The grand introductory dinner for Ismael Lancaster, the pre-candidate for State Representative, was held at the prestigious Rocha Events hall. Thierry, Rosemary, Nadia, and Rodrigo stood at the entrance, momentarily breathless at the sheer opulence of the display. While Josias’s ballroom was always glamorous, the organizers had gone above and beyond with the decorations for this occasion.Standard bulbs had been replaced with designer fixtures, and the central chandelier had been swapped for a massive, classic piece that bathed the room in a warm, golden glow. It created a refined, welcoming atmosphere, a far cry from the cold, artificial white light that often made high-end venues feel like hospitals.The linen tablecloths were immaculate, the catering staff moved with practiced grace in black vests and bow ties, and the wine flowed from the private cellars of Bezerra Farm. The appetizer table alone was vast enough to feed the entire Happiness Slum.In a corner of the hall, a massive

A few days passed. The next issue of Maggiezine covered the 2014 Carnival festivities while also marking the official kickoff of the state and federal elections. People began to argue, hold rallies, form alliances, or break off friendships over opposing candidates.For Daryl, it seemed to be the latter. He was deeply dissatisfied that he hadn’t been invited to Ismael Lancaster’s dinner. At the Mountain Penthouse, he was venting to Kelvin while sneakily snagging a piece of carrot cake with chocolate frosting, something Diane had specifically told him to save for dessert after the upcoming lunch.“Mmm...” he mumbled, talking with his mouth full. “Delicious.” He swallowed. “Want a piece?”Kelvin smoothed his hand over his dress shirt, emphasizing the definition of his toned abs. “I need to stay in shape so Karen doesn't trade me in for a newer model.”Daryl threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh. He, the eldest brother, was already fifty and couldn’t care less about being fit — t

At Café Montanha, Rodrigo couldn’t quite tell if he was dealing with a curious Daryl or a jealous one.“Cousin, what’s with the indignation?” Rodrigo asked, his gaze narrowing cautiously.“Well, I find it bizarre that someone with no political tradition wouldn’t invite the right people to their launch dinner,” Daryl replied, crossing his arms.“Invite... the right people?” Rodrigo did the opposite, raising an eyebrow. He looked like he was actually enjoying this.“Look, Rod, I don’t want to offend you.” Daryl realized he was sounding a bit pedantic and chose his words more carefully. “But as you know, I am the patriarch of the Mountain family. So far, no one from Lancaster’s camp has approached me. Not that I’m promising a vote, I’m still considering Tobias Ibrahim. But, I don’t know... the guys didn’t even try!”“I think they wanted to invite Thierry and Rosemary, and I just ended up going along by association,” Rodrigo offered as the most logical explanation.“You think so?” Daryl b

“You’re the actress who’s been making fun of Suzy Cogo, right?” the saleswoman asked, her voice sounding with a sickly-sweet curiosity that felt anything but kind.Andressa wasn’t born yesterday. She could smell the mockery a mile away.“I don’t ‘simply’ make fun of her,” Andressa explained with practiced patience. “I play a character loosely based on Suzy Cogo. A parody, at most. It’s hardly a secret.”“Oh, right,” the saleswoman continued, her tone teetering on the edge of a sneer. “Well, then. We’re quite busy with other clients, and we’d like to help you out by speeding things up and saving you some time.”“Saving my time?” Andressa narrowed her eyes.“Exactly. Why should you wander through the aisles when we can streamline the process for you?” The saleswoman flashed a smile that looked more like a baring of teeth, acting as if she were doing Andressa a massive favor.“As it turns out, I’d like to take my time looking at what I’m going to buy.” Andressa mirrored the false smile p

Sofia was stunned by the sudden urge she’d felt to tell Luís that he should be dating her, despite the fact that she was already married with two children.Luís noticed her awkward silence and offered a mocking grin. "Lost for words, huh? I think I see what you’re doing."“You do?” Sofia asked, her eyes widening even further.“You think I’m going to stay single for the rest of my life? Well, cousin, I’m sorry to break it to you, but that’s not happening. We need to carry on the Vasquez bloodline, and you’re my uncle and aunt’s only child.”“A.J. and Carla have ‘Vasquez’ in their names too...”“But people will remember them primarily as Rochas... and I suspect you prefer it that way.”Sofia flashed an arrogant smile. Of course, she wanted her children to be recognized as part of the most powerful family in Lagoon City!“So, cousin, if you want to be at peace with me, accept Andressa. The more you get annoyed, the more in love and happy we’ll be.” Luís winked tauntingly and turned to le