Mark sat behind his desk in the morning light, sanded oak warming beneath his forearms, as Sandro paced nervously before him. Regis stood quietly by the door, a respectful witness to this unusual family conference.“Sandro, I’m not sure I fully understand what Althea wants,” Mark admitted, fingers steepled beneath his chin.Sandro’s eagerness was palpable. “Indirectly, she wants us leading the family.”“That’s... interesting,” Mark said, leaning forward. “But Briana is part of my family now.”“Mark,” Sandro replied, his voice earnest, “after you told the truth — something I shared with my wife last night — it’s time we consider you part of ours.”A faint smile curved Mark’s lips. “Now you’ve got my attention.”Sandro snapped his fingers. “Excellent. You two can continue living here — this house is magnificent — but I mean genuine familial unity.”Mark nodded thoughtfully. “That could solve the fight over You Can’t Buy Happiness. If our families were truly united, there’d be no need to

Ryan was sitting up in his hospital bed, looking much better — his cheeks held some color again, and the monitor beside him showed stable vitals. Mark stood at the bedside, holding a tablet that streamed the latest news. Ryan watched intently as the anchor’s voice filled the quiet room.“To make matters worse,” the anchor reported, “businesswoman Katrina Vasconcelos, of Vasconcelos Company, was found naked in the inmate’s bed. Vasconcelos, a company in the entertainment industry, had just secured a partnership with Sodré Bank to launch the third season of the series You Can’t Buy Happiness. The future of the show is now uncertain as angry fans gather in protest at the company’s front entrance.”The tablet screen showed footage of the crowd outside Vasconcelos Company — furious fans shouting, booing, and throwing rotten eggs at the building’s façade. Cell phones were raised in the air, recording every moment of the chaos.“Damn,” Ryan muttered, wide-eyed. “They’re pissed.”Mark nodded,

Mark sat at his desk, appearing to be hard at work — but the reality was far from it. His eyes remained glued to his computer screen, his fingers pressing the F5 key again and again, refreshing the news feed.Headlines about the scandal now dubbed the “Grand Exposé” flooded in, each more explosive than the last. One photo stood out in particular: Sandro being ushered into Vasconcelos headquarters, surrounded by jeers and shouted insults.Reading aloud to himself, Mark murmured, “Vasconcelos promises to release a statement to the press at noon.”The door opened and Karl stepped in. “Who’s releasing a statement?” he asked as he headed toward his own desk.Mark didn’t take his eyes off the screen. “Vasconcelos.”Karl sat down and powered on his computer. “It’s really a shame. Brie’s been emotional about what’s happening to her family’s company.”“I don’t blame her,” Mark replied, his tone sharp. “Her vile cousin destroyed everything.”Karl gave a half-nod of agreement, his eyes scanning