Since the accident was closer to the capital, Angela learned the story in front of the others.
She was doing laundry in the living room while listening to the song "Love to Hate You" by Erasure when the music is interrupted by the announcer.
"We regret the interruption of our programming for urgent news: a Fiat Tempra has been found crashed on the side of the BR 101 highway, on the outskirts of Viana. Firefighters didn't find the occupants, but the driver's license was left behind... and the driver's license belonged to Josias Rocha, the businessman who owns Rocha Constructions."
Angela's eyes widen and she interrupts the household chore.
What? Josias was in a car accident? And the body was not found?
"The road police and the ambulance paramedics have made a round around the thicket in search of the businessman, as they deduced that Josias crawled for help, but nothing so far."
Angela begins to think fast. If Josias died before returning to
João Paulo is using Josias's studio to do his homework. The Portuguese teacher has been demanding after realizing that he has an aptitude for Letters."I hope to become a renowned writer or journalist to make up for all the extra work the teacher applies to me." João Paulo grumbles while solving syntax and semantics exercises.To help him concentrate, he put his walkman headphones in his ears. The radio station was playing "You're in Love" by Wilson Phillips.Until the announcer makes the same interruption as earlier this morning, "We regret the interruption of our programming to announce urgent news: a crashed red Fiat Tempra was found on the banks of the BR 101 highway. The fire department did not find the occupants, only the driver's documents. The documents belonged to Josias Rocha, the owner of Rocha Constructions.João Paulo immediately gets up and rushes to the living room, where Melissa was having tea with Dora, Elza, and Vani
Vania returns to Rocha Constructions. Shirley is serving Carmen her afternoon snack."We can't live without your buttery cookies, Shirley." Carmen praises her."Why, it's not that much either, my dear." Shirley can barely contain herself with pride."Tiago told me that it's the company that pays you for all the ingredients." Carmen pours herself some lemongrass tea."Yes, at first I did it at my own expense, but Josias decided to be generous..."The mention of Josias makes Vania turn pale. The two ladies notice her."Vania, what happened?" Carmen asks with her cup in hand."Ladies...I was in the Rocha penthouse when João Paulo informed us that Josias was in an automobile accident.""Oh, but is he okay?" Shirley asks her."We don't know." Vania sits down on the coffee-colored couch, "The paramedics from the ambulance plus the highway police couldn't find Josias... only his driver's license...""Oh my God!" C
Melissa is now awake, still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling without saying anything. Her face expresses no emotion whatsoever, it is as if she is hypnotized. Dora is sitting on the bed next to her, holding her hand."Have faith in God, dear. Everything is going to be all right. Josias will be found and returned home."Melissa does not respond.The door opens and Simeon enters worriedly, "Daughter! I came running as soon as I heard. How are you?"Why does Simeon keep asking absurd questions? Melissa is catatonic in bed and he still asks how she is?Dora realizes the ridiculousness and answers for her, "Our daughter is heartbroken, dear."Simeon takes Dora's hand and pulls his wife close to the dressing table, "Any news?""No, the afternoon news just repeated what they said in the morning.""Tiago said we need to contact the police to identify the car to confirm the documents found," Simeon speaks in a lower tone.Dor
Beto is having a drink at the Crystal Blue bar. Adrian shows up and meets his client by coincidence."Rough day, buddy?" Adrian greets him."Just a drink to strengthen me." Beto replies, "Tough day is being for someone else.""Yeah, everyone I know is talking about the idiot's death," Adrian speaks with a psychotic smile.Kevin frowns and walks away from the bar so Adrian doesn't order any drinks."I didn't know you hated Josias to this extent." Beto finishes swallowing his drink."The guy has been a rock in my shoe for nine years." Adrian begins the litany again, "Since 1982, when he accused my father of being one of the underlings of that loan shark who terrorized Rainbow Garden. Strangely, my father has forgiven him and holds him in high esteem. He prefers him as a son to me.""Gee, I'm sorry." Beto opines. Without knowing the whole story, that is all he can say."Now my father is mourning the imbecile instead of making peac
