At Lafayette Mansion, Helen visits Rosemary and Nadia. The three women chat at the dining table. Rosemary chews on cream-filled donuts. “Helen, help yourself to those brioches, they’re wonderful.” “But those are your breakfast, Rose.” Helen feels shy. Nadia shakes her finger, picks the best-looking brioche with filling, and offers it to Helen. “No way, we’re not eating all of this. Help yourself.” “Thank you.” Helen gladly accepts and eats. Yes, the brioche is delicious, making Helen’s eyes glisten with delight. “So, does that mean your husband wants to lighten your load?” Rosemary turns to Nadia. “Yes, he said I’m handling everything alone and that I need more help.” Nadia smiles, amazed by her husband’s care for her. “I can hire more staff because the supermarket is doing well.” “So you’ll do that as soon as possible?” Helen asks with her mouth full. “I haven’t placed an ad in the classifieds yet.” Nadia glances at the entrance where Rodrigo has just left, “Because I feel he

In Café Montanha, Francisco, Isabel, and Rodrigo are startled by Helen’s sudden remark. “What do you mean by that, Helen?” Isabel narrows her eyes, uncomfortable with the wording. Helen smiles mischievously as she sits on a stool. “Seems like the Mountain family is willing to extend their commercial territory in Lagoon City. First, the restaurant, now the supermarket?” Rodrigo takes offense. “We don’t want to ‘take’ the supermarket as if we were robbers, Helen! The supermarket belongs to Nadia and Thierry.” “But with you helping your dear wife, signing documents… You’re already the poster boy for the supermarket, your face is tied to it. Thierry, the man of the Lafayette family, would rather spend his talent in that photography studio instead of moving forward with the clan’s legacy.” “That’s none of your business, Helen,” Francisco asserts. “And you’ve got your own problems.” “Yeah, also related to Mountains: Karen Britton about to become one if what they’re saying is true.” He

In João Paulo’s living room, he and Alan continue to talk with Helen as a witness. Alan scratches his neck. “I understand, Uncle João Paulo. It’s good to know you lead a traditional life. Your family is something to be praised. You had Sandra, Helen accepted to be her mother, and now you both have Walter.” “Exactly,” João Paulo asserts seriously, “I know I was never like this before. But there comes a time when a man needs something firmer and more solid in his life. Luís Vasquez has been acting like an irresponsible teenager. He’s the cousin of the heir to Rocha Constructions!” Helen echoes her husband’s frank opinion, “Alan, has Luís ever paused to reflect that his actions affect the reputation of the Rocha family? We are under public scrutiny all the time. I know well that not everyone accepts me because I was Sandra’s babysitter before I married your uncle.” “But we got married and have a beautiful son together,” João Paulo looks at his wife and smiles. Then he turns to Alan,

Luís visits Rocha Constructions and heads straight to Alan’s office.“Hey, where’s the pretty blonde secretary who used to be at that desk?”Alan frowns. “There wasn’t any pretty blonde secretary. That was Reuben Freire, my brother-in-law who ran off with Carol.”“ARGH, what a waste of a desk!” Luís laughs at the joke.“Look, they say a good comedian doesn’t laugh at their own jokes,” Alan gestures for Luís to sit down.“Well, I’m not here to be a comedian. My job is to oversee your hotel’s affairs.” Luís takes a seat.“Actually, that hotel will belong to my brother David, along with the other hotels scattered across Brazil,” Alan responds glumly.“Jeez, why so downcast?”“You know. He’s not satisfied with this generous portion. He wants my place here,” Alan points to himself and the office.“Anyway, if it weren’t for him, I’d have my girlfriend and a traditional and respectful relationship.” Luís smiles slightly. “Still, I’ve thought about what you said. I’m going to accept.”Alan is

Luís appeared at Café Montanha and found Leonardo being served by Neilton. “Oh, can you bring another cappuccino for my client?” Leonardo asked as he saw Luís approaching. “Yes, I can.” Neilton looked at Luís with conflicting emotions. Luís sat down. “Here I am. What do you have to tell me, lawyer?” “I think we need to know where we stand, huh?” Leonardo smiled slightly and sipped a gulp of his cappuccino. Luís nodded. “Okay, let’s be straightforward. Lawyer Borges, I really appreciate your promptness and services, but I don’t intend to move forward with the lawsuit. If a conciliation hearing is still necessary...” Leonardo shook his head. “Not so much. We can handle it directly at the agency without involving the Brazilian judiciary.” “Thank goodness.” Luís smiled, relieved. “The sooner we resolve this, the better.” Leonardo decided to ask first before revealing that he had kicked things off with Josias. “What made you change your mind?” “Alan Campos Rocha talked to his uncl