"Don't be angry, okay? Please calm down." Yaslyn nervously gulped and stared at Xoan's chin warily. "If you really want, I'll write some for you too. Even more than what I wrote for him. Would that be okay?"Xoan's face remained icy, an arctic frost settling over his features. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, which evidently displayed his displeasure. "Do you really think what I care about is how many poems you'd write for me?" he replied curtly, his irritation palpable.Was he jealous? Could she not see that?"What do you care about, then? That I wrote to Quinn in the past? These letters exist, and if I say they meant nothing, you probably won't believe me. What do you want me to do?" Yaslyn's voice had a hint of frustration. It felt unjust, being confronted over things of the past she barely remembered.She dropped her gaze, her expression defiant."So now you play the victim, even before I've said anything?" Xoan's hard exterior seemed to crack at her show of vulnerability, his
The air around the table grew tense after Sophie's innocent remark. Henry, feeling the pressure, snapped back, "Don't you know that Xora has no parents left? Why do you have to dig into her wounds like that?"A shadow of regret passed over Sophie's face. "Oh, Xora," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't aware. Henry never mentioned it. I should've been more sensitive."Sophie was taken aback to discover Xora was an orphan. Seeing the young woman trying hard to keep her composure, Sophie's heart went out to her. "Xora," she said, her voice firm and protective, "if you marry into the Warren family, you won't be alone anymore. And if Henry ever dares hurt you, I'll break his legs myself."Henry blinked, a little taken aback by Sophie's protective fervor. He had hoped for some sympathy, yes, but he had not expected Sophie to take Xora's side so vehemently.Yet, seeing Xora's eyes glisten with unshed tears, he felt a pang of warmth. Perhaps, he thought, if
"Is it possible," Yaslyn began, her voice tender and caring, "that she didn't stop loving you but rather became disappointed in you, which led to her fading feelings?"Disappointment?Perhaps it was all rooted in the previous misunderstanding.Marcus lowered his head, trying to hide the raw pain in his eyes."You only see her moving on, but have you ever thought about who first betrayed the trust between you two?""I never betrayed her. I never physically betrayed her trust," he defended, sounding slightly desperate.Yaslyn sighed softly. "I'm not in your relationship, so I don't have all the details. What I do know is that while you were dating her, you maintained an uncomfortably close connection with another woman. It may not be physical betrayal, but it's emotional infidelity."Maybe those rumors and photos were fabricated. However, the bond you shared with the other woman? That's indisputable."You probably believed that keeping in touch with another woman wouldn't hurt yo
Xoan's jealousy was somewhat inexplicable. Seeing his sour expression, Yaslyn felt powerless to say much and decided to remain silent, bearing his mood swings."Don't comfort him again. If he can't get past it, then let him be. Just leave him be," Xoan said, a cloud of darkness unmistakably visible in his eyes even in the dim light."Oh, come on, don't be so petty," Yaslyn replied, exasperation seeping into her voice. "He's your brother. How could I stand by and watch him fall apart?""He's my brother, yes, but there should be boundaries."Yaslyn sighed and relented. "Alright, I got it. Let's go home now. It's getting late, and we should rest."Xoan nodded, taking her hand as they made their way back to the villa.Xora and Henry left early since they did not sleep in. Even after Henry discovered that his room was occupied, no amount of fuss he made mattered. He left with a comically aggrieved expression as Xora practically dragged him away.Yaslyn chuckled to herself, noting how
To the outside world, affection between a married couple had been transformed into a tantalizing tale, juicy enough for the office grapevine.As Yaslyn looked around, she saw gleams of amusement in her colleagues' eyes, a sight so mortifying that she wished for the ground to swallow her whole.Enter Wade, her savior in this moment of crisis."Yaslyn," he said, suddenly by her side, "we need to discuss something."Yaslyn shot a quick, mirthless smile at the gossiping horde. "Alright, enough idle chatter. Get back to work, or risk losing a month's pay," she warned, voice carrying a serious edge.The mere mention of losing money was like a switch. The gossip mill halted, and heads lowered back to work.She promptly dismissed the colleague who started the whole ruckus and followed Wade to his office. No sooner had she settled into a chair that Wade slid a contract across the desk."This is the contract we had with the Sachwell Group about an internet celebrity company. They want to
"Mr. Sachwell, you must be quite surprised. Wondering where I got these documents from?"Yaslyn dangled the contract before him with a mocking smile, delighting in his shock. "Don't look so terrified. It's not as if I'm going to eat you alive."Panic welled up in Jaxon. "Where did you get that contract?"Suddenly, he realized he might have exposed his true intentions when he opened his mouth. Hastily, he added, "That contract is a sham. I don't know where you dug it up from, but you can't use it to frame me."Yaslyn clicked her tongue in fake disbelief. "Fake? Why don't we have a look together?"Uncertain, Jaxon snatched the contract from her, his eyes scanning the document rapidly. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, dripping like a broken faucet. To his dread, there it was—his signature!Though just a photocopy, his name was clearly written, sealing the deal."This... This can't be mine!"He clung to denial as if it was his last lifeline, believing that as long as he denied
It was undoubtedly twisted logic. Anyone could see through it. However, Jaxon could not voice a single word of dissent."So, Mr. Sachwell, give it a thought. It's just one little request."'Just this one request?'Tyler emotionlessly added, "If you're not inclined to negotiate privately, we could always resort to legal means. However, once that happens, you might find yourself in the comfort of a prison cell."The message was painfully clear. Concede to their demands or face imprisonment.Jaxon tried to be positive, but inside, he was seething. 'The audacity of these two youngins! Threatening me like this… The nerve!'Jaxon was a man in his late fifties. If he ended up behind bars, he might never see the outside world again. His empire would crumble to dust.Taking a deep breath, Jaxon desperately asked, "How much of the stake are you demanding?"Blowing on her nails in a theatrical gesture, Yaslyn answered with a smirk, "I'm thinking fifteen percent.""That's ridiculous! I on
"Stay still. Let me hold you for a moment."His voice was muffled, face buried into the crook of her neck, behaving with the needy tenderness of a child. Yaslyn felt the intimacy of the moment, and she felt a whirlwind of emotions."Quinn, not like this," Yaslyn whispered, leaving no room for argument.Hearing the unmistakable rejection in her tone, Quinn released her, his expression disheartened. However, the darkness of the night and the dim ambiance of the bar hid his face, making his feelings unreadable."You're drunk. Maybe drink some water to sober up," Yaslyn murmured, finding herself uncomfortable under his intense gaze."I'm not drunk, I'm fine," Quinn tried to protest, but Yaslyn cut him off sharply."No, you're clearly intoxicated."Reading between the lines, Quinn realized she was using it as an excuse to distance herself from the emotions he revealed."Haha! Yeah, maybe I did have a bit too much. So much that I ended up embracing the wrong person."As he spoke, wi
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