The next day, Josias wakes up in another room that he has never been in before. So he is even startled and narrows his eyes, scrutinizing the place. The walls were plastered and painted light blue. The window was varnished and the linen curtains were cleaner than a cloud. He tried his body on the sheets and the soft, fragrant blanket.Where was he, on a farm or in a hotel?Josias tried to get up, but he still felt a horrible pain in his hips and back. He had probably broken some bone, and being in a stranger's house is not going to fix that."Hello?" he tries calling out to someone.The door opens and a sweet girl with no vanities enters, ready to attend to him."Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?""Where am I?" Josias asks anxiously."My name is Katherine." She replies looking down, "My father brought you in to help you recover.""Well, I'm certainly not fully recovered." Josias grumbles, "I am feeling a very strong pain i
Katherine opens the door to Josias's room carefully, for she was balancing a tray in her hands.Josias smiles as he sees lunch coming and leans against the headboard of the bed, being careful not to expose himself."Hey, where are my clothes?" He gives a cheeky grin, "It's not decent for a country girl to stay in a naked man's room."Katherine turns extremely red and almost drops the tray. Josias holds out his hands and saves his lunch."Whoa, watch out! It was just a joke!"Too late. Katherine no longer faces Josias."Our maid is sewing new clothes for you." She explains in a low, chaste tone, "Your previous clothes were dirty and had clotted blood on them.""Kate, I'm sorry, I forgot that you country folk have more decency than us, city folk." Josias looks at the tray and sees lamb loin with beans, sausage, and manioc flour."You don't have to apologize, sir.""Although my wife was just as decent as you," Josias props
Tiago strides into the existing police precinct in Viana where Josias's disappearance is being handled.Upon arriving at the entrance, he asks for information from the policeman who acts as secretary.“Excuse me, I'm Tiago Bento and I was here the other day to speak with—”“With Official Fontes, I know.” He picks up the phone from the desk, “Commander, Mr. Bento is here.”After a few seconds of listening to the answer, the policeman hangs up, “Come in, you already know where his office is.”Yes, Tiago already knew, and he goes there with large strides.When he enters, he finds Commander Fontes along with Ephraim. In the commander's hand, is a transparent bag containing dirty and bloody clothes.“Mr. Bento, glad you arrived.” Commander Fontes speaks in a worrying tone, “This is Ephraim Bezerra, the owner of the Bezerra farm in the remote countryside of Viana.&rdquo
In Viana's police district, Tiago wants to know what conclusion the police reached with the shirt found.“The way you're looking at me,” Tiago opines, “It looks like Josias was eaten by a lion!”“We are not in the Amazon rainforest, Mr. Bento.” Ephraim counters, “And around here, lions only exist in the zoo.”“I dunno, what do you guys have to say to me?” Tiago is already impatient.“Mr. Bento, I hope you and the Rocha family prepare for the worst.” Commander Fontes speaks in a rueful tone, “If Josias was bleeding when he dragged himself from the crash site, he was losing strength little by little. The plantations of Mr. Bezerra are watered with piped water from the Jucu River. As this piece of clothing was found nearby...”Tiago widens his eyes, “Are you telling me that Josias accidentally fell into the river and drowned?”The commander is alread
