A Brazilian couple who had been together for nearly two decades have been rocked by the revelation that they are, in fact, brother and sister.
The Search for a Lost Mother
Adriana and Leandro, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, had both spent their lives searching for their biological mothers, each named Maria, who had abandoned them as children. Adriana, who works in cosmetics sales, had not seen her mother since she was one year old. Leandro, a lorry driver, was left by his mother when he was eight and was raised by his stepmother.
Their paths first crossed over twenty years ago, after Adriana's previous 15-year marriage ended and she returned to Sao Paulo. They fell in love, began living together, and had a daughter.
A Shocking Radio Revelation
In 2014, determined to find her mother, Adriana contacted the popular Radio Globo programme 'The Time Is Now', which specialises in reuniting lost relatives. At the end of the show, the mother they found disclosed a bombshell: she also had a son named Leandro who did not know her.
The couple had unknowingly been searching for the same woman. A distraught Adriana reacted with disbelief, saying, "I don't believe that you're telling me this. Leandro is my husband." She expressed fear that the discovery would end their relationship.
Choosing Love Over Convention
Despite the staggering revelation, Adriana and Leandro, who never legally married, have decided to remain together. They attribute their intense bond to Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA), a phenomenon documented between close relatives who meet as adults after being separated in childhood.
"Only death is going to separate us," Adriana stated. "All this happened because God wanted it to happen... We thought it was funny that both our mothers had the same name, but it is a common name so we just thought it was a coincidence."
The couple held a family meeting to explain the situation and affirm their commitment. They have no plans to part ways, stating, "We have so many plans together. Nothing is going to break us up." They also said they do not blame their mother and have spoken to her with plans to meet.
