Crossed Paths

By Erick Mathews dos Cândido

Is fame always worth it?In this urban novel, the protagonist Sofia, after much effort, reaches the so dreamed world of celebrities, but is all this glamour like the dreamed or behind everyday smiles may be hidden the most envious of people? This love story will provoke surprises and reflections about the deepest human desires, as well as address the challenges inherent to the world of spotlight and super exposure in the media.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bibliomundi
• Release date: Mar 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781526037336

Book preview

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Sumário

Opening

Chapter 1

Meeting Laila Renata

Chapter 2

The Fury of Erlan Betías

Chapter 3

Jonas and Sofia:new couple on sight?

Chapter 4

Troublesome family relationships

Chapter 5

Erlan and Francisca: do similars attract?

Chapter 6

Jonas Betías arrested: the end of a promissing carreer?

Chapter 7

Alarming Revelation

Chapter 8

Party?

Author’s Note

Opening

Dear Readers, I’d like to share with you all the experience of releasing my first book, a dream, finally accomplished! I hope this is an interesting and pleasant literary experience.

This is only my first book and I must admit that it became an addiction. Describing the characters’ personas and their reactions along the story has been quite a cheerful activity and maybe can lead to new books in the future, but this is still just a possibility.

Inicially, I’d like to point that this is a fictitious story and represents no real person on event. Any coincidence is fruit of my imagination. I discourage people under sixteen to read, for there may be graphic scenes.

Besides, I’d like to highlight that this narrative takes place in Brazilian lands, precisely in Brazilian Northeast region, at the beautiful paradisiac city of Maceió, which is considered by many to be the Brazilian Caribe, with its lush beaches, such as Jatiúca and Ponta Verde. Thence, the narrative considers traces of this place’s rich culture. Moreover, I must add that this edition may content inedited dialogues that may not appear in the original version, written in Portuguese.

Having said that, I give you a small synopsis of the story:

Crossed Ways is a tale that focuses on describing the relationship of an influent family with a lowkey peculiar member, as well as mention the traumas this character went through in his childhood. Plot twists, deceits, power games and surprising details will be part of this narrative. Otherwise, the story brings the path of the singer Sofia, her way through the disappointments faced on the apex of her fame, as well as how she deals with this brand-new universe.

I’d like to highlight that this book also marks my debut as a composer, since I wrote the song The Ability of Love, sung by Sofia at the end of the book.

Finally, I’d like to thank first to God and to my dear family, including my mom Claudiene, my sister Maria Clara, my father Eraldo and my grandmother Orcelina.

Note: The cosmetics enterprise, Beauté Humaine, the restaurant, Delight Gastronomic, the Maceió City resort, Ternura y Lujo and the perfume Kyrisius are fictitious brands created to compose the plot’s ambientation.

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Chapter 1

Meeting

Laila Renata

Erlan is the adoptive child of a millionaire family. His biological mother, Laila Renata, a 26-year-old brunette underweight woman, with a fragile look and careless, dry skin due to her terrible social condition, was a maid at the family Betías’ house, 28 years ago. Laila was born in a tiny village in the North region of the country. When her mother died, she was left practically alone, since her parents could barely feed themselves.

In face of her lack of option, Fernanda, a childhood friend, told Laila about her time in the Northeast region, where she was well received by the Bethías Family, descendant of Spanish, and heard rumors that they were looking for a new maid for their household at the capitol of the state of Alagoas, Maceió City.

Fernanda called her former employers and gave her friend’s distinctive credentials, convincing Laila to try her luck in the Northeast.

After a few weeks, Laila managed to get the job at the Betías Household, which led the couple to pay for the new worker’s plane tickets, and she instantly loved the new job. She felt, finally, safe and cherished in that place. Although the bosses were very rich, they were very gentle and considerate towards every employee.

The Betías were