Xoan was doubtful. "What evidence do you have to support her plagiarism?""The creative concept for this design is taken from Anny, a student from a renowned international university. This country bumpkin obviously plagiarized her!" Yessica exclaimed through gritted teeth as she handed over the evidence she fabricated.Yaslyn glared at Yessica."I can't believe Yaslyn was faking it all along!""It's fine if she can't come up with something, but plagiarizing is unacceptable!""How can someone like this remain in our company?"Whispers buzzed around as Xoan looked at Yaslyn. Her confidence made him feel extremely assured, as if he was certain it was not Yaslyn's fault.Still, he wanted to hear her response."Yaslyn, do you have anything to say?"Yaslyn smiled and nodded. "You're right. I did borrow some creative ideas. You're quite observant."Yessica felt she was guaranteed victory and became arrogant."Take a look at this country bumpkin. She was useless back then, and now s
Hiking was a tiring and hot affair, and they had absolutely no interest in it."Dad, I have a few surgeries to do. I might not be free—""Aren't there other doctors besides you at the hospital?"Yerick was the first to stand up, but Stephen cut him off.He fidgeted awkwardly, which silenced Henry and Marcus, who were also about to make up excuses."It's decided then. We'll set off soon."No one dared defy Stephen's orders. After changing into athletic wear, they followed him to the famous local attraction—Mount Saint Elias.Located in a corner of Jefferson City, Mount Saint Elias was a range of mountains with blue-green peaks and cliffs. The mountain was covered in verdant trees.Upon reaching the foot of Mount Saint Elias, the first person Yaslyn saw was Zaylee in a long skirt, smiling brightly.Seeing Zaylee, Sophie beamed and affectionately grabbed her hand. "Zaylee, I thought you weren't coming."Zaylee smiled. "Mrs. Warren, how could I possibly not come at your invitatio
Xoan became gloomy, perhaps thinking Yaslyn was interested in Sheldon. Dismissing his thoughts, he simply said, "Dad's waiting for us."Xoan turned around and left the hospital room.Sheldon had successfully annoyed Xoan. As he left, he told Yaslyn to take care of herself. He wanted to ruffle her hair, but she barely dodged away.Everyone was lost in their thoughts. Yaslyn was injured, so Stephen instructed the rest to return home.Yaslyn was hospitalized again under Yerick's care due to her fractured ankle.Stephen knocked and entered Yaslyn's room. Seeing her face reminded him of his comrade, softening his expression."Yaslyn, are you feeling better? It's all because of my useless children. They didn't take good care of you, so you got injured!"Yaslyn felt the warmth in his tone. "Mr. Warren, it's my fault. I was careless. It's nothing to do with them.""Yaslyn, don't worry. Whoever marries you, I'll give them twenty percent of the Warren Group's shares and twenty villas in
Xoan was indifferent. "Company matters are the highest priority to me. Do you have a problem with that?"Rejected once more, Zaylee bit her lip and kept silent.Yaslyn watched Zaylee leave in tears and laughed inside. "Are you sure you want to hurt your childhood sweetheart? She even cried."Xoan glared at her. "Read through the proposal."Yaslyn smiled. "Sheldon was right. You really are a workaholic who doesn't know how to cherish feminine charm."Xoan did not continue the conversation. He carefully examined the proposal with his head lowered. Sunlight fell on his face, and through the faint rays, Yaslyn could see the unfathomable depths in his eyes.The two revised the proposal. It was already three in the afternoon when they finished. Yaslyn's stomach suddenly let out a rumble.Xoan raised his brow. "Let's go. I'll take you to get some food."The pair quickly tidied up and headed out. They unexpectedly ran into Zaylee returning to the company, and Yaslyn even smiled at her.
After that incident, Yaslyn immediately instructed Wade to investigate who was behind it. Surely enough, Zaylee bribed reporters to obtain the photo and posted it online.The previous punishment for the Ford family was seemingly too light, so Zaylee still had the willpower to pull off her tricks."Wade, terminate all the contracts between the Lukesh Company and the Ford family. We will cease all cooperation going forward, including any ongoing partnerships. Don't worry about paying penalty fees for breach of contract."Wade was indifferent. "Of course, it's Zaylee again. Don't worry, Ms. Lyon. I won't let the Ford family off easy this time."Without the Lukesh Company, the Ford family would lose a major source of profit. They would lose at least several billion dollars.The Lukesh Company issued a notice prohibiting further cooperation with the Ford family, puzzling Xoan.Whenever something happened to Yaslyn, the Ford family faced a crisis.Could Wade be helping Yaslyn get back
Yaslyn woke up the next afternoon with a headache. Upon checking her phone, there were over a hundred unread messages and countless calls, all from Wade.She quickly texted Wade to let him know she was fine. Then, she tried to recall what happened last night.She remembered running into Xoan before wildly flirting with him. After that...She could not remember anything.Massaging her temples, she simply freshened up a bit before returning to the company.Although Zaylee was a bit sneaky, she did a good job planning the gala event. The venue decorations were novel and distinctive. Combined with her status, she received compliments from everyone."Everyone, stop complimenting me. It's no big deal. Xoan taught me everything," Zaylee explained while blushing.Those around her exchanged looks, understanding that she was acting coy about their relationship again."Ms. Ford, you and our President are childhood sweethearts. It seems he really adores you!""It's like being the main cha
Zaylee's words sounded truthful as if Yaslyn herself had instructed her.Xoan nodded and followed Zaylee inside.The reporters gathered at the entrance clicked away wildly at the pair. Zaylee deliberately leaned closer to Xoan.Suddenly, she twisted her ankle and fell to the ground. Xoan quickly put one hand around her waist to stop her from falling.The reporters were unwilling to miss such a scene and took more photos.They had already envisioned tomorrow's headlines. 'The Ford and Warren families' marriage alliance' and 'Intimate interactions caught on camera'.That news would surely go viral!Zaylee's face turned red. "Thank you, Xoan."Xoan withdrew his hand without hesitation. "Alright, let's go in."After saying that, he went in on his own.Zaylee's previously elated mood plummeted instantly. She bit her lip tightly to avoid embarrassment and hurried to follow him.Not long after, there was another commotion at the entrance. It was no less exciting than when the two o
Xoan pinned her down, his gaze burning with fiery passion."Xoan..."As Xoan's pressed his mouth to hers, the rest of Yaslyn's words were forced back down her throat.He went deeper and deeper with each touch, even slipping his tongue into her mouth.Yaslyn knew it was the drug taking effect. She quickly bit his tongue, forcing him to regain awareness. When he pulled away, she flipped him over and pinned him to the floor. She slapped him unconscious with one strike."So much trouble."Yaslyn stood up and irritably kicked Xoan."Taking advantage of me when not in your right mind, huh?"Calling an ambulance would attract too much attention. Yaslyn could only call the Warren family's bodyguards to take Xoan away.When Xoan opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was the expressionless Yaslyn beside him. Confused, he asked, "Did you stay by my side taking care of me the whole night?"Yaslyn did not answer his question, instead sarcastically jeering, "Not very vigilant, are
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