Laird held his face in his hands, his eyes full of fear and regret. He tried to steady himself, forcing out an offer."Henry, let's not call the cops. You want to be the leading man, right? I'll make sure you're in every future production. Just don't report this!"Henry Warren was not a man easily swayed. Looking at Yaslyn who looked humiliated and hurt, he pulled out his phone and dialed 911 without hesitation."Save your excuses for the police," Henry said.Laird was furious. "Listen, Henry, if you do this, forget about ever working in showbiz again."Henry tightened his grip on his phone. "I couldn't care less. I'll quit if I have to."Yaslyn frowned slightly. "Henry, what are you saying?"He turned to her and smiled, a flicker of sweetness lacing the tension in the air. "It's okay. If I lose the opportunity to act, I'll just go back and inherit the family business."His words were light, but Yaslyn saw it—the sliver of hidden pain in the depths of his eyes. Pissing off Lair
'Could it be that the call that was broadcast and then immediately disconnected alerted him? If that's really the case, it means Xoan is truly attentive and genuinely cares..."Yaslyn looked at Xoan's face and felt a surge of unexpected inspiration."Xoan," she said, her voice clear and bright, latching onto his gaze.Xoan looked at her silently, his emotions rising and falling like tumultuous waves. It had been a long time since she had initiated a conversation with him."Henry angered the director because of me. Things will be tough for him," Yaslyn said, her eyes focused and sharp."So, I want to ask you for a favor.""What favor?" Xoan asked.Yaslyn gave a sly smile. "Mr. Xoan Warren, with your immense wealth, over a million dollars shouldn't be a problem, right?"Xoan grasped her implication instantly. "Do you want me to pay off Henry's penalty for breaking his contract?""Seems like great minds think alike," Yaslyn responded.Xoan's expressive eyebrows hinted at his pro
"Why are you so insistent on bringing me back home?"Yaslyn could not quite grasp the gravity of what Xoan was offering—vice president of half of the Warren empire, no less.Why would he go to such lengths for her?Xoan's eyes met Yaslyn's, swirling with a kind softness. "I like you, Yaslyn. I don't want you to be far away from me," Xoan said, his gaze filled with tender emotion.He had also done a lot of thinking over the past few days. Although he could not change Yollanda's position to make room for Yaslyn, he could offer Yaslyn something better."Don't you care about my attitude toward you? Well, let me tell you—you are the future mistress of the Warren estate. I can give you all of the company, so can we stop being mad at each other?"Staring at his face, Yaslyn found herself momentarily speechless. His semi-confession had struck a resounding chord within her. She finally murmured, "I understand, Xoan."As they pulled up to her mansion, Xoan embraced her.Yaslyn did not pu
Yaslyn was in a dilemma. She looked at the people in front of her and found herself deeply troubled.Logically, she should have chosen Xoan, but seeing the expectant faces of all four people in front of her, she could not bring herself to say 'Xoan' out loud."So, Yaslyn, who's your pick?"Henry's gaze had a sheen of malice as it landed on Xoan. "Choose carefully," he warned, his words dripping with unspoken animosity.Yaslyn took a deep breath. "I won't choose, okay?"Xoan's expression darkened like someone had sucked the light out of him. "Why not?"For a moment, Yaslyn felt like she had stirred a dormant volcano named Xoan, sending a chill through her spine."Stop beating around the bush. Just make a choice," Sheldon sneered."Fine. I choose Xoan."Sheldon huffed. "Well, that's better."Suddenly, a light bulb went on in Yaslyn's head.Sheldon only wanted her to clarify her feelings in public. He never really liked her. It was all just a game to one-up Xoan. Despite his sn
"I almost forgot. My brother wants you to be the vice president of the company. You definitely won't have time to be my agent then," Henry said, his voice tinged with irony as he forced a smile."No worries. The president of Mango Tree will find me a new agent."Yaslyn felt a pang of guilt. Henry was right since she did intend to find him a new agent."Do you know Spencer Davis?" Yaslyn asked abruptly.Spencer had approached her a few days ago to recommend an artist to him. For a guy with untapped potential, working at Mango Tree without any clients to manage was like being on a leash.Henry squinted. "I know of him. Talented but unlucky, never quite managed to make it big. Wasn't he an agent for an actress before? You want him to be my agent?""Bingo!" Yaslyn snapped her fingers with a grin."I heard Spencer's very selective. He doesn't take just any client."Henry was partially right. Spencer favored artists with raw talent, regardless of their temperament.If one had the gi
Yaslyn was speechless, caught between the tug of Xoan's words and her own reservations."So, if we get engaged sooner, you can't ever escape me."Seizing the moment, Yaslyn slipped out of Xoan's embrace. "Do you remember what I told you, Xoan?"Xoan sensed her hesitation. "You said I have to win your heart before you'll be with me," he admitted."Exactly. A healthy relationship grows over time. That's when we truly learn if we're compatible, Xoan. Do you understand?"He nodded. "I get it. I won't push you."Yaslyn smiled. "Thank you, Xoan. My future boyfriend, I'm looking forward to us learning from each other."He pulled her back into his arms as she extended her hand for a friendly shake. "I'll wait for your consent."After he finished speaking, a kiss filled with confidence and certainty gently landed on Yaslyn's lips. That kiss remained hot and fervent even until Yaslyn returned to her bedroom.She lay in bed, finding it hard to sleep all night.The following morning, Yas
