COSTA FAMILY

The Costa family had always been seen as successful and highly respected within their social circle in Brazil. Originally from Rio de Janeiro, they were raised surrounded by financial stability, constant travel, and a demanding upbringing shaped by discipline, public image, and the expectation to always stand out.

João’s father, Henrique Costa, is a well-known Brazilian businessman who spends much of the year traveling between Canada, the United States, and Brazil due to work. Reserved, strict, and deeply focused on professional success, Henrique raised João under constant pressure to excel, compete, and never settle for being merely “good enough.”

His mother, Helena Costa, always tried to maintain emotional balance within the family, though she was often overshadowed by Henrique’s dominant and perfectionist personality. Even so, João remains especially close to her, and she is often the only person capable of noticing when something is truly wrong with him.

The most spiritual figure in the family is João’s maternal grandmother, Isabel Ferreira, a deeply religious woman who remained in Rio de Janeiro when the Costas moved to Canada during João’s late teenage years. Isabel played a major role throughout his childhood and became one of the strongest influences on the moral and emotional values he grew up with. Her faith, traditional beliefs, and strict understanding of life left deep marks on João, especially regarding his beliefs, guilt, and fear of rejection.

Although the Costa family built a new life in Canada, they never fully disconnected from Brazil. They still own property in Rio de Janeiro and usually return at least twice a year, especially during important moments for the family. To João, Brazil represents something deeply contradictory: home, freedom, pressure, nostalgia, and a part of himself he still does not fully understand.

From the outside, the Costas appear to be the perfect family — elegant, united, successful.
Behind closed doors, however, they carry silences, expectations, and emotional wounds that are rarely spoken about out loud.