Inside the bustling Happy Snack Bar, the beautiful young woman approached the counter where Clayton was working. She leaned forward slightly and spoke in a soft, curious tone.“Excuse me, sir...”Clayton, ever ready with a friendly smile, replied, “Clay Saldanha, at your service.”She pointed discreetly toward a man seated nearby. “Do you know who that man is, having a snack alone?”Clayton glanced over, recognizing Nathan fiddling with his phone. “That’s Nathan Gouveia. He’s well-known around here. He came in with the same girl he was with during the accident.”The woman looked puzzled. “I didn’t hear about that.”Clayton chuckled and leaned in conspiratorially. “No? He was driving drunk, totally out of control. Their car ended up in the ocean. If it weren’t for a few customers who jumped in to save them, they would’ve drowned.”“Wow,” she said, her eyes widening. “And they’re still seeing each other after that?”“Must be love,” Clayton mused. “Tragedy brings people together.”The wo

Nathan and Bella sat in silence at the Happy Snack Bar, unsure of what to say to each other. Or maybe they knew exactly what they wanted to say, but neither had the courage to speak. Nathan, as the man in the relationship, decided to take the lead.“I should go first,” he said, breaking the tension. “My name is Nathan Sterling Gouveia. I’m 25 years old, weigh about 185 pounds, have a degree in Business Management, and I worked at Golden Letters and Urban Magazine. Right now, I’m unemployed, but I help my dad, pianist Vicente Gouveia, with his live streams, monetizing his channel since we went through some financial setbacks last year.”Bella blinked, staring at Nathan with an intensity that spoke of the weight she felt.“Your turn,” he urged her.She hesitated, her voice choking. “Nate, I...”“It’s not that hard, Bella,” Nathan pressed. “Just tell me who you really are.”Bella wrestled with the words, the truth battling with her fear.Meanwhile, the same pretty girl sitting nearby see

Sheila sat at the dining table in the Sterling Mansion, savoring her breakfast with a contented smile. The successful dinner from the previous night had left her in a good mood. She was alone when Evan entered the room.“Has Young Matthew and Mrs. Sterling already left?” Evan asked.“Yes, Evan. Now you can say whatever you want,” Sheila responded playfully.Evan chuckled. “I didn’t mean that, madam.”Sheila smiled. “I know.”She glanced out the window, reminiscing. “I can hardly believe I managed to get everything ready for my little one to enjoy himself in the Bahamas.”Evan sat down and served himself some brioche. “I sincerely hope Young Matthew finds happiness,” he said earnestly.Before Sheila could reply, Jarbas entered the room, looking slightly embarrassed.“What’s wrong, Jarbas?” Sheila asked, noticing his expression.“Has Young Matthew and Mrs. Sterling already gone to the Caribbean?” he inquired.“Yes, they have. Why?”Jarbas let out a sigh of relief, unable to hide it. “Mi

In the office of Silva Oil Company, Ronaldo and Patricia share a passionate kiss. Their desire for one another intensifies, and as Ronaldo begins to untie Patricia’s blouse, she suddenly pulls back, remembering where they are.“Oops! Honey, take it easy. Let’s set a wedding date first,” Patricia says, gently but firmly.Ronaldo, visibly embarrassed, steps back. “Sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to make you feel cheap and vulgar.”Patricia smiles affectionately. “You’re not. In fact, if I’d met you earlier, I’d still be a virgin, saving myself for marriage, just like my parents.”Ronaldo retreats behind his desk, his mood shifting to something more somber. “I always thought Matt was a gentleman.”Patricia shakes her head. “No, he wasn’t. He was sleeping with Cindy Cardoso before he even cared about me. And then, when Elaine decided she wouldn’t sleep with anyone before marriage, Matt somehow convinced her otherwise. I’ll never forget the day Elaine came down the mansion’s stairs wearing o

In Ronaldo’s office at Silva Oil Company, the morning tension is tough. Patricia, trembling with anxiety, is caught off guard by Fernando’s sudden announcement about Liz’s opposition.“I can’t believe this, Nando... This can’t be happening!” Patricia’s voice wavers.Both Ronaldo and Fernando, clearly distressed, move towards her at the same time, intending to comfort her.Their eyes meet awkwardly, locking in a brief moment of discomfort.Fernando, feeling the sting of jealousy, steps back, allowing Ronaldo to embrace his fiancée.“Thank you, my love,” Patricia says, unaware of the tension between the father and son.“I’m sorry, Patty,” Fernando says softly, guilt evident in his voice. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”“It’s not your fault, Dad,” Ronaldo interjects, shaking his head. “Mom’s the one who owes an apology. This is just wrong.”Patricia, her face filled with sadness, sighs deeply. “Why can’t I love a man in peace? Are we going to have to break up too, Ron?”Ronaldo pulls her c