In Edmund's office at the Sterling Cultural Hall, Bryce's concern for his father's demeanor was palpable. Edmund, usually composed, found himself sweating under Bryce's scrutinizing gaze.Edmund wondered if Bryce listened to his chat with Karl, a supposed dead man..."Dad, what's going on? You look nervous. I was just kidding," Bryce remarked, trying to lighten the mood.Edmund forced a chuckle, attempting to regain his composure. "You scared me, son.""I scared you? Why? Do you think you can talk to the dead or something?" Bryce quipped, half-jokingly.Edmund's murmured response hinted at deeper concerns. "You could say that again.""Huh?" Bryce raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his father's cryptic reply."Forget it, my son! Let's focus on work, shall we? What do we have for today?" Edmund redirected, hoping to steer the conversation away from his worries.Suspicion still lingering, Bryce handed over a document to his father.Edmund accepted it, reading through with a mixture of relief
In the lobby of Golden Letters, Elaine and Nayla found themselves momentarily stunned by Nathan's sudden appearance.He strode towards them with an inscrutable expression, his presence commanding attention despite the early hour."Good morning, Mr. Gouveia," greeted Nayla, trying to maintain a professional demeanor.Nathan's response had a tone of cynicism. "I see I've lost the respect of my grandfather's employees, huh?"Elaine, never one to shy away from confrontation, immediately stepped in with furrowed brows. "Nathan, PLEASE! Don't start trouble the moment you set foot in the company. Who cares if no one sees you as the heir anymore?"Nayla, emboldened by Elaine's stance, added with a teasing smirk, "Exactly! Why do you still act like you're the big shot? Were you sleeping or in a coma yesterday?"Nathan's retort was swift and pointed. "No. I heard about my grandfather's decision firsthand. I was at the meeting."His explanation was interrupted by uncontrollable laughter from Ela
Inside the Sterling Empire Headquarters, Abner and Matthew found themselves posing for a photo intended for Cindy's upcoming article.The atmosphere in Matthew's office was charged with a mix of formality and anticipation."Cool! Now, sir...?" Cindy chirped energetically, aiming her enthusiasm at the third gentleman."Mr. Fabian Mendes, lawyer," Fabian introduced himself with a smile, joining Matthew for the photo."Please, Mr. Lawyer, stand next to Matthew and shake his hand, look lively!" Cindy directed, and Fabian complied, shaking Matthew's hand as the photographer snapped away."Is this good?" Fabian inquired after the photos were taken."Fantastic!" Cindy exclaimed. "Have you both signed already? Let's get shots of you standing at the desk, signing the formal documents."Matthew, however, interrupted with urgency, glancing at his computer screen."Wait a minute, Cindy! Grandpa, there's something you need to know," Matthew interjected, his tone serious.Abner turned his attention
Inside Matthew's car, parked in the lot outside Golden Letters, Matthew shook his head disapprovingly as he started the engine."Mom, you deserve to be in a better situation..." Matthew muttered to himself, his thoughts lingering on Sheila's circumstances.He still thinks that Jonah and Sheila are taking too long to get married. Sheila lives with Jonah, cooks for him, sleeps with him...She lives like a married woman without the formality.Driving through the headquarters' parking lot, Matthew nodded in acknowledgment to the guards stationed at the checkpoint as he maneuvered his car.******Inside Golden Letters' lobby, tension simmered even before Matthew's arrival. Jackson approached Nathan with clear indignation evident in his demeanor.Elaine stood nearby, visibly nervous and trembling, finding reassurance in her friend's presence."Jackson, I'm so glad you're here!" Elaine exclaimed with relief upon seeing him.Nathan, however, interjected sharply, "What's this? Hey, big guy, do
