At Simeon's house, Vera turns off the radio so she can talk better with Beto.“Beto, please, don't lie to me...” She's shocked, she doesn't know where to turn.Beto leads Vera to the sofa as if she were an elderly woman, “Sit here, little sis. I know this comes as a shock to you, but unfortunately, that was the result of the Amoreira investigation.”“At least some law enforcement official decided to do something.” Vera says ironically, “For a moment I thought Renan was above the law.”“We're going to defeat this guy, Vera, and everything will go back to normal. After all, it ties in with some of the stuff I've heard. For example, while Renan was staying at the Rocha Hotel, there was an unusual influx of prostitutes.”“You think he owns a prostitution ring and I was part of it without knowing it?”Beto crosses his arms, “Vera, how did you get into this mess?”“I read the wanted ads and found the ad looking for a nightclub employee,” Vera answers simply.Beto narrows his eyes, “Just tha
At Crystal Blue, the discussion continues between Renan and the Mountain brothers.Renan looks at the table kicked by Renan, “Poor table, Mr. Mountain.”“Don't worry about it. I kicked the table thinking I'd kick your head!” Kelvin blusters.“Should I take that as a threat?”Daryl walks over and tries to lead the freak out, “Mr. Vasconcelos, there is not the slightest reason for you to stay here. Please, leave.”“I just wanted to know how Melissa is doing!” Renan feels entitled to feel misunderstood, “Why do you think I want to hurt her?”“Because you insist on being around her when she doesn't want you,” Daryl responds sagely.“When she gets to know me better—”Kelvin can't take it anymore and punches the businessman, knocking him out.“KELVIN!” Daryl scolds him.“Looks like this asshole only understands this language, Daryl!” Kelvin exclaims, “We've been asking him to leave for ages, but he won't!”Renan wakes up from the temporary stupor and massages his sore chin, “Ouch... now the
Beto returns to the Rocha Mansion. Teresa is in the living room watching ‘Sweet Love’. But when the show enters the commercial break, she readily pays attention to her boyfriend.“And then, dear? How did your sister do?”“She's fine, Tess,” Beto responds happily.“What about this talk that the mayor released the investigation into Renan Vasconcelos?” Teresa is hopeful, “Do you think we will finally get peace and security?”“Sure, darling, trust God and He'll take care of the rest. Our part we have already done.” Beto kisses her affectionately on the cheek.“Then continue to watch the soap opera with me, the episode is interesting.” Teresa hooks her arm through her boyfriend's arm and won't let go.Usually, Beto would protest, but he is so happy with his younger sister's imminent release that he agrees to watch the show.******Josias visits Crystal Blue to gather more information about Melissa.“Hello, Mountain Brothers! Are you managing to ensure Melissa's peace and security?”Daryl
William is shocked to learn that Vera is living at his parents' house with Wallace. But Vera doesn't understand why the hysteric is so revolted and disgusted by this.“You are a scoundrel!” William finally spews more nonsense, “You got to live in sin with Wallace! What about him? Hadn't he sworn he would never forgive you? I can see that he has always been a weak coward!”“Now ENOUGH!” Vera slaps William.William, taken by surprise, almost loses his balance and falls, “OUCH! Yeah, bitch, keep hitting me! When the argument fails, that's all you have left.”“I have no arguments because there is nothing to discuss here!” Vera thunders, “Get out of here, William! And if you report me to Renan, the coward here will be you!”“OK, you asked for it!”William was going to leave, but when he opened the door, Wallace and Uélton were about to enter. They came back from work.“Hey, what are you doing here, Will?” Uélton asks with embarrassment, “Your parents haven’t returned from their trip yet.”
Wallace can't take it anymore and punches William for all the evil things he's done to Vera. William is thrown onto the sofa.“OUCH! I've been attacked again! What's wrong with you guys?”Uélton asks, “What do you mean, you were attacked again?”“That harlot has already slapped me for having told some truths.” William sits on the couch, caressing his sore jaw. He tastes iron in his mouth.“What truths? You said I'm bringing my clients here as if this were a brothel!” Vera exclaims, “Wally, is this what happened?”“Of course not.” Wallace responds with a gasp, “But it surprises me that William continues to have such an overactive imagination.”Uélton adds, “Will, you are Beto's friend. Does he know how much you despise his sister?”“I ain’t obliged to agree with her promiscuous life just because I’m Beto's friend,” William exclaims.“Will, one day the truth will be exposed.” Vera exclaims in a bitter tone, “After that, I'll await your apologies. Excuse me, I need to take a shower.”Ver
Kelvin calls General Hospital while Melissa is sitting on the couch. The radio this time plays “Electrolite” by R.E.M.“Yes, we are already going there. Goodbye!” Kelvin hastily hangs up.Melissa asks between gasps, “Phew... Honey, why did you call the hospital... guaranteeing a bed?”Kelvin turns to his wife and smiles, “Honey, you probably didn't notice your water breaking when you were taking a shower! The twins will be born!”Melissa is stunned. The pains she is feeling are actually contractions!Alan and Caroline appear from the hall.“What did you say, Kelvin?” Alan asks, “Are the twins due today?”“Cool!” Caroline exclaims.“Yes, everyone, we need to help your mother!” Kelvin goes back to the phone to call more people.Melissa is doing the famously controlled breathing, “Don't worry, kids, it was the same with you too.”Alan takes his mother's hand, “It's going to be all right, Mommy.”“Yes, I want to see my siblings!” Caroline vibrates.Kelvin answered the phone, “Hi, hello, M
At General Hospital, Dr. Silvana is ready to receive Melissa.She is wheeled on a gurney by male nurses. Kelvin, Alan, and Caroline go after her.“Guys, from now on we'll take care of this.” Dr. Silvana raises her hands and doesn’t let the family pass.“Can we wait in the lounge?” Kelvin asks.“Certainly. Although we could have the company of the father.”Elza and Vernon arrive immediately.“Did anyone speak about the father?” Elza asks, “Go ahead, Kelvin, we'll take care of the kids.”“Thank you, guys! Glad you came.”“We call more people, they will come later,” Vernon responds reassuringly.“Let's go!” Silvana guides the nurses to the maternity ward. Kelvin follows eagerly.Alan turns to the grandparents, “I hope everything goes well.”“Let’s pray so, little grandson.” Vernon strokes his grandson's hair.******In Teodoro's building, Flávia and Isabel are divided about what to do. The lobby radio is playing “Say You’ll Be Mine” by the Spice Girls.“And now, mother-in-law, what do we
Josias realizes that Renan was never really crazy, but a phony and cynical guy.“It was too good to be true.” He comments, “For a moment I thought you could be excused for having a muddled mind. But now I see that you know very well what you are doing.”“You don't have to go through the humiliation of being wrongfully accused of the loan shark's death.” Renan responds ironically, “If the accusation would really be unfair.”“I didn't kill the loan shark.” Josias declares dryly.“You didn't kill, but did you order the killing?” Renan insists, “OK, I can admit that you were quite young at the time and couldn't have pulled the trigger with the precision of a professional sniper. But someone shot my late boss, and it was something out of a Hollywood movie!”Josias smiles wryly, “I don't think the loan shark only had me as an enemy.”Renan scratches his chin, “No, there was a family of gangsters, what's their name again? Bento family?”“What do you know about the Bento family?” Josias asks
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