Patricia arrived at the Borges House and exhaled deeply, trying to let go of the tension that still coiled inside her after facing Elaine.As she shut the door behind her, Vanda appeared on the staircase, her silk robe flowing softly with each step.“Patty, what happened?” Vanda asked, instantly reading her daughter’s tight expression. “How was it at the Sterling Mansion?”“It could have been perfect, Mother,” Patricia sighed.Vanda’s concern deepened. She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Oh, no... She was there, wasn’t she?”Patricia’s jaw tightened. “Yes. She was there. And she refused to give in — not until Matt showed up.”Vanda wrapped her daughter in her arms, the scent of her perfume enveloping Patricia like a balm. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. You’re in for a fierce battle.”“I don’t have to be afraid,” Patricia said, her voice trembling but resolute. “Not with Matt by my side.”“The bitch won’t make it easy, though,” Vanda muttered, pulling away. “I bet she whinnied loud en

Edmund had been putting off the conversation with his son for far too long, but there was no avoiding it now. The air in the bedroom was thick with tension. Bryce stood before him, his breathing ragged and shallow, eyes blazing with disbelief and rage.“Calm down, son,” Edmund urged quietly.“Calm down?” Bryce shouted, his voice cracking. “How dare you?”“If the situation were reversed,” Edmund said, keeping his tone steady, “you wouldn’t be reacting like this if it were just another woman, regardless of her age. What upsets you is that the woman in question is Tiffany.”Bryce’s jaw clenched. “That has nothing to do with it!”“It has everything to do with it,” Edmund countered. “You’ve had feelings for Tiffany for some time.”Bryce said nothing. His silence was confirmation enough. His eyes darted away, shame flickering across his face.“I’ll be honest,” Edmund continued, “I never imagined you saw her that way. You used to bring so many girls home, I thought you weren’t the relationsh

The Happy Snack Bar was busier than usual that night. The air was thick with the sizzling of burgers and fries, the chatter of patrons, and the hurried shuffle of waiters struggling to keep up with orders.Gustavo moved behind the counter with the precision of habit, his sharp eyes watching over the rhythm of his small empire.The presence of Jackson Borges among the customers had everyone slightly on edge.The man was a model, a local celebrity of sorts, and though he behaved with calm politeness, accepting his fries, cheeseburger, and Coke Zero with an easy smile, his reputation brought a quiet tension to the room.“Enjoy your meal, Mr. Borges,” the waiter said with his usual charm.“Thank you,” Jackson replied, glancing around. “You’ve got quite the crowd tonight.”“By God’s grace,” the waiter said cheerfully before rushing off to another table.Jackson leaned back in his seat and pulled out his phone. Casually, he angled it as though to take a picture, but in truth his attention w

Nayla froze mid-bite, her teeth sinking halfway into the apple as she turned her head toward Kirk’s bedroom door.The sounds coming from behind it — rhythmic, breathless, and unmistakable — made her eyes widen.Slowly, she rose from the couch, following the trail of discarded clothes that led down the hallway like breadcrumbs.Kirk’s jeans, a shirt, a belt... the whole scene spelled out one thing.When she peeked into her own room and saw Elaine’s bed empty, Nayla rolled her eyes in disbelief.“I don’t believe this,” she muttered.The noises grew louder, the creaking bed frame nearly keeping rhythm with the pounding of her pulse.Marching toward Kirk’s door, Nayla knocked firmly, without an ounce of hesitation.“Hey, lovebirds! Sorry to interrupt, but maybe you two should talk before you, uh, finish?”For a moment, the noises changed. It sounded less like passion and more like someone struggling to untangle themselves.Nayla raised a brow, listening.‘They can’t even separate, that’s

Carvalho leaned back in his chair, intrigued. “Well, that’s interesting! How did your son get himself involved in all this?”“He’s doing a favor for Nathan Gouveia and Kirk Camargo’s sister,” Hélio replied, lowering his voice as if even the walls might be listening.“Ah, of course...” Carvalho murmured. “Nathan is now Gustavo Alvares’s half-brother. He must have found out.”“Do you plan to do anything about it, Sergeant?”“If you give me some time, I can get a warrant,” Carvalho said.“I hope so. And hey, keep my report anonymous, alright?”Carvalho chuckled softly. “You got it. Thanks for the tip.”Hélio ended the call with a satisfied smile, the kind of satisfaction that came from believing he’d just fulfilled his civic duty.From the kitchen, Vanda appeared, wiping her hands on a dish towel.“I put the lasagna in the microwave,” she said. “So?”“Everything is fine, dear,” Hélio answered, turning to her with a proud grin. “Carvalho’s going to protect Jackson and Cindy.”“Good. Go ta