Vernon befriends Nevin

Unexpectedly, Vernon, the adventurous young photographer from Philadelphia, befriended Nevin, Brielle's father. Vernon often passed by their house in an upscale Goldenville neighborhood, and Nevin would often stand outside, prompting Vernon to strike up a conversation. Brielle was never mentioned.

Brielle usually stayed indoors, rarely leaving her room. Both Nevin and his wife, Valerie, wanted Brielle to marry a wealthy man—which was not the case for Vernon.

Despite these difficulties and challenges, Vernon seemed unwilling to give up. One afternoon, Nevin asked:

- Where are you from, young man?

- I'm from Philadelphia.

- And do you have relatives here?

- No. My cousin Paloma Kassandra lives there, as does my aunt Eliete.

- And why did you come all the way here?

- That's a long story, Mr. Nevin. I can tell you another time. But I assure you I am a hardworking and courageous young man; I am the grandson of the great Ellyson, who fought in World War II in northern Italy!

- Very good! You are a good young man.

Vernon received this compliment, thinking:

"Too bad he wouldn't want me as a son-in-law yet..."

Wellia tries to humiliate Malu and her friends

One Sunday, at the bus station in Lagoa da Italianinha, Wéllia saw her twin sister Malu talking to Valdenes, the vintage Fabíola, and Marcella, who sells food on the city streets. Wéllia looked at them with disdain, and Malu said:

- What's wrong with you?

- Look at the kinds of friends you hang out with. A barefoot fool, a crazy woman who wants to be old, and a poor, dirty-footed woman who sells food around here...

- They're all honest and good people,- said Malu.

Marcella said:

- You think too much of yourself, don't you, Wéllia? I'm not slapping you out of respect for your sister Malu.

Fabíola retorted:

- Don't fight, please. You, Wéllia, and Malu seem more like the Americans and Soviets nowadays...

Malu said:

- What do you mean?

- Well, haven't you heard of the war that's happening now, the United States against the Soviet Union?" Valdenes said:

- Yes, that war existed, a long time ago, the Soviet Union ended in 1991.

- Stop being silly, Valdenes, we're still a long way from 1991.

Wéllia laughed and said:

- Look at that, Malu, that's the kind of people who are your friends...

Valdenes said:

- You can't say anything, I already know some things about you...

- What things?

- Oh, Horácio told me everything...

- What???? Horácio is here????

Valdenes said:

- Yes, and what he told me, wow, I was very shocked. You do things that make even the beggar Esvalda seem more hygienic than you.

Marcella said:

- Oh, what does she do that's so disgusting? Esvalda hasn't bathed in years.

Wéllia said:

- Whatever it is, it's all a lie. You idiots! I'm leaving, I'm not going to waste my time with this riffraff. Malu is a riffraff too, by the way.

Wéllia left, and Marcella said:

- What is it, Valdenes, that she does that's so unhygienic?

- Oh my, this is going to blow up soon, you'll see... I'd rather not tell you.

Malu was worried about the conversation, because she knew more or less what it was about. Fabíola just laughed. Wéllia locked herself in her office and said:

- What did that thug Horácio say to that bum with the dirty feet?

Vitório's pastime during recess

During recess at his school in Vitalba, Tuscany, Vittorio rarely plays or talks with his friends. He usually takes the opportunity to read. Vittorio often brings a book he's reading to school, mainly related to History, Geography, or some Fiction book.

Vittorio's behavior draws the attention of his classmates because we live in a technological age where cell phones are indispensable. At Vittorio's school, cell phone use is only allowed during recess, precisely the time Vittorio prefers to read a good book.

Jolanda, his friend, came over and said:

- Vittorio, you're not even playing with us.

- It's because I'm reading this book, you know?

- Well, can I read with you?

- Of course you can, Jolanda.

She sat down next to him and read the book with him.

The Barefoot Mayor

In Lagoa da Italianinha, there is a small segment of the population that, curiously, has adopted a lifestyle of not wearing shoes. Among them is the mayor herself, named Myllena. From a humble family in the rural area, Myllena claims that since she was born, she has never worn shoes. She went to school barefoot, becoming the target of jokes from her classmates, especially when she said that she would one day be mayor of the city.

