At Rocha Mansion, Reuben effectively managed to ruin David’s appetite.After spitting out the sip of coffee with milk, David coughed violently, “Cough, cough, cough... Reuben... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?”Mary and Ignacio burst into laughter. Caroline felt embarrassed by the swearing.“David, watch your language! Children, get ready for school!”“Reuben is the best!” Ignacio exclaimed as he led Mary out of the dining room.David sighed in relief and glared at Reuben, “You must be kidding me!”Reuben shook his head slowly, “I can’t believe you’re going to stay here, listening to an intimate conversation.”“I won’t tolerate such conversation!” David yelled.Reuben turned to Caroline, “Darling, do you think the idiot will listen to our romantic conversation? Who is older, you or him?”“David is my younger brother, but he has been the man of the house.” Caroline wisely replied.David smiled satisfactorily and stood defiantly in front of Reuben. “You heard the Princess of Lagoon City. Now, wh
Caroline and David finished their breakfast and got up. Reuben was insistent with his request, smiling childishly.David was exasperated. “Dude, stop giving me that stupid smile. It’s not now that you’re going to dishonor my pure sister.”“Shut up, idiot!” Reuben drops the smile, but roars like a lion, “What I want is to live with Carol for the rest of my life. Where’s the dishonor?”“She can find other guys more decent than you.” David turns to Caroline, “Have you ever thought about Benjamin Teixeira, sis?”The three stopped near the stairs. Caroline smiled, amused.“Hmm... I never thought about Ben. He’s so hot and muscular even being a chef! Other guys usually gain weight because they’re always eating and trying dishes in the kitchen, but not him.”Reuben turned purple with jealousy while David smiled mockingly.“But I don’t know if it would be decent, David. Ben is Flavia’s brother.” Caroline hesitated.“He’s my legitimate uncle!” Reuben shouted, “Wouldn’t that be incestuous?”“Yo
Reuben is working frantically at his desk, while the employees of Rocha Constructions notice how irritated he is.“Rough day, Reuben?” one of them asks.“Tell me about it,” Reuben grumbles.“It’ll get better when your boss returns.” The employee, one of the architects, gives a thumbs up while balancing rolls of blueprints under the other arm.Caio passes by Reuben’s desk and feels the same thing. “Reuben, don’t you want to relax a bit?”“Alan is not in the office. Therefore, I don’t know if we can drink from those bottles.” Reuben retorts with a scowl.“But who said we need bottles of alcoholic drinks? We can freshen up with juice, or even take a stroll.” Caio smiles.“I need to finish answering these emails.” Reuben shakes his head.“Maybe it will help to vent to me what is really bothering you.” Caio insists, standing next to his friend.“OK... if you insist...” Reuben stops typing. It seemed like smoke was about to come out of his keyboard, “I wanted to live with Carol like Rosemar
Rosemary and Thierry enter his photography studio.“Are you crazy, darling?” Thierry is concerned, “After everything has been proven and documented, do you think Patrick wasn’t the shooter?”“He reacts as if it wasn’t him, and even accused me of not knowing him.” Rosemary is distressed.“Hey, don’t let him do that.” Thierry warns her, “He is manipulating you, trying to make you feel guilty because you love me now.”“He mentioned that.” Rosemary is confused, pouring herself some coffee, “He asked me if I ever loved him or if I just wanted to have the first time with him until I set my eyes on you.”“What a disgrace.” Thierry kisses her cheek, “Don’t bother with what that idiot says, darling. You were in love with him, yes, but things change. Now you have chosen me. And if Pat can’t get over it, it’s his problem.”“If Uncle Josias releases him, he might take the opportunity and leave town. Felipe, for sure, fired him.” Rosemary sits on the couch.“Definitely. One less enemy.” Thierry sm
Josias and Melissa return from their trip.The family warmly welcomes the Rocha couple at the Rocha Mansion.“MOMMY!” Mary and Ignacio hug Melissa and almost knock her over.“OOPS! My kids are big now, be careful with mommy.” Melissa laughs and laughs.“Hello, dear daughter.” Josias kisses Caroline’s forehead, “Has this young man behaved himself?”Josias pointed to David, who was grinning widely.“Yes, he protected me very well. In fact...”“I even took the liberty to help her with the twins,” David interjects, not wanting Caroline to mention Reuben’s proposal.“That’s right, Uncle Josias.” Ignacio says excitedly, “David helped me to beat that game that I was struggling to finish for a long time.”“Oh, I’m so happy that you all are spending time together as a family.” Josias laughs, “Now, help me with the bags. There must be a hidden gift in there somewhere.”Mary and Ignacio quickly searched for presents in the luggage. Caroline and David laughed.Melissa, however, felt that David ha
At Rocha Constructions, Brigitte and Caio are talking in his office.“My dear, how is Reuben taking the results of the investigation?” Brigitte asks.“What investigation?” Caio teases as he looks over a subordinate’s blueprint, “The guy is just moving on with his life, focused on Caroline.”Brigitte nods, “I see, but Felipe doesn’t seem to want to get over the event. He suspects that the shooter wasn’t Patrick.”Caio looks at his girlfriend. “Well, you’re not going to think it was Reuben, are you? I believe that’s what Felipe wanted.”“I don’t know. At least Daryl Mountain has returned to Victoria and won’t cause any more problems. What an annoying guy!”Caio smiles bitterly, “Can you believe he was a close friend of Uncle Josias? At some point in history, starting from 1999, everything changed when he thought he could interfere in my uncle’s personal life, trying to push a certain Gabriela Alves when Uncle Josias was still in love with his current wife, Kate Bezerra.”“The one who di
Caio and William discuss Reuben and Caroline’s dilemma.“So, my friend Reuben wants to live with Carol just like Thierry and Rose are doing?” Caio chuckles, feeling sorry for Reuben.“Or like his mother and I.” William scratches his head, “I’m not sure if formalizing the union would be the right move.”“Dad, wouldn’t there be any issues considering you two are first cousins?” Caio raises his eyebrows.“The law wouldn’t prohibit a civil union,” William replies, “But it’s the moral aspect that bothers me a bit. Don’t get me wrong, son. I love Flavia, and we’re happy together. We just hope this doesn’t confuse her son’s head.”“I can talk to Reuben, although I believe you’ve already said something about it.” Caio offers.“Yes, I have, but friendly advice is never too much.” William looks at his wristwatch, “I need to go. Did you hear that Josias has returned? I think I’ll stop by the mansion to find out the details of the trip.”“I know. I need to check those blueprints, Father. Thank yo
William visits Rocha Mansion and finds Melissa. They both talk in the same living room where Reuben was before.“Sis, are the pictures from the trip available?” William asks excitedly.“I still have to develop them,” Melissa replies, thinking about the previous conversation.“Did Carol tell you about what happened during your absence?” William notices the older sister’s sadness.“She didn’t tell me.” Melissa huffs, “I had to bring Reuben here for him to tell me what happened. Thank goodness I did that, and I hope Josias never finds out.”“Sometimes I think this was my fault.” William hangs his head.Melissa is surprised by this statement. “Why do you think that, Will?”“Because if it weren’t for me living with his mother... And we have Thierry and Rose living together...” William scratches his neck.“I’m not going to judge the arrangements you all make.” Melissa shakes her head, “I just know that Carol doesn’t want this, and Josias would never accept Reuben living here before marriage