Steven looked at Yerick's twisted face and suddenly felt a chill in his heart."Do you know what you're saying, Yerick?""Oh, I know it very well. You're the one who killed my parents in that car accident years ago, leaving me an orphan. You took me in out of guilt, didn't you? I know everything," Yerick said.Steven stammered, "Yerick, you've got it all wrong. Your father was drunk driving that night, and an accident happened. I just happened to be passing by. I found you alone, covered in blood, and I couldn't bear to leave you. How could I be the murderer?"Yerick chuckled derisively as if he had foreseen Steven's defense. "If you're going to spin a tale, at least tell me one I haven't heard before. Did you really think I'd believe you?"Yerick had stumbled upon the shocking truth a month ago.He was not a Warren by blood, but he was the son of a truck driver. He drowned his sorrows at a bar when the president of the Linton Group sauntered in, offering him the bitter key to a
"Alright. Marcus, go back to school now. I'll take care of things at the hospital."Xoan suddenly realized Marcus had skipped class to come here, and his temper flared up immediately."No. I'm staying here to look after him. You should head back to the office since it's busy there," Marcus retorted, refusing to back down."Enough, you two. I'm currently unemployed, so let me handle him. Go on, both of you," Henry cut in, his words carrying the most weight.Xoan nodded in agreement.Xoan drove Marcus back to the campus. As they pulled up, Marcus spotted a familiar figure."Isn't that Zyra?"Yaslyn gasped, recognition washing over her face.There she was, hand entwined with that of a young man, making their way toward the school entrance.Marcus knew him. He was a notorious bully in the school—good-looking but troubled."Is Zyra dating now?" Yaslyn blurted before snapping her mouth shut. How could Zyra possibly move on so quickly when it was common knowledge that she had feelin
Whitey glanced back and forth between them, shaking her head. "You two are a mystery."Suddenly, Doniel stood and waved Whitey over. "Hey, Whitey. Come here for a second."Confused but compliant, Whitey walked over.In a swift move, Doniel took her hand. With a smug look at Matheo, he announced, "I'm taking Whitey off your hands for a bit."Matheo's expression turned steely. "What's your game?""Don't sweat it, she'll be back soon."With that, Doniel led Whitey out.They reached a more secluded spot before Doniel finally released her hand. "Whitey, you're not hurt, right?"Whitey shook her head, twirling in front of him to prove her point. "See? I'm totally fine."Doniel reached out and gently tapped her forehead. "Someone hit you, didn't they? Your face is still swollen, and here you are, telling me it's nothing."Whitey playfully stuck out her tongue. "I just didn't want you to worry. Besides, I'm not the one who got seriously hurt. It was Matheo.""I know. Matheo really d
"Don't make that call!" Whitey screamed in a panic.A harsh slap struck her face as the ringleader yelled, "Shut it, woman! Who said you could talk?"The man, not satisfied after hitting her, gave in to his fury and kicked her. However, before he knew it, Matheo, who was standing nearby, had silently moved behind him. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed as Matheo snapped the man's fingers with raw force.Matheo wrapped his arms around Whitey and quickly retreated."I can't take it! I'm done. I don't want anything else. Just do it!"The ringleader was seething with rage, the throbbing in his fingers ruining his will to fight Matheo.A few thugs had been itching for a reason to go after Matheo, and they wasted no time grabbing their weapons and launching an assault.Matheo fought back while dragging Whitey out of harm's way, but as the fight dragged on, he started losing ground.A vicious knife cut to Matheo's leg sent him tumbling down with a grunt."Matheo!"Whitey crouched beside
Whitey shook her head. She did not have a clue, and even if she could guess, she did not know what to do about it."I was actually about to..."Before Matheo could finish, a deafening crash rang out.Startled, Whitey clapped her hands over her ears. Matheo wrapped her in his arms and glanced at the rear window.A random stone had shattered the car's back glass, leaving a gaping hole.The chaos erupted out of nowhere, catching both of them off guard. They had been deep in conversation when suddenly, a line of cars barricaded the road, trapping them.Matheo gently patted her head, a silent plea for calm.Whitey, frantic, nodded and fumbled for her phone, only to find it had mysteriously powered down."Stay put in the car and don't worry," Matheo said, handing her his phone."If things go south, call the cops, call anyone."He was ready to step out and face the unknown threat head-on.Whitey protested. "Matheo, we don't know what we're dealing with. Don't just rush out there."
