Chapter 203: Masks and Misunderstandings

The tension between Mariana and Tiago simmered beneath the surface, a thick fog threatening to erupt into a storm. Tiago's offhand comment about Mariana's concern for Drew being more than friendly had lodged itself in her throat, a bitter pill she couldn't quite swallow. The air crackled with unspoken accusations, leaving Mariana feeling increasingly isolated. Frustrated by her silence, Tiago pushed forward. "Mariana, we can't just sit back and hope for the best," he insisted, his voice laced with a frustration that mirrored her own. "If Drew's fall wasn't an accident, like the police think, then we need to get them involved. We can't just wait around for something worse to happen." Mariana's brows furrowed, her lips pursed in discontent. "And what good would that do?" she countered, her tone sharper than intended. "We have no evidence, Tiago. The police won't take us seriously without something concrete." Disheartened by Tiago's rejection of her concerns and his apparent misunderst