Being an internet sensation might not be extremely prestigious, but it gave a glimpse of fame. A handful of driven individuals, hungry for the rare chance, competed to be close to Yaslyn, hanging on her every word.Yaslyn studied the room with a discerning eye.Off to one side, a young woman sat immersed in a script. While the room buzzed with dreams of digital notoriety, she seemed singularly focused on her work. The script was thin, suggesting a part with few lines.In contrast to the heavily made-up faces around her, her natural face glowed with an unadorned beauty, punctuated by a striking mole near her eye. That small detail added a touch of mystery, making her seem less naive.Yaslyn approached curiously and gracefully took a seat next to the young woman. "What's your name?" she asked, her eyes softening as she smiled sincerely.Caught off guard, the girl paused before responding."Roselyn Schwarz.""A beautiful name," Yaslyn replied as she raised her eyebrow. "How about t
The girl stiffened, realizing that Yaslyn was referring to her. Scrambling to salvage her dignity, she stammered, "I never intended... I was merely suggesting..."Yaslyn silently closed the distance between them, tilting the girl's chin up, examining her features closely, and gesturing to it as she spoke. "Before we discuss the shadows in your intentions, let's address this. It's less than perfect."Used to a lifetime of compliments on her beauty, the girl's expression was sour. She was full of resentment, but she was utterly helpless. Towering over her was Yaslyn, the invincible president—an industry giant—while she was just a minor actress."You've misunderstood," the girl replied as she fought back tears.Whispers erupted among the onlookers. The president is fierce.""I'm glad it's not me she's eyeing.""Can you imagine working under someone like her?"The onlookers chatted on."Oh, be quiet. Remember, she's in charge of this production."The girl, thinking there was str
Upon returning to the company, Yaslyn expedited Roselyn's onboarding paperwork. She had initially planned to introduce Roselyn to her new workspace, but an unexpected call got her attention, leaving the task to Wade.Once in her office, Yaslyn unlocked her phone, fixating on a photograph she received via WhatsApp. The black-and-white still from surveillance footage unmistakably captured a familiar figure lurking in the shadows.It was Helen.[Yaslyn, this photo was extracted from surveillance in the area where Mrs. Carden might've been. Cross-referencing the image you provided, this could very well be her.][No 'could be'. It's her.][Alright, I'll check subsequent footage, figure out where she might've gone, and update you.][Thank you, Xora.]Yaslyn's gaze lingered on the photo, melancholy evident. An alarming realization struck her.The hospital in the background looked eerily familiar. It was the same one she had taken Skylar to.The timelines matched.That meant Helen an
The corporate building cast its hulking shadow across the front, where Xoan stood beside a sleek car. Dressed immaculately in a tailored black suit, he looked every inch the corporate titan he was reputed to be. The details of his face, from the arch of his eyebrows to the stark line of his jaw, all hinted at a calm appearance.However, there was an icy edge, sharp and dangerous, lurking just beneath.Yaslyn observed him from afar, her emotions churning. The analytical gaze in his eyes briefly held her captive. His irritated voice snapped her out of her daze."Why are you keeping your distance? Afraid of me?"Although his tone sounded annoyed, Yaslyn oddly did not feel repulsed or hurt. She inched forward, mentally chastising herself. 'Am I really this smitten?' she wondered.His presence was overwhelming, like standing at the foot of a towering skyscraper."What do you want, Xoan?" Yaslyn finally asked, struggling to maintain her composure. Surely, he did not come just for a mer
Had Yerick returned too?Marcus immediately frowned upon recognizing the man. "Who invited you?"Yerick responded lightly with a hint of amusement, "Mother asked me to come. Why? Am I not welcome here?"Yerick seemed unbothered by Marcus's annoyance.Marcus, always the one to speak his mind, said, "I can't believe she invited you, especially after everything that's happened."Yerick did not even bat an eye at his words, his response chillingly calm. "She raised me, and she invited me to her birthday. Is there a problem with that?"Knowing arguing would be pointless, Marcus shot Yerick an icy glance before retreating to the sofa.Yerick spotted Yaslyn not far away and smirked. "Yaslyn, It's been a while."She responded with a dry chuckle. "What are you talking about? We just met two days ago."The atmosphere grew thick and awkward, and the conversation stilted.Then, bursting into the room in her typical dramatic fashion was Zyra. "Why's everyone here? Am I late?"Her sudden
Zyra had intended to play a prank on Yerick, but, much to her dismay, Marcus became the unintended victim. Guilt welled up within her."I'm sorry. It was me, Marcus. I spilled the water on your shoes, and I accidentally stepped on you."With gritted teeth, she shot Yerick a venomous glance, silently cursing the ground he stood upon. What kind of person was he?Upon seeing it was Zyra, the storm of rage in Marcus's eyes faded significantly. "Oh, if it's you, it's alright. Just be more careful next time."Sheldon, never one to miss an opportunity for sarcasm, playfully slapped the back of Marcus's head."What's with the 'if it's you' nonsense? What would you have done if it were someone else, huh? Give them a black eye? Why do I bother with such a 'charming' younger brother?Sheldon's sharp words were familiar. Everyone was used to his wit."Sheldon!" Marcus grumbled, annoyed.With his shoes squelching uncomfortably, Marcus left the table, heading upstairs to change. Sheldon's te
Zyra's words resonated deeply, yet Yaslyn sensed a miscommunication in the room."Zyra, please don't be rash. It's not what it looks like, I—"Zyra interrupted gently with a sorrowful smile, "Yaslyn, I haven't jumped to conclusions. I know more than you realize, but I decided not to confront him directly."Yaslyn was confused. "What are you talking about?"Mustering her courage, Zyra declared, "We're all family here, so let's be transparent. Marcus, secretly seeing that woman and spending time with her in a hotel... Did you think I'd be oblivious?"Marcus' stoic facade fell as he struggled to find his voice.Yaslyn's heart thudded. "Is it true, Marcus?"She had always seen Marcus as a man of integrity, but the guilt evident on his face painted a different story.As the room focused sharply on him, he stammered, "Yaslyn, she's an old classmate. We met at a gathering, and my friends asked me to escort her home. I didn't know where she lived, so I took her to the hotel. I assure y
The driver was quite the conversationalist. He could not contain his delight upon seeing such a radiant young woman. "With looks like yours, I can't believe you'd ever struggle to find a boyfriend. My son might not even be good enough for you.""No worries," retorted Zyra with a hint of mischief. "Just share his number with me, and I'll chat with him on WhatsApp!"She immediately took out her phone, and they then exchanged contact information. However, when she saw the profile picture of a young man cradling a fluffy cat, her confidence wavered.From the backseat, Yaslyn noticed Zyra's sudden change in demeanor. With a teasing grin, she asked, "Having second thoughts?""Not at all! I've added him," Zyra responded, quickly confirming the new contact.The young man's messages seemed poised and aloof. His first text read a simple, [Hello.]A tad thrown off, Zyra responded with an emoji showcasing a somewhat morbid smile and typed, [Hello.]After a brief pause, her screen came to li
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