Without so much as a glance at Zyra, Tyler strode out of the office."Hey, where do you think he's going today?"His abrupt departure was unusual since he typically worked from nine in the morning until half past eleven at night. However, he left barely thirty minutes into the work day. Where could he be going?The puzzled Xantara scanned the appointment schedule while frowning. "I don't understand. Mr. Stone doesn't have any appointments today. Why would he leave so suddenly?""Who knows? Perhaps he's got an urgent matter. Since he's gone, do you think I should follow him?"No sooner had the words escaped Zyra's lips than a quick slap landed on her head."What are you saying? Do you really see yourself as a leech with no dignity? Zyra, you're a superstar. Sneaking around like this is beneath you. Isn't it humiliating?"Xantara stared at Zyra with a mix of irritation and disdain. It seemed to her that Zyra, so blissfully unaware of her own beauty, wasted her stunning looks by sh
Tyler was still showing the other woman around the law firm while Zyra had already slipped away from the firm silently. When he turned his head back, his gaze fell upon Xantara standing alone at the reception desk, her eyes fixed straight ahead.To his surprise, when Xantara met his gaze, there was not the usual adoration in her eyes, but instead a flicker of disappointment and disdain.Disdain?He blinked, thinking he must have been seeing things. When he looked at her again, Xantara had already looked away, focusing attentively on the entrance."What are you looking at, Tyler?"The girl waved her hand in front of his face, bringing his wandering thoughts back to her."Nothing, Silvestra. Let's head upstairs."Silvestra Yates waved him off. "No need. Someone is waiting for me. Let's call it a day for our date, Mr. Stone. See you tomorrow."Tyler retracted his gaze, nodding gently. "Alright, take care on your way.""I know. Goodbye."Silvestra slung her small bag over her sho
The man who had been planning to play the flirtation game with her found himself intrigued in a whole new way."Listen, I'm completely overwhelmed. The guy I'm interested in is out there on blind dates with someone else, and I just can't understand it. What does she have that I don't? To make matters worse, he flaunts her in front of me, as if to make me jealous..."He offered a sympathetic pat on her shoulder, his expression turning grave as he echoed her frustration. "Honestly, there's no such thing as a decent man out there. Don't be fooled by their sweet talk!""I couldn't agree more! Cheers to that!""Sis, we've got to stand strong. The world's full of good guys. Don't get hung up on one loser!"They drank until the room spun, even calling each other 'sister' in their boozy solidarity.It all ended when Zyra's lightweight drinking skills caught up with her.As she lay face down on the table, a mess of vomit, the man had an epiphany.What was he doing there? How did he end
Yaslyn noticed that Xoan had become surprisingly bold since they had crossed the final hurdle in their relationship.Even at the dinner table, Xoan could not help but lean in close to Yaslyn and whisper sweet nothings as if he was afraid they were not close enough. He took the term 'hands-on' to a whole new level, going so far as to feed her himself.When Yaslyn asked Xoan why, he would just smile and say it was his pleasure before playfully popping a piece of fruit into her mouth. Yaslyn was not quite used to this level of attention, but she could not deny she enjoyed being pampered by Xoan.If he was into it, she figured she might as well indulge him.However, she caught him eyeing her stomach several times like he expected a baby to pop out at any moment."You're not pregnant, are you?" Xoan asked, casually resting his hand on her belly with a tenderness that suggested he was ready for fatherhood.Yaslyn swatted his hand away with a snap, frowning in confusion. "What are you t
Done?Tyler must be really upset.Yaslyn let out a long, heavy sigh. She could see the heartache in her friend's eyes and carefully chose her words."I get it, you might not be ready to hear this, but Tyler... He has deep feelings for you. That kind of love doesn't just vanish into thin air—"Zyra shook her head, cutting Yaslyn off. "He's already seeing someone else. I bet they'll be engaged, or even married, before we know it."The news hit Yaslyn like a ton of bricks. The more she thought about it, the less it made sense. To her, Tyler's love for Zyra had always seemed genuine. If it was all an act, then he deserved an Oscar award. However, if it was not, what was going on?Zyra caught the worry on Yaslyn's face and it crumbled the last bit of composure she had. She burst into tears and collapsed into Yaslyn's embrace, her voice trembling."He doesn't want me anymore. He brought another girl to the firm the other day, treating her just like he used to treat me..."Yaslyn's co
Yaslyn's interest was piqued as she saw the standoffish Tyler. "Zyra was right. You’ve become quite the heartless man, Mr. Stone."She clicked her tongue and shook her head in mock disappointment."I'm sure you didn't come just to chit-chat, Mrs. Xoan Warren. Why not get to the point instead of dancing around with small talk?"Tyler settled into another sofa with his legs crossed."Fine. Since you're being upfront, I'll cut to the chase. Is this rumor about you and Silvestra from the Yates family getting hitched true or not?"Yaslyn had done her homework. The new woman in Tyler's life, Silvestra, was the Yates family's prized only daughter, and they were a force to be reckoned with, especially in politics. No wonder Tyler's folks were fond of her.However, Tyler's response was cryptic at best. He met her gaze, unruffled, offering neither confirmation or denial. "What will be, will be."Yaslyn's gaze turned icy, her patience thinning. "Cut the poetry, Mr. Stone."That kind of ta
They were standing in a pharmacy, and it was not exactly private with others within earshot. It was a terrible place to ask such a question, but now it was too late for regrets."What's up? Missing me already?" Santiago halted, spun around, and gave her a roguish smile. His voice was lighter, teasing.Yaslyn caught a glimpse of the Santiago she used to know.He used to be so hard-nosed and stubborn, a real pain. However, he seemed to revert to the old days, back when he was simpler, more clingy. It was annoying, sure, but not entirely loathsome.Not like now..."No, it's not that," Yaslyn said.Santiago had braced for that response, yet it still stung a bit. "So, what's this all about then?""Why are you in cahoots with him?" Yaslyn's voice rose with accusation.Feeling the weight of a few stares, Santiago hushed his voice. "In cahoots? With whom? Don't throw around false accusations."Yaslyn was disheartened, he would not even own up to his actions. "There’s no need to act."
Xoan's urge to clear the air evaporated, and he shot back just as frostily. "What else am I supposed to think? What's your angle?""I don't even want to explain it to you."Yaslyn got up angrily and stormed upstairs, the news of her pregnancy she had been about to share completely slipping her mind.Xoan watched the door slam behind her, his frustration peaking.He was not in the mood to smooth things over, and after a moment of brooding, he left the Warren estate.Back in her room, Yaslyn's anger boiled over the longer she stewed. When she realized he was not coming up to make amends, she looked out the window to see him drive off, which only added fuel to her fire."Xoan's just a jerk who does not know the value of what he's got!" she grumbled.Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but her emotions were all over the place, dragging her down even more.'I just can't see the point in going through with this pregnancy. If your dad doesn't even care about your mom, how's he ever g
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