Nathan and Bella sat in silence at the Happy Snack Bar, unsure of what to say to each other. Or maybe they knew exactly what they wanted to say, but neither had the courage to speak. Nathan, as the man in the relationship, decided to take the lead.“I should go first,” he said, breaking the tension. “My name is Nathan Sterling Gouveia. I’m 25 years old, weigh about 185 pounds, have a degree in Business Management, and I worked at Golden Letters and Urban Magazine. Right now, I’m unemployed, but I help my dad, pianist Vicente Gouveia, with his live streams, monetizing his channel since we went through some financial setbacks last year.”Bella blinked, staring at Nathan with an intensity that spoke of the weight she felt.“Your turn,” he urged her.She hesitated, her voice choking. “Nate, I...”“It’s not that hard, Bella,” Nathan pressed. “Just tell me who you really are.”Bella wrestled with the words, the truth battling with her fear.Meanwhile, the same pretty girl sitting nearby see
Friday, sunny morning.In the quiet of Hélio’s office, he and Vanda sat together, discussing the latest turmoil surrounding their eldest son.“Everything is going wrong,” Hélio began with a deep sigh.“What happened?” Vanda asked, concerned.“I tried to keep Jackson away from Cindy, but now they’re planning to move in together,” he said bitterly.Vanda looked confused. “What do you mean? When did they decide that?”Hélio grimaced. “Cindy suggested it. Germano called me, wanting me to intervene. Jackson overheard the conversation, grabbed my phone, and told Germano he’d start apartment hunting right away.”Vanda shifted uneasily in her chair. “Maybe this is a sign that we shouldn’t interfere,” she suggested.Hélio frowned. “You’re okay with our son spending the entire week in reckless behavior?”“I’m not,” Vanda admitted. “But sometimes disciplining him means letting him learn from his mistakes. Trying to separate them will only push them closer together.”Hélio laughed. “Please, dear.
Sheila sat at the dining table in the Sterling Mansion, savoring her breakfast with a contented smile. The successful dinner from the previous night had left her in a good mood. She was alone when Evan entered the room.“Has Young Matthew and Mrs. Sterling already left?” Evan asked.“Yes, Evan. Now you can say whatever you want,” Sheila responded playfully.Evan chuckled. “I didn’t mean that, madam.”Sheila smiled. “I know.”She glanced out the window, reminiscing. “I can hardly believe I managed to get everything ready for my little one to enjoy himself in the Bahamas.”Evan sat down and served himself some brioche. “I sincerely hope Young Matthew finds happiness,” he said earnestly.Before Sheila could reply, Jarbas entered the room, looking slightly embarrassed.“What’s wrong, Jarbas?” Sheila asked, noticing his expression.“Has Young Matthew and Mrs. Sterling already gone to the Caribbean?” he inquired.“Yes, they have. Why?”Jarbas let out a sigh of relief, unable to hide it. “Mi
Cindy was fully recovered, brimming with energy as she sat at the breakfast table, ready to rush off to work. Her beige suit was crisp and neatly pressed, her hair styled into an elegant bun — she looked every bit the perfect journalist.Across the table, her parents Zilda and Germano sat in uneasy silence, hesitant to speak.“Can someone pass me the butter?” Cindy asked, pointing across the table.Germano, reaching for the butter, didn’t pass it right away. “Not until you tell us if you plan on moving out of here,” he said firmly.Cindy rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Seriously? Are we doing this again?”“We’re just worried about you,” Zilda said gently.“Worried to the point where I can’t make my own decisions?” Cindy shot back, annoyed.Germano leaned in, his tone more serious. “You don’t understand the consequences of your choices.”Cindy, now more practical, set her utensils down. “Dad, you don’t approve of me and Jackson showing any affection under your roof. I get it. It’s your
In the office of Silva Oil Company, Ronaldo and Patricia share a passionate kiss. Their desire for one another intensifies, and as Ronaldo begins to untie Patricia’s blouse, she suddenly pulls back, remembering where they are.“Oops! Honey, take it easy. Let’s set a wedding date first,” Patricia says, gently but firmly.Ronaldo, visibly embarrassed, steps back. “Sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to make you feel cheap and vulgar.”Patricia smiles affectionately. “You’re not. In fact, if I’d met you earlier, I’d still be a virgin, saving myself for marriage, just like my parents.”Ronaldo retreats behind his desk, his mood shifting to something more somber. “I always thought Matt was a gentleman.”Patricia shakes her head. “No, he wasn’t. He was sleeping with Cindy Cardoso before he even cared about me. And then, when Elaine decided she wouldn’t sleep with anyone before marriage, Matt somehow convinced her otherwise. I’ll never forget the day Elaine came down the mansion’s stairs wearing o
Andreia was taken aback by Cindy's unwavering determination to marry Jackson.“Cindy, I admire your courage, but…” Andreia masked her fear, “how do you plan to pull this off?”Cindy smirked, “What do you mean?”“It seems like you’ve got a plan,” Andreia suggested.“And what if I do?” Cindy replied, her tone cynical. “My parents did something behind my back with Jackson’s parents. They were in cahoots.”“What does that have to do with anything?” Andreia asked, now confused.“If they can scheme, so can I.”Andreia’s voice wavered, “Cindy, you’re scaring me.”“Don’t worry, my dear friend,” Cindy reassured. “I’m scheming for the victory of love.”“I think you and Jackson have had more than enough love over the last few days,” Andreia teased. “I had to rely on Judson and Yasmin to cover the latest breaking news.”“Yasmin? That rookie who started yesterday?!” Cindy erupted, clearly upset.Andreia remained professional. “Yasmin didn’t start ‘yesterday.’ She’s been here for months, and she di
In Ronaldo’s office at Silva Oil Company, the morning tension is tough. Patricia, trembling with anxiety, is caught off guard by Fernando’s sudden announcement about Liz’s opposition.“I can’t believe this, Nando... This can’t be happening!” Patricia’s voice wavers.Both Ronaldo and Fernando, clearly distressed, move towards her at the same time, intending to comfort her.Their eyes meet awkwardly, locking in a brief moment of discomfort.Fernando, feeling the sting of jealousy, steps back, allowing Ronaldo to embrace his fiancée.“Thank you, my love,” Patricia says, unaware of the tension between the father and son.“I’m sorry, Patty,” Fernando says softly, guilt evident in his voice. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”“It’s not your fault, Dad,” Ronaldo interjects, shaking his head. “Mom’s the one who owes an apology. This is just wrong.”Patricia, her face filled with sadness, sighs deeply. “Why can’t I love a man in peace? Are we going to have to break up too, Ron?”Ronaldo pulls her c
At the Sterling Empire headquarters, Sheila, Evan, and Thomas sat attentively around Sheila’s desk, listening to the ongoing podcast.At the podcast studio, Jorge and Jonah were in the midst of a conversation while Karl and Cindy stood in the background.“Jonah, what do you think about having Patty Borges and Ron Silva on the cover of your romance?” Jorge asked with a mischievous grin.Jonah, trying to stay polite, responded, “Golden Letters really outdid themselves, bringing us back to the days when ‘bodice rippers’ were all the rage with women.”Jorge chuckled. “But let’s be honest, didn’t it seem like Ron Silva was wearing his birthday suit instead of an old-fashioned lord’s attire? Patty’s flowing dress helps cover it up, but my followers sure noticed.”The entire studio erupted in laughter, even Jonah loosened up and joined in.“I was assured Ron Silva was decent,” Jonah said playfully. “But for my readers... I’ll leave that to their imagination.”“Fair enough... But you have no
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