When the door clicked shut, Mark turned to Briana with a mischievous smile.“I think they want to be alone.”“Looks like it,” she said warmly. “So now it’s just the two of us.”She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he gazed at her with that gallant charm she adored.“If you weren’t already pregnant,” he murmured, “this would be the perfect moment to conceive our heir.”She giggled sweetly. “He-he… Not for a few years now.”“That won’t stop me from keeping our fire alive,” he teased, leaning close, “especially when we can still do—”He whispered a certain bed position into her ear. Briana’s entire face erupted in crimson.Though only she had heard it, she reacted as if he’d announced it live on an international podcast!“MARK FERRO, YOU DOG!”She began swatting his broad shoulders, pretending to be furious, but laughter bubbled out of her uncontrollably. Mark laughed even harder, letting her “attack” him until he caught both her hands gently in his.“Hey, it’s not like we’ve never

Not even ten seconds passed before his phone vibrated wildly in his hand. Gilson let out a low, wicked chuckle.His ringtone — an utterly obscene reggaeton song Celia had set for herself — blasted loudly, the lyrics practically shouting: “I’m gonna spread you open tonight.”Several refined gentlemen turned and glared at him, scandalized.Realizing how wildly inappropriate the song was for such an upscale place, Gilson blanched, slapped the phone silent, stuffed it into his pocket, and strutted back to the table as if nothing had happened.Across the table, Claudia was also on her phone, though for a very different reason.She was talking to Rodolfo, who was in his bedroom, still laid on the bed, still naked and still handcuffed where Claudia had left him. Outrage colored his voice.“What? You’re going to have a good time with your husband and leave me handcuffed here forever?!”“Don’t be vulgar!” Claudia hissed, mortified. “Tomorrow morning I’ll stop by and unlock you. Of course, you’

“I expect you to keep your girlfriends under control, Julian,” Mark said, his voice sounding with faint disapproval.“Yes, Lord Ferro,” Julian replied, slightly flustered. He gave a quick bow and hurried toward the kitchen.Once he closed the dining room door, Julian pulled out his ringing phone and rolled his eyes at the screen.“Mrs. Vasconcelos...!” he answered, his tone flat.Meanwhile, at the Vasconcelos Mansion...In Sandro’s master bathroom, Nadir, still in her nightgown, was sitting on the toilet but not actually using it. The door was, predictably, locked.“Julian, we need a clear definition regarding our relationship,” Nadir stated into the phone.“What relationship?” Julian asked with undisguised contempt.“Precisely, that is the problem,” she said, choosing to ignore his tone. “We are wasting time with anguish and stalling.”“But it is you who is harboring vain feelings for me!” Julian countered, horrified.“My feelings are pure and noble,” she declared.“Go seek help, you

In Mark’s office at Glamour, Mark gestured for Elara to take a seat. She complied, her eyes subtly tracing the muscular back and firm physique of Manager Ferro as he walked around the expansive desk to sit opposite her.‘How I envy Mrs. Ferro,’ Elara thought to herself.“Miss D'Arveil,” Mark began formally, “I want to sincerely thank you for taking an interest in the affairs of Braspolis.”“You’re welcome, Manager Ferro.”“I wanted to know if you had given proper thought to the proposal we made about you becoming a candidate for the status of Mrs. Vasconcelos.”Elara smiled suggestively. “Manager Ferro, may I be frank with you?”“Always.”“I’ve been doing some research. As you know, I’m not exactly from around here. I spent a good part of my life in Europe.”“And what did your research reveal?” Mark asked, kind of feeling what she will answer, and not liking it.“Christopher Vasconcelos, as I’ve already established, is a first-rate hunk,” she said, her voice switching to a seductive w

“Luana,” Briana said, recovering from the initial shock, “you’re suggesting my mother is having an affair with my servant!”“Not exactly,” Luana clarified. “I’m saying your mother is tempting Julian like Potiphar’s wife. Julian is a sweetheart; he would never say anything to you. But I started paying attention. At lunchtime, when you began to pray, Julian was nearby. When we said ‘Amen’ and opened our eyes, Julian had retreated back to the kitchen. And that’s when your mother...”“Swore in dissatisfaction,” Briana finished, the realization hitting her. “Right after praying to God...”Briana was momentarily paralyzed, her jaw slack. Then, she picked up her fork and resumed eating the crepe.Luana leaned back in her chair, saying nothing more. She had done enough.******In the Ferro House kitchen, Julian walked in, holding a tray of chicken salad sandwiches meant for Briana and Luana.The reason he had returned with the tray was clear in his heavy breathing, his wide, panicked eyes, an