Chapter 31-32-33

Chapter 31 – The Grand Return

Social media was abuzz with the recent announcement: Victoria's Secret was officially bringing back its iconic runway show. After years away from the scene, the return promised to be monumental, and the fashion world was paying close attention to every detail. The brand, in a strategic move, began to reveal some of the models who would be part of the event.

Gigi and Bella Hadid, Alessandra Ambrosio, Isabeli Fontana, and other renowned models had already been announced. But the absence of an iconic name like Adriana Lima raised questions. In addition, many fans were rooting for Gisele Bündchen's return, but knew she was reluctant. For them, the idea of ​​seeing Gisele on the Victoria's Secret runway was a distant dream.

At Gisele's house in Indian Creek, she and Ricardo were sitting on the porch, enjoying the sunset while talking about the last few busy days. Benjamin, Vivian, and Jack were playing with the family dog ​​in the garden, laughing and running around.

Ricardo poured two glasses of wine, handing one to Gisele. "So, have you seen the buzz on the internet about the show?"

Gisele smiled, crossing her legs. "Of course. It's impossible to ignore. Everyone is speculating about who will participate, who will surprise everyone."

Ricardo laughed. "And the name that appears most on their wish lists? Yours."

"Oh, of course," she said, laughing. "They think I'm too retired for that. They don't know what's coming."

Ricardo leaned in, looking at her curiously. "Do you think they'll go crazy when they find out that you and Adriana will be walking together?"

She laughed, holding up her glass. "I think people are going to freak out. It's like two legends coming back at the same time. But the funny thing is, no one has a clue. They're so focused on the other models."

Ricardo put the glass down and approached her, placing a loving hand on hers. "You're excited, aren't you? I can see it on your face."

She nodded, a sparkle in her eyes. "More than I expected. I think part of it is because I'm in a different place in my life right now. I feel more confident, more at ease. And having you by my side just makes it all the more special."

"You're going to rock," he said with a smile, kissing her forehead. "I can't wait to be there in the audience and see you shine."

Meanwhile, on social media, the rumors were intensifying. Fashion and entertainment websites were speculating frantically about who else might appear in the show. Some headlines suggested that Adriana Lima was out, which caused a wave of discontent among the brand's oldest fans.

"Gisele won't be back, Adriana won't be back either… What's the point of this show?" read one of the most liked tweets of the day.

Another user commented: "Victoria's Secret without Gisele and Adriana is like a movie without protagonists. Let's hope they're hiding their secret."

The fans, unbeknownst to them, were right. The show's production team was keeping Gisele and Adriana's appearances a secret to maximize impact.

The next day, Gisele and Ricardo were sitting in their living room, discussing the logistics of the coming months. The show would be in New York, and Gisele would need to spend a few weeks in rehearsals.

"I was thinking," Gisele began, "maybe it would be a good idea to take the kids with me. It would be a cool experience for them."

Ricardo agreed. "Good idea. They'll love New York, and I can take advantage of it to train at Renzo's gym while you rehearse."

She smiled. "Look, always thinking about jiu-jitsu. You never stop, do you?"

"Never," he said, laughing. "But seriously, Gisele. This will be a great opportunity for you to show the world that you're better than ever. No matter how much time has passed, you're still the best."

She touched his hand affectionately. "Thank you, love. That means a lot to me."

Later that afternoon, Adriana Lima called Gisele. "Gisele! Did you see people's reactions?" Adriana asked excitedly.

"Yes, I did. They really think you're out," Gisele replied, laughing. "Little do they know that we're about to make history again."

Adriana laughed on the other end of the line. "I'm so excited, my friend. I don't think I've ever been this excited for a show. And working with you is going to be amazing."

"Absolutely," Gisele said. "But we need to keep this a secret for a little while longer. I want it to be a complete surprise."

"Oh, it will be. When they find out, it's going to be crazy," Adriana said.

That night, as she lay in bed with Ricardo, Gisele couldn't stop thinking about how her life had changed. She was happy, fulfilled, and felt like she had found the perfect balance between work, family, and love.

"Your head is somewhere else," Ricardo said, watching her

"I was just thinking about how everything changed so quickly," she said, turning to him. "I have you, the kids are happy, and now I'm going to be back on the runway. It's like everything has fallen into place."

Ricardo smiled, pulling her close. "You deserve all of this, Gisele. And I'm here to support you every step of the way."

She smiled, feeling grateful for everything she had. And for the first time in a long time, she was eager to see the world's reaction to her big comeback.

