"What's the big deal about pretending? It's not like it's real. My grandpa is adamant about meeting my girlfriend. Where can I find a girl that would satisfy his expectations?" Santiago said desperately.He looked Yaslyn head to toe and gave a nod of satisfaction. "That's why I think you'd be perfect. My grandpa, he seems to be quite fond of you."Yaslyn was puzzled. "Why would your grandpa like me?"Suppressing a smirk, Santiago shared, "In all of Jefferson City, who isn't aware that Yaslyn of the Lukesh Company is a gem, exuding both intelligence and beauty?""That's a bit exaggerated, isn't it?"Yaslyn knew of her popularity, but Santiago's description seemed almost exaggerated. She was unaware that before she was with Xoan, all advances from other men had been deftly blocked by Wade. After Xoan, no man dared to challenge his claim."The last time I mentioned to my grandpa that I had feelings for you, he was ecstatic and wanted me to bring you home."Santiago's face took on a
'Isn't a couple's date a tad hasty?' Santiago suppressed a sigh.If things kept going that way, netizens would surely link him romantically with Belicia. Yet, his genuine affection was for Yaslyn, not the manipulative Belicia.Upon learning of the plan, Belicia shyly cast her eyes downward. "Isn't this a bit...presumptuous? I've never been on a date before."Although starting a fake relationship with Santiago sounded tempting, she believed that over time, she could make it real and capture Santiago's heart. She schemed silently, unaware that Santiago was mentally cursing her.Santiago, knowing that he could not outright refuse, shifted the conversation. "There will be an additional cost involved."Yaslyn immediately understood. The 'cost' Santiago referred to was likely the favor of accompanying him to his family banquet."What else do you want?" she inquired.Santiago's lips curled into a sly smile. "I want you to stay at my place for a few days. If you agree, I'll happily film
"Have you gone mad?"Yaslyn felt a mixture of amusement and disbelief. How did Yerick muster such confidence?"Yes, you can think of it like that. I'll make sure you come back to me."Yerick gazed solemnly at the woman he had pondered over for a long time.Disgusted, Yaslyn turned to fling open the car door, only to find that he had locked it from the inside."Leaving so soon? Our conversation isn't over."Yerick's usually warm eyes suddenly became unnerving."I don't have the time or patience to indulge your delusions!""What if I told you I have news about your mother and Josie? Would you be willing to continue our conversation?"Upon hearing those familiar names, Yaslyn hesitated. Yerick caught her slight reaction."See? Those two will always make you listen."Yaslyn clenched her fists at her side, her gaze steadfast. "You truly are despicable," she uttered slowly."Watch your tone. Who knows what might happen to them?"Yerick's threat was veiled but unmistakable."Spe
On any other day, Belicia would have been captivated by Santiago's inviting smile. However, it seemed insincere, even taunting.Given their business relationship, she chose to remain silent. What would she achieve by airing her doubts?Deep down, she felt that Yaslyn stood between her and the prospect of becoming Mrs. Santiago Qasim.If only Yaslyn were not so remarkable, perhaps then Santiago would notice her."Belicia, what's on your mind?" Santiago asked, noticing the young woman in front of him suddenly staring blankly, a look of both fear and hope on her face. He found it unsettling.Shaking her head slightly, Belicia replied, "It's nothing. My contract has been delivered, so I should head back to work now."He responded with a casual nod, still wearing a smile. "Sure, you do that."Yaslyn had hoped that after their well-planned PR damage control, the storm of gossip would have settled. However, just as one rumor died down, another took its place.A new Instagram account,
Just as she finished work the following morning, Yaslyn's attention was drawn to a glaring red sports car parked nearby.She had never taken notice of the cars parked outside since Santiago's cars had always been more modest. However, that facade seemed to have been thrown out the window.The car door opened to reveal a man in a deep coffee-colored casual suit. He wore a radiant smile that lit up his face with an undeniable hint of mischief.His voice broke her train of thought. "Yaslyn, I'm here to pick you up from work. Ready to come home with me today?"With a scoff, Yaslyn thought, 'Switch outfits and he thinks he has changed?'To her, his words made it sound as though she was the daughter-in-law meeting the parents for the first time. However, maybe, just maybe, she thought, it's time to play along."I haven't brought any gifts or changed my outfit," she replied.Santiago gestured to the backseat, overflowing with an assortment of gifts. "I've taken care of the gifts, and y
If Yaslyn remembered correctly, Santiago's cousin was not the most agreeable individual.Yessica Quigg, having mastered the violin from a young age and clinched numerous international accolades, carried herself like an arrogant princess. Her fiery behavior had been infamous since her youth.Yaslyn had done her homework thoroughly, leaving no room for mistakes.Lost in her thoughts on how to handle an encounter with Santiago's infamous cousin, Yaslyn was snapped out of her thoughts when the man beside her suddenly stopped."Why do you seem so distracted? What's the matter? Are you afraid of meeting my cousin?" Santiago asked."Of course not. Why would I be scared?" she replied."If it's not fear, then nervousness?"Santiago’s face hovered closer, reading her reactions."Heard interesting stories about her, have you?""I've heard a few, yes. However, whether these rumors are trustworthy is another story altogether," Yaslyn replied, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere."W
The fierceness in Yaslyn's eyes gave Yessica a scare. However, she quickly snapped back, reminding herself that she was Ms. Quigg—the favored gem of her family. Why should she fear some unknown woman?"Don't try to intimidate me. I'm not afraid of you."Yessica dusted herself off and confronted Yaslyn. "Whoever you are, consider this a warning. Stay away from my cousin, and stay away from my family."Yaslyn smirked, taking a step closer. "If it wasn’t for your insistent cousin, I wouldn't even be here. Also, this is the Qasim estate. Who are you, Ms. Quigg, to make such demands here? Isn't it shameful?"The insult made Yessica's face flush with anger. "What are you blabbering about? This is my aunt's house. Why shouldn't I be here?""Perhaps it’s time you stopped treating everyone else's property like your personal playground," Yaslyn snapped.With a theatrical flourish, she brushed imaginary dust off her hands. "Since I'm not welcome in the illustrious Qasim home, I’ll take my l
Yaslyn turned to confront the man charging at her from behind. She gracefully evaded his wild attack. His bloodshot eyes stood out against the inflamed veins."It's him. He's the one who tried to kill me," gasped the injured woman on the ground.The man's face was smeared with blood, and it jogged a distant memory in Yaslyn's mind. There was a nagging familiarity about him."Who are you?" she questioned.Ignoring her question, the man lunged forward again, wielding a bloody knife.Yaslyn kicked the weapon from his grasp and twisted his arm painfully behind his back as he screamed in agony.Yaslyn kicked him and growled, "What's your goal?""I'm going to kill you!"Yaslyn was furious. "Why? We've never met. Why do you want me dead?"He glanced maliciously at the barely living woman on the ground. "I killed her, and you saw it. Now, I have to kill you too.""Why did you kill her?"He spat in contempt. "I was ordered to. It was a hit. What's it to you?"Her grip on his twisted
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