The person who arrived was a young man, roughly Brad's age. He was slender, tall, and had fair skin. His eyes exuded clarity and youthfulness. His light chestnut hair and the hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth made him approachable. Yaslyn immediately surmised his identity.If her guess was accurate, this had to be Yale Pearson, Brad's close friend and a prominent figure in the high-society circles of the capital. The Pearson family had significant political influence in the capital, yet Yale himself did not seem so stiff and formal. He exuded a youthful, lively aura instead.Seeing Brad tangled in the flower bed in an amusing state, Yale could not help but tease him, "Oh? So, Mr. Carden is fond of plants and flowers now?"Brad stood up, his behind tingling with discomfort. Suppressing his irritation, he said, "Yaslyn, why did you do that to me?"Frankly, Brad wanted to question why he kicked her. With Yale present, however, he was far too embarrassed to say it outright.Y
"Let you go? Yaslyn, you are my granddaughter, lost and alone out there! How could I bear to let you leave?"Whether York Carden could bear it or not remained to be seen. However, Yaslyn felt that the elderly man in front of her was a bit extreme and not a virtuous man."I don't need the Carden family's protection. I can take care of myself," Yaslyn retorted.A derisive snort emanated from York. "So you don't need the protection of the Carden family. Whose, then? The Warrens'? I've heard you're engaged to that Warren boy. Out of all the good men you could have chosen, you picked one from the Warrens? How could he possibly deserve you?"Yaslyn felt her annoyance solidify into a cold hard fact. York was an authoritarian who tried to constrain her under the guise of care. "Who I'm engaged to is my business. It's the twenty-first century. Are we still arranging marriages?"The boldness of her statements left everyone in the room shocked. Few ever dared to challenge York like this, exc
On Yaslyn's first day staying with the Cardens, York Carden had Brad take her to the local upscale mall to buy some clothes and jewelry.Although Brad was reluctant, York enticed him with the offer of an increased allowance. Brad finally, though begrudgingly, agreed.Smiling, York pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to Yaslyn. "Since you're both children of the Carden family, you should be treated the same. Here's some money. Once you've used it up, just ask me for more."The gold lettering on the jet-black card was something Yaslyn had seen before. Even people of status could not easily obtain one.York might be an unsavory character, but when it came to handing out money, he did not hold back. Though she wanted to refuse, thinking of York's antics made her reconsider. She decided to accept it as compensation for her emotional distress.Once at the mall, Yaslyn wandered around while Brad followed behind. His hands were in his pockets, and he sported a particularly sour ex
"Ms. Bennett seems to be living quite frugally," Yaslyn teased, causing Wynie's face to darken instantly. However, with Brad present, she did not dare make a scene. Afraid of what this high-profile young man might do next, she felt at a loss."Ms. Lyon, if there's nothing else, may I leave?" Wynie asked.Finding no more amusement in prolonging the situation, Yaslyn nodded, signaling that she could go.Brad sensed that Yaslyn was no longer irate and decided not to press her further. "Alright, you can leave now. Just remember to steer clear of my sister next time you see her."Teeth nearly ground to powder, Wynie maintained her smile, nodded, and turned to exit.Watching Wynie's receding figure, Yaslyn could not help but burst into laughter."You seem quite thrilled," Brad teased, seeing Yaslyn's jubilant expression. "That girl's wallet is empty now, you know. Isn't that a bit heartless?"Yaslyn looked at Brad from head to toe, unfazed. "I think you did your fair share by coming u
Tracy froze, unsure of how to respond to Yaslyn's blunt words."There's no need to involve me if you're interested in Brad. Go after him yourself. Otherwise, you should know that I can be much more ruthless than Brad," Yaslyn warned as she smiled in annoyance.Yaslyn then turned to Brad and said, "Shall we go? Isn't there a wine-tasting event we have to attend?"Following Yaslyn's lead, Brad nodded and walked away, leaving behind an angry looking Tracy.The wine-tasting event was held in the lush garden of a secluded mansion in the capital, and the guest list was limited to the city's elite.Brad was a well-known figure in the capital, praised for his contributions and well-liked by many. It was the first time anyone had seen him bring a woman to an event.Curiously enough, Yaslyn's delicate beauty bore a certain resemblance to Brad. Some attendees recognized her and whispered amongst themselves."I know her. She's the Carden family's granddaughter, but she lives in a small town
"Of course, I know her. She's the youngest renowned wine taster in history. I can't compare myself to her."The wine taster looked at Yaslyn, laughing so hard he almost had a bellyache. "You're claiming to be Miss Rarity? That's hilarious!"Yaslyn's smile remained unchanged."Why can't I be Rarity? Three years ago, Rarity became famous at an international wine-tasting event, earning the title 'King of Tongue'. Didn't you see the recording? I may look a bit different now, but you should recognize me."At that point, the people around them had begun searching for the old video footage. Each face was clearly visible in the video, including Rarity, who had been nominated for an award at the time."It really is Yaslyn!""A renowned international wine taster appearing at this event… What a pleasant surprise!""Who called her a hillbilly? She's clearly Rarity. Whoever spread that rumor should be punished!""The Carden family's granddaughter is Rarity. How magnificent!"The crowd erup
Seeing that Xoan remained silent, Yaslyn felt anxious."I'm really okay—""Yaslyn, what are you trying to explain? You don't need to explain anything!" Yale interjected, seeing Yaslyn's struggle.Yale's heart ached for her as he turned toward Xoan. "Did you, Mr. Xoan Warren, travel all this way just to interrogate your own girlfriend?"Xoan's eyes were already filled with a cold glint due to his concern for Yaslyn, but Yale's arrival intensified that chill. "I was speaking to my girlfriend. When was it your turn to butt in?"Setting down the medicine, Yale moved Yaslyn behind him protectively. "I don't wish to interrupt. However, anyone who sees their girlfriend in this situation should at least show some concern.""This has nothing to do with you. Stop meddling!" Xoan retorted, stepping forward with an intimidating aura.Yale raised his hands to block him and sarcastically exclaimed, "Do you even know what this is? Sulfuric acid! A splash on the arm, and you think it's a small
"One month?" Yaslyn looked puzzled.Mrs. Carden was still skeptical. "I knew it. You can't do it. One month is a long time. If there's no improvement by then, what makes you think you can cure him?""A month is too long. His wounds would've started healing. Two weeks is enough," Yaslyn calmly explained.Mrs. Carden was about to mock Yaslyn further but nearly dropped her jaw. "Two weeks? Are you joking? Are you planning to use this as an excuse to escape?""If I wanted to escape, I could've done so when he got injured," Yaslyn snapped, clearly disliking Mrs. Carden's attitude.Mr. York Carden, who stood on the sidelines, finally interjected."A young girl like you… What do you know about medicine? I know you're talented, but there's no need to take everything upon yourself. I've already contacted a renowned healer. Once everything is arranged, he'll come to treat Brad.""What renowned healer? Is he better than me?"Yaslyn was close to revealing her true abilities."Sherman Fost
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