Josias visits the Rocha Hotel since he didn’t have a day off for the staff. In the management room, Eugenio gathered David, Benjamin, and Sybil. “Why is that mere cook present at this meeting?” David asked disparagingly. “Because that’s how our boss ordered it,” Eugenio replied dryly. “I didn’t say anything and didn’t call this meeting, so if you’ll excuse me...” Benjamin and Sybil were horrified to see David leaving the meeting just like that. However, when he opened the door, David came face to face with his father. “David, where do you think you’re going?” “DAD!” David exclaimed, extremely surprised. “I didn’t know you were coming!” “Didn’t Eugenio tell you I was coming?” Josias asked with a scowl. David understood who the ‘boss’ was. Benjamin and Sybil felt vindicated. Josias sat down at the desk, taking Eugenio’s seat, while the manager remained humbly standing. “Very well,” Josias began the meeting in a formal tone, “I’m here just to make things crystal clear. First
Melissa and Mary visit the Mountain Café.“A guava juice for me, Mr. Mountain!” Mary requested, smiling sweetly.“Of course, my princess!” Rodrigo replied, thinking Mary was very adorable. “Neil will make a delicious cup for you.”“Thank you. But the princess is Carol,” Mary responded, striking a serious pose.Melissa and Rodrigo laughed heartily. Mary is something else...“Rod, how has it been managing the café in your father’s absence?” Melissa asked seriously.Rodrigo served a baked chicken pastry with ketchup to Mary. “I'm getting by, Melissa. Josias was here earlier, more concerned about my loss than his own, as always. Isn’t he supposed to be resting?”Melissa nodded. “My husband is like that: he only relaxes when all of us are relaxed.”“An impossible mission because of certain people.”Neilton approached with the glass. “Who ordered a guava juice?”“I DID!” Mary grabbed the glass and went to a table.Melissa leaned forward, “Neil, Rod, how are Daryl and Diane? Behaving?”“Cont
At João Paulo’s house, he and Josias were about to have a significant conversation.“Walter, do you want to go with your mom to the kitchen?” João Paulo asked, looking at Helen. “I think she made some walnut cake.”“It was carrot cake,” Sandra replied, already getting up from the couch.“You got it.” Helen appeared and picked up Walter in her arms. “Let’s let Dad and Uncle Josias talk.”“Bye, Uncle!” Walter waved goodbye to Josias.“Bye-bye, I want a piece later!” Josias chuckled.Once alone with João Paulo, Josias became serious. “Don’t let anything or anyone ruin this family scenario, little brother.”“I’m fine. No one wants to ruin anything,” João Paulo replied casually.“Well, I hope David hasn’t caused you any trouble.”“He probably doesn’t even know I exist, man.” João Paulo shrugged.“But I stopped by Café Montanha and found out that the Vasquez family has replaced the Mountain family as the ‘annoying people.’”João Paulo sighed in disappointment. “Yeah. They—”The doorbell ran
Josias visits Café Montanha for a coffee and finds Rodrigo there. “Rod, how have you been?” Rodrigo is taken aback. “How am I? You’re the one who suffered a horrific loss recently!” “But you also lost your father. We’re in the same situation,” Josias explained as he sat down on a stool. “I’m okay, Josias. Life has a way of cheering me up. For example, I’m back at the diner after Thierry decided to take his place at the supermarket.” Rodrigo smiled. “What about the photography studio?” Josias smiled back. “It’s still going to operate, and Thierry will make periodic visits. But he’s going to appoint one of the staff to manage the studio.” Rodrigo served a pizza pastry to Josias. “Thank you. Well, I hope everything is alright between you two. I need to visit Rosemary and meet Jean Luc — is that the name of the baby?” “Yes, the name of the supermarket heir. Meanwhile, Frank will be here or somewhere else.” Josias interjected, “If Frank wants to work at Rocha Constructions, count
At the Rocha Mansion, Josias receives a visit from Benjamin. “How have you been, Ben? Any news about your parents?” The two embrace. “Actually, that’s what I want to talk about.” Benjamin scratches the back of his neck. The embrace breaks. “Let’s go to my office.” The two gentlemen enter Josias’s imposing office. “Any problems with Adolfo?” Josias asks, becoming serious. “Not yet, but I hope not to have any,” Benjamin replies with some sadness. “You know, Josias, what happened with your father made me think about my family, about how important it is for all of us to be together in the final moments.” “That’s true. João Paulo can tell you that better than I can.” “I think you can say it too. Vernon was the father you never had.” Benjamin clears his throat. “So, I’ve been looking into some hotels and realized there’s a demand at the Rocha Hotel in Victoria.” Josias looks at Benjamin, understanding where he’s going with this. “You want to go to Victoria to be close to your pare
