"Yaslyn, there's no shortage of wealthy men in the capital. Xoan is truly just an ordinary guy. How about I introduce you to someone even better someday?"Mr. York Carden did not want Yaslyn to marry someone he did not respect. In his opinion, only a man with influence in at least two out of the military, political, or business sectors was worthy of marrying a daughter of the Carden family.Disregarding Mr. York Carden's attitude, Yaslyn let out a chuckle. "My relationship with Xoan is none of your business, actually.""You really are just like your mother—both of you are so disobedient!"Mr. York Carden's temper flared as he looked at Yaslyn's rebellious demeanor, causing his blood pressure to spike.For a moment, Yaslyn seemed stunned, but then she could not help but reply, "Perhaps without you, my mother would've lived a happier life.""I'm telling you one last time, stay away from Xoan or face the consequences!"Mr. York Carden trembled with rage, failing to comprehend why t
"No, that can't be," Brad replied, setting his phone aside to offer his support."If you think something's off, you must have your reasons."The sudden change in Brad's tone puzzled Yaslyn. "Why the sudden shift? You're not one to have a friendly chat with me."Brad cleared his throat awkwardly, a thinly veiled attempt to hide his embarrassment."Well, I respect your abilities. It's not like I'm just flattering you. So, what are you planning to do? You can't let them keep painting you like this.""Don't worry, I'll handle it," Yaslyn assured him, not the least bit concerned.Brad's curiosity spiked. "What are you going to do?""Just watch."Yaslyn found an image in her computer files and simply posted it on the forum. Instantly, the picture shot up to the top of the trending posts, eliciting a series of astonished reactions."Yaslyn designed this outfit?!""Yaslyn is Jenny! Amazing!""Is Yaslyn some kind of prodigy? Who else could be this talented?""She's not just talented
Forrest stopped in front of Yaslyn and said solemnly, "So, you're Yaslyn. No, wait. Yeilyn, right?" "Right."Brad stood beside them, nodding cluelessly, unable to understand what they were discussing."You actually chased me all the way here? That's absurd!"Yaslyn suddenly burst into laughter. Truly, Forrest was an elusive fanatic of video games."Your skills are genuinely impressive. If you're willing, could you consider joining our club? We'll treat you well," Forrest said, his eyes shining with anticipation.Yaslyn pondered for a moment and concluded that her cousin seemed not only young in appearance but also rather naive in character.However, she shook her head and firmly declined. "I'm sorry, but this isn't a career I'm interested in. I just play for fun.""We have a match with another team in a few days. Would you consider participating?"Forrest was visibly stunned. He had not expected someone capable of defeating the top player to have so little interest in the gam
"I'll go with you."Xoan surprisingly did not object.Without even thinking, Yaslyn immediately refused. "No way! You're sick. You should go home and rest."Yaslyn was genuinely worried about Xoan. People with colds should not be wandering around. What if something happened?Xoan knew what concerned her and gave her a warm smile. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."He knew his own body and was confident he would be alright."Still..."Yaslyn looked at the flush on his face, her heart racing. She felt that it was not just a cold. It seemed more like a fever."Don't worry. If I don't feel well, I'll let you know," Xoan assured her and drove off.The black market was located in the outskirts, a place so secluded that ordinary people could not find it.Yaslyn was no ordinary hacker. She knew every underground market in every city like the back of her hand. Once inside, most faces were unfamiliar, which put her at ease.Yaslyn pulled Xoan along as she sought her desired item, finally st
Xoan gently touched his arm where he had been wounded, offering a casual smile. "I don't know.""Alright. Are we missing any other medicinal ingredients?"Eager to change the subject, Xoan steered the conversation elsewhere.Yaslyn touched her chin in thought. "We still need a coneflower, but those are only sold at auctions. We'll have to wait until tonight."Xoan looked around. "Are you hungry? Let's eat."The underground market resembled a mini-commercial street, offering all sorts of food, drink, and entertainment, albeit at exorbitant prices.Yaslyn glanced at the menu before her. A bowl of fried noodles was priced at fourteen dollars. She could not help but muse, "I could just be robbed outright, but instead, I'm left to agonize over which overpriced item to choose."She balked at spending fourteen dollars on fried noodles, even though she had just casually parted with a hundred and forty thousand dollars for medicinal ingredients.As she prepared to hand over the menu, Ya
"Goddaughter?"Yerick was stunned as he pointed at Yaslyn, asking incredulously, "She's your goddaughter?"Yaslyn and Xoan were equally surprised. Was that man not just the elderly vendor who was selling medicinal ingredients a moment ago?He was actually Zion—the kingpin behind the black market. What a shocking twist! Since when did Yaslyn become his goddaughter?"What, I can't have a goddaughter?" Zion retorted, his eyes ablaze, not yielding an inch in the confrontation.Yerick replied regretfully, "Of course you can."Knowing Zion’s high status and numerous underlings, Yerick realized that a direct conflict would be unwise. Anyone with a hint of sanity would know to cut their losses and retreat."So tell me, what debt does my goddaughter owe you? I noticed that you, Mr. Yerick Warren, seemed ready to forcefully take something from her. In the black market, transactions must proceed normally. Are you being unreasonable?"Knowing he had hit a dead-end, Yerick gritted his teeth
It was Yale.Observing the intimate position of the pair before him, Yale easily deduced their relationship.Yaslyn's eyes flickered with urgency as she sought help. "Yale, Xoan has fainted from a fever!""I've got it."Yale quickly understood and helped Yaslyn lift Xoan into the car."Thank you," Yaslyn said, her focus solely on Xoan and not sparing a glance for Yale.Yale could not quite describe how he felt watching Yaslyn thank him for another man's sake, but he did not want to miss any opportunity to be alone with her. "It's okay. Let me take you to the hospital.""There's no need for that."Yaslyn shook her head, obviously not in her best state of mind due to concern for Xoan."You must have other matters to attend to. Please, go ahead."They were, after all, near an underground market—a place Yale would not frequent without reason. Furthermore, she did not wish to delay him or inconvenience him in any way.Realizing he did have other matters to attend to, Yale nodded
That morning, Xoan overheard two people in the hospital corridor conspiring to drug Yaslyn and take her away. However, he had not noticed that both individuals were armed with concealed knives. A struggle ensued, and one of the blades inadvertently sliced across his chest."You took the hit for me? And your fever is due to the wound getting infected?"Yaslyn felt tears forming in her eyes as she spoke, as if every word was a needle piercing her heart.Xoan had refrained from telling her because he knew she would worry. However, he had not expected her to be so moved as to cry.He tenderly embraced her and whispered, "It's just a small wound, and it's not the first time I've been injured. Don't worry so much."For the first time, Yaslyn cried like a child as she sniffled. "You're hurt because of me. Your pain feels like it's on my own skin.""If you were the one hurt, I'd feel even worse," Xoan said as he gently pinched her nose. After pausing, he looked deeply into her eyes."Ya
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