Alan sat on a stool at Café Montanha, the paper sleeve around his ground beef pastel turning translucent with grease. He took a long draw of his sugarcane juice, the icy, grassy sweetness a sharp contrast to the savory pastry.To any observer, he looked like a common citizen enjoying a midday break, but Neilton, leaning over the counter, couldn't mask his confusion.“We’ve got shrimp tarts and ricotta brioche today, Alan,” Neilton offered, gesturing to the polished glass display case. “A bit more... up to your usual speed?”Alan offered a tired, peaceful smile. “No, this is exactly what I need, Neilton. Simple.”“Rough day?”“Just a lot of heavy lifting for the mind,” Alan murmured.His phone buzzed on the counter, the vibration rattling against the laminate. He checked the screen: Mom.“Hello, Mother?”“Alan,” Melissa’s voice came through, crisp and layered with the sound of hangers sliding across metal rods in the background. “When you finish up at the office, you’re coming home. To

Michelle is having a more relaxed conversation about her personal life with Brigitte at Rocha Constructions. Brigitte leaned over, squinting at the vase.“Honey, these flowers look like they’re ready for a funeral,” Brigitte remarked, her voice a mix of pity and observation.Michelle looked up from a thick binder, her eyes slightly bloodshot. “Oh, God, I forgot to water them again! I’ve just been... well, you know.”“What’s the trouble? I thought you’d be floating on air now that the press has backed off you and Jake.”“I’m relieved,” Michelle said, pulling a heavy folder toward her. “But that tension just moved from my stomach to my head. I’ve been so focused on not being a headline that I’ve let the flowers, and a few other things slip.”Brigitte’s eyes drifted to the document Michelle was clutching. “Is that the proposal for the Jacaré Creek area?”“It is. We’re aiming to revitalize the whole district. I finally managed to get the right contact—”The door swung open, and Alfred mar

Josias stepped out onto the sun-drenched pool area of the Rocha Mansion. In the turquoise water of the pool, A.J. was splashing enthusiastically alongside Mary, Ignacio, and Andrew. Simeon lay sprawled on a lounge chair nearby, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses as he kept watch over his descendants.“Simeon,” Josias said, pulling up a chair. “Usually, you’re the first one in the water with the grandkids.”Simeon shifted slightly, offering a wry grin. “That was a different lifetime, Josias. I’m getting too old for the deep end.”“Come on now, it hasn’t been that long. You were doing laps like a pro earlier this year.”“Well, I’ve grown fond of the upholstery,” Simeon replied. He lowered his voice, the playfulness vanishing from his tone. “Have you heard the news about your son?”Josias sank into the adjacent lounger, his posture stiffening. “Yes. He stopped by the office to tell me himself.”“It’s a damn shame, Josias. I know none of you like it when I bring up the end of the road, b

The morning after the gala, the city didn’t just wake up; it logged on and started gossiping. Thanks to a heavy push from Maggiezine, the charity auction was the only thing on anyone’s lips.However, the sharper readers, the ones who read between the lines, caught the subtle silkiness in Caroline Rocha Freire’s latest column. While highlighting A-list guests like Claudette Soares and the Wild Pumpkins, she had deftly tucked in a glowing nod to the "seamless and sophisticated management" of the Rocha Hotel.Inside their suite at the Rocha Mansion, Reuben didn’t just smile; he beamed, catching Caroline in a lingering, breathless kiss before she could even set down her makeup brush.“Thank you, honey!” he whispered against her cheek.“For what?” Caroline asked, her voice airy and innocent as she turned back to her vanity mirror.“For the backup. Now I see exactly what Sofia was hunting for when she ‘inspected’ the hotel.” Reuben caught his own reflection in the glass and gave himself a s

Josias pushed open the door to Alan’s old bedroom at the Rocha Mansion. Inside, the bed was barely visible beneath a chaotic landscape of half-folded shirts and open luggage. Alan was moving with a newfound briskness.“Dad! You caught me just in time,” Alan said, a genuine brightness in his eyes.“Your mother rang me. It seems Sofia has finally let her better angels take the wheel,” Josias noted, stepping into the room and watching his son navigate the clutter.“Not without a heavy nudge from Rose and Nadia,” Alan called out from the depths of the walk-in closet. Hangers clattered against the rod as he emerged with a stack of blazers. “I owe those two a serious thank-you.”Josias walked over to the dresser, picking up a stray watch and handing it to his son. “And tell me, son, what’s the takeaway from this little detour?”Alan caught the watch and tucked it into a side pocket of his bag with a smirk. “Simple. I’m staying in my own lane. No more getting caught in the crossfire of my wi