Inside the lobby of Golden Letters, chaos erupts as Jackson and Nathan clash in a heated confrontation.Nathan recovered from the first punch. Driven by frustration and anger, he launches himself at Jackson, aiming to strike him with punches and kicks.However, Jackson's agility and strength prove superior. He evades Nathan's attacks skillfully and lands his blows, further infuriating Nathan.Finally gaining the upper hand, Jackson steps back, wiping sweat from his brow and catching his breath."Phew! You're out of shape, huh?" Jackson taunts, his tone showcasing his triumph.Confusion reigns as security guards arrive, uncertain about how to intervene. Nayla quickly points them in Nathan's direction."Kick this vandal out of here!" Nayla demands firmly.Struggling to catch his breath, Nathan protests, "Wait... You can't do this to me!"Elaine, visibly shaken but resolute, interjects, "How not? You came here to harass me, thinking you could find Matt to do who knows what! Guards, get h
Inside Siren Restaurant, the midday hum of chatter filled the air as Karl quietly enjoyed his lunch, discreetly observing a group of board members deep in conversation with Fabian across the room.Their voices carried enough for Karl to overhear snippets of their discussion."I'm confident that young Matthew Sterling will be a great leader," Fabian remarked with assurance. "He even had his ex-girlfriend conduct an interview. I posed for photos and everything!"Suspicion influenced the answer from one of the directors, "I hope we're not talking about Cindy Cardoso.""That's her," Fabian confirmed casually. "Hey, do you foresee any issues?"Another director chimed in with caution. "We just hope Young Mr. Sterling remembers who he's marrying."Karl felt a twinge of irritation at the lack of faith displayed by the older men.He considered rising to defend Matthew when his phone suddenly rang, shattering his thoughts.He answered quickly, anticipating the call from Golden Letters."Hello?"
Sheila arrived at Golden Letters after lunch, poised to speak with Matthew as planned.In the lobby, Nayla greeted her warmly, smiling at the elegant madam."Good afternoon, Mrs. Sterling. It's always nice to see familiar faces around here," Nayla greeted cheerfully.Sheila maintained her poise but sensed something amiss. "I can tell something happened here. Could you fill me in? I came to speak with my son."Nayla's expression turned serious. "Yes, something did happen. Your nephew showed up here looking to talk to Mr. Sterling, but he saw Elaine and made advances towards her."Sheila's smile faded, showing her worriedness as she took a deep breath to process the news. "Please, tell me this story had a positive outcome."Nayla nodded reassuringly. "Yes, it did. Jackson was here and intervened to protect Elaine. Your son arrived shortly after, took Nathan to his office, and had a discussion with him. Then the security guards escorted him out."Nayla smiled, reminiscing about the incid
Abner and Alice buzzed with excitement in the master suite of Sterling Mansion as they packed for their upcoming trip."I've already arranged everything with the hangar staff, dear. They're taking care of the flight plan. What about our passports?" Abner confirmed, eager.Alice pointed to the dresser. "They're right there. I can't believe this is finally happening!""We're flying on one of our private jets to the Maldives!" Abner exclaimed with a grin.Alice teased him playfully. "And promise me you'll tread carefully in those muddy lagoons!"Abner chuckled, shaking his head. "The more you talk, the more curious I get about what you're referring to."Alice laughed, the couple's excitement palpable in the suite.The door swung open, and Sheila entered, finding the couple amidst their preparations."What are you guys up to? Already off on vacation?" Sheila inquired with a smile."Sorry, dear daughter-in-law! Weren't you the eager one to take charge at the conglomerate? We'll be taking s
