Finally, their meals arrive, and they dig in, engaging in light conversation as they eat. But beneath the surface, Marilena can sense the tension building, knowing that at any moment, their carefully constructed facade could come crashing down.
Suddenly, she spots Rafael across the room, his eyes locked on them with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Marilena's heart races as she meets his gaze, her resolve strengthening in the face of his scrutiny.
"We're doing this," she thinks to herself, steeling her nerves as she reaches for Christian's hand, intertwining their fingers in a silent display of solidarity.
As Rafael looks away, Marilena can't help but feel a surge of satisfaction, knowing that they've succeeded in their mission—at least for now. But as they continue their lunch, she can't shake the nagging feeling that their fake relationship may be more real than she's willing to admit.
