Lawrence let a smirk creep onto his lips. “I figured you’d bring that up. Yes, your beautiful wife pushed for the airing of You Can’t Buy Happiness, and I was a devoted fan. But they ended Season Two on a cliffhanger and... nothing. I’m just curious.”Mark saw through the sarcasm. “So that’s why you jumped at the chance to inject money into a company that’s tanking.”Lawrence shrugged. “Don’t you want the show to continue? Or is it just that Katrina’s the one running it now?”“I just hope the series doesn’t flop like Hope Alive did.” His voice grew icy. “Don’t you see that everything Katrina touches turns to crap?”“Oh, come now, Mr. Ferro,” Lawrence replied, his tone mockingly scandalized. “What language. I’m sure Miss Vasconcelos will be extremely careful now that my money is involved. And like I said — I’m a fan.”“You are?” Mark asked, masking the irritation building behind his calm.“So much so,” Lawrence said smoothly, “that I made the show’s renewal part of the contract terms.”

Traffic crawled sluggishly through its congested streets in the city of Braspolis. A modest Citroën could be seen wedged among the metal parade of honking vehicles. Angry horns blared all around — drivers venting their impatience into the chaotic air.Inside the car, Mark remained unusually serene, the only one not leaning on his horn. He wore a faint smile as he leaned back in his seat, fingers relaxed on the steering wheel.“Honking like crazy won’t make traffic move any faster,” he muttered to himself, more amused than annoyed.His phone buzzed, its tone cutting through the city noise. He glanced at the caller ID and answered.“Hello, Vargas?”Meanwhile, at the entrance to Braspolis General Hospital, Dr. Vargas stood near the doors in his medical coat, still in disguise. His expression was unusually tense.“Lord Ferro, Mary Ellen has just been discharged. I assisted Miss Soares with the paperwork, as you instructed.”“Thank you, Vargas,” Mark said. “But it sounds like you’ve got mo

The air snapped with gunfire. Enraged by the fall of one of their own, the police retaliated without hesitation. Bullets tore through the air, and the escape turned into a massacre. One by one, the fleeing prisoners dropped, their bodies sprawled across the dust and dirt like discarded dolls.The lieutenant gave no signal to hold fire. On the contrary, he pointed toward the remaining escapees, his face rigid with fury. “Don’t let a single one of them get away!” he shouted. “They’re resisting arrest!”Some inmates, shackled and already recaptured, screamed as they watched their friends gunned down. They twisted and kicked in protest, but with their hands bound behind their backs, their resistance was useless.Officers struck them with fists and elbows, barking threats, trying to keep order in a scene that had long since left the realm of order behind.Not far from the chaos, hidden behind a thick patch of bushes, someone crouched low, trembling — not just from the sounds of gunfire but

That name struck Ribeiro like a slap. His eyes widened, scanning the swarming grounds as if Romulo might simply be standing nearby. He turned his head left and right, searching among the crowd.“Mr. Ferro,” he said cautiously, “at this moment, it’s impossible to verify. We have no power or internet. The reception area is utterly destroyed... and it seems we’ve had fatalities.”Mark’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. Rage boiled just beneath the surface.“Who could have died?” he demanded, voice low but volatile.“It was visitation day,” Ribeiro said heavily. “The reception area was filled with families. Some were in visitation when it happened.”The words sank in like lead. Mark’s hand slammed into his desk, sweeping documents and objects to the floor with a violent crash.Fury ignited in his chest — not only at the escapees, but at the sheer injustice of it all. Innocent people had died while the very criminals who belonged in cages had scattered like cock

The name hit Karl like a slap. He jerked back in his chair, momentarily forgetting about his now-ready computer.“Shit! Fernanda Gabas’ psycho boyfriend? The one who nearly ruined our college reunion party?”Mark nodded. “We were reading about it when you walked in. That’s why Gene was standing next to me.”Karl relaxed slightly. “Of course. Anything that concerns Briana is also Gene’s business. Actually... all of ours.”Mark agreed with a silent nod, then picked up his phone. As Karl turned his attention back to his monitor, Mark slipped out into the hallway.He dialed quickly. “Vargas.”“Yes, Lord Ferro?” came the voice on the other end.“Return to the hospital. Use your cover.”“Did something happen to Gilson Vasconcelos?”“No. Ryan Ribas was at the prison during the riot — probably visiting his brother. I saw a photo of him covered in blood being shoved into an ambulance.”“I understand, Lord Ferro.”Mark ended the call. No further explanation was necessary — Vargas knew what to d