Yaslyn realized that Owen would also be attending the fashion show. The earlier she could make contact with him, the better her chances. If she had to be utilized by someone else to achieve her objective, she would relent. The mission was paramount.The next morning, Yerick roused Yaslyn from her deep slumber. Yawning, she sat up, glaring at the man who dared to disturb her rest. "Yerick! What is it—""You'd better get up," Yerick interjected. "We're heading to the fashion show soon, and if you don't get ready, you might have to find your own way there."It's not like a home where one could easily hail a cab. Infuriatingly, Yerick had only one car. Was that on purpose?"Is this for me?" Turning her attention to a large box on the table, she suspected it contained a gown. Upon opening it, she discovered an elegant, understated black mermaid dress, just her style.Yerick nodded. "Who else would it be for?""How did you know my size?" Yaslyn eyed him suspiciously.Yerick coughed, h
Sadie's face paled instantly at the voice.From a distance, Yerick slowly walked over. It was as if he did not notice Sadie at all. He walked past her and positioned himself right next to Yaslyn."Yaslyn, have you eaten enough?" Yerick tenderly ran his fingers through her hair, his tone doting as if the bond between them ran deep.Sadie looked like she was about to explode, but given the public audience, she restrained herself. In a gentler tone, she questioned, "Yerick, why have you been so aloof? Did I do something wrong?"Yerick glanced at her with palpable detachment. "We never truly had a bond. Besides, Ms. Sabian, weren't you infatuated with my older brother? Why the sudden interest in me?"Amid the fashion show, numerous media cameras were focused on them, prompting Sadie to restrain herself. She managed a strained smile and responded, "Even if I had feelings for your older brother, we'd still be somewhat connected. There's no need for such distance between us.""There's n
Yaslyn had never faced such a challenging decision before. Meeting Xoan's intense gaze, she took a deep breath, grasped Yerick's arm tightly, and declared, "We finished our chapter a long time ago, just as you said. Stop pursuing me now."Not wanting Xoan to bring up their shared past, she quickly turned to Yerick, "You mentioned showing me something fascinating earlier. Let's go."Yerick, caught off-guard by her sudden choice, glanced back at Xoan with a triumphant smirk. In this silent rivalry, he felt like the winner.Xoan, however, wore a contemplative expression. He seemed puzzled by Yaslyn's decision. Nonetheless, she must have had her reason, especially when she made that choice in front of him. He decided he would inquire further later. For the time being, he took a deep breath and let go of his disappointment, even if the sight of Yaslyn arm-in-arm with Yerick was jarringly unpleasant.Having escorted Yerick to a spot near the stage, out of Xoan's view, Yaslyn finally felt
The following morning, as the clock struck 10 a.m., Yaslyn's deep sleep was interrupted by the persistent ring of her phone. She answered, her tone tinged with irritation, but she quickly became alert when she identified the voice on the other end."Ms. Lyon," Owen greeted, his tone dripping with politeness. "I was hoping to invite you to lunch today. I trust I haven't caught you at a bad time?"Yaslyn immediately sprang into action, quickly dressing and heading downstairs. As she descended the stairs in a sleek black off-shoulder dress, she caught Yerick's eye. His face betrayed no emotion."Dressed up so nicely. Are you meeting Owen?" he questioned."Yes. Today is the final day Mr. Zavala gave me to complete the task. If I don't, he might withhold the medicine," Yaslyn replied, doing a twirl and letting her dress flow elegantly around her. Having spent some time getting to know Zayn, she had an inkling of his character."Do you need me to accompany you?" Yerick, in a rare offer,
A subtle change came over Owen's face. "I'm afraid that might not be possible," he responded.The item in question was a treasured heirloom, passed down through their family's generations. How could he simply hand it over to someone else?Yaslyn wore a disappointed expression and said, "If that's the case, then it's truly a pity.""Why do you want this curved sword so much?" Owen asked, genuine curiosity evident in his voice. To him, the curved sword was just an ordinary weapon, albeit with a long history. Why did she set her sights on his sword the moment she saw it?Realizing her oversight, Yaslyn covered her lips and sighed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked for it in the first place. It just closely resembles an artifact that once belonged to my father, so..."Sensing her distress, Owen softened his tone. "Perhaps we can compromise. If you truly cherish it, I might be persuaded to give it to you. However, the box I keep it in is at my home. Would you be willing to accompany m
Xoan was so headstrong that he refused to listen to anyone else's opinion.Yaslyn realized that arguing with him further was pointless. She sighed in resignation. "If you continue at this rate, Owen won't willingly part with that curved sword."Sensing he had been a bit too stern, Xoan's expression softened. He reached out and gently tousled Yaslyn's hair. "It's alright. Don't worry about this matter. Trust me, he'll hand over that curved sword to me."Yaslyn knew better than to take his word at face value. To Owen's father, the sword was more than just an heirloom; it was a golden ticket to elevate the Abraham family's status even further. Dejectedly, she murmured, "Guess that's our only option for now."Unknown to them, Owen, who had been confined upstairs by his father, watched their intimate exchange from above. A swell of jealousy and confusion bubbled up within him. However, as he grappled with these emotions, his phone buzzed.A glance at the unfamiliar number momentarily p
Yaslyn's heart raced. She could hear pounding in her ears as her pursuers closed in. Fear clenched her chest, and she knew being caught would mean dire consequences.In her frantic escape, she tripped over a hidden stone and tumbled to the ground, grazing her knee badly."Just give up, darling. Makes things easier," Owen taunted, his laughter echoing eerily. Just as he was about to swoop down on her, an unseen force sent him sprawling."Who dares lay a hand on me?!" Owen exclaimed, feeling the painful impact of his fall. Looking up, he locked eyes with an angry Zyra. His face lit up with recognition. The young lady standing before him appeared even more innocent and lovely than Yaslyn, and he could sense a familiarity between them.Owen’s mind raced with newfound intentions, and he smirked sinisterly.Seeing Zyra before her left Yaslyn utterly speechless. How could Zyra be here of all places?!She could also make out Marcus' silhouette behind Zyra in the dim light."What is this
Yaslyn took shallow breaths and observed as their car made a series of turns while memorizing the entire route. Soon, the car decelerated to a halt. Through half-closed eyes, she surveyed her surroundings, and when her gaze settled on the unmistakable facade of a building, she nearly gasped out loud in surprise.It was the Abraham family's residence!With a sudden jolt, the car door opened. Yaslyn pretended to be unconscious as two men pulled her out. The surroundings grew dimmer as they moved forward. Stealing a glance, she saw they were nearing a small door. Unknown to her, a team was ready and quickly ushered them inside without drawing any attention.Once inside, the dimly lit setting seemed unfamiliar, distinctly different from the grand hall she remembered. Where was Owen taking her? As she pondered, she was guided through an even narrower door—so inconspicuous that one might miss it if not looking closely. An ominous feeling welled up in her chest.To her dismay, she found h
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