“She tried to warn me...” Luana’s voice came out low, but Celia and Mary Ellen could hear her.Celia smiled mockingly. “How was that? Can you speak up, please?”“Celia, don’t push it,” Mary Ellen requested, but her face also conveyed mockery.“Let me guess,” Celia continued, striking a meditative pose. “Briana tried to tell you the news last night, but you were so absorbed in your complaints that she even lost the desire to tell you, was that it?”Luana clenched her fists in indignation. Celia seemed to read her mind.“You were nearby... it should have been me...” She growled.“It just so happens that we were at Sweet Aroma when it happened. Briana needed a breather; from people who bring new content to her life,” Celia replied sarcastically.Luana raised her index finger. “Hey, don’t try to teach me how to be a friend to Brie! Anyone hearing you like this would think you want to replace me.”“It won’t be my choice.” Celia sighed in a feigned manner and turned to Mary Ellen. “Come on,

“I really needed a friend last night,” Luana replied, scratching the back of her neck. “I didn’t want to be disrespectful, thinking Briana exists only to serve me as a slave.” “You upset her quite a bit. Today, she went to the hospital to see the obstetrician with her mother.” Karl shook his head. “When she gets back, we’ll catch up.” Luana pursed her lips. “I wonder if Katrina took the news well.” “Probably, she must have brayed. But let’s not think about her,” Karl decided to soften the tone of the conversation. “Celia won’t be working with me at the ‘Times of Glory’ studios anymore. Satisfied?” Luana smiled broadly. “I am very satisfied!” “So, can we forget about this subject once and for all?” Karl’s voice carried a sense of urgency and desperation. “You can forget and rest assured. But I can’t, dear,” Luana said with pity. “I NEED to worry about both of us.” “That’s going to give you a mental breakdown, sweetheart! It’s too much, too much stress for your head!” Karl indign

Mark and Mary Ellen were surprised by Celia’s clever response, as she took advantage of it to leave and keep them intrigued.“What did she mean by that, ‘if Karl allows it’?” Mark broke the silence. “Is there any evidence that Karl wants to have relations with Celia?” The question was asked almost in an accusatory tone as if Mary Ellen had something to do with it.“N-no, Mark, I don’t know anything about that!”“I guess she wouldn’t tell you if she was plotting something, right?” Mark asked, shaking his head.“Mark, the only thing Celia and I have been talking about is Luana’s persecution of her,” Mary Ellen replied with more confidence. “In fact, today I witnessed the unfair treatment she suffered. Just to announce that she would be transferred here, Luana managed to turn this simple announcement into a long debate that lasted almost an hour!”Mark sighed. Briana must have been at the doctor’s office when that happened.Otherwise, she would have interrupted such a lengthy talk.“I’m

Claudia felt cornered. How could she say something she wasn’t even aware of?“Daughter, first we say ‘Hello, how are you?’. Second, what’s this about you possibly being pregnant?”“Show her the papers, daughter!” Gilson pointed to the desk.Claudia looked, but Katrina kept her hand on the drawer, unwilling to open it.“What happened here? Daughter, you disappeared when Briana said she was pregnant. Did you go to your room to get ready for an appointment with your gynecologist?”“NO!” Katrina shrieked with all her might.“Then...?” Claudia was still waiting for an explanation.“OK! I confess... Briana and Aunt Nadir saw me walking in the hospital corridor and assumed I was entering the obstetrics ward. BUT I WASN’T!”Gilson glanced at Claudia, obviously not believing the story. But, he felt he wouldn’t get anything from his stubborn daughter for now.“OK, I’ll believe that for now. If Briana and Nadir saw you, then I can confirm with them. Excuse me.” Sandro started to leave.“Wait a m

At Vasconcelos Company, Katrina found herself at a crossroads. The suspicion that she might be pregnant hung in the air...Claudia snapped her fingers in Katrina’s face, calling her back to reality. “Daughter, WAKE UP!”Katrina blinked excessively. “Huh? What is it, Mom? I told you what I had to say.”“You went to the gastroenterology department and Briana thought you were going into the obstetrics ward? How could that be possible?” Claudia crossed her arms.“I told you, we bumped into each other in the hallway. I even dropped my bag.” Katrina gave an awkward smile.“But then, that was very mean of them!” Claudia was convinced. “After all, if you were pregnant, the father—”“No, Mom. The father couldn’t be Lawrence Sodré.” Katrina waved her hands frantically. “Remember I had countless nights of passionate intimacy with Patricio Nogueira.”Claudia smiled in relief, already accepting her daughter as pregnant. “Oh, yes! What a relief! Patricio Nogueira will know how to behave as a father