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

Briana shook her head in disdain, barely able to conceal her contempt as more nonsense poured from her aunt’s mouth. Claudia, on the other hand, wore a proud, self-satisfied smile, as if she'd just uncovered a state secret.“I shouldn’t even waste my time explaining,” Briana began, her voice calm yet firm. “But my parents deserve the truth. No, I didn’t call the police.”Claudia let out a snorting laugh. “Maybe not, but you didn’t call Katrina home either.”“She was in the middle of immoral relations with Mr. Sodré when I approached his suite,” Briana shot back, her voice sharp and unyielding.Claudia lost her composure, momentarily stunned into silence. Nadir stifled a laugh behind her left hand.“So that’s how she managed to sign the contract the first time?” Sandro muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.“Shut your mouth!” Claudia snapped. “I won’t allow anyone to talk about my daughter that way!”But Nadir remained unshaken. “Claudia,” she said calmly, “as the only member o

Mark walked through the corridor of the men’s detention block, his steps echoing faintly off the cold cement floor. Behind the barred cells, men awaited their fate — some silent, some pacing, others staring blankly into nothing. He scanned each face until he found the one he was looking for.There he was: Lawrence.The moment their eyes met, something dangerous sparked in the air — anger, contempt, a challenge unspoken.Lawrence sat leisurely on the edge of his cot, arms crossed, posture defiant, as if the metal bars between them were nothing more than a formality. His arrogance made Mark shake his head slowly.“You still think you can get away with this?” Mark said coolly. “There won’t be another explosion to save you this time.”Lawrence’s lips curled in contempt. “I have no idea what you're rambling about.”“Don’t bother playing dumb,” Mark replied. “I know everything. I’ve been helping Sergeant Ribeiro with the investigation from the very beginning.”At that, Lawrence stood sharpl