"See! You're at a loss for words now!"Zyra, watching his frustrated and angry demeanor, found it especially amusing. After all, it was the first time in so long that she had the upper hand, and it would be a lie to say she was not thrilled."You! You're utterly unreasonable!"Marcus was so angry he almost fainted. He had never imagined that Zyra, who was always so obedient around him, could be so rebellious.Suddenly, his gaze darkened, and he grabbed the collar of Zyra's dress. "I'm here to keep an eye on you for your brother. If you continue like this, I'll report it to him.""Tch! Zander, huh? Can he control me?"Zyra showed a face of disdain. Men were indeed hypocritical, always finding excuses."He said he would tell your mom," Marcus added.In the next moment, Zyra's smug smile froze on her lips."Never mind," she mumbled defeatedly, slinking behind Marcus.Yaslyn held her forehead helplessly when she saw that. It was clearly a golden opportunity to force Marcus to adm
"The moment I laid my eyes on Xoan, I was utterly enchanted by him," Omar proclaimed with his hands over his heart to indicate his infatuation."Omar, Xoan is a man!"Yaslyn held her forehead in exasperation, suddenly regretting having called Omar over.Omar widened his eyes in surprise. "Ah, Yaslyn, you've changed! What's wrong with a man? It doesn't stop me from admiring him. If I had known Yaslyn's boyfriend was such an outstanding man, I wouldn't have worried so much."Omar’s transformation was beyond Yaslyn’s expectations.She forced a smile. "Are you sure you're admiring, not liking? Omar, you're practically drooling.""Oh, come on. Let’s not get caught up in the details."Omar waved his hand dismissively and went straight to Xoan with a look of admiration on his face."Mr. Xoan Warren, may I call you Xoan? I plan to spend a few days in Hartford City. Can I join you?""No," Xoan replied.It was the first time Xoan had encountered such fervent advances from another man, an
Wiping off the saliva on her lips, Yaslyn replied, "I believe you can tell your father the truth that we're simply not a good match."Omar's father, the oil tycoon, was a middle-aged man whom Yaslyn had unexpectedly saved during one of her excursions. She initially thought it was an unintended act of kindness, but the man unexpectedly offered his son to her as a boyfriend.Omar had initially wanted to make a fuss, but upon seeing Yaslyn's face, he fell in love at first sight.Regrettably, Omar sighed. "Indeed, it seems we're destined to meet but not destined to be together. The man I finally have my eyes on happens to be your man. I'm quite desperate now."Yaslyn glared at him, and he promptly silenced himself.At that moment, the door was knocked upon, and Xoan entered with breakfast.Before Yaslyn could explain, Omar started defending himself. "Mr. Xoan Warren, I was actually looking for you. I just entered the wrong room.""I heard everything."Xoan pointed at the door. "You
In a moment of urgency, Xoan managed to shield Yaslyn and guide her into the nearby bushes. The massive stones rolled down the mountain, causing echoing crashes as they struck the stone steps.Yaslyn, still trembling from the near miss, looked at Xoan. "Thank goodness you pulled me aside. I would've been crushed by those rocks otherwise.""Don't talk nonsense."Xoan lifted his gaze to the peak of the mountain and caught sight of a few figures swiftly retreating. It was clear that someone was indeed engaging in shady activities.Yaslyn squinted. "Could it be that someone knew we were coming here today and decided to set a trap?""You're sharp."Once the last of the rocks had tumbled down from above, Xoan assisted Yaslyn to her feet. "We should likely avoid the main path. It could be targeted. Let’s ascend through this thicket instead."Yaslyn, with a flash of sudden insight, asked,"Do you intend to lead me through a forest?""Are you okay?" Xoan asked."Alright, I'll stop teasi
Yaslyn entered a courtyard, but the mournful voices disappeared after a short walk. She turned around, ready to return, only to have the gate behind her slam shut.She had fallen into a trap.The people from earlier must have calculated that she was alone and decided to devise a different plan. Yaslyn looked at the wall, contemplating scaling it. However, it was too high, and she could not even reach the top.She wandered around, walked through a long corridor, crossed a bridge, and arrived in front of a separate courtyard. Before her was a vast yard, and even before entering, Yaslyn could feel a dark atmosphere enveloping it.However, her inner curiosity still drove her forward. She walked in, and although it was brightly lit inside, it was shrouded in mist.Upon closer inspection, it was an old man, dressed in an abbot's cassock, kneeling before a meditation cushion, lighting incense."Abbot, I mean no disrespect…""Almsgiver, I've been waiting for you for a long time."Yasly
Yaslyn chuckled,"How could I possibly get lost?""Yeah, Xoan said you’d never get lost and could find your way back. I thought he was joking, but it seems he knows you quite well. Now, I’m relieved."Omar unconsciously reached to pat her head but was abruptly pulled back by Xoan. "Alright, we need to head back now. We have scenes to shoot tonight."Omar grumbled in response. "This guy is so uptight. Can't even touch her."Yaslyn curiously asked, "Xoan, did you write on the blessing plaque?""I did.""What did you write?"Xoan smirked. "That's a secret."Yaslyn’s curiosity intensified. 'Tell me quickly! If you don’t, I’ll go back and see it myself."Saying so, she pretended to turn back.Unexpectedly, Xoan did not dissuade her and replied, "You can go back. We've just descended half the mountain. Maybe you can spend the night there if you go back now."Yaslyn sighed in annoyance. "So stingy, won’t even share this with me.""It won’t come true if I say it. Can you tell me wha
Yaslyn emerged outside with Xoan, her expression appearing regular and unchanging, as though nothing had transpired.Observing thar, the actress who had been frantically searching for her bracelet moments ago immediately let out a sigh of relief. It appeared Yaslyn had no intentions of delving deeper into the matter.However, after a quick scan of her surroundings, Yaslyn casually inquired, "Who was in such haste searching for their bracelet?"The actress stiffened, her entire body erupting in goosebumps instantaneously, turning the atmosphere tense. Yaslyn approached her slowly, scrutinizing her fair, delicate face before asking with a smile."Which bracelet did you say you lost?"Her face paled."Ms. Lyon, it was truly an accident. It was a bracelet my grandmother left me. I... I was just in a hurry to find it, and I ended up interrupting you."Her remark made it seem as if Yaslyn was being unreasonable. Yaslyn smirked. "It seems I misunderstood. What's your name?""Ms. Lyon, m
"You really are an idiot."Yaslyn made a simple, offhand complaint."What have I done to be called an idiot now?” Omar spun around in annoyance, directing a puzzled gaze at Xoan on the other side."What does she mean by that?"Xoan replied nonchalantly, "Anticipate early."Omar, whose grasp of English was already wobbly, was left utterly bewildered by Xoan's swift remark. "Americans really do have a perplexing way of speaking."Yaslyn rolled her eyes. "So, you're dumb. Once we're inside, you'd better stop chattering incessantly, or I'll have someone throw you out."Omar felt particularly aggrieved. After all, he was the son of an oil tycoon, wealthy enough to rival nations, but not only did Yaslyn not care about him, she even threatened to throw him out. He decided he would never seek her company again!The director of 'Death of a King' had been waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Yaslyn, he approached her enthusiastically."Ms. Lyon, you're finally here! I've been waiting fo
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