Tears began to well up in Yaslyn's eyes.Brad gently patted her head and said comfortingly, "Come on, don't get too emotional.""Who's getting emotional? It's just something in my eye, okay?" Yaslyn sniffed, a teasing smile crossing her face as she chided him."Alright, if you say so." Brad shrugged, feigning innocence."So, what's the current situation with the company?" Rowan quickly redirected the conversation back to the issue at hand.The topic of the company brought a bitter taste to Yaslyn's mouth. "Due to the termination of our contract with the company we previously signed with, as they deemed our products subpar, the company now owes forty-two million dollars. All companies in Jefferson City have stopped working with Lukesh, too, leading to a deficit in our income."Brad could not contain his frustration and grunted, "Those idiots! They're usually just lackeys for Linton Group!"Seeing Yaslyn's state, Rowan's voice grew gentle. "Given the situation, shouldn't Xoan be h
Inside the private dining room, Yaslyn began by expressing her gratitude for the assistance both Rowan and Brad provided. She then inquired about the next steps."From now on, the matters are yours to handle. Your health seems to be improving, so it won't be appropriate for me to intervene in your company's affairs," Rowan remarked. He was evidently unaware of the extent of Yaslyn's health issues, assuming it was merely a common ailment. Since she seemed healthier, he believed she should resume control.Yaslyn nodded. "You both have already done so much for me. I shouldn't trouble you further. So, are you both heading back to the capital next?" she queried.Brad, leaning back in his chair with his hands supporting his head, teased, "What? Going to miss us?""I wish you'd leave sooner," Yaslyn responded, rolling her eyes playfully.Unable to curb his sarcastic nature, Brad retorted with mock offense, "Oh, you had no such attitude when we were helping. Now that the deed is done, you
Early the next morning, while still wrapped in her dreams, Yaslyn was jolted awake by a phone call. She could faintly make out Rowan's voice, sounding like he was at the airport, getting ready to head back to the capital. The wind roared in the background, punctuated by a hefty yawn from Brad."We'll be off now. Stay safe," Rowan told her. His voice carried a hint of urgency, making it clear he was eager to leave for the capital."Alright. Be safe, both of you!" Yaslyn replied in an equally breezy manner. They were close friends, after all, and there was no need for drawn-out goodbyes.Upon waking up, Yaslyn glanced at her phone and saw photos of the duo already in the capital. It sank in that they truly had left.After preparing for the day and having breakfast, she began to outline her plans.With the company's urgent matters settled, Yaslyn contemplated new avenues for growth, broadening her business horizons to mitigate risks. By diversifying, if anyone targeted Lukesh in the
"Why?" Santiago, thinking himself quite charming, was taken aback by Yaslyn's firm refusal. His shoulders slumped in frustration."Didn't I already say? This isn't something you can just fool around."If the Qasim family found out that their son was parading himself as an internet celebrity, she was sure they would resort to drastic measures. Her own safety could be at risk."My family knows about my decision to become an internet celebrity, and they're all supportive," Santiago replied, much to Yaslyn's surprise.She extended a finger and playfully tapped Santiago's shoulder. "Don't start lying at such a young age, kiddo."With an age difference of six years, she was justified in calling Santiago a kid."I'm not lying to you!" Santiago insisted. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and played a video for her.In the video, the entire Qasim family was sitting together on a couch and warmly smiled."Ms. Lyon, my son has always talked about working at your company. We thought
Yaslyn chose to overlook Santiago and went back to her desk to resume her tasks. Today's workload was more substantial than usual, keeping her engaged until 11 o'clock at night.Santiago sat on the nearby couch, patiently waiting until the clock struck 11.Around 11:15 p.m., Yaslyn stretched leisurely, stood up, and concluded her day's work."Are you done with your work?" Santiago had been playing with his phone but paused when he noticed her movements.Hearing his voice, Yaslyn was startled and squinted her tired eyes into the dimly lit room. She realized he was still there."I'm done. I'm heading home now. You should go home too." She waved her hand dismissively, showing no intention of letting him accompany her."I've been waiting here for quite a while. Was it just to watch you work?" Santiago said with a bright smile, boldly grabbing her bag and shutting down her computer without waiting for her approval. "That's it. I'm giving you a ride home."Leveraging his height advant
Xoan did not refuse and agreed to help.However, Yaslyn felt a bit resistant to the idea, saying, "No need. We can wait a bit longer. A car will arrive soon."Santiago disagreed and tried to persuade Yaslyn like an obedient younger brother. "But Mr. Xoan Warren is offering to take us back out of kindness, Yaslyn! How can we refuse?"Yaslyn…Xoan lingered on the name, and his smile grew icier by the second.Yaslyn, on the other hand, felt puzzled. Even though they no longer had any relationship, she felt a hint of guilt when Santiago called her by her name.To prevent Santiago from saying more, she reluctantly agreed. "Alright, let's go."Why would Yaslyn listen to the boy's advice? Xoan's dark eyes flashed with scrutiny.As they got into Xoan's car, the electric scooter was temporarily left by the roadside. In Santiago's words, he had reattached the key to the scooter. He considered it a gift to whoever had the opportunity to take it.After all, he, a member of the Qasim famil
Yaslyn prepared to leave.Santiago stepped in her way with a smile. "Yaslyn, I've come so many miles just to get you. How about joining me in my car?"Yaslyn's day already started off less than ideal. She tilted her head up to look at Santiago, standing at almost six feet tall. "I've told you, I'm not getting in. What if something goes wrong with your car on the way? It'd delay me. I'd feel safer driving alone."Santiago replied mischievously, "Yaslyn, you have a car? Perfect! How about you drive me to work then?"Yaslyn laughed with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Why should I drive you to work? Do you think you're that special?"Santiago shrugged. "Alright, how about you drive my car and drop me off?"With a dramatic gesture, he pulled the keys from his car and offered them to her. "Here."Yaslyn casually tossed them back. "Keep them. I'm leaving."While he scrambled to catch the keys, she took the chance to make her exit, leaving him slumping back into his car, defeat
The lively chat room suddenly went silent as everyone focused on the upcoming battle between the two players.Santiago smiled mischievously as he showcased his impressive gaming achievements on his profile.'Who would've thought he ruled so many online gaming servers?'"That's because he usually streams on a different account. This is his other one.'"It's Misye! The one who shot up the charts to become the second-best after Yeilyn quit! He's now the top player!""Misye? Wait… Could it be short for 'missing Yeilyn'? Oh my god, they're in love!"For the first time, Yaslyn took notice of Santiago's ID. She looked at him as she considered the potential meaning behind it. In his eyes, she saw a silent confirmation of their shared history."Exactly as you think," he admitted.Yaslyn snorted. "Disgusting.""You might say it's cheesy, but disgusting? Seriously?" Santiago replied with a hint of amusement.He flexed his wrists and initiated a match. "First to three kills takes all. De
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