At Silva Oil Company, Kirk appeared in Leonardo’s office. Fernando and Marta had already left. “KIRK!” Leonardo abruptly stood up from his desk. “How are you, my young man!” “Mr. Silva?” Kirk was surprised by such reverence. “I didn’t know you cared so much about me...” “Cut the small talk! You just had a seizure and looked like you were going to die in my company,” Leonardo gestured for the employee to sit down. “Now I want to know all the details. Don’t hide anything from this curious old man.” Kirk smiled and sat down. “Well, sir, there’s not much to tell. I was stupid enough to fall for the siren’s song.” “In this case, the cocaine song, right?” Leonardo leaned forward. “What do you intend to do from here on out?” “Obviously, I promised myself and my family that I wouldn’t use that cr*p anymore. It wasn’t worth all the drama and suffering,” Kirk replied honestly. “That’s good. Then you can continue from where you left off,” Leonardo smiled, relieved. “That’s about what I w
In Urbano Magazine, Cindy returned with the printed sheet, extending it to Andreia. “Read this not-so-pretentious article, my friend,” Cindy declared. Andreia took the paper and read it. A smile formed at the right corner of her mouth. “Cool... nothing so blatantly accusatory, but clear enough for any semi-literate person to understand that Elaine knocked over that pyramid of champagne glasses, causing a scene at the book signing.” “Of course, I won’t say she did it because the honored author was her enemy’s mother,” Cindy replied mischievously. “You don’t want to risk Matt’s wrath.” Andreia stood up, a bit slowly due to her pregnancy. “Speaking of which, how did he react after your dad’s video?” “I didn’t bring it up with him,” Cindy shook her head. “If I mention it, people will say I still love him.” “And you don’t want to do anything to ruin your relationship with Jackson,” Andreia repeated. “Cindy, it’s commendable that you’re more committed and focused on having someone in
Fernando appeared in the kitchen wearing gray sweatpants. Liz, who was sour and bitter, smiled pathetically with her gaze fixed on her husband’s pants. “Good morning, son. What’s new?” Ronaldo replied rudely, “The news is seeing my mother still able to walk!” “RON!” Liz was startled. Fernando shook his head. “Son, don’t be disrespectful. Your mother and I are trying to be as discreet as possible.” Ronaldo shot back, “Just missing discretion when discussing my fiancée, huh? Can we talk about that now?” Liz pursed her lips. “I was so happy when I woke up, but you made sure to ruin my day.” “Mom, we can’t avoid the obvious!” Ronaldo turned to Fernando. “Matt told me that Elaine was reprimanded.” “And I will never agree to that!” Liz shouted. “Elaine was a victim of that tough girl from the slums! She could have died from a cut to her jugular!” “But Elaine provoked Patty’s wrath by saying those nasty things,” Fernando reasoned as he served himself breakfast. “Couldn’t Patricia a
Silva Penthouse, Monday morning. Ronaldo was walking down the hallway to the kitchen in just his boxer shorts when the suite door opened. Liz was smiling a little too much, looking like she was about to dance ballet. “Mom! Long time no see!” “Yes, son, I had a wonderful time with your father!” Liz replied suggestively. Ronaldo blushed to the roots of his hair. “Is breakfast ready?” she asked casually. “I was about to check,” Ronaldo said, heading to the kitchen. There, the coffee maker was already brewing coffee. “Nando must have prepared it in advance.” Liz took bread and butter from the fridge. Ronaldo, cautious, sat down at the table. He noticed a tear in Liz’s nightgown. “Mom, did you and Dad make up this Sunday?” “We can say he’s no longer in love with your fiancée,” Liz replied with a mischievous smile. “Mom, stop talking about that disgusting stuff!” Ronaldo frowned. “This is all your sick imagination.” Liz simply shrugged, sitting down at the table as well. “You’r
Elaine arrived stumbling with fear and bewilderment. The truth about Bella and Nathan’s relationship was something horrifying and incredible for her to digest. “Oh my God... how did these two families let this issue intertwine like this?” Nayla was at the reception desk, smiling, waiting for Elaine to approach. But when she realized Elaine was going to walk past her, Nayla called out loudly, “ELAINE?” Elaine stopped suddenly and looked at her friend. “Oh, Nayla, I’m sorry...” “Don’t worry. I know you must be going through a lot of pressure.” Nayla stood up. “I really am. But I always have time for my friends.” Elaine smiled and approached, trying to distract her mind. “I wanted to know if there are any openings here at Golden Letters for my brother.” Nayla asked respectfully. Elaine’s smile vanished with the wind. As Nayla’s boss, she knew who the brother was. “Nayla, we’re friends, but you know I have a strong opinion against drug use and sales.” Elaine replied in a boss t