Years later, Myllena opened a grocery store, entered politics, was elected councilwoman in 2004 and 2008, and vice-mayor on Sandra Valéria's ticket in 2012. She broke with Sandra Valéria and became her biggest adversary. She ran for mayor against her in 2016, but lost. In 2020, she was elected mayor, and in 2024, she was re-elected. Now, she wants to take a bigger step: to be a state representative.

Myllena has two children, Giovanna Victórya, who is the current vice-mayor, and Matheus. Only Matheus follows his mother's habit of going barefoot everywhere. Giovanna, to Myllena's dismay, prefers to wear shoes. Myllena often says:

"Giovanna is my pride, but her flaw is wearing shoes. She didn't get that from me..."

The American patriot

Born in Philadelphia in 1754, young Wrialle developed a love for his homeland, which he began dreaming of separating from England in his childhood. After the independence of the United States of America in 1776, he became involved in the American Revolution, which would only end in 1783.

The following year, he decided to go to Portuguese America. He settled in Vila Rica, Brazil, which was also beginning to experience some political unrest. Initially the target of Glebson's distrust, he became a great friend of his.

But during this period, Wrialle met a young peasant woman named Fabiana, with whom he fell in love. Fabiana could hardly believe that she had aroused the interest of a foreigner from the former English America. Wrialle also befriended the Frenchwoman Jacilene and others in the city, such as Milena, Brenda, and Neide.

He also became involved in the Bahian Conspiracy, as his wife Fabiana was from Bahia. After the conspiracy was defeated, they managed to flee to Goiás and later returned to Vila Rica.

In 1824, two years after Brazil's independence, Wrialle, already 70 years old, decided to return to the United States. Fabiana accompanied her husband there, and the two lived together in Philadelphia.

The eccentric Suely

Judge Suely is known for her ethical and honest stance, but also for her eccentric lifestyle. Not only does she, like her sister Myllena, go barefoot everywhere, but she has also adopted a bald look, by choice, since 2017. Since she was a girl, she wanted to lose her hair, but her family hated the idea. Only in 2017, at the age of 34, did she decide to shave her head completely, and she does it every two days, keeping her bald.

Some criticize Suely, others mock her, even insinuating "illness." But Suely doesn't succumb to prejudice. One day, a woman looked at her with pity, and Suely, who was having coffee at the snack bar, noticed. She said:

- Don't look at me with pity, my health is perfect, normal blood pressure, normal cholesterol, my heart is fine, and look, I have a stressful profession, which is being a judge, you know?

- Excuse me, I thought you were...

- Oh, yes, because I'm bald? I'm bald because I wanted to be, and I feel good this way.

- Right, madam, it's just that I keep thinking about what people say about you...

- If I worried about other people's opinions, I wouldn't be a judge.

- Yes, ma'am, I understand. Please forgive me.

- You're forgiven. If you want a coffee, have one, I'll pay.

- Thank you, I already had mine.

The woman left. Suely has two daughters, Sara and Diná, who also decided to be bald, and other women decided to follow her example: Maria Isabel, Mimi, Monalisa, Suzy, Janicleide, Anna Paula, among others. Even with some prejudiced looks, Suely was praised by many, who highlighted that "even with a shaved head and bare feet, she manages to exude elegance." Suely is still an evangelical Christian and plans to become a singer when she leaves her career as a judge.

Danúzia and her ostentation

The second daughter of state representative Moab, Danúzia is known for her elegance and her wickedness. She usually wears very chic black clothes, sunglasses, and black high heels – even when she takes a bath, as it is said that she is "chic even in the water." She lives in the mansion with her father in Lagoa da Italianinha and has more than a thousand clothes and shoes.

However, Danúzia doesn't like to work and lives flaunting her father's money. She spends the day at home by the pool or going out to other places. She harbors hatred for her older sister Josiane and tries at all costs to ruin her life. She was one of the main people responsible for separating Josiane from Valdenes some time ago.

Danúzia even tried to enter politics by running for mayor, but she is very hated and didn't make it to the end of the race, being forced to resign, especially because her father didn't support her, but rather the candidate Mimi, who came in second place. Moab believes that Danúzia, due to her behavior, hinders more than helps his political career. She is also disliked by her sisters, the wheelchair-bound Cíntia and Natália, who was disinherited by Moab for becoming an evangelical Christian, as well as her cousin Gilvânia.

But Danúzia is not alone in her schemes: among her allies are her aunt Ana Patrícia, the dangerous Dani Cruel, her cousin Monalisa, and the advertising executive Wéllia.