Café Montanha, afternoon.The phenomenal date between Jake and Michelle was taking place.Jake pulled out the chair for Michelle to sit, like a true gentleman.Neilton looked at the table and smiled jokingly. Then, he grabbed the menu and walked over to them.“Good afternoon, special people! Ready to order?”“Thank you, Neil.” Michelle took hers first.Jake was already reaching for his wallet. Michelle saw it out of the corner of her eye and smiled discreetly.“When you need anything, just call.” Neilton gave a funny bow and withdrew.Jake waited patiently for Michelle to choose.Michelle, however, was trying to pick the cheapest options so as not to overspend.******In the manager’s office at the Rocha Hotel, Luís was surprised by Reuben’s invitation.“Reuben, you want me to come back to work here?”“You were the best. The people who STILL work around here praise the heck out of you.” Reuben gave a thumbs-up, smiling like a weirdo. “How about you come back and do us a solid?”Luís s

Melissa was trying to convince Caroline that she needed to grow up and get over her anger.Taking her hand, she said, “Daughter, do you want Wellington to grow up wondering why you don’t like Aunt Sofia? Do you want to stop Wellington and A.J. from being friends?”“Of course not!” Caroline was horrified. “After all, letting the two be friends would be like continuing the tradition, right? A.J. and Wellington, best friends, just like Alan and Reuben, my father and the late Uélton...”“Yes, it is a tradition. That’s why I want you to think about what you will do,” Melissa spoke more firmly. “So far, Sofia hasn’t done anything else to justify our disapproval. And I, honestly, am fighting for peace. I have more urgent things to worry about.”“I know.” Caroline’s voice came out tense. “Can I take a little peek at Grandpa?”“Of course, let’s go see him.” Melissa smiled.The two stood up and left the office.******Diane was talking to Kelvin in his office after Ignacio had left.“Looks like

On a particular sunny day, William was about to exercise in his living room, in his usual house above Campos Pizzeria.William stood in the center of the familiar space, dressed in his workout gear, mentally preparing for his daily routine. He reached down to stretch, but before he could even begin his first set, the shrill ring of his cell phone shattered the morning calm.He glanced at the screen: Caio.“Talk to me, kid,” William answered, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead that hadn’t even earned the right to be there yet.On the other end, the background noise was unmistakable with the distinctive, hurried hum of a hospital corridor.Caio’s voice came through breathless and electric. “Dad, good morning! It’s happening!”William straightened up, abandoning his workout entirely. “What?”“Carlos is coming! Or Charles...” Caio stammered, his excitement tripping over his words.William chuckled, a warm sound that rumbled in his chest. “You guys still haven’t decided, huh?”“Not y

The indecision that had hovered over the couple throughout the pregnancy finally lifted the moment the crying stopped and the breathing began.They named him Charles Amoreira Campos.Nurses moved with practiced efficiency, cleaning the newborn and swaddling him in a soft blue towel before placing the bundle into Brigitte’s arms.She looked wrecked in the most beautiful way possible: hair plastered to her forehead, dark circles under her eyes, but beaming with an ethereal glow.Moisture welled in Caio’s eyes as he looked down at his wife and son. “Look, honey... We managed to produce a beautiful baby.”Brigitte’s voice was a rasp, heavy with exhaustion but light with joy. “He really is... He’s going to be as handsome as his father.”“Ah, I hope he’s beautiful like his mother.”“If that happens, I’m going to have to buy a shotgun to scare off the floozies.”Caio laughed, a deep, joyous sound that filled the sterile room. He reached out, his hands trembling slightly as he took the sleepi

By the time Brigitte and Charles settled in at home, the latest issue of Maggiezine had hit the stands. The cover featured a heartwarming exclusive: the birth of Caio’s firstborn, penned by none other than Caroline.The public devoured it. Copies flew off the shelves, and online traffic spiked, proving once again that anything touching the life of Josias Rocha turned to gold. Astute readers, however, noticed the byline. Caroline was back, and she was making waves.Inside the Vasquez Mansion, Sofia flipped through the glossy pages, her lip curling slightly.“Your sister is starting to get famous, huh?” she mused aloud, her voice carrying a sharp edge. “Pity it’s for all the wrong reasons.”From deep inside the walk-in closet, Alan’s voice boomed, low and questioning. “And what is that supposed to mean?”Sofia froze. She hadn’t realized he was listening so closely, and the irritation in his tone was unmistakable. Desperate to smother the spark before it became a fire, she dropped the ma