At Andrade Clinic, Charles was leading a meeting with the receptionists and security guards. Walter and Emmanuelle were present. “So, everyone, the next time Liz Silva or anyone else causes a scene at the clinic entrance, security or even the police must be called in immediately. Don’t hesitate just because the troublemaker is someone from an important family. This is a hospital clinic, not a zoo, so I demand order in the lobby. A disturbance can jeopardize the patients who are waiting for care, and I don’t want to compromise anyone’s safety, understood?” “Yes, Mr. Andrade!” everyone responded in unison. “Okay, everyone can return to your posts.” The staff went back to work. Linda gave Walter a brief kiss before leaving. “Linda, I need to ask you a quick question,” Emmanuelle called her back. Linda paused, closing the door after the last person left. “Did you check with your parents if it’s safe to go home?” “No, Emmanuelle. The conversation with Gus was so good that I forgot
In Matthew’s suite, he was now buttoning the cuffs of his genuine cotton dress shirt. Elaine had also gotten out of the bathtub, unable to continue relaxing, and was now putting on her work suit.The memory of the Golden Letters prompted Matthew to strike up a conversation. “Did you remove a glass from the base of the pyramid?” Elaine stared at Matthew as if he were the devil. “What? How can you throw a question like that out of nowhere?” “I just asked a question, woman, answer me.” Elaine shook her head as she walked to the sofa to put on her high heels. “This is inconceivable. Your mind is always revolving around Patricia’s issues. You never forget her, and then tell me I don’t need to worry.” “Was the champagne glass pyramid made for an occasion involving Patricia?” Matthew countered logically. “No, but it was her mother’s book signing.” Elaine angrily slipped on her shoes. “Well, I remembered that many claimed the embarrassment happened because someone removed a glass from
Monday. Elaine was relaxing in the bathtub of her husband’s suite. Matthew stepped out of the shower stall, drying his hair with a white towel as he walked to the double sink. The sight of Matthew’s exposed body startled Elaine for a few seconds, but then she took advantage of the beautiful view, smiling mischievously. “It hardly feels like it’s Monday,” she commented casually. Matthew was washing his face as he said, “Yes, it’s Monday, the day to take care of important things after we relax our nerves on Sunday.” Elaine pursed her lips and retorted, “If I relaxed my nerves, it’s because they were in shambles. It’s not like me to live in constant stress, darling. I might not get the chance to calm down in the future.” Matthew turned off the faucet and grabbed a face towel. “Are you saying you would be willing to reduce your contact with Aunt Liz?” Elaine could no longer relax. “What does that mean?” Matthew tossed the towel onto the sink and turned to his wife. “I don’t like t
In the Silva Penthouse, Liz took advantage of the wreckage of the coffee table to create more drama. “Here we have it, darling! The COFFEE TABLE is SHATTERED with Elaine’s body thanks to Patty—” “SHUT UP!” Fernando slammed the door shut. Liz trembled in panic, staring wide-eyed at her furious husband. “But what is this? Why are you angry with me, darling, when you should be furious with Patty—” “I command silence, and you keep babbling even more!” Fernando went to the utility room to grab a broom. Liz quickly grabbed her phone and took a picture of the shattered coffee table. Maybe this will come in handy for her in the future... “So, what are we going to do about this?” Liz shouted for Fernando to hear. Fernando returned with a broom and a dustpan in hand. “Don’t tell me you’re going to sweep this up!” Liz reacted horrified. “Let the maid clean it up on Monday!” “I won’t have a living room full of glass shards until Monday. I want to watch TV tomorrow!” Fernando’s ferocity