Chapter 4 - The Secret of the Unseen Hours
That evening, Thiago returned home earlier than usual. The house was spotless, smelling faintly of lavender and fresh wax. Clara was in the kitchen, packing her things to leave for her small rented room on the outskirts of the city.
"You're home early, Mr. Carvalho," she said, not looking up as she folded her apron.
"The meetings wrapped up," Thiago lied, his eyes searching her face for any sign of guilt or resentment. "Is Alice asleep?"
"Yes. She had her bottle at five. She was very tired today." Clara picked up her worn canvas bag. "I'll see you tomorrow at seven."
The moment the heavy front door clicked shut, Thiago rushed to his study and locked the door. He pulled up the archived footage from the afternoon. He fast-forwarded to 2:00 PM—the time when Clara usually took Alice into the spacious, sunlit living room.
What he saw on the screen made him gasp.
Clara had laid a large, thick yoga mat on the wooden floor. She placed Alice on her back. Then, Clara knelt down at the baby's feet. Her movements were no longer those of a simple housekeeper. They were precise, calculated, and intensely focused.
She began to gently rotate Alice’s ankles, performing complex, rhythmic physical therapy exercises. She was massaging the pressure points on the soles of Alice's tiny feet, whispering commands in a soft, encouraging hum.
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"Come on, my love," Clara’s voice drifted through the tablet’s speakers. "Show me those little toes. Kick for Clara. Just a little twitch."
Thiago watched, spellbound, as Clara spent two unbroken hours stretching, massaging, and moving his daughter's paralyzed legs. It was a grueling, physically demanding routine, yet Clara's face showed nothing but absolute devotion.
