Upon being abducted, Yaslyn had not brought anything with her, so the opportunity to discover what was written on the back of the love letter was out of reach. However, she was sure Quinn was not one to lie."I understand.""You don't," Quinn interjected, pain evident in his voice. "If you did, you wouldn't be treating me this way. You wouldn't have fallen for..."Realizing he was veering dangerously close to saying too much, Quinn snapped his mouth shut. However, Yaslyn grasped the unsaid implications."Times have changed, and we've moved on," Yaslyn reasoned, her voice tender but firm."Perhaps it's best if some memories stay buried as bittersweet reminders of our past."It was an honest reflection. Even with her newfound knowledge of Quinn's sentiments, Yaslyn's heart had long since stilled its romantic beat for him."Is that truly how you feel?"There was an unmistakable hint of melancholy in Quinn's question.Yaslyn replied with a false happiness, "Of course. We're friend
"You don't need to know."Hilary's laughter erupted almost immediately. "Let me break it to you, Quinn. Yaslyn's heart is set on Xoan. She doesn't fancy you anymore."Quinn touched his chest lightly, his voice a soft whisper. "I'm aware.""Knowing that, you still yearn for her? Quinn, have you ever considered being with me?"Hilary had never been one to hide her desires. If she wanted something—or someone—she went after it with all she had. No exceptions. Not even for a man.Quinn responded bluntly, "I feel nothing for you. We'll never be together."Without another word, he turned around to leave.Hilary's voice trembled with a mix of anger and determination. "You may not feel anything for me now, but I'll make sure you do someday."From behind him, Quinn could feel the air growing tense, as though Hilary was balling her fists. He hesitated, sensing her persistence.In a move of defiance and desperation, he grabbed the nearest girl without a second glance, pressing a hasty kis
After ten grueling days of treatment, the final remnants of poison were cleared from Yaslyn's system. One morning, she awoke feeling as energetic as she had in her younger days. She was certain the treatment had worked wonders.That day, Hendrix came by for his regular checkup and noticed her brimming with happiness. "Seeing you like this, it seems your health has improved," he remarked.Yaslyn, animatedly recounting her recovery to Zyra, swiveled around at the familiar voice."Indeed, Master Hendrix. I owe my speedy recovery to your meticulous care these past few days."He chuckled, eyes twinkling. "You address me as your master, so it's only right that I take care of you, isn't it?"Hearing her call him 'master' was surprisingly gratifying.Yaslyn then brought up her earlier request. "By the way, Master, you promised that once I'm better, you would release me early."At her reminder, Hendrix's face darkened a shade. Yes, he had promised her, but letting her go would pose a p
The duo made their way to Jefferson City's sanatorium. Nestled in a quiet suburb, it was not far from the city center, yet its secluded location meant few visitors.Yaslyn had never suspected her mother, Helen, to be in a place like that. With the gravity of Helen's condition, Yaslyn had assumed she would be in a hospital, not a sanatorium—a place often reserved for those nearing life's end.The very thought that Helen went there accepting her death gripped Yaslyn's heart, wrenching it in a painful twist. Yaslyn rushed inside, longing for a glimpse of her mother, only to be stopped at the entrance."Who are you? What's your name? Show your identification," demanded the gatekeeper.Although her voice trembled with anxiety, Yaslyn tried her best to remain calm. "My mother is a patient here. Can you please let me see her?""What's your mother's name?"She bit her lip, uncertain if Helen might have used an alias. "Helen."The attendant flipped through a ledger, and his face took on
The word 'stronger' seemed odd when it came to Yaslyn. She was already a formidable force within Jefferson City. Everywhere she went, people accorded her respect.However, Quinn understood her intention behind wanting to become stronger. She wanted absolute domination, total control, so that she would never be led around by anyone ever again.Quinn felt a mixture of emotions. Choosing his words carefully, he replied, "You don’t need to rush things. The most important thing is...""It is urgent," Yaslyn responded softly but firmly, her fingers tracing the journal's edges. "My mother's death proves I was already too late."Quinn felt the inadequacy of his words and decided to steer the conversation in a different direction. "What are you going to do next? Collect Mrs. Carden's body?"The mere mention of her mother's body made Yaslyn stiffen. The thought of seeing her mother lifeless was an anguish she could not fathom.However, when she did lay her eyes on Helen, Yaslyn's grief was
Watching a fleeting look of admiration flash across Quinn's face, Josie's heart raced even faster. "I'm fine," she murmured.Relief washed over him. "Good to hear. I was genuinely concerned I might've failed to look after you and ended up with Yaslyn's wrath."Given that he had been overseeing the bar lately, any misstep with her precious sister would weigh heavily on his conscience.Josie's heart sank at his words. His concern was for Yaslyn's sake. She had hoped...Noticing the shadow that passed over her face, Quinn, mistakenly assuming she was recalling her recent tribulations, quickly reassured her,"Don't fret. You’re practically Yaslyn’s sister now. That’s a valuable shield. With that name, no one would dare harm you. If they do, just mention mine, and they’ll think twice."Josie felt a pang of heartbreak when she realized how much Yaslyn dominated his thoughts. Every other sentence was about her. However, she would never compete with Yaslyn for anything, especially not af
Yaslyn quickly put the recent incident behind her. She followed Brad to the backyard, which was not as extravagant as she had expected. Instead, it was rather modest. Even though it was her first time there, it felt eerily familiar. It reminded her of Helen's backyard style.As she walked further in, she noticed the trees growing denser, their canopies nearly blocking her path. Brad pointed to a house by the wall."Grandpa's staying in that room. Knock thrice before you enter."She nodded, figuring it was one of his peculiarities."I won't be going in," Brad said, eager to make his exit."Why aren't you going in?" Yaslyn asked, surprised by his impatience."If I go in, he'll just nag at me. He probably doesn't want to see me right now."She considered this and did not push him further. Approaching the ornately carved wooden door, she knocked three times.Immediately, an enraged voice shouted from within. "I said I didn’t want to be disturbed today! Leave!"From the vigor in M
Mr. York Carden gazed at Yaslyn, a blend of amusement and astonishment in his eyes."Even with everything that's happening, you still want to be with Xoan? If I remember correctly, he's about to marry the girl from the Jurado family, and their wedding seems to be just around the corner..."Yaslyn responded, "Indeed, their wedding is in a couple of days, but who said that a planned wedding is destined to happen?"Mr. York Carden's lips trembled with anger. "I warn you, stay away from the Warren family's affairs."Yaslyn's gaze was icy as she responded, an intensity in her eyes that momentarily unnerved Mr. York Carden. "I'm not meddling with the Warren family. I'm... seeking retribution."Mr. York Carden's eyebrows shot up. Seek retribution? 'For what?' he wondered."Do you know the real circumstances behind my mother's death?"Yaslyn's words jolted him. Realization dawned on him instantly.It hit him like a lightning bolt—Yerick!Mr. York Carden had entrusted Helen to Yerick,
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