Whitey was back to her usual routine—classes by day, radio station by night. However, she had a luxury she did not have previously. A private car service, ensuring her safety was never in question.Doniel's lips were sealed, not breathing a word of her injury to anyone. Except for Matheo, who had somehow stumbled upon the secret.That night, after her radio gig, Whitey stepped out expecting to see the familiar pink sports car tucked away in its usual spot. However, it was nowhere in sight.Moreover, he had not even bothered to call her. A knot of worry formed in her stomach. Did something happen to him?Whitey had called his number three, maybe four times, but got nothing.As she was wrestling with her thoughts, a familiar yet unsettling figure approached her.Matheo.Why was he there?Nobody knew about Whitey's job at the radio station except Doniel."Doniel's tied up today, so I'm your ride," Matheo said.Alarm bells rang in Whitey's head. How did Matheo know about Doniel
The nurse nodded, gesturing for Doniel to give them some space.Once the bandaging was complete, Doniel returned with a treat—Whitey's beloved chocolate cupcakes."For you. Why didn't you say it hurt? He was so rough, and yet you asked me not to hold it against him."Whitey, her mouth full of frosting, mumbled a reply. "It's not that bad. Besides, you two are usually on good terms. Why fight over pointless things because of me?"Doniel tapped her head gently. "You're such a goof. What are you even talking about? Meaningless things?""I just thought that you two grew up together, so it'd be a shame to fall out over something so small, right?"Doniel huffed, "I never really cared for him, you know.""Okay, let's figure out a plan B. This mess means I might be stuck in the hospital longer, so I'm counting on you to smooth things over back home."Doniel looked at her with a teasing grin. "Relax, I've got this."Somehow, Whitey could always pick up a strange vibe from his smile, an
Whitey was injured, and Doniel rushed her to the hospital that very night. It was just a slash on her arm, but Doniel was beside himself with worry.Watching Whitey grit her teeth through the stitching, Doniel's face turned a shade of stormy gray. "I'll track down that driver's family if it's the last thing I do!"Whitey winced in pain, but seeing Doniel's fury, she tried to soothe him. "Really, it's not so bad."Doniel looked at her bandaged arm. "Thirteen stitches, Whitey. If you're not in pain, I'm in pain for both of us."Whitey was always the center of attention—a princess who was doted on from the day she was born. She had never experienced an injury as severe as that. As Doniel reached for his phone to call Whitey's parents, she quickly stopped him with a hand gesture, wincing as she accidentally grazed her wound, "Please don't call them. They'll just scold me again if they find out.""I told you to let me drive you home. Now, look at what happened because you didn't li
Whitey gripped the edge of her skirt, a new kind of worry blooming in her chest.'What if Matheo was…'She shuddered at the thought, her mind a garden where fears grew into giant oaks, so tall and dark that they scared her.Looking up again, Whitey's eyes widened as she noticed the taxi had taken a wrong turn, heading into unfamiliar territory.In the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the driver's unsettling smirk.Taking a cab late at night was proving to be a bad idea, her heart racing with fear. If only she had accepted a ride from Doniel, none of that would happen. Regret washed over her as she scrambled for her phone, desperate to call for help.Sensing her panic, the driver floored it to a secluded spot and then abruptly stopped the car.Whitey's head snapped forward, hitting the seat, and as the world spun, her phone slipped from her grasp. Then, the driver was toying with her phone, his grin wide and wicked."Planning to call the cops or a friend, sweetheart?""
As time swiftly marched on, three years went by.Whitey nailed her entrance exam into the top university in Jefferson City—Jefferson City University.As for the others, Caleb turned 30, tied the knot, had kids, and took control of Sheldon's international ventures. He and his family packed up and moved overseas, while the rest stayed back."Thanks for tuning into 'Moonlit Wishes,' your go-to spot for all things heartfelt. I'm your host, Macie."At the stroke of ten, Macie's soothing voice filled the evening airwaves."Let's hear from our first caller tonight. Hey there, sir, what's on your mind?"Macie's voice was soothing, soft yet strong enough to coax secrets from the most guarded of hearts."Here's the thing, Macie. I've been head over heels for this girl, but she's always kept me at arm's length, saying I haven't done enough. However, today, I caught her in another guy's arms. What gives?"The man's voice quivered with barely concealed tears, slurred slightly by alcohol.M
"So, just because you're into him, you decide to set me up? How does that make any sense?"Whitey could not help but find her logic almost laughable."Because I noticed he always had a soft spot for you, jealousy clouded my judgment, and that's why I..."Jade inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself for what was to come. "Well, you've uncovered the truth, so there's no point in hiding anything. Punish me however you see fit."What was the point in pleading guilty then?Jade stood there, a mix of defiance and dignity, stubborn even in the face of her mistake.Whitey was not looking to lay blame. "I'm not going to take this to the principal, and I won't breathe a word of it to anyone else. However, as of today, our friendship is done. I'll find a new place to sit when we get back."Whitey let out a tired sigh. "There's something else you should know. He's got a girlfriend now."Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, are you two an item now?""No, I'm not the one he's dating."Wi