On a rainy afternoon at the Silva Penthouse, Fernando returned to the living room holding an empty teacup. Sheila handed him back his cup, then poured herself a generous serving of hot chocolate, feeling increasingly cornered by Liz’s newfound determination.“Liz,” she asked carefully, “does that mean you’re not going to Lagoon City anymore?”Fernando furrowed his brow. “Why are you asking that, sis?”Sheila nodded subtly toward Liz. “Because it seems like she’s on a different path now.”Fernando sat down beside his wife.Liz, still smiling, answered gently, “Yes, Sheila. I’ve made a decision to change my life. First, I’m going to treat Matt’s banishment as a kind of vacation — take time to recover and visit my daughter.”Fernando reached for her hand. “And I’ll make sure my dear wife gets the rest she deserves.”Liz’s expression sharpened with a quiet resolve. “Then, when I return, if I find that Elaine hasn’t kept her word and has been making trouble for Patty and Ron again—”“Liz,

The storm had finally begun to wane.Inside the Beach House, Bella had found herself some of Andreia’s clothes that fit her surprisingly well, while Jonah had to make do with one of Vicente’s robes, which clung too tightly to his frame. Nathan placed three steaming mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table.“It’s the best I’ve got for now,” he said, settling into his spot.Bella reached for a mug, offering him a warm smile. “Nate, thank you. We came to visit you because of your baby brother.”“Congratulations,” Jonah added.Nathan sat down on the sofa, eyeing them both with mild suspicion. “My dad called. He was worried I’d be swallowed up by that foamy tide. He’s still at the hospital with my mom.”Bella nodded. “It’s better he stays there.”Nathan tilted his head. “He also said you two stopped by.”Jonah tried to sound casual. “Your little brother’s adorable. He was in the arms of that doctor who took him to the clinic.”“Dr. de Paula,” Nathan said.Bella jumped at the opportunity.

That afternoon, inside Linda’s bedroom at the Alvares family house, Paulina was involved in an awkward battle with a mountain of blankets. She pulled from one side, while Walter and Linda, unaware of her efforts, tugged from the other. Eventually, Paulina managed to peel back enough of the layers to reveal Walter’s head, shoulders, and chest.From Paulina’s perspective, Walter was a sight to behold — grinning like a mischievous boy, sweaty, flushed, undeniably sexy. Once again, Paulina had to resist the overwhelming temptation to dive into that cocoon and take her daughter’s place!“Mrs. Alvares, thank you so much for your help,” Walter said, still catching his breath.Paulina stammered, “N-no problem... You should go before Ernie comes back.”“And what about Linda?” he asked.“I’ll tell him she’s resting.”She cast a glance at the blanket pile concealing her daughter, clearly either passed out or fast asleep after the relentless pounding she’d endured since the previous night. Paulin

As the evening cast long shadows over the elegant interior of the Andrade Mansion, Walter stepped into the vestibule with a satisfied grin. Jacqueline, already waiting near the foyer, eyed him curiously.“Walt, why did you take so long? Did you spend the whole Sunday at the Lion’s Den?” she asked, tilting her head.Walter’s expression was one of mischief. “Let’s just say I spent the day with Linda, as I should.”Jacqueline’s face lit up with a touch of nostalgia. “Oh, I remember when I spent a day with Zach in the favela. We weren’t robbed and we had a blast! Even ate at a street food stand — it was fun.”Walter chuckled. “And your delicate stomach didn’t act up?”“Who said it did?” she replied, giving his chiseled abs a playful pat. “You and your fitness lifestyle should be more worried about fried snacks than I am.”Walter only smiled more, his mind elsewhere.I must’ve burned countless calories in that marathon... he thought to himself. Aloud, he added, “I didn’t even witness the s

That evening at the Beach House, Vicente emerged from the master bedroom carrying two suitcases, with Nathan close behind him.“Dad,” Nathan began, “the apartment that used to be Elaine’s still has furniture. It’s not the same quality as what you’re used to here, but... I think it’s enough for you and Mom to live in with Victor until you buy new stuff.”Vicente chuckled. “Yeah, I think we’ll survive with old furniture until then.”“At least the monetization from your channel—”Vicente’s expression darkened, cutting him off. “Son, the last thing on my mind right now is that damned career.”His eyes drifted toward the piano in the corner, a symbol that once meant everything to him, now just a reminder of what had gone wrong.Nathan sighed. “Dad, you’re aiming your anger at the wrong target.”Vicente’s voice grew quiet. “Your mother suspects Karl might’ve been behind the ‘accident.’”That made Nathan pause, rubbing his chin as he considered it. “I hadn’t thought of that.”“Sergeant Carva