Xoan stood in front of Yaslyn and smirked at Mr. Linton. "We're the Warren Group. We don't need you either.""We'll see about that!" Mr. Linton barked, glaring fiercely at Xoan before leaving.Yaslyn had not expected Xoan to suddenly stand up for her. "Xoan, did you defend me earlier?"Xoan looked at her grin and felt a stir in his heart, but he quickly looked away. "I won't stand by and watch my employee be taken advantage of."Knowing his aloof personality, Yaslyn did not tease him further."What should we do about the company now? The Linton Group refused to cooperate, and it seems we're about to run into some big trouble this time.""I already have a contingency plan in place. They can't hurt us," Xoan replied.Yaslyn was curious. "What's the plan?""I've decided to partner with a foreign company. It might cost more, but we have enough funds for it," Xoan explained."Why not collaborate with the Lukesh Company?" Yaslyn asked."They've always been secretive. They only coop
The woman's face instantly turned pale. "I..."Yaslyn still smiled, looking calm and composed. "I hope the next time you make accusations, you'll have the evidence to support your claims."The reporters excitedly snapped photos. The famous jewelry designer, Angel, was actually Yaslyn.It was just as explosive as the plagiarism allegations!Yaslyn addressed the reporters. "This jewelry collection is a couple set. The piece for men, 'Destiny's Embrace', symbolizes love at first sight, while the piece for women, 'First Love', represents enduring affection."The press conference ended perfectly. That night, the website again announced that the jewelry had sold out.On Twitter, netizens started wailing."Why did I hesitate? I should've bought them when I had the chance!""I want it too. Please officially release this!"Even Xoan was surprised after seeing the news.He had not expected Yaslyn to be Angel. She was both Natalie and Angel.Yaslyn really was inscrutable.They got hom
Yaslyn released all the evidence online.The news spread and the internet erupted into chaos. All of Zaylee's misdeeds were confirmed. The Ford Group heiress Zaylee's repeated failed attempts to frame Yaslyn became the biggest news of the year.The Ford Group's stocks plunged.Zaylee had thought it was just Yaslyn's suspicions. She did not expect Yaslyn to have concrete evidence.Her image that she had painstakingly crafted was instantly destroyed. She could face legal consequences for what she did."Zaylee, I never imagined you'd be this kind of person..."Sophie was the most shocked. She had not imagined that the Zaylee she had watched grow up could be so vicious.Seeing Zaylee's ashen face, Yaslyn laughed. "The schemes in San Jose Valley, spreading false rumors online to smear me for plagiarism… Zaylee, aren't you ashamed after doing so much?"Zaylee knew she could not explain her way out of it any longer. She could only cry and plead, "I'm sorry. I was misled, and friends t
The leader glared at them and slowly said, "Ms. Ford told us to play with her as much as we want without killing her. We'll have fun with such a pretty doll, of course…"The men burst into laughter.Yaslyn had not expected Zaylee to defile her that way, tormenting her to live a fate worse than death.Yaslyn glared at the men in front of her and chuckled. "Do you know who I am?"One man leered lewdly. "Of course. You're our little darling. Our big brother will take good care of you later..."The other man was a bit more knowledgeable. "Yaslyn, fiancée of the Warren family, also a singer... I wonder if she'll sound even better when she screams later?"Yaslyn frowned. "You dare touch the Warren family's fiancée? Aren't you afraid they'll come after you?"The man shook his head and laughed helplessly. "You're just an outsider to them, Ms. Lyon. If your reputation is ruined, your engagement will just be called off, at the very least. Just have fun with us later, and don't overthink i
Ripples spread through Yaslyn's heart when she saw his determined gaze.The pair could only run a little further. Just as Yaslyn prepared for the worst outcome of them both being captured, the whine of police sirens pierced the sky.The relentless pursuers instantly paled, immediately trying to flee the scene.Wade rushed over with the police and arrested the men."Yasly—Ms. Lyon, are you alright?" Wade blurted out instinctively.Yaslyn looked a little frail as she leaned into Xoan. "I'm fine."Xoan replied calmly, "She twisted her ankle, so I'm taking her to the hospital. You can return if there's nothing else to handle. I'll take care of Yaslyn."An inexplicable displeasure rose in Xoan's heart as he saw Wade's concern for Yaslyn.Wade nodded. "Alright."Knowing it was inappropriate for him to linger, Wade left with the police to process the kidnappers.Xoan brought Yaslyn to the hospital. It was three in the morning, and Yerick was on the night shift. Seeing the two lookin
A few days later, Henry leaned lazily against the president's office door and smiled leisurely."Bro, I've contacted every available female celebrity the past few days, but their image doesn't fit, or they're unwilling to take the job. There aren't any suitable candidates left."Xoan was annoyed. "This advertisement isn't a must."Henry scowled, "How could you go back on your word? It was already settled.""I'll still pay the advertising fee, but the advertisement won't be filmed," Xoan replied.Yaslyn did not quite understand, having just knocked on the office door when she overheard their conversation.Curious, she asked, "What advertisement isn't being shot?"Henry quickly approached her and beamed, "Yaslyn, you're here! I couldn't find a suitable model. You promised me that you'd film with me if I couldn't find anyone appropriate."Yaslyn's mouth twitched. Glancing at Xoan, she suddenly did not know what to say.Seeing Yaslyn's hesitant expression, Henry hastily explained,
Yessica refused to believe that Yaslyn had any evidence. It had to be a scare tactic to buy herself time.Yessica arrogantly lifted her chin, waiting to see what proof Yaslyn had.Yaslyn took out her phone and opened the audio player. Instantly, Yessica's voice blared from the phone."That's right! I'm going to beat you up! Do you know how I've lived since I was fired from the Warren Group? No company wants me anymore. It's all because of you! You've made me suffer so much. I'll make you pay!"Aside from the voice, there were also sounds of chaos and footsteps. It was clear Yessica had tried to harm Yaslyn first.Yaslyn remained calm. "Officer, I think this audio makes it clear. I didn't deliberately harm Ms. Lawrence. She acted aggressively first. I merely defended myself."Yessica's face paled with each sentence upon hearing the audio clip.How was that possible? How could Yaslyn have known Yessica would get violent and start recording in the first place?"You're framing me!
His voice brought her back to reality. Looking at Xoan with his deep gaze in the dim lighting, her heart skipped a beat."What is it?"Xoan was different from usual after drinking. His eyes were wide and round."Yaslyn, do you like Henry?"Yaslyn raised her brow. "Why do you think I like Henry?"Xoan moved closer. "If you don't like Henry, why would you shoot the advertisement with him? You didn't reject his affection, and also..."His words carried a hint of emotional fluctuation.Yaslyn pushed his shoulder lightly. "Xoan, you're drunk."Xoan sobered up slightly when she mentioned 'drunk'.He moved back half a step. "I'm not drunk. I'm reminding you not to be with Henry. What happened last time is a lesson."Yaslyn's mind instantly flashed back to several months ago when she was beaten up by Henry's fans in the restroom. Remembering their sinister expressions, a chill went down her spine.Fortunately, she had no interest in Henry. Otherwise, with his formidable fanbase as b
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