The tension at the Siren Restaurant continued unabated. Cindy watched Noemi with a mask of pure arrogance, though a flicker of relief crossed her face when she noticed the man with Middle Eastern features dining with her.“Good, she’s actually with someone,” Cindy remarked, her voice sharp. “Is that guy her brother, by any chance?”“I know she has brothers, but we haven't been introduced yet,” Jackson replied, taking a sip of his wine.“Jackson, I really hope this Noemi doesn't ruin everything by trying to seduce you,” Cindy said, her eyes narrowing.Jackson let out a quiet chuckle. “That’s never going to happen.”“It better not.” Cindy wiped her fingers on her napkin with finality. “I’m done. Can we get out of here?”Jackson signaled for the nearest waiter.Meanwhile, at the other table, Alex’s curiosity was turning into something more caustic.“Why did your father hire some Latino guy to be the 'naked' poster boy for your appliance store?” Alex asked, his voice lacking any sense of

The chaos at the Sterling Mansion dinner room showed no signs of slowing down. Sheila, reaching her breaking point with Karl’s constant denials, finally snapped.She grabbed her glass and splashed her mango juice directly into his face. The entire scene had devolved into a low-budget, American-style slapstick farce.“SHEILA!” Alice screamed, horrified. “Is this how you show my son you love him?”“The man I married didn’t act like his brother-in-law!” Sheila cried, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.Karl gasped, the juice dripping from his chin, visibly stung by the comparison to Vicente.“Mom,” Matthew whispered, his voice low and cautious, “I think you went a bit too far just now—”“I’m not exaggerating!” Sheila shouted. “I’m finally realizing that this is how things are going to be in this house from now on. My father comes here looking for solutions, and all you people can think is that he’s trying to seduce this old hag! A woman who has long since been drained of her beaut

Breakfast at the Sterling Mansion proceeded as though the last week’s dramatic dinner had never happened. However, the pretense was fragile; no one could forever ignore the empty chair where Karl had sat only a week ago.“Where is Karl?” Abner asked, his voice cutting through the clinking of silverware.“He must still be sleeping,” Alice replied, though her tone lacked conviction.“How long are you two going to avoid the obvious?” Sheila interjected sharply. “Karl is gone. He didn’t come up to the suite last night. I slept alone.”Alice ground her teeth. “That would have to be your fault, as usual.”Sheila opened her mouth to snap back, but she thought better of it. She decided the strawberry tart on her plate was far more delicious than any bitter words she could toss at her mother-in-law.“My father didn’t seem like himself this weekend,” Matthew observed quietly. “It was like he was meditating on what to do with his life.”“And is this what he decided?” Abner asked, his irritation

Inside the executive offices of the Sterling Empire Headquarters, the atmosphere was thick with a tension that had long since stopped being a joke. Matthew sat across from Evan, his face etched with a gravity that bordered on fear.His father’s disappearance had started as a dark irony, but now it felt like a looming catastrophe. Matthew leaned back in his chair, interlacing his fingers tightly.“Evan, are you really going to stand there and tell me you have no idea where your boss is?” Matthew demanded.“I truly don’t know, Young Matthew,” Evan replied, his voice stiff and professional, though he looked visibly strained.“It is of the utmost importance that we find him,” Matthew pressed. “Tonight is the first gala with the municipal candidates for this election. I need to find another woman to be the next Mrs. Sterling, and my father has to be at this party!”“I understand,” Evan said simply.“Then what are you waiting for? Tell me where he is!”Evan scratched the back of his neck ne

Patricia arrived home riding high on the success of the podcast. She sank into the foyer sofa, kicked off her high heels, and took a deep breath, a triumphant smile lighting up her face.“I hope everyone got the message loud and clear this time,” she murmured to herself.As she leaned over to gather her shoes, the front door creaked open. Jackson scurried in from the pool area, looking frantic and using nothing but his hands to shield his dignity.Patricia sat bolt upright, catching her older brother red-handed — or rather, bare-everything — and let out a genuine shriek of surprise.“Jeez! Jackson, what is this indecency?” she cried.“I can explain!” Jackson stammered, his face turning a deep shade of red.Patricia couldn’t help it; she started giggling as she made her way toward the stairs. “Actually, I think I’ll pass on the explanation.”“Dad took my towel!” Jackson hissed, trying to edge past her.Patricia bounded up the steps, laughing and shaking her head. Jackson, left with no