Silvestra and Gary eventually grew closer, and she could sense a delicate shift in the way he treated her.Then, one day, she realized that Gary was the boy she found bloodied and sprawled out on her doorstep.On a day when the sun was shining and the breeze was gentle, Gary confessed his feelings.Silvestra was a bundle of nerves, startled by his public display. Returning or declining his affection both seemed impossible, and she froze in place, flustered."What's the matter? Don't you want this?" Gary asked, the smile fading from his lips as he picked up on her unease. His hopeful gaze turned cloudy."Well, I..." Silvestra trailed off, her cheeks burning as she saw the hope drain from his eyes. She could not bring herself to tell him the real reason. "I just think I'm too young for dating, you know?"Gary's laugh was sharp with scorn. "Too young? Silvestra, you're twenty-one. How's that too young?"She had to know that excuse would not fly with him. It was a brush-off, plain a
"You came all the way back from overseas because of this?" Zyra asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and sympathy.She had heard bits and pieces of Silvestra's story before, but the depth of her friend's unrequited love was only clear to her at this moment. Zyra's heart ached for her."Hey, chin up!" said Zyra. She squeezed Silvestra's hand, her eyes brimming with hope. "He may have moved on, but he was a chapter in your life, and I'm sure there's someone even better out there waiting for you."Tyler and Yaslyn stood nearby, their silence a heavy presence. They exchanged glances but said nothing, letting Zyra fill the space with her well-meaning but scattered advice.Zyra urged Silvestra to let go of the past and to look ahead, to really consider what she wanted from her future and from love.After she had said her piece, the air hung heavy with silence. The others found themselves at a loss for words. However, before they parted ways, Tyler had a favor to ask of Yaslyn—
Although that was the case, the pair still waited for their DNA test results. Surely enough, they were related by blood.Gary examined the report and whistled in disbelief. "Wow, I've got an older sister I never knew about. Our old man... He sure got around.""Older sister? What do you mean?"Yaslyn was puzzled. She remembered Silvestra saying Gary was the Jentsch family's adopted son, and her own research confirmed it.Gary caught the look of confusion on her face and realized what she was getting at."Look. On paper, I'm the adopted kid of the Jentsch clan. However, the truth is, I'm the Jentch family's secret love child. Quigley had a fling, and here I am. He never settled down, always pining for some lady. I'm betting that lady was your mom."He did not say 'dad' anymore. It was just 'Quigley'.The sadness in his eyes spoke volumes about his loveless upbringing in the Jentsch household.Yaslyn struggled to find the right words. "So, is Quigley in Jefferson City"A spark l
A father in blood but not in actions was hardly a father at all.Influenced by Kadesha's stories, Yaslyn had formed an early opinion that the man was not good."Though we're related by blood, I see no reason for our paths to cross."He had easily tracked down Kadesha, yet he had made no effort to seek her out for twenty years. Yaslyn had no desire to recognize such a callous man.Sensing her aloofness, bitterness crept into Quigley's heart. "Yaslyn, I realize you resent me for not finding your mother."Yaslyn smiled faintly. "You must be kidding. You're free to make your own choices, and I certainly have no say in them.""I...""If there's nothing else, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me go.""Does being with me make you that uneasy?"Quigley's expression darkened. He had never imagined that his long-awaited daughter would show such aversion to seeing him. He could not deny the sting of disappointment."It's not that. I think you should consider if acknowledging me is truly ne
Quigley was a man of privilege, unaccustomed to such blunt treatment. Yaslyn's words left him feeling less than honorable. However, she was his long-lost daughter, so he held back any harsh words."Yaslyn, I..."Her demeanor remained frosty. "Fine. Mr. Quigley Jentsch, if there's nothing else, I'm out of here."With that, Yaslyn turned around and walked off with the butler scurrying after her.Once Yaslyn was gone, Quigley exhaled a heavy sigh."Gary, think about it. Have I ever shortchanged you? I've given you the best education and a hefty allowance. Now, you're even running the Jentsch empire."Quigley figured he had handed over everything a kid could want except for that pesky thing called fatherly love, which he considered trivial. However, Gary was like a black hole of dissatisfaction, craving the very affection and attention Quigley had no intention of providing.Every time Quigley looked at Gary, he was haunted by the memory of that woman from over two decades ago, clawi
The visit turned out to be another disappointment. The butler instructed them to leave the items at the door and left dejectedly.Yaslyn had hoped the drama with the Jentsch family was finally behind her, and that she could look forward to some quiet days ahead. However, life had other plans.Out of the blue, her phone rang—it was Kadesha. She had not told Kadesha about the whole mess yet, and her call made Yaslyn panic. She knew all too well that Quigley was the type to take matters into his own hands, maybe even snatch Kadesha if he felt like it."Mom, what's up? You're not in trouble, are you?"Kadesha's voice came through, tinged with concern. She had only wanted to chat about the odd thing that happened to her that day, but Yaslyn's anxious tone threw her off."I'm okay, but why do you sound so worried?""Oh, no reason... I'm just glad you're okay, but what made you call out of the blue?"Kadesha had been tiptoeing around Yaslyn, not wanting to be a nuisance since she was m
Yaslyn's thoughts were a tangled mess. She could not make sense of the situation and decided the only thing to do was to get out of the villa.Calling the cops was not an option. If she ticked off the wrong person, who knew what they would do to Kadesha?By the time Yaslyn got home, Quigley was already there waiting, looking sharp in his suit and overcoat. His hand was ice-cold on hers, sending a shiver down her spine."What happened to your mom? What's really going on?"Quigley sounded genuinely panicked, not like he was putting on an act. She figured he could not be behind it since he was not that good of an actor.Yaslyn bit her lip, holding back a flood of emotions. "My mom... She's been kidnapped."The word 'kidnapped' made Quigley frown with worry. "An enemy?"She had already scratched Quigley off her suspect list and was running through who else it could be.Who else had a grudge against her?Yaslyn took a deep breath. "I've got a hunch. I'm going to call her right now.
"I'm actually embarrassed for you. I overestimated your cleverness, only to find you're as headstrong as they come."Hendrix had expected her to come prepared, to see through the simplest of tricks. However, Yaslyn had taken the bait of a secret passage, charging in solo without a second thought.Disappointment flashed in Hendrix's eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came."Have you poisoned this room?"Yaslyn could barely muster the strength to move, her arms like lead, yet her mind was razor-sharp."You're really on edge, not even picking up on the drug-laced air here."Yaslyn had no choice but to hurl insults. "You're despicable."Hendrix's laughter was unrestrained. "Ever wonder why I went to such lengths to lure you here? Your mother was a treasure trove of remedies, and you're no different."With a casual gesture, Hendrix summoned two men from the shadows. "Take the woman on the floor back to her place and tie this one up in the back room."A chill flashed in Yaslyn's
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