The face of the intruder was hidden behind a mask, concealing his expression. Nonetheless, his deep-seated hatred was unmistakable."I've been on this ship, under your command, for three long years," he declared, eyes fixed intently on Xylon, a chilling smile gracing his lips. "Today, I'll finally seize my opportunity for revenge."Xylon remained unperturbed as though nothing particularly significant had occurred. "Oh, is that so?"The masked man was infuriated by Xylon's apparent lack of fear. "Keep lying to yourself! I'll enjoy watching you lose your composure!"Behind him, a group of black-clad individuals followed, their spirits high and their faces fierce.Raising his hand, the masked man gestured for one of them to step forward. The one who came forward inquired in a submissive tone, "Master, what should we do with these two in front of us?""As for the others in this room, do as you please, but leave these two to me!" the masked man replied, laughing wickedly.Upon hearin
The masked man cackled. "A hundred forty thousand dollars? You're just a stranger who got rescued! Why would you have a hundred forty thousand dollars?"Yaslyn confidently declared, "It's because I'm the president of Lukesh."Lukesh?!Even those involved in cargo transport on the ship had heard of the formidable company called Lukesh. They had heard that its president was a young girl named Yaslyn..."I am Yaslyn."Upon hearing this, the color drained from the masked man's face. "You... You're Yaslyn?""Yes. Do you believe now that I can pay the amount I promised?" Yaslyn replied, her gaze electrified ominously.The masked man defeatedly responded, "Fine, I get it. I've lost." Dropping his weapon, he signaled his surrender. His comrades quickly followed suit, aligning themselves with Yaslyn.In the end, Yaslyn, on behalf of Xylon, pardoned the masked man. She ordered him confined to a room for three days with two guards keeping watch.With the situation resolved, Yaslyn acted
With an abrupt clap, Yaslyn took a deep breath. "Thank you, Godfather, but I need to get back home right now."A shadow of concern passed over Zion's face upon hearing Yaslyn's decision. "But you've only just come to see me after such a long time! Why the rush to leave?"She gave him a reassuring smile. "You see, I was stranded with Xoan. I managed to escape by jumping into the sea, but I don't know what happened to him." Unable to hide her concern any longer, she was desperate to know if Xoan was safe.Seeing her resolve, Zion let out a sigh. "Don't worry. I'll organize everything for you swiftly. But first, you must spend some time with me. With my wayward son seldom around, you're the only company I have left." Mentioning his son always seemed to evoke a whirlwind of feelings in Zion."Thank you, Godfather."Though handling these matters was not complex, almost all of Yaslyn's belongings had vanished, so it would take some time."Oh, I almost forgot!" Xylon suddenly slapped hi
Xylon's gaze settled on Yaslyn a tad longer than usual, causing Yaslyn to feel slightly uneasy under his intense scrutiny. She only caught a brief look at herself in the mirror. While the outfit was a departure from her typical style, she felt...charming, perhaps? Maybe even a bit...bewitching?Xylon cleared his throat. "Alright, let's go."Yaslyn simply nodded and followed him. Together, they made their way to Mr. Chapman's present home.The Chapman family had relocated overseas in the 1960s. Aside from Zion and Xylon, hardly any came back to their roots.Arriving at Mr. Chapman's residence, a mansion renowned for its grandeur, they were met with a buzz of curious whispers."Who is that woman in the car? She came with Mr. Chapman's most treasured grandson!""Indeed! To appear alongside such a young man, already renowned in Singapore's scientific journals…""No one has as much as him in achievements, undoubtedly the most promising young talent of his generation.""I wish he'd n
Yaslyn did not sit well being called a 'little vixen'. Turning her head, her eyes twinkled slightly as she met the gaze of the person who addressed her in such a manner."It's you."Susie!Yaslyn was taken aback. The very person she had been seeking was standing right in front of her."You..." Susie was equally startled. 'Isn't this Yaslyn? Why is she here, and with Xylon at that?'Noticing the familiar glances exchanged between the two women, Xylon curiously asked, "Do you two know each other?"Yaslyn nodded, her smile cryptic. "Oh, we don't just 'know' each other. We go way back."Xylon quickly caught on. "In that case, I'll leave you two to catch up. I have something to attend to. I'll be back shortly."It was clear he had no desire to deal with Susie at the moment. Despite her tears and pleas for an annulment, she acted as if they were still engaged. Her behavior nauseated him.With a convenient excuse, Xylon made his exit, leaving only Yaslyn and Susie in the vicinity.S
Yaslyn wanted to reveal everything to Quinn upon her return. Yet, after the incident with Susie, she found herself holding back.Once the birthday celebration was concluded, Zion swiftly made all the arrangements. By the next day, flight tickets to Jefferson City were booked for himself, Yaslyn, and Xylon.Upon landing in Jefferson City, Yaslyn immediately dashed to the hospital where Xoan was admitted. Xylon, driven by his curiosity about Xoan, accompanied her. The two hailed a cab to the city's medical center.As they approached Xoan's room, a symphony of mournful cries echoed through the hallway.A knot formed in Yaslyn's throat. Pushing the door open, she laid eyes upon Xoan, pallid and ghostly, with lips devoid of color. Beside him sat Sophie and Marcus. Sophie's grief-stricken eyes mirrored the depths of her soul's anguish."Mrs. Warren," Yaslyn's voice trembled, "I'm here."Sophie, catching Yaslyn's gaze, threw herself into Yaslyn's arms, her tears flowing like torrents. "
Was the pill something Yaslyn could so easily request?Sherman turned away immediately. "I'll consider everything else, but this is non-negotiable.""Why not?" Yaslyn questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion."Because there's only one left. I used one of the only two I had to save your life three years ago. I only have one left, and I can't give it to you," Sherman said, pain evident in his voice. How could Yaslyn casually ask for something so hard to come by?"It's a matter of life and death," Yaslyn argued. "I've examined Xoan, and without intervention, he might not survive the month."Sherman's expression turned grim. "Not even a month? Let me take a look."After examining Xoan, Sherman grasped the gravity of Yaslyn's words."If I give you the last New Life Ganodex Pill, what about your illness?"A bittersweet smile tugged at Yaslyn's lips. "I still have a year, right? There will always be other forms of cure, but for Xoan, time is running out."She could not just abando
Yaslyn bit her lower lip slightly and responded, "He'll remember. I believe that."She was convinced that Xoan's feelings for her were genuine. They could not have just vanished into thin air.Xylon's typically cheerful demeanor clouded with frustration as he scoffed. "You must realize that if you choose to stay by his side, you'll be the only one getting hurt. He doesn't truly love you. If he stays with you, it's merely out of a sense of duty. Don't trust me? Ask him yourself."Though Xoan was tempted to call for Sheldon several times, he refrained. Even though the two looked identical, their personalities and demeanor were worlds apart.Xoan was slightly irritated by what Xylon said, but the familiar face softened his anger. In a calm voice, he replied, "I'll try to meet your conditions."'Try', 'meet', and 'conditions'.Yaslyn's complexion turned ashen, making her appear even more pale than Xoan. "Alright, rest up," she muttered, swiftly turning to leave.Once Yaslyn was gone
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