The following morning, Thursday, the sky over Golden Sun promised another bright, sun-drenched day. At the entrance of the Borges House, Jackson stepped out for his morning walk, dressed in a tank top and running shorts. Hélio was busy in the driveway, opting to wash his car with a simple hose and bucket rather than taking it to a professional car wash like the other posh heads of households in the neighborhood.“Bye, son! Be careful, you hear?” Hélio called out.“Don’t worry, Dad!” Jackson replied.But as Jackson stepped onto the sidewalk, a raspy, cracked voice cut through the air from the street. “Hey, Borges!”Jackson spun around, his heart hammering.A suspicious-looking SUV, clearly in need of a trip to the mechanic, sped down the street well above the speed limit.Hanging out the window was a man, a classic street thug with neck tattoos and piercings where they had no business being. He was brandishing a high-caliber weapon, the kind of military-grade hardware that had no place

Alex realized he had walked straight into a trap created by the circumstances, or by his own impulsiveness. If he hadn’t been such a jerk, especially yesterday...Now he was gesturing desperately, feeling the accusing stares of the entire Blumberg family.“Hey, cut it out! It wasn’t me, damn it!”“It was you, you bastard!” Noemi pointed her finger at him. “You’re the one who set up that shootout right in front of Jackson’s house! I told you it wasn’t him!”Benny stepped closer to Alex, brow furrowed. He had never liked this ex-boyfriend of his daughter’s, and now he was being proven right about all his suspicions.“You imbecile,” Benny said with contempt. “My daughter’s new boyfriend is MATTHEW STERLING!”Noemi turned to him, clearing her throat lightly. “Dad, we’re not officially dating yet. We’re just getting to know each other better.”“Matthew Sterling?” Alex crossed his arms, incredulous. “That’s not the guy I’ve seen you hanging around with.”Noemi rolled her eyes, patience comp

Ernesto and Linda head to work at the Silva Oil Company.As they walk through the hallways, employees offer words of support and encouragement, showing clear public backing. Linda is deeply touched by it all, thanking everyone warmly, while Ernesto nods or tips the brim of his hard hat in acknowledgment.“See, Dad? Everyone around here loves you,” Linda teased, nudging him to lighten the mood.“They love you. You’re the powerful celebrity now, thanks to Cindy Cardoso’s articles.” Ernesto smiled, proud of his little princess.When they reached the corridor leading to the executive offices, father and daughter said goodbye.“Dad, I’m going to stop by Ronaldo’s office to see him and his family. You coming with me?”“I’d better head straight to the port. You can handle yourself, right?” Ernesto winked.“Okay, I’m off then.” Linda leaned in, and Ernesto kissed her on the cheek.After that, she turned the corner and headed up the stairs.As she reached Ronaldo’s office door, she first heard

“From Gustavo Alvares, who is rightfully locked up.” Walter replied gravely, showing no fear.“Well, there you go, right?” Maurício snapped his fingers. “We’ve got someone who’s in prison and most likely started spilling some secrets that, in the opinion of the crooks, should’ve stayed buried. The police know more now and they’re making progress. Gus Alvares disappeared from sight thanks to Matthew Sterling. So what did the rival gangs decide to do? Take it out on the weakest links.”Walter was about to argue back, but something inside him made him actually consider it. After all, what Maurício was saying now wasn’t completely absurd.He had been so fixated on getting revenge on his own parents by turning them in to the police that he never stopped to think about other possible suspects.Linda was at the beach house along with Jackson. The shooting happened, but no one died. Linda hid at her parents’ place, so nothing happened to her. If another shooting took place in Green Coral, the

Charles’s eyes bulged so wide it looked like he’d stepped straight out of a 1950s cartoon.Emmanuelle stopped pretending to cry, revealing the still-dry handkerchief, such was the shock of her son’s words.Walter was the only one keeping his composure in that toxic office.“Son, why do you want us to accept that favela girl into our family?” Charles asked.“Don’t you want the cancellations to stop?” Walter gave a wicked smile. “Well, it looks like you still don’t know. The person who started the whole movement was Ronaldo Silva.”Charles and Emmanuelle exchanged glances, both itching to curse him out, but deep down they knew calling someone with mental issues “crazy” would be going too far, even for them.The truth was, Ronaldo was in perfect mental health, but whenever he did something people didn’t like, they called him “crazy.”“So, what do you say?” Walter pressed them, his mocking smile widening because he knew they’d cave.“Can we talk this over privately?” Charles asked, his pr