At Blue Cove Beach, Jacqueline and Zachary were taken by surprise when they encountered Linda and Bella's older brother, Gustavo.Jacqueline, still processing the situation, commented, “Wow, you're their brother...”Gustavo smiled and playfully asked, “Are you including Bella?”Jacqueline’s expression quickly shifted into a frown.“Oh, I see,” Gustavo continued, “you've met both of them.”Zachary, wanting to clarify things, chimed in, “Mr. Alvares, your sister Linda is dating my future brother-in-law.”Gustavo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh, so you two are that serious?”“Yes,” Jacqueline responded, “we even toasted and had dinner with our families yesterday.”“Congratulations. You make a lovely couple,” Gustavo said warmly.Jacqueline, calming down, added, “So, to answer your question: yes, I know Linda Alvares. So far, she's made my older brother happy.”Looking a bit concerned, Gustavo hesitated before saying, “I hope I’m not being intrusive, Miss Andrade, but I need to know som
Zachary and Jacqueline stepped into the Happy Snack Bar, which was bustling with beachgoers. After finding a table, they sat down.Jacqueline couldn't shake the impression that Zachary was being indecent because of the way he positioned himself at the table. The sensation reminded her of Gustavo, whose shorts had nearly been swept away by the waves, and of Bella kissing Zachary in that anonymous photo.The flood of memories made her tremble as Zachary casually flipped through the menu.Without looking up, Zachary asked, distracted, “What do you want, dear?”Jacqueline, her voice gloomy, replied, “I want to talk to you about a photo.”Zachary, sensing her change in tone, looked up from the menu. “What happened?”Jacqueline fumbled through her crochet bag, pulling out her phone. Swiping the screen, she handed it to him.Zachary stared at the image — him and Bella kissing, a photo taken just the day before, taken at the moment he was reciprocating.His heart sank, and he dropped the menu
At the Happy Snack Bar, Zachary and Jacqueline were still at their table, yet neither had ordered anything.The awkwardness between them was real as they prepared to have an honest conversation about the photo Jacqueline had received earlier.“Honey,” Zachary began, his voice filled with embarrassment, “you knew about the photo, the kiss... and you still went through with our dinner? I thought you’d cancel everything at the last minute.”Jacqueline, calm but resolute, replied, “I wasn’t going to do that and upset my family, especially my mom, after all the hard work she put into setting things up.”“You seemed so calm, so radiant, emotional even... it didn’t seem like you knew anything,” Zachary said, puzzled.With a faint smile, Jacqueline answered, “I hid it well, didn’t I?”“You didn’t have to suffer in silence, though,” Zachary added softly.“Actually, it was Walter who advised me to go ahead with the dinner. I had my doubts,” Jacqueline confessed.Zachary’s guilt was evident as h
Nathan had just finished his shower and was getting dressed to head out to work at the kiosk. He was in the middle of slipping on his jeans when he overheard a voice, unmistakably Vicente’s, speaking in a hushed, agitated tone from the living room.“I can’t believe it, Andreia!” Vicente’s voice echoed.Curious, Nathan paused, fastening his jeans and moving closer to the door to hear better.******In the living room, Andreia sat beside Vicente on the couch, trying to calm him down.“What happened now?” she asked gently.Vicente’s face was etched with concern. “Remember when we thought Matthew might hire someone to kill Nathan? I think it might’ve happened!”Andreia shushed him, worried Nathan might overhear. “Shh! Nate’s getting dressed for work.”“I think we should tell him the truth. I called Karl, and he denied everything,” Vicente insisted.“Of course he did. My brother was just messing with you. He wasn't serious,” Andreia replied, trying to ease his fears.Vicente shot her a ske
The late afternoon sun was cooling down, signaling the approach of twilight.Swimmers, who had spent the entire day in the water, began to prepare to leave. It was the time when lifeguards kept a close watch, trying to pull as many people as possible from the dangerous rip currents.Despite the warnings, thrill-seekers still dove in when the sea was at its roughest, often finding themselves unable to escape.One particularly large wave hurled several men onto the shore, including Zachary. Nearby, a young man sprawled out on the sand hadn’t yet realized he’d lost his shorts and was lying there completely naked. Others weren’t as fortunate, getting pulled back into the choppy waters, while lifeguards focused on rescuing those closer to the shore.“Come on, Aquaman! Time to go home!” one of the lifeguards called out.Zachary, in good shape, managed to stand and stagger farther from the water. Once he reached a safe spot, he collapsed onto the sand, gasping for breath.“Phew... Good thing
Gustavo and Zachary walked toward the parking lot, where the lights were brighter. Around them, beachgoers were heading in the same direction to grab their cars and head home. Some women admired the well-built physiques of the two young men, but Gustavo and Zachary were deep in conversation.“So, when we were at the snack bar, Jacque told me she knew about the photograph,” Zachary said.Gustavo looked shocked. “How?”“It was sent ‘anonymously’ to her phone just before she met my parents for dinner. She managed to keep her composure all night.”Gustavo smiled. “Your girlfriend seems sweet and fragile, but she’s a warrior, huh?”“Yeah, but I would have preferred if she didn’t have to go through that.”“Dude, why did you even talk to my mischievous sister in the first place?”“She threatened to spill the juicy details of our past to Jacqueline. Did you see how easily she sent the photo? Jacque doesn’t have anyone managing her social media. Anyone can send a DM.”Gustavo nodded. “Got it.
A few days had passed, and the morning sun streamed through the windows of Jackson’s room. He and Cindy lay peacefully in bed, fast asleep.The room had undergone several upgrades: a sleek flat-screen TV now adorned the wall, a bookshelf filled with books and trinkets stood proudly, and a loveseat along with an upholstered armchair added to the cozy atmosphere. The single wardrobe had been replaced with a larger one, making space for Cindy’s clothes.Suddenly, the shrill sound of Cindy’s phone alarm echoed through the room, waking her up. She stretched but immediately winced in discomfort, the aftermath of another wild night with her playful boyfriend.“Hiss…! Jackson, you little rascal,” Cindy muttered with a half-hearted grin, pulling off the covers with difficulty.Dressed in a nightgown, she sat up and searched for her slippers. A sudden thought hit her, jolting her fully awake.“Oh, today is Patty and Ron’s engagement day!”******In the Silva Penthouse, Liz, still wrapped in her
Ronaldo banged on the door, desperate.Inside the Silva Penthouse hallway, Fernando urged his wife, “Honey, open that door immediately!”Tears filled Liz’s eyes as she responded, “I can’t, darling, I can’t!”From outside, Ronaldo’s voice echoed, “If you don’t open it, I’m going to break it down, you know?”“The door opens inward, son!” Liz reminded him.Ronaldo sounded frustrated. “Mom, did you do this? Jesus Christ, why do you hate me so much?”Liz, horrified, protested, “I don’t hate you, son!”Distracted, Liz didn’t notice as Fernando grabbed both her hands.“No, no, let me go, Nando!” she cried.But Fernando had already snatched the key from her grip. With a raised hand, he pretended he was about to slap her.“Get out of here before I do something stupid!”Liz screamed and ran back into the bedroom.Without hesitation, Fernando unlocked the door and stormed into Ronaldo’s room, where his son stood, breathless, wearing only a checkered pair of boxer shorts.“Dad... What happened to
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