Josias is now alone in his office at Rocha Constructions, going over blueprints with Alfred.“Here, Alfredo. What do you think of this residential project?” Josias smiles.“Brigitte Complex?” Alfred scratches his neck. “Caio couldn’t be more obvious, huh?”“He’s in love, and that makes things easier.” Josias chuckles, understanding the hearts of the young. “Am I not honoring my wife with the next shopping mall?”“Yes, you’re right.” Alfred matches the smile of the construction company’s owner. “When everything is ready and inaugurated, are you going to throw a big party?”“I don’t know if people will want to party.” Josias suddenly becomes melancholy, looking out at the urban horizon through the large windows.Alfred understands where Josias is coming from. “She is missed, right?”“Yes, she is missed. And so is my secretary. I don’t want to hire another one, the employees would complain.” Josias alludes to the energetic and bright aura that Reuben always brings when he’s around.His d
At Rocha Constructions, there was an intense discussion in the presidential office about J.J.’s identity. Josias, in his heart, felt as if he were facing the son once thought to be dead. His features and Katherine’s were there, in the face, in the smile...“Aren’t you going to hug me, Father?”“Take it easy, my young man.” Alfred wasn’t convinced. “You can’t just show up out of nowhere claiming to be my friend’s dead son.”“I swear it’s me, Father.” J.J. said, “I didn’t die. I was rescued from the plane crash and well taken care of by my grandfather.”“And what is your grandfather’s name?” Josias suddenly asks.“Ephraim Bezerra.”Josias and Alfred exchanged stunned gazes.“You were in the countryside all this time? And your grandfather never thought of comforting me or telling me you were alive?” Josias asked indignantly.“My grandfather said that due to the nature of the plane crash, it was dangerous for me to return at that time. So, I stayed under his care,” J.J. replied with innoc
The Rocha family’s dilemma needed to be resolved.Josias cleared his throat and took the floor. “Ahem... Okay, I think we know what needs to be done. Son, we need to conduct a DNA test.”J.J. reacted, staring at Josias with tears in his eyes.“I’m sorry, but we need to be certain. Alan raised a valid point.”J.J. retorted, glaring at Alan, “Do you think it would be easy to fake someone’s life who was presumed dead? Come on, that only happens in soap operas.”Alan crossed his arms, smiling faintly, feeling he was cornering an imposter. “Actually, in the case of our late brother J.J., it would be easy to simulate. He died before he was ten years old. And you’re saying your grandfather has passed away. In other words, the only person who could verify your story is dead.”David noticed animosity brewing. “Um... Alan, take it easy. If this guy is our brother, you’ll need to apologize.”“David, don’t be naive!” Alan reprimanded him, “We are the most powerful family in Lagoon City. It won’t
The next day. The Rocha family is once again discussing J.J. in the living room.“So, folks, what have you decided?” Josias asks, sitting in his armchair.“Do the DNA test today.” Simeon suggests as the patriarch. “If the guy is really J.J., he needs to be welcomed into the family.”Dora maliciously suggests, “Before someone else grabs him.”Melissa raises her eyebrows. “Who are you talking about, Mom?”“Angela Souza, for example.” Dora replies with a mischievous smile. “She might influence the guy against us, blaming us for abandonment.”“What abandonment?” William asks indignantly. “Mom, didn’t you know he was kept on Bezerra’s farm without us knowing?”Josias extends the letter from Ephraim that had been on his lap. “This letter explains everything. I believe this letter is legitimate. Even though he makes some angry comments about me, he says he wanted to keep the grandson as a form of comfort.”Melissa nods, trying to calm things down. “Well, we should remember that things were p
At General Hospital, Josias, J.J., David, and Alan are in the corridor after the nurse has collected blood samples from all of them.David comments while pressing a cotton ball on the spot where the needle pricked his arm, “It feels like we just got a shot like when we were kids.”“Good times,” J.J. comments, trying to fit in.Alan shots a skeptical glance. “You remember a lot, don’t you?”J.J. decides not to be intimidated and looks at Alan. “I remember the stewardess trying in vain to calm all the passengers who were panicking and screaming for help, knowing they were facing death. I remember my mother hugging me, crying, and promising everything would be okay. Well, it turned out okay... for me, not for her.”Seeing J.J. with misty eyes, Josias intervenes between the brothers. “Alright, that’s enough of the confusion. It must have been a horrific experience. After everything is confirmed, we’ll have a long talk about it.”“Thank you.” J.J. refrains from using the word ‘Dad’ to avoi
Josias and Caio are displeased with what little they heard from Sofia and Alan.Alan notices their accusatory looks. "What's up, guys?""You still have the nerve to ask?" Josias complains, "What does this kind of conversation mean? Is it the Vasquez family filling you with doubts and uncertainties?"Sofia is offended again. "Now I know who Caroline takes after!""Sofia, you don’t make things any easier either!" Alan reprimands his wife. "Dad, I've had my opinion formed from the beginning."Caio suggests, "It seems like you want J.J. to stay dead."Alan shakes his head. "It's not like that, cousin. If that young man really is J.J., I will welcome him with open arms. As the older brother, I suffered a lot with his death.""But don't you realize that David is already getting attached to him?" Josias touched on the main point.Alan feels a jolt, his heart rate increasing. "Ah, I get it. David is forming an army of those born out of wedlock to wage war against me."Josias crosses his arms
Erasmo reacts horrified by his wife's extreme and violent behavior.He stands up slowly, trying to calm the beast. “Dear, are you okay? Maybe you need a romantic dinner at Crystal Blue...”“My anger will not be appeased by romance!” Olivia screams at the top of her lungs, “I’m tired, do you hear me? TIRED!”“Tired of what?” Erasmo asks in a dazed manner.“I’m tired of always being Lagoon City’s punching bag! Everyone thinks they can say whatever they want about our family!” Olivia stomps her foot, trying to vent years of humiliation. “They mock our daughter, they mock our living room, they mock our company, and they root for us to go bankrupt... What do these people want? For us to kill ourselves?”Erasmo tries to hug his wife, but Olivia slaps him.“GET OUT! Do something, man! We can’t live like this anymore! I DON’T WANT to live like this anymore, do you understand?” Olivia is reacting hysterically, having reached her limit.Luís enters the office to join his aunt’s tirade. “Guys, w
The curiosity in the room was palpable as the Rocha and Campos families gathered in the small office at General Hospital.The young man who claimed to be J.J. stood quietly, his presence both a beacon of hope and a source of doubt.The Vasquez family had been conspicuously excluded, a decision that left Alan simmering with frustration.“Dad, why did you forbid my family from coming? They won't just believe my word,” Alan asked, his voice tight with restrained anger.Josias, ever the stern patriarch, replied with a sour edge, “If they don’t believe you, it means you’re not credible, huh?”Melissa, sensing Alan’s rising tension, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.Dora, trying to lighten the mood, chimed in, “I don't think they would believe us even if we filmed it.”Simeon, in his usual dry manner, added, “We are very sorry, my grandson, but where did you tie up your donkey, huh?”Alan, refusing to let the conversation derail further, stated flatly, “Don’t forget, you have a grea