriend. It wasn't just their cheerful tone of voice, but the way they spoke of him: respectful, funny, and genuinely affectionate toward Gisele and them.

As he placed a glass of whiskey on the table, Tom recalled his conversation with Benjamin over dinner just a few days ago.

"Dad, you're not going to believe this," Benjamin said, as Jack and Vivian nodded in agreement. "Ricardo is a monster at jiu-jitsu! Like, he's the GOAT in the gi. He even taught us some new moves. I never thought I'd like fighting so much."

Tom smiled at his son, trying to hide the twinge of jealousy. "It seems like he's really good at what he does."

"Yeah, and he's cool," Jack said. "He's not just Mom's boyfriend. He's like... part of the team now, you know?"

That phrase echoed in Tom's mind as he stared at the TV, not really seeing it. "Part of the team."

Tom took a deep breath, resting his head in his hands. He'd always had control over his life, his training, his career. But right now, it felt like control had slipped through his fingers.

He knew that returning to the NFL after announcing his retirement had been the breaking point. Gisele had always supported his career, but she also needed a husband who was there for him, a father who would be there for his children every day.

"Why did I need to prove something that was already proven?" he whispered to himself, his voice heavy with guilt. "I was already the greatest. But that wasn't enough, was it?"

He stood up and began to pace the room, as he did when he felt restless. Each step seemed to carry the weight of his decisions.

Not knowing what to do, Tom picked up the phone and called his friend and former teammate, Julian Edelman.

"Hey, Tom!" Julian answered enthusiastically.

"Hey, Jules," Tom replied, his voice lower than usual.

Julian quickly noticed his friend's tone. "You okay, man? You sound kind of weird."

Tom hesitated for a moment, but decided to open up. "I'm thinking about Gisele."

"What's wrong with her?" Julian asked cautiously.

"She's dating someone else now. And the boys...they seem to really like him. She seems happy. Happier than she was with me at the end."

Julian was silent for a few seconds before answering. "Tom, you know I've always supported you, but...have you ever thought that maybe she deserved this? I don't mean to be harsh, but you were married to her for years. And let's be honest, you put football ahead of a lot of things."

"I know," Tom said, his voice breaking. "I know it was my fault. I just...I didn't think it would end like this. I always thought I'd have time to fix things."

"Tom, you're one of the greatest competitors in the world, but not everything is a competition. Sometimes you just have to accept that you lost a battle and move on."

After hanging up, Tom went to his room. He opened a drawer and pulled out an old photo: him and Gisele, smiling next to Benjamin and Vivian as toddlers. He touched her face in the photo, and memories began to flood his mind: the laughter, the trips, the little things in everyday life that he used to ignore while he focused on being the best on the field.

"I had it all," he murmured. "And I threw it away."

He knew he couldn't change the past, but that didn't make the pain any easier to bear. Final Thoughts That night, Tom went to bed early, but sleep was slow to come. He tossed and turned, struggling with his thoughts.

What haunted him wasn't just the fact that Gisele had moved on, but that she seemed to be truly blossoming. He finally understood that it wasn't just Ricardo. It was the void he had created when he chose the football field over his family.

As the silence filled the room, Tom made a promise to himself: he would be a better father. Benjamin, Vivian, and Jack still needed him, and he wanted to make sure that, at least in that area, he wouldn't make the same mistakes again.

Deep down, he knew it was too late to get Gisele back. But maybe, just maybe, he could find redemption by being the father he always should have been.

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