"I wouldn't like it.""Then, you must like me."Tyler's heart finally settled. He could handle everything else as long as he was certain that Zyra liked him."Maybe... Perhaps."Zyra could not understand her own shyness. When she was with Marcus, she had always been able to express her feelings with fervor. She had even pursued Marcus initially. However, she found herself tongue-tied with Tyler.The sudden shyness was bewildering, even to her."Would you like to be my girlfriend?"His sudden confession took her by surprise. Zyra looked up, her nose reddened from the cold as the car's heater had yet to fully warm up. At that moment, her wide eyes made her look like an innocent rabbit, inviting further teasing."Do you like me?"It took Zyra a while to muster that question. It might have been pointless to ask, but she could not think of any other way to respond at the moment. Anything she had to say would probably be awkward."If I didn't like you, why would I ask you this now?
Tyler rolled his eyes dismissively, ignoring the probing remark."Boss, here's what you requested," a voice interrupted.'Boss?'Zyra blinked, scolding herself inwardly. How foolish of her to jump to conclusions. Of course, he was familiar with his own store.The sales associate delicately placed a ring box on the counter, and upon opening it, a pair of dazzling diamond rings with intricately designed butterfly wings caught the light, leaving Zyra almost breathless."Do you like them?"Zyra was nearly left speechless. The design was extraordinary, surpassing what Zyra remembered of Yaslyn's latest collection."I love it," Zyra admitted.Without hesitation, Tyler slid one of the rings onto Zyra's left ring finger. "Wear this. Let everyone know you're taken."Blushing, Zyra stammered, "Isn't this... I mean, the ring finger... Doesn’t that mean one is engaged or married?""So? You are my girlfriend, after all."Tyler took the other ring and placed it on his finger. "You're neve
The three-day deadline loomed ominously. On the morning of the third day, Yaslyn was awoken by a chime from her phone, an anonymous message flashing on the screen.[Decided yet? If so, meet at our usual spot at 5:30 p.m. today.]The message had the unmistakable mark of Hendrix's foreboding presence.Rather than let the looming rendezvous stress her out on a weekend, Yaslyn decided to give herself a lazy morning. She tossed her phone to the side and, with it, the weight of the world, diving deep into the comforting embrace of sleep.By two in the afternoon, as she prepared to face Hendrix, Xoan awaited her by the door."It's time, isn't it?" Xoan murmured with concern evident. The issue had been haunting him just as much."What have you decided?" Yaslyn questioned, her gaze catching the mystery in Xoan's eyes."To be honest, I haven't decided entirely. Any ideas?"She found herself in a pickle. The person at risk was her own mother. Every step had to be cautious, every move calc
"Isn't that term enticing enough?" Xoan mocked.For Hendrix, that single condition felt like a blade held to his throat. His family had only one heir, Wrenley, his beloved granddaughter. If anything happened to her, the very foundations of their legacy would crumble.Wrenley was his shadow since she was a child, the bond between them as deep as the ocean. Regardless of the cost, he had to get Wrenley back."Fine. I'll release her mother, and in return, you give back Wrenley."His usual shrewd tactics were cornered. It was time to consider an alternative approach. Yaslyn was on the verge of agreeing since the proposal seemed a fair trade to her.However, Xoan, ever the strategist, pressed her hand in warning. "It's not that simple."Caught off guard, Hendrix replied, "What do you mean?"Xoan leaned back leisurely. "We feel that you stand to gain far more than we do in this transaction."Hendrix raised an eyebrow. "What exactly would I be gaining?""Wrenley is your flesh and blo
"Oh, it was priceless! Did you see Mr. Hendrix Jurado's face? It was stretched like a rubber band!"Yaslyn laughed so hard she could barely catch her breath."Feeling better now?"When Xoan addressed her, his voice softened dramatically.Yaslyn stretched languidly. "Absolutely delighted. I did nothing all day, got to watch a brilliant show, and even tasted victory."If only every day could be as laid back.As if reading her thoughts, a touch of warmth appeared in Xoan's usually stern eyes. "Don't worry. Whenever you want to take it easy, I'll ensure you can relax as much as you'd like."Raising an eyebrow playfully, Yaslyn teased, "Is this the joy of marriage?""I can make you feel this way every single day."The sudden romantic gesture caught her off guard, a pang of the giddy innocence from the early days of love tingling her senses. Yaslyn's cheeks flushed, "Don't say such things, especially out here!""It doesn't matter. It's just the two of us."Xoan had noticed long ag
Xoan's implication was clear.'You chose not to leave, so this isn't on me.'Unable to muster a response, Wrenley began to cry."That's enough," Yaslyn murmured, "Your grandfather will be here to get you soon."She tried offering Wrenley some tissues, but the latter swatted them away, her voice quivering angrily."I don't need your fake pity."Xoan, observing Wrenley's indignant reaction, remarked icily, "If I'd known you'd be this way, I'd have knocked you out when we brought you here."Each word he spoke, each hint of his disdain, struck Wrenley deeply.Xoan took Yaslyn by the hand without sparing Wrenley another glance, leading her out of the room. They did not bother locking the door behind them since Wrenley would leave soon.Approximately thirty minutes later, a representative from the influential Jurado clan arrived to pick up Wrenley. Following the agreement, they brought along a woman whose appearance was disheveled, with her once elegant features marred by smudges an
Yaslyn felt deep down that she did not even need a DNA test. She could instantly figure out whether the woman was her mother or not.The air grew thick as Yaslyn's voice faltered, choked with emotion. "Ma'am, are you…"When she saw Helen, she felt an overwhelming warmth. There was an undeniable resemblance between them. Yaslyn had leaped to the conclusion that Helen was her mother. The flowing blood, the uncanny similarities—there was no room for doubt.However, the woman before her seemed like an exact mold of Yaslyn."What's your name?" Yaslyn managed to ask.Tears welled up in the eyes of the woman before her as she replied emotionally, "Kadesha Carden."At the mention of the familiar name, Yaslyn froze in shock and disbelief. "Kadesha? Aren't you the aunt who died by jumping off a building?"Kadesha sighed deeply, her voice like a haunting whisper. "I jumped twenty years ago, but I didn't die."She paused, allowing the weight of her words to sink in. "Let me explain."Kade
The inherent difference in strength between men and women became painfully evident.Given Kadesha's frail constitution, she felt utterly defenseless in the face of the brute force bearing down on her. Tears traced a salty path from her eyes, wetting the corners of her lips."Please, stop this," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.However, to an intoxicated man, her pleas were inconsequential. He overpowered Kadesha, pinning her to the ground. As he pushed her down, her head struck the ground sharply. Dizziness overwhelmed her, and darkness consumed her senses. She lost consciousness.When she woke up later, she found herself in a hospital bed feeling weaker than ever. Gathered around her were members of the Carden family, their expressions marred with distress. Above all, Mr. York Carden's eyes shimmered with unshed tears."Kedesha," he whispered, choking back emotions. "I'm so sorry."Though the weight of anguish bore down on Kadesha, she mustered a calm demeanor. However,
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