Chapter 32 – The World Stops

Victoria's Secret Instagram was buzzing that morning. The marketing team had chosen the perfect moment to drop the biggest bombshell of the show's return: Adriana Lima and Gisele Bündchen would be back on the runway, together.

The post was simple but powerful. A short video showed the two supermodels walking side by side, wearing sophisticated lingerie and iconic wings, while a dramatic soundtrack played in the background. At the end, the phrase appeared: "They're back."

The caption read:

"Two legends, one moment. @Gisele and @AdrianaLima are returning to the runway in the most anticipated show of the year. Stay tuned for the show of the century."

Within minutes, the video exploded on social media. Gisele and Adriana's names were on every platform, from Twitter's trending topics to the headlines of major news portals.

"It's official: Gisele and Adriana are back at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show!"

"The queens return: Gisele Bündchen and Adriana Lima together on the runway again."

"History in the making: two of the greatest models of all time confirm their presence at the most iconic show in the world."

Celebrities, fans, and even fashion critics flooded the comments on the post.

"This is going to be EPIC!"

"Gisele and Adriana together? I can't believe I'm living to see this."

"The world is not ready for this moment."

In less than an hour, the post racked up millions of likes and was shared by several celebrities, including models, actors, and singers. It was as if the fashion world had stopped to breathe in this historic moment.

Gisele was in the kitchen when her cell phone started vibrating incessantly. She laughed as she looked at the screen. Ricardo was sitting at the counter, drinking a coffee, watching her curiously.

"I don't even need to ask what's going on," he said, smiling.

She showed him her phone. "Look at this, honey. It's like the whole world is going crazy."

Ricardo took out his phone and started reading the comments. He laughed. "You knew this was going to happen. The impact you two have is absurd."

Vivian ran into the kitchen, holding her own phone. "Mommy, you're on Victoria's Secret's Instagram! I saw the video. You and Aunt Adriana look so beautiful!"

Gisele picked Vivian up, laughing. "You think so, honey? I was nervous to record that video."

"It didn't seem like it at all! You look amazing," her daughter replied.

In the American Vogue newsroom, the news was treated as a historic event. "This changes everything," said one of the editors. "It's the kind of moment that defines eras in the fashion world."

Magazines like Elle, Harper's Bazaar and even outlets outside the fashion world, like The New York Times, began to prepare special articles about Gisele and Adriana's return.

In Brazil, the reaction was even more intense. Websites like UOL and G1 highlighted the news on their front pages, with headlines that praised the talent and importance of the two Brazilian models.

Meanwhile, Adriana called Gisele.

"Are you seeing all this?" Adriana asked excitedly.

"Of course! My phone hasn't stopped ringing," Gisele replied, laughing.

"I knew people would freak out, but this is on another level," said Adriana.

Gisele agreed. "It's like we're reliving our golden years. I'm so happy we're doing this together."

"Me too," said Adriana. "And you know what's crazy? I think we're more confident now than we were when we were young."

"Absolutely," Gisele said. "The experience brings a confidence that we didn't have before. And, honestly, doing this now, at such a good time in my life, is perfect."

As Gisele prepared to answer some important messages, Ricardo was by her side, watching her with a smile on his face.

"You look radiant," he said.

She looked at him, touching his face. "It's because I'm happy, Ricardo. You know how much this means to me, and having you by my side makes everything even better."

"You deserve all of this," he said. "And you know what I like most? That, even with all this attention, you're still the Gisele I knew. Humble, down to earth."

She smiled, pulling him in for a kiss. "Thank you for always supporting me, love."

That night, while the world continued to talk about the return of the two supermodels, Gisele and Ricardo were sitting on the couch, watching a movie with Benjamin, Vivian and Jack. Despite the commotion, the house was quiet, and Gisele felt grateful for everything she had.

She looked at Ricardo, holding his hand. "You know, I never imagined I would be so happy at a time like this."

"And I never imagined I would be next to the most incredible woman in the world," he said, smiling.

Gisele laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Let's enjoy every moment, because I think the fashion show will be a great time and it will just be the beginning of many incredible things."

And she knew she was right. The world was watching, and the return of Gisele and Adriana promised to be a milestone not only for Victoria's Secret, but for the history of fashion.

Chapter 33 – Rehearsals in New York

New York was pulsating. With the return of the Victoria's Secret fashion show getting closer and closer, the city was buzzing with the presence of supermodels and production teams.

Gisele Bündchen was immersed in rehearsals, perfecting each step and choreography, while the city watched with rapt attention every move of the stars who were back on the catwalk.

