"Yerick, you can't possibly believe that's love," replied Yaslyn with a hint of laughter in her voice at the absurdity."You've only ever acted for yourself, and it was out of selfishness. You coveted the Warren family's wealth, and that's why you plotted against Xoan. You claim you want me? That's just a game to get under his skin. Haven't you figured it out yet?"Yerick was deaf to her words, lost in his own delusions. "This is all nonsense! I did it all for us, for a future without worries!""Ever heard 'you can't turn a pumpkin into a carriage'?"Yerick responded with a wild laugh. "I don't care. I'll bend that pumpkin to my will and see for myself just how glorious it can be."Completely unhinged, Yerick was beyond reason.Yaslyn looked at the terrified assistant in his grip and steadily said, "So you claim you have feelings for me?"Yerick was caught off-guard by her question, pausing for a split second before nodding. "Yes.""If you're into me, how about we swap places?"
"If even you believe I'm wrong, I see no reason to stop now."Yerick was alone.Not even Yaslyn, the one he cherished most, ever truly understood him. Yerick could not quite put his finger on the feeling. It was a mix of heartbreak, despair, and a growing sense of hopelessness about Yaslyn."I might have let you go," Yerick whispered, the knife handle caressing her cheek, his tone soft but his words like daggers. "Your words cut me deep, Yaslyn. You don't deserve my love."Alarm bells rang in Yaslyn's head.In a heartbeat, Yerick's knife slashed the air as he aimed toward her face.She was quick, having sensed his odd behavior, and managed to pull back. However, his tight grip meant she could not escape a scratch.A crimson line bloomed on Yaslyn's cheek, and blood seeped out of the wound.Xoan's heart twisted with dread. "Yerick, don't do something you'll regret, or I swear, you'll answer to me!"Xoan's heart ached at the sight of Yaslyn's wound."Oh, does it hurt to see her
"You'll let her go if I agree, right?"Yerick nodded, his promise seeming genuine. "Sure. If you agree, I'll do as you say and let her go.""Then I'll take you upstairs to sign the contract.""What's this about going upstairs? Just print the contract, and bring it down."Yerick's impatience was growing, and his tone turned nasty—almost to the point of being unbearable.No one noticed how Santiago, who faded into the background, silently crept behind Yerick, ready to strike.Xoan kept his cool, acting as if he had not seen a thing. "How about we make a deal? You let her go, and I'll head to the office to get the paperwork for the shares transfer.""And why should I trust you? If I release her, what's to stop you from backing out?"Yerick was not fooled; he knew they were just trying to trick him."But snagging the president's seat isn't a walk in the park; it's up to the Warren family to cast their votes."Yerick barely gave it a second thought, his grin sharp as a blade. "Wel
'My name is Yerick, and I'm the Warren family's third son. All my life, I've lived in Xoan's shadow. I remember how he effortlessly scored top marks while I busted my hump and still fell short. Stephen and Sophie doted on him, of course. I envied him and his easy success until I caught him studying into the wee hours. That's when my envy turned to resentment. He was such a phony, or so I thought.'Stephen pegged him as the Warren Group's golden boy, with Sheldon as his right-hand man. The rest of us? We might as well have been invisible. I once asked Dad if I could join the company, even just to back up my brother. He shot me down without a second thought and told me to kill that dream and find my own path.'From the earliest memories I have, my dream was to be part of Warren Group. It was all I ever thought about, but I knew he was just making excuses to dodge the issue.'Truth is, he never really saw me as his son.'As time went by, Xoan took over the company, Sheldon climbed up
Life got back on track, but the absence of someone who used to stir up trouble left a hollow spot.Still, it felt like things were not wrapped up completely.Zyra swung by the Warren family's residence and latched onto Yaslyn's arm, giving it a good shake. "Yaslyn, you have to talk about what went down that day."Zyra had missed the whole event and was bummed about being out of the loop. She carved out time just to learn how the notorious Yerick met his downfall.Yaslyn's lips quivered, but faced with Zyra's puppy-dog eyes, full of a desperate thirst for the story, she caved."He took his life.""He killed himself?!" Zyra gasped, stunned. "Him? I would've bet he'd go down swinging and take everyone with him."That would have been Yerick's way, after all."You know, I always had this hunch Yerick had a soft spot for you. Never would've guessed he'd end it like that."Zyra's gaze fell on the faint scar across Yaslyn's face, and her heart twinged with sorrow. "I can't believe he
"Yaslyn, I know you're mad at me. If you hate me, I'll stay out of your life forever..."With Helen gone, Yaslyn was the person Josie felt closest to.Josie might have been naive, but Yaslyn never held it against her and always treated her like a true sister. Even after such a betrayal, Yaslyn had not scolded her outright.Nonetheless, Josie understood that some things could not be undone.Yaslyn sighed and softly replied, "You already call me your sister. How could I possibly stay mad at you? Sure, you lost your way this time, but you came back to your senses. How would I have the heart to abandon you?"Josie lifted her tear-filled eyes.Yaslyn smiled. "And I owe you thanks, too. You came through in the end and told us the truth in time."It was the night before Yerick was due to confront her when Josie appeared out of nowhere. With tears streaming down her face, she confessed the whole saga of her betrayal and the scheme Yerick was plotting against both her and Warren Group.
The weekend brought Zyra's engagement bash.Yaslyn, hand-in-hand with Xoan, was among the first to arrive at the venue. Zyra and Tyler were at the entrance as they smilingly welcomed guests.Zyra scampered toward Yaslyn the moment she spotted her. Her wedding dress swished around her knees, and her face bloomed like springtime. "Yaslyn, you made it!""You're absolutely stunning today."Yaslyn shared a quick, warm hug with Zyra, who leaned in to whisper, "Remember that guy I told you about? The one who seemed kinda familiar? He's here today, too.""What's up with him?" Yaslyn was clueless about Zyra's hint, just curious about her persistent mentions of this mystery man."Just come take a look! You'll get it."After a brief hello to Tyler, entrusting him with the guests, Zyra whisked Yaslyn away. Xoan was busy chatting with a crowd, so they slipped off unnoticed.Zyra pointed to a gazebo nearby in the backyard, her voice tinged with intrigue as she said, "See that guy? Doesn't he
"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, miss?"Gary knew who Yaslyn was. Her face was splashed across every news outlet, unmistakable to the public eye. Still, he asked politely, tilting his head in a courteous manner.With a smile that lit up her features, Yaslyn replied, "Yaslyn.""I'm Gary."After they politely introduced themselves to each other, Zyra quickly arranged for someone to take the two of them to change their clothes.Their dressing rooms were across from one another. Just before entering her room, Yaslyn glanced at him and felt a strange sensation in her heart.True to Yaslyn's prediction, Gary had not wandered off after changing. Instead, he was casually propped against the doorframe, waiting for her.He casually fished out a cigarette with a fluid grace, his fingers long and deft as they held the slender stick. "Do you mind if I smoke?""I have a feeling you're here for more than just a smoke, Mr. Gary Jentsch."Gary met her gaze but decided to pocket t
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