Adriana, who was 39 at the time she told her tale in 2014, had long been on a quest to reconnect with her mother, who walked out of her life when she was merely a one-year-old toddler.
Adriana grew up, worked as a housemaid, married her first love, and had three children.
The two hit it off and soon found themselves in a loving relationship, eventually welcoming a daughter into their lives.
Like Adriana, Leandro had been raised by a woman he later learned was his stepmother.
Despite the coincidence of their mothers sharing the same name and their similar backgrounds, Adriana and Leandro didn’t think much of it at first.
Still determined to find her mother, Adriana sought help from Radio Globo’s ‘The Time Is Now’ program, which reunites lost family members.
The program successfully reconnected her with her mother, Maria.
As the truth unfolded, Adriana could hardly believe it.
Though not married by law, Adriana and Leandro had built a life and a home together, seeing each other as spouses in every sense.
Amid the turmoil of the revelation, Adriana’s initial fear was losing Leandro.
Defying the odds and societal norms, the couple announced their intention to stay together, undeterred by their biological link.
“All this happened because God wanted it to happen. Of course, it would have been different if we had known all this before, but we didn’t and we fell in love.”
The revelation initially shook them, yet Adriana and Leandro, who had different last names, resolved that the opinions of others would not sway them.
The couple has a wealth of shared dreams and aspirations, and they’re adamant that nothing will tear them apart.
Adriana and Leandro harbored no resentment toward their mother for her past actions.
Their story serves as a profound reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and love, and the resilience of the human heart.