Someone rings the doorbell at João Paulo’s house. The homeowner goes to answer after taking a shower and putting on clean clothes. But when he opened the door, João Paulo felt like slamming it in the visitor’s face. “Don’t be rude!” Erasmo exclaimed. “What do you want, you old bore?” João Paulo shot back. Erasmo barged into João Paulo’s foyer. “The mourning is over. Let’s pick up where we left off.” “Are you crazy? Who decides how long mourning lasts? We just got back from the trip!” “Not exactly, it’s been a day. Life goes on, my friend!” Erasmo replied mockingly. João Paulo remained serious. “But I don’t want to continue living this way, where fights and intrigues are the order of the day. Mr. Vasquez, you have a business to run, and I have a family to raise.” “But you found time to slap my son-in-law when he was here defending his family, didn’t you?” “Alan was extremely rude, but that was some time ago.” João Paulo frowned. “I don’t feel the same anger as before.” “So a
At the Vasquez Mansion, Alan could hardly believe that the people were thinking about more intrigues and disputes. “Guys, don’t you understand that I even forgot the reason I slapped Uncle João Paulo?” “Ridiculous!” Erasmo gestured. “You just maintained respect because it was a difficult occasion. But now, the mourning is OVER!” “Do you think João Paulo will rest, dear?” Sofia asked, sitting next to him. Alan shook his head. “If Uncle João Paulo doesn’t want to rest, then he is truly despicable. But my dad is back in town. He wouldn’t dare to do that.” The news should have been uplifting, but the members of the Vasquez family merely exchanged silent glances. With Josias present, it’s quite likely that he will put a stop to their fighting. Alan turned to Olivia. “In the meantime, we should celebrate the recovery of my dear mother-in-law!” Olivia and Sofia smiled awkwardly because of the secret they were keeping. “That’s right, let’s celebrate life!” Erasmo wrapped his arm arou
Josias Rocha and his family returned to Lagoon City. Those who were waiting for them stayed in the mansion and greeted them cheerfully in the foyer. “WELCOME BACK!” Melissa, crying, embraced her parents, William, and the twins fervently. Josias greeted them with a light smile. “Where’s João Paulo?” William asked. “He went straight to his house. His kids needed to rest from the trip.” Melissa wiped her tears with her fingers. “Alan went straight to his mansion. Especially now that his mother-in-law has woken up from the coma.” “That was a scare; I thought we’d have two funerals,” Simeon commented. Everyone headed to the living room. “Is Paris very beautiful, Mom?” Mary asked. “Yes, sweetheart, it’s stunning. We’ll go shopping together another time, okay?” “Do you have pictures?” Ignacio asked anxiously. “Yes, son, we took some pictures.” Melissa sat on the couch, pulling out a package from her bag. Josias sat in the armchair, taking a deep breath. William approached him.
At Café Montanha, Daryl walks in for a coffee and finds Rodrigo at the counter while Neilton serves the others. “Hey, are we back to the old tradition?” “Don’t be a clown, man.” Rodrigo laughs. “Yes, Thierry is at the supermarket, as we agreed.” “Hi, Neil. Can you make me a cappuccino while I enjoy a natural sandwich?” Daryl places his order. “Sure thing, Mr. Mountain.” Neilton heads to the back. Daryl sits on the stool. “So, how do you feel after getting back to your element?” “I don’t regret at all helping my dear wife at the supermarket, Daryl,” Rodrigo admitted while preparing the natural sandwich. “I’m not talking about regrets.” Daryl joked. “But it’s undeniable that after Uncle Francisco’s passing, you prefer to stay here, carrying on the legacy he left.” “Just like Crystal Blue.” Rodrigo smiled. “Hey, I’m aware that you’re looking to open another restaurant in Sunset Village. Do you think you can manage it? How’s the prospecting going?” Daryl picks up the sandwich but