Tiffany was caught off guard when she overheard Bryce on a phone call with his brother inside the Sterling Cultural Hall, sharing a less-than-flattering opinion about the situation.“Mauricio, I need to go,” she said quickly, ending the call. Then she turned to him, trying to maintain composure. “Young Mr. Hudson—”“Drop the formality,” Bryce cut in, serious and direct. “We’ve been out together, remember?”Tiffany looked nervous. “I know. I just don’t want to come off as... taking advantage.”Bryce stepped closer and gently took her by the arm, leading her aside to a quieter corner of the hall.“I know things feel tense right now,” he said in a calming voice. “My father might try to place the blame for the unknown workers on you.”“There were a lot of people around here yesterday,” she pointed out.“I know. But listen — I’m not going to blame you for anything.”Tiffany gave a small sigh of relief. “Great. Then convince your old man and Mr. Sterling of that too.”Bryce offered her a re

That morning at the Sterling Mansion, inside Abner’s study, Matthew watched as his parents — in every sense of the word — approached to defend him. Detective Carvalho, always with a half-smirk of intrigue, didn’t bother hiding his amusement.“The mother and her boyfriend have come to defend the boy,” Carvalho said, almost theatrically.“Absolutely!” Sheila shot back. “I won’t allow my son to be accused of something he didn’t do.”“I’m here to help, Mrs. Sterling,” Carvalho replied, hands calmly clasped behind his back. “I want to prove your son didn’t plan an attempted murder in front of countless witnesses.”Karl, calm but arrogant as ever, gave a slight nod. “I appreciate your honesty.”Matthew rolled his eyes — he couldn't believe Karl was playing along like that.“But what should I do,” Carvalho continued, “if I discover that your son did in fact attempt to murder Vicente Gouveia — who had just become a father for the second time?”“Cut the melodrama!” Karl snapped. “Nobody knew t

In the bright and elegantly decorated Silva Penthouse living room, Fernando arrived just in time to witness a surprising scene — Patricia rising from her own sofa to sit beside Liz.He stared, stunned. "Did the impossible finally happen?"Ronaldo beamed with excitement. "Yes, Dad! Liz and Patty made up!"Fernando walked around the back of the sofa, placing his hands gently on Liz’s shoulders and massaging them. Patricia instinctively tensed, relieved a second later when she realized Fernando wasn’t reaching for her.“Liz, my congratulations,” he said warmly.“You’re welcome, dear,” Liz replied with grace.Patricia leaned in supportively. “Now Liz just needs to rest well so she’s sharp when she returns.”Fernando exchanged a look with Ronaldo, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. “Hey, this isn’t what I think it is, is it?”Patricia gave him a teasing look. “And what exactly do you think it is, Nando?”“I’m thinking you two are joining forces against Elaine Sterling.”Ronaldo wagged his fi

That morning, at Blue Cove Beach, just as Fernando had predicted, the weather began to shift. The winds picked up, whipping across the shoreline and stirring the ocean into a more aggressive temperament. What had been a pleasant beach day quickly soured, much to the disappointment of sunbathers and swimmers alike.People who had been enjoying the calm waters started to retreat, alarmed by the strengthening current and the threat of a rip tide. Women gathering up their beach towels and tanning oil exchanged uneasy glances as the sun's rays dimmed. Parents called their children back from the water’s edge, urging them to pack up. Even the friendly volleyball match was abandoned as players pointed to the gathering clouds overhead.“It looks like it’s going to rain! You know what that means,” one tourist muttered.“Yeah. Lightning’s next,” another responded with a grim nod.Gustavo, unaware of who he was approaching, walked along the beach, casting a wary eye at the churning sea. A strange

Meanwhile, at Andrade Clinic, in Andreia’s room, the mood was much lighter — though not without tension. Jonah stood defensively between Bella and the new parents, trying to defuse the awkward confrontation. But Andreia and Vicente only responded with laughter, finding the situation absurd.Maurício, standing off to the side, finally stepped in, his voice calm but firm.“Guys, I’m not sure what’s going on here, but maybe let’s keep the volume down. The baby needs to rest.”“You’re right,” Vicente agreed, wiping away tears of laughter. “Our son’s trying to nap.”Jonah looked incredulous. “I still can’t believe how you talk about Bella. She came here as Nathan’s ex — she thought it was kind to visit his new brother.”Bella, clearly offended, folded her arms. “I really did think he’d be here. But I guess not. I should go.”“Congratulations, anyway,” Jonah added hastily as he followed her out.Vicente’s voice called after them with finality. “Bella, it’s best you stay away from my son. He