The next day, Cindy was celebrating with her parents, clinking coffee cups at the breakfast table.Zilda had prepared the most lavish breakfast imaginable: French bread, salami, mozzarella cheese, ham, orange juice, yogurt, cream cheese, cornbread, and the famous walnut cookies."A toast to the beginning of the most spectacular relationship that Blue Cove will witness!" Cindy exclaims, feeling victorious."CHEERS!" Zilda and Germano yelled triumphantly.After that, they began to attack the options. Cindy didn't know if she could eat everything."Mom, you went overboard here. There was no need for so much.""We needed to, yes. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as doctors and nutritionists always say." Zilda enjoys the cornbread, "Hmm... Try this, dear. It's a healthier option for you."Germano was cleverly choosing salami and ham. "Ah... OK... So, daughter, are you going to announce your dating in your column?""If Ricardo Montegrande doesn't bother me..." Cindy's smile
Patricia refuses to accept the Borges family's news.She stands up and prepares to leave. "I'm sorry, family, but I won't stay another second in this house discussing this nonsense. Jackson, you won't become that shameless girl's boyfriend!"Vanda scolds her, "DAUGHTER! We won't go anywhere like this!""Where do you want to go with this, Mother?" Patricia crosses her arms, "Do you want your writing career to be ruined because the public will associate you with someone who brings bad luck to those around her?"Hélio shakes his head. "I didn't know you were superstitious, daughter.""I'm just stating facts," Patricia retorts, "Look at how Ricardo and Matt's lives were a mess when they were around Cindy. As soon as they kicked her out, their lives improved 180 degrees! Ricardo has Marilza and regained respect in the journalistic world, while Matt has me and the respect of Blue Cove.""In fact, it was Cindy who kicked Ricardo out the second time." Jackson corrected his sister."So, that w
At Cindy's house, she was helping her mother prepare lunch."Now that I'm unemployed, I can help you with the housework," Cindy spoke with a bitter smile.Zilda, in turn, noticed that her daughter was feeling down. "Sweetheart, don't talk like that. In fact, I wish you had your own house, your job, and your man.""I only have the last thing." Cindy laughs, trying to cheer up."By the way, the last thing is what can help you have the first two." Zilda reminds her, "Jackson can help you financially, and when you get married, you'll have your own little house."This time, Cindy smiles wholeheartedly. "Hmm... I'll have my house, with my kids, and my hunk hubby...""He is the ideal husband for you, dear." Zilda nudges her daughter as Cindy stirs a stew of potatoes and beef, "Matt is a handsome man, but Jackson is too. You're not missing out on anything.""God willing it will be so." Cindy tastes the stew and approves the result, "It's going to be delicious, mother.""I can see how you've i
Jackson returns to the Borges house, pleased with lunch. He goes to the kitchen and finds his mother washing the dishes."Mom, haven't you learned how to put the dishes in the dishwasher yet?" Jackson promptly takes over his mother's task."Thank you, my son. You're always thoughtful.""Where's Dad?" Jackson looks around."He's at the golf course with Abner," Vanda sighs, "It seems we'll have bad news.""I thought you were upset because I'm getting serious with Patty." Jackson hugs his mother from behind."No, son, I'm not going to make a fuss about that." Vanda smiles slightly, "If it makes you happy, so be it.""Would you be willing to peacefully coexist with Cindy?" Jackson releases the hug and stands next to her.Vanda looks at her son. "We'd have to erase all of her past and start a new story, without considering what Patty and Matt think of her."Jackson smiles hopefully. "That is all I hope for, Mom. Thank you for giving me hope."Jackson kisses Vanda's cheek.Once the rest of
Some more days had passed.Patricia woke up in Matthew's suite, realizing he was already out of bed.She rested against the headboard of the bed and saw him from afar, on his computer.Patricia frowned. It had been days since Matthew had been like this, waking up before her or sleeping after her. The two didn't lay down or get up together.As if he was avoiding contact with her...Patricia reached out to the bedside table and grabbed her tablet, checking the news of the day.A smile appeared on her lips as she read the headline."Cindy Cardoso is no longer a journalist at LCN." Patricia read aloud, "Good news, right, honey?""Good morning, dear," Matthew replied still staring at the monitor, "Yes, it's a relief."Patricia raised her eyebrows, noticing the lack of enthusiasm. She couldn't take it anymore."What's going on, my love?" She got up and went to him."What's going on?" Matthew repeated the question as if he didn't understand what she meant."You know what I mean. We're becomi
Sheila entered Matthew's suite and found him sitting on the couch, working on his tablet with various documents next to him.His expression indicated that something didn't go as he expected."Good morning, son. Where is Patty? I didn't see her at the breakfast table." Sheila risked asking, fearing to distract her son.Matthew looked up at his mother, responding normally, "Mom, all good things must come to an end. Patty packed her bags and left.""WHAT?" Sheila reacted horrified, closing the door."That's right. Now I need to work. I have an online education app to manage and a commercial empire to inherit," Matthew replied coldly.Sheila, however, sat in his gaming chair. "Son, let's talk normally. I feel like you aren't okay."Matthew smiled wryly, "Why do mothers do this? They always want to pull out what's in our hearts.""And you're complaining about it?" Sheila asked feeling offended, "If I don't do this, I wouldn't be your mother. In fact, I feel like I have been neglecting you
Matthew entered Abner's office at Sterling University.Meirelles rushed to greet him. "Good morning, Young Matthew! Your grandfather is here today.""Yes, I know. I didn't find him at home." Matthew smiled slightly."You can go in, he'll see you. And how's the graduation speech coming along? I'm looking forward to your oratory, huh?" Meirelles patted Matthew's left shoulder before leaving.Matthew didn't respond, choosing to go straight to his grandfather's desk.Abner was working on the computer, checking some information about the university."Good morning, grandpa.""Good morning, my grandson. I'm checking the scores of those who took the entrance exam for the next period. We had some geniuses who got almost all the questions right and wrote great essays."Matthew noticed Abner staring at the monitor as if avoiding eye contact.He remembered Patricia complaining about the same thing: everyone avoiding the inevitable truth."You don't need to worry about me anymore, grandpa. I talke
"Sheila, screaming and making threats won't help our company situation," Abner comments patiently, "And don't come with that 'the company doesn't matter' talk. It's thanks to the Sterling Empire that you have a life of luxury, after marrying my son.""I don't want the company to go bankrupt," Sheila explains, "Having my son as the heir is a dream of mine. He deserves it and will lead the conglomerate to success, following in his father's footsteps. But... Did he have to sacrifice his love life for that?""No one predicted that a mess like the one that occurred at the charity auction would change everything," Abner simply answers."Is that all you have to tell me? How could you do this to your grandson, Abner?" Sheila is outraged."I didn't put that fake painting there for Patty to choose it!" Abner becomes impatient."No, but everyone is condemning Patty as if she did it on purpose to ruin our reputation!" Sheila asserts, "She didn't do it out of malice. She's inexperienced and learni