Meanwhile, Ricardo took advantage of his stay in New York to return to a special place: Renzo Gracie's academy. It was a familiar environment for him, a space where he could train, see old friends and challenge himself with some of the best jiu-jitsu athletes in the world.

In the huge rehearsal studio, Gisele adjusted one of the straps of her lingerie while chatting with Adriana Lima, both full of energy.

"Did you see all the cameras outside?" asked Adriana, arranging her hair in a bun.

"I see. They're more excited about this show than any other event," Gisele replied with a smile.

"That's because it's us. They know this is history in the making."

The two laughed as the choreography director called attention to the next round of rehearsals.

Gisele glanced at her watch and smiled as she remembered Ricardo. "My boyfriend must be at the gym right now, working up a sweat."

"He's so hot, Gisele," Adriana said with a wink. "I'd say you hit the jackpot."

"Isn't he? And he's still a wonderful person. I don't think I've ever been happier."

Across town, Ricardo walked into Renzo's gym with a gym bag over his shoulder. The sound of mats being used and chatter among students filled the room. As he entered, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Ricardo, my brother!" Renzo Gracie walked up to him, arms open, a huge smile on his face.

"Renzo, it's been a while!" Ricardo said, hugging his friend tightly.

"You're in town for your wife's fashion show, right?" Renzo asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, but I couldn't miss stopping by. I needed to feel the atmosphere on the mat again and train with you guys."

Renzo laughed. "Perfect. And you're here on the right day. We have some really good guys for you to roll with, and some celebrities too. You'll like it."

While Ricardo was changing in the locker room, some well-known figures were already on the mat. Among them, Ashton Kutcher, a brown belt in jiu-jitsu and a dedicated practitioner, was stretching next to Tom Hardy, another actor who is passionate about the gentle art.

When Ricardo entered the mat, Renzo introduced him. "Guys, this is Ricardo. He's one of the best we've ever trained with and now he's wreaking havoc in Florida."

Ashton was the first to greet him. "Man, I've heard a lot about you. It's an honor to be able to train with a black belt at your level."

"It's my honor," Ricardo said, shaking the actor's hand.

Tom Hardy also approached. "I've heard a lot about you, too. I hope we can roll later."

"Absolutely," Ricardo replied, smiling.

The training began with a warm-up and then technical drills. Ricardo demonstrated his mastery by executing each movement with precision and fluidity.

"Damn, you make this look easy," Ashton commented, trying to repeat a guard transition that Ricardo had demonstrated.

"It's practice and patience," Ricardo said. "You're on the right track."

When it came time for the rolls, Ricardo was challenged by several practitioners, from brown belts to other experienced black belts. Each fight was intense, but Ricardo dominated with calm and control, demonstrating why he was considered the GOAT in gi jiu-jitsu.

At one point, he rolled with Tom Hardy, who struggled to maintain a solid base. "You're strong, Tom, but remember: technique trumps strength," Ricardo said, delivering a perfect guard pass before taking the actor's back.

"Okay, okay, I get it," Tom said, laughing as he hit the mat.

After the workout, everyone gathered on the mat to chat. Renzo handed out bottles of water as students and guests shared stories and laughs.

"So, Ricardo," Ashton began, "what's it like dating one of the most famous women in the world?"

Ricardo laughed, shaking his head. "It's amazing, but to me, she's just Gisele. An incredible woman, a devoted mother, and the person I love."

"Good answer," Tom Hardy said, smiling.

Renzo looked at Ricardo and joked, "You're lucky she likes guys who can fight. Otherwise, you'd be in trouble."

Everyone laughed, and Ricardo replied: "Maybe. But I think it was jiu-jitsu that prepared me to deal with all this. The discipline, the patience... everything helps."

Later that night, Ricardo returned to the hotel where he and Gisele were staying. She was lying on the couch, exhausted from rehearsals, but with a smile on her face.

"How was practice?" she asked, pulling him to sit next to her.

"Amazing. Renzo, Ashton Kutcher, and even Tom Hardy," he replied, kissing her on the forehead.

"Wow, it looks like you had a busy day too," she said, laughing.

"And you? How were the rehearsals?"

"Tiring, but worth it. Seeing everything taking shape makes me excited."

Ricardo looked at her, admiring. "You're incredible, you know? You give your best in everything you do."

She smiled, touching his face. "And you're my biggest encouragement. Knowing that you're here, by my side, makes it all worth it."

The two of them were silent for a moment, just enjoying each other's company. New York was bustling outside, but for them, that moment of peace was all that mattered.

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