Yaslyn was stunned. The man in front of her was impeccably dressed in a suit and had a genteel smile. She was immediately on guard."Mr. Yackley, you're in the capital too?"Rowan was surprised. "Too? Who else is in the capital?"Yaslyn saw no reason to keep it a secret. "My grandpa asked me to pick someone up. He said it was his friend's grandson."Rowan pointed at himself innocently. "Is it possible that the person he's talking about is me?""Could it be?"Yaslyn was taken aback. She had not expected that the person she was supposed to pick up would be the Rowan standing before her."What else did your grandpa say?"Yaslyn did not respond immediately. Rowan waved his hand in front of her face and asked, "What are you thinking?"Snapping back to reality, Yaslyn noticed that Rowan had moved rather close to her. She instinctively took a step back."Alright. He wants me to bring you safely to the Carden family.""Why aren't we going?"Yaslyn shrugged, feigning ignorance. "I d
"Why not?"Rowan smirked. He had not expected that twist.Only when they were alone did Mr. York Carden divulge. "Truth be told, besides Yaslyn's mother, I had another daughter. She rarely went out and wasn't well-known, so people assumed I only had one daughter. However..."His expression suddenly turned furious. "One night, Xoan's uncle assaulted her while drunk, driving her to madness and leading her to jump off a building that very night. How could I ever allow Yaslyn to marry into that family?"The painful past had been buried for a long time. Mr. York Carden had managed to imprison Xoan's uncle, but because of the family's shame, the story had been sealed away.None of the younger generation knew about it. Bringing it up again was like ripping open an old wound for Mr. York Carden.Seeing Mr. York Carden's agony, Rowan refrained from saying more and excused himself.In the days that followed, Mr. York Carden repeatedly extolled Rowan's virtues whenever he met Yaslyn. Unwil
"I can't go anywhere? I'm only allowed to stay in the capital?"Yaslyn stared at the butler, who did not know how to respond.He cautiously tried to explain. "In theory, yes, but not exactly..."Yaslyn stood up, visibly irritated. "What do you plan on doing then? Drag me back?""Of course not, I could never—""Then, don't interfere. I am the Carden family's granddaughter, not a convict."Yaslyn was truly fed up with the butler."Ms. Lyon, please don't make things difficult for me. I'm just a butler for the Carden family, trying to make a living. I really don't know what to do with you behaving like this..."Yaslyn did not expect the butler—a man who looked to be in his fifties—to burst into tears on the street, albeit quietly."Alright, alright, I won't leave. Stop crying. It's embarrassing to see a man your age sobbing in public."Upon hearing Yaslyn relent, the butler finally let down his guard. "Very well, Ms. Lyon. I'll take you home.""Home?"Yaslyn touched her chin th
"Yaslyn, there's nothing between us," Xoan assured her, his grip tightening on her back as if to reinforce his words.He had a clear conscience and was not afraid.Xoan turned to Sadie and dismissively said, "You should leave now. Don't make me say it twice."Yaslyn let go of Xoan and took a seat on the sofa. "Why the rush to kick Sadie out? I recognize her, you know. I did travel a long way to get here, so we should at least be polite."Xoan knew that Yaslyn's calm demeanor was merely the calm before the storm, and he knew precisely whom that storm was directed at.Sadie approached Yaslyn gracefully with a kind smile. "Hello. I'm Sadie."Sadie extended her hand, exhibiting the very image of a well-bred young lady.Yaslyn did not take it. Instead, she chuckled sarcastically."Ms. Sabian, you're so polite. How is it that you can still chase after someone else's boyfriend?"Undeterred, Sadie looked mildly hurt. "Ms. Lyon, I know you and Xoan are in a relationship, but we're just
"I was only trying to help, and besides, Yaslyn, aren't you an outsider too?" Sadie started to speak, but lowered her head in disappointment."She's my girlfriend. How can you compare yourself to her?"The room fell into silence at Xoan's words.Sadie felt a sharp pain in her heart, her eyes brimming with tears. "Xoan, even if you no longer have feelings for me, can't you remember that we once loved each other? Why are you being so heartless?"Yaslyn sneered, "Ms. Sabian, you're lamenting your past relationship in front of someone's girlfriend. Is it any wonder he's being heartless?""I..."Sadie lowered her head, her eyes filled with hatred.Yerick intervened, "Let's leave the past behind. Sadie is genuinely happy for Xoan and Yaslyn."Sadie nodded gratefully.Yerick continued, "Our father's birthday celebration is coming up, I intend to visit home and pay my respects."Marcus clenched his fists. "You have the nerve to show your face after what you did to dad? I haven't even
For the next two days, Stephen inexplicably avoided Yaslyn, leaving her feeling somewhat puzzled. She was helpless in that situation.Soon, Stephen’s birthday arrived. As prestigious individuals in Jefferson City, the Warren family naturally had many high-profile guests attending the celebration.Within the banquet hall, the four sons of the Warren family, clad in impeccably tailored suits, drew the gaze of many young ladies."The genes of the Warren family are truly exceptional. The boys are all so handsome," a guest remarked."It's Yaslyn who should be envied, being the fiancée of the Warren family. She gets to choose any man from the Warrens," someone else noted."Yaslyn is already with the most outstanding, Xoan. The others are still single. Does that mean we have a chance?" a group of girls asked."I choose Henry. His smile with his little canine teeth is bewitching!" one of the girls said, laughing.Upon hearing their jesting words, Yaslyn turned her head to look at Xoan a
"Indeed, a major star. Definitely unforgettable. Sadie is just being too modest," someone commented from the side."Absolutely! Who could be so forgetful? If it was me, I'd remember it forever!" another person interjected.The surrounding young girls, all fervent fans of Sadie, looked at her conflicted expression and felt that she was just being shy."Look. Everyone thinks you're being deceitful… Oh, no, I mean modest, Ms. Sabian. I'm just making a call. It's no big deal," Yaslyn said with an unbothered smile.Grinding her teeth, Sadie remained silent.The video call connected, and Wade appeared on the screen. He looked slightly groggy, seemingly awakened from sleep. His drowsy look did nothing to dim his allure."What's up, Yaslyn?"Sadie hoped that the man would be her seller. However, the moment she saw Wade's face, her hopes were crushed."Is the 'Prince Rupert's drop' watch with you?" Yaslyn asked.Wade took a sip of water and became a bit more alert. "Yes, it is. Why? "
Before they spoke further, there was a commotion greater than Sadie’s arrival at the entrance. Yerick, clad in a pure white suit, appeared exceptionally dignified.Yerick did not greet Stephen but went straight to Xoan and Yaslyn instead. "I just heard from Sadie that Yaslyn was going up against her. What's the meaning of this?"Sadie complained to Yerick, so he came to condemn.How amusing!Yaslyn replied nonchalantly, "I wouldn’t dare. How could I speak against her? She came over intentionally to mock me, so I had no choice but to retaliate. Interestingly, she dared to gift Mr. Warren counterfeit goods as a birthday present. "Yerick smiled flatly. "Even if Sadie's gift was fake, her heart was in the right place. You know she’s a public figure, yet you continuously humiliate her in front of so many people. "Was all the wrongdoing on Yaslyn?Yaslyn looked at Yerick’s face, her heart filled with contempt. She sharply replied, "Yerick, supporting her is your affair. I don't like
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