Chapter 1 Stop Living For Appearances

• The day dawned sunny in Boston, showcasing the summer. While some were enjoying their long"awaited vacations, Alex Shaw Baker continued with his work routine, taking care of family matters. He had been in this role for five years. Immersed in his contracts, his attention is interrupted by knocks on the door.
• "Come in!" Alex orders.
• "Hello, my love, are you about to finish your work?" Sophia asks as she enters the room.
• "Sophia, what are you doing here?"
• "Wow, what kind of treatment is this? I thought you would be happy to see me," she grumbles with a whiny voice.
• "Why are you here?"
• "Alex, today is your family's party. You're coming with me, right?"
• "There's no way I'm going to that party. Why are we discussing this again? Didn't I make it clear that I've already made my decision?"
• "You can still change your mind, Alex. I think it's important that we go and support the Ramsey family, and I really want you to come with me. It would be very rude of you not to go."
• "What's your problem? I already said I won't participate in any event with the Ramsey family. They mean nothing to me, and I don't consider them my family. So stop living for appearances. I don't care if it’s rude, but I won't go to the party, and I think you shouldn't go either."
• "I can't not go. They are also my family, my aunt would never forgive me."
• "Fine, decide for yourself. Just don't bring up this Ramsey family issue to me anymore. I'm not interested! Now, please leave. I have a lot of work to do," he says curtly.
• "Alex, don't treat me like this. You're hurting me. I won't forgive you if you continue to act this way." She walks towards the door.
• "Sophia?" he calls. She turns around and faces him. "One more thing, don't drink at the party and behave yourself, because I don't want any problems. Call me when you're home." She doesn't respond and leaves, slamming the door.
• Alex stands up and goes to the window. Whenever he wants to distract himself from things that bother him, he has the habit of observing the landscape outside. He thinks about his relationship with his paternal family and how he doesn't get along with his father and older brother, which makes him avoid any events organized by them.
• "To hell with it, I don't have to think about this!" he grumbles. He picks up his phone and makes a call. "Mr. Henrique, good afternoon! Please take Miss Spencer to the Ramsey family party tonight and be available to take her home when the event is over."
• "Mr. Baker, good afternoon! Alright, I will get in touch with her."
• "Thank you!" He hangs up without waiting for a response. He refocuses on his work and remains that way throughout the afternoon. In the early evening, he prepares to end the workday when his phone rings. "Grandpa, good evening! What do you need?"
• "Alex, good evening! Is everything set for the trip later?"
• "Yes, I'm leaving the office. I'll stop by home and we'll meet at the hangar later! Grandpa, are you sure you want this? These companies don't have a very attractive track record, and honestly, they didn't inspire confidence in me."
• "My son, I liked what I analyzed. Let's hear their proposal. If it's really bad, we decline. Alright?"
• "Alright, I just think the trip isn't worth it. See you later." He hangs up, leaves the office, and goes to the building's garage.
• While driving, he calls Sophia.
• "Alex, are you calling to apologize?" she asks when she answers.
• "Apologize? Why?"
• "For treating me badly earlier. You were rude to me."
• " Sophia, stop being spoiled. You provoke my discontent. How do you expect me to treat you?
• " I am your girlfriend, not an employee. I want you to treat me specially. " She says in a complaining tone.
• " You are not acting like one! I don't want to argue right now. I just called to let you know that Mr. Henrique will take you to the Ramsey family party and then home, okay?
• " I don't understand you, Alex. You seem more and more distant from me. What is happening between us?
• " Distant? What do you mean by that?
• " Are you kidding me, Alex? You go weeks without touching me, you don't accompany me anywhere. Everyone knows I am Alex Shaw's girlfriend, but you seem like a ghost. Why do you do this to me? Don't you love me anymore? " She asks, unsure if she is ready for the answer, as she herself feels that she doesn't love him. He remains silent for a few minutes. " Alex? "
• " Sophia, do you really want to have this conversation right now? You've always known that I don't want to be at parties all the time, let alone at my father's family parties. What the hell are you bringing this up now? "
• " Why do you hate them so much, Alex? Are you jealous of your father's family? Is it because he chose them and not you? He has apologized to you, over and over again, and you continue to behave this way towards them. " Alex laughs. " I'm serious, is that it?
• " Sophia, you are so stupid. I'm not jealous of anyone, I don't care who he chose. I don't feel the need to be part of that social circle, and I have no interest in pretending to please you. I've told you thousands of times to leave me alone about this. If you dare to bring up it again, I will not tolerate you again. " He hangs up without letting her respond. She tries to call him several times, and each time, he ignores her.
• " Jerk, how dare he speak to me like that? " She grumbles, upset, letting the tears of anger flow. She calls her father.
• " Daughter, why are you crying? What happened? " Carlos asks, answering and hearing her crying on the other end of the line.
• " Daddy, I can't do this anymore. I can't continue in this relationship with him. Alex has always been indifferent, but lately he has been rude, always impatient, and I don't even know if he still loves me or if I love him. I can't do this anymore, I don't want to. " She says amidst tears.
• " Daughter, what are you talking about? You are perfect together. This boy has always been like this, he must not even love himself. Think about everything you have achieved and everything you will achieve after marrying him."
• " Daddy, should I just pretend to be content? I don't want to be without love, I want to feel alive, daddy. Alex hasn't made me feel that way in a long time. He is becoming more and more distant, I mean nothing to him.
• " Daughter, why now? Did you bring up the issue of his family again? You know that Alex doesn't like them, even though your own family collaborates with the Ramseys, he doesn't accept them.
• " But daddy, if his mother and everyone else can socialize with the Ramseys, why can't he? And he still wants me not to socialize, how can I do that? Auntie would never forgive me.
• " Daughter, leave that issue to him. Alex understands that you are part of the family too. He can never forbid you from anything. Focus on your goal, which has always been to be by his side. You have invested too much time in this to give up now. Remember that in the end, you will be well rewarded. I love you, daughter. See you at the party."
• " Okay, daddy, I love you too. " She hangs up and throws herself on the bed, going over all the moments with Alex.