S24·E97 Episode 4331

Episode recap

Task: Write a 280-380 word episode recap for Rote Rosen S24E97 (Episode 4331).
Constraints:
Use ONLY verifiable facts from the provided SYNOPSIS and SOURCES.
No invented titles, names, dates, counts, awards, ratings, box-office, or viewership numbers.
No guessing or inventing plot points.
Original, neutral, encyclopedic prose.
Plain text only (no markdown, no asterisks, no headings, no bullet points).
Word count: 280-380 words.
Valerie: Cannot accept Hans-Harald stopped sending money. Julius suspects she lacks love/affection; she rejects this. Simon's presence pulls at her. She goes on a wolf hunt with Simon. Playful teasing turns into attraction. She wakes up to find Simon asleep beside her and a wolf howling outside. She makes a fateful decision.
Michael: Shocked because Ellie forged application documents. Carla supports Ellie. Michael gives Ellie an ultimatum: resign or confess to Julius.
Victoria: Nervous about Gerd's date invitation. Lou encourages her. Victoria finds courage, believing love knows no age. She considers giving Gerd a chance.
Jess: Struggles with self-doubt before an author reading. Inspired by other authors, she finds courage to read aloud. The audience reaction is left uncertain.
[1] Rote Rosen is a German telenovela produced by Studio Hamburg Serienwerft Lüneburg, broadcast by Das Erste since November 6, 2006.
[2] Production began August 21, 2006.
[3] and [4] are irrelevant to this specific episode's plot.
Attempt 1 (Mental Outline):
Valerie is struggling because Hans-Harald has stopped sending her money. Julius thinks she needs more love and affection, but Valerie denies this. However, she feels a pull toward Simon. She goes on a wolf hunt with him, where they experience attraction through teasing. In the morning, she wakes up to find Simon sleeping next to her and a wolf howling. She makes a decision.
Meanwhile, Michael is shocked that Ellie forged her application documents. Carla supports Ellie. Michael tells Ellie she must either resign or tell Julius.
Victoria is nervous about a date with Gerd. Lou encourages her. Victoria feels that love has no age and wonders if she will give Gerd a chance.
Jess is doubting herself before an author reading. She sees other authors and gets the courage to read her own work. The reaction of the audience is unknown.
Refining and Expanding to meet word count (280-380):
The German telenovela Rote Rosen, which has been broadcast by Das Erste since November 6, 2006, features several