In "Sapucaia's Cousins", Machado de Assis explores the capricious twists and turns of fate. The protagonist, a disenchanted young man visiting his cousins in the countryside, finds himself frustrated when he casually crosses paths with a mysterious woman who had previously attracted him and with whom he would like to develop a romance. However, the situation takes an unexpected turn when he discovers compromising details about this idealized woman, revealing Machado's ironic touch on illusions and disappointments in love relationships.