From New York to Rio, the entire flight took eleven hours. They departed in the afternoon, and the next morning, at 9 a.m., the plane landed at Rio de Janeiro International Airport.
Rio used to be the capital of Brazil and is its second-largest city, right behind São Paulo.
Located in Brazil's southeastern coastal region, Rio is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. Most of the area has a tropical savannah climate, which means it's hot year-round with plenty of sunshine.
"So hot!"
As soon as they stepped out of the plane, a wave of heat hit them, and a thin layer of sweat instantly formed on their skin.
Back in New York, wearing a coat felt a little chilly, but suddenly arriving in Rio, in the Southern Hemisphere, was like stepping out of a winter wonderland and into a sauna. The summers here were even hotter than in California.
"Finally back! The weather's amazing!"
Kate looked up at the sky and stretched with a smile.
Her face lit up with a bright smile, and she seemed totally refreshed, much more relaxed than when she was in the U.S.
"Kate, maybe we should stay here a little longer."
"I was thinking the same thing!"
Kate smiled slightly and put on her sunglasses.
"Gina, don't be so nervous. It's not as chaotic here as you think," Kate teased.
"I know!"
Gina nodded, but her eyes still scanned the surroundings cautiously.
"Don't worry, I'll get you a gun later, and you'll feel more secure."
Kate laughed softly and strode ahead.
Her blonde hair and the edges of her clothing swayed gently in the breeze, elegant and sexy, with a hint of coolness.
She exuded a mix of strength and charm.
Luca chuckled and followed her with long strides, walking with the grace of a supermodel.
"Kate! Luca! Welcome home!"
At the airport exit, a middle-aged woman in her forties rushed over and hugged Kate, then gave Luca a big embrace.
"Wow, Luca, you've changed so much! You've gotten taller, more handsome, and you're much more built. You're like a whole new person!"
The woman laughed as she patted him on the shoulder.
It took Luca a moment to recognize her—it was his aunt, Regina. She had black hair, was a light-skinned Brazilian woman, and wore a colorful patterned dress that made her look like an Indian auntie.
During a tough time in his life, when Luca was injured, Regina had taken care of him for a year, so they were quite close.
"Regina, it looks like you've gained some weight. Did you hit the jackpot?"
Luca smiled.
"Haha, yes, thanks to Kate! She got me a great job," Regina laughed heartily.
"Regina, Luca, let's talk in the car!" Kate called from the car door.
"Alright!"
This time, Regina had brought two cars—one was a Hyundai sedan, and the other a Mitsubishi van, with two armed bodyguards standing by.
"Kate, Luca, there are a lot of fans and reporters outside the airport. Do you want to meet them?"
"How many are there?" Kate paused and asked.
"About a few hundred."
Kate nodded and looked at Luca, "Wanna go meet your fans?"
"Let's check it out."
Luca glanced through the glass doors toward the airport entrance, a little surprised.
Outside, the streets were packed with hundreds of fans. Some were holding up pictures of Kate, clearly admiring her looks. Others held copies of the "Twilight" novels, obviously book lovers.
Then there were fans of Luca—98% of them were women.
Most held posters of him playing soccer, clearly soccer fans. Some had pictures of his muscles, likely admirers, while others had movie posters, indicating film fans. The crowd was a bit mixed.
There were also dozens of reporters, cameras and microphones ready, waiting eagerly.
As the two of them walked out, the fans outside the airport erupted in loud cheers.
"Kate, I love you!"
"Kate, I'm your biggest book fan! Can I get your autograph?"
"Luca, you're so handsome!"
"Luca, welcome back, Prince of Football!"
"Luca, Brazil's hottest guy! I love you!"
A few girls even tried to break past the barriers to get closer, but airport security and the bodyguards Regina brought managed to hold them back.
"Luca, you're too handsome! I want to date you!"
One girl with a great figure struggled in the arms of security, shouting loudly.
They were so passionate!
Luca was stunned by the enthusiasm. In the U.S., although he was famous, the attention was a mix of love and hate, and he had few true fans. Many weren't even serious.
But back in Brazil, it seemed like his fans were truly devoted. For the first time, he felt like a real star.
"Mr. Kelly, Ms. Kate, this is an airport, so if you want to meet the fans, please do so quickly," said the head of airport security, reminding them.
"Of course, we'll be quick."
Kate nodded and gave some instructions to the staff.
"Thank you for your cooperation," the security chief said, then pulled out a poster from his pocket, hesitating for a moment. "Mr. Kelly, my daughter loves your movie. Can I get an autograph?"
"Not a problem!"
Luca grabbed a pen and signed it.
Afterward, they quickly signed autographs for a few dozen fans and answered some questions from reporters before getting into the van and leaving the airport.
"Regina, did you tell these people we were coming?"
Luca took a sip of cold water and asked.
"No, I have no idea how they found out," Regina said with a shrug.
"I told the bookstore, clothing retailers, and our agent. They probably arranged this," Kate said, crossing her long legs and tapping her knee with a smile.
"And what about my fans?"
Luca chuckled. "They're calling me Brazil's hottest guy. Who came up with that title? It's kind of bold."
Kate laughed, "That's not the only title you have. Check tomorrow's newspapers, and you'll see a whole string of titles in front of your name."
"That's right, Luca," Regina added. "In April, *Made in Brazil* magazine featured a few of your modeling shots and named you Brazil's top male model.
When *Sweetheart Honey* came out in September, one newspaper even promoted it as a movie starring Brazil's hottest guy, Luca, alongside America's sexiest woman, Jessica.
Since then, whenever the media mentions you, they add 'Brazil's hottest guy.'"
"Really?"
Luca shook his head. He knew he was very handsome, but the title seemed a bit over the top.
He just wanted to be a quiet, charming guy, but life had other plans.
"How does it feel? Now that you have that title, no girl in Brazil would say no to a date with you," Kate teased.
Sounds kind of nice!
Luca smiled.
The car left the island where the airport was and headed toward the southern district along the coastal highway.
Rio is divided into eight districts, including the Capital District, Central-South District, and Northwest District, among others.
In terms of function, there are only three: the administrative center downtown, the northern industrial and residential areas, and the southern tourism and commercial district.
The southern district, where most of Rio's famous spots are located, includes Christ the Redeemer, the Niterói Bridge, Maracanã Stadium, and some of the world's most famous beaches—Ipanema Beach and Copacabana Beach—with stunning scenery.
"Luca, we're here!"
The car pulled to a stop in front of a residential area in the Central-South district.
"Finally home!"
Luca stepped out of the car and walked into the mansion Kate had prepared.
The main structure was made of gray and white marble.
The garden was lush with trees, and the atmosphere felt serene. There were twisting columns in an antique style, intricately carved window frames, and even shells and anchors decorating the moss-covered stones around the fountain.
It was a classical manor with a clear Manueline influence.
"This property was originally built in the mid-19th century as a vacation home for the Portuguese Baron of Candeias. It's been renovated several times, adding modern and stylish touches to make it both more fashionable and comfortable while still keeping that classic feel.
You once told me you liked classical-style homes. How do you like this one?" Kate smiled, arms crossed.
"It's amazing! Thank you, Kate!"
(End of Chapter)