However, as the woman approached the doorway, a little boy came, skipping and running excitedly.Yaslyn's face transformed at the sight of him. There he was again, the spitting image of Xoan! Her heart fluttered with unease at the sight of his face. Yaslyn was so tempted to drop her pen and dash after him for a closer look.She watched the boy run up to Youri, triumphantly lifting his toy as if it were a prized possession, only to have Youri snatch it and toss it to the floor. The boy's face could not hide his crestfallen spirit.Yaslyn remembered that the boy was previously with a woman of unremarkable appearance, not Youri. The boy's name was fake too, as Yaslyn found out.How did this boy know Youri?Suspicion crept into Yaslyn's mind. The situation was far from straightforward, and deeper ties were surely at play.She thus grabbed her phone and dialed a number."I need a favor. Track someone for me."...The book signing event wrapped up, and Yaslyn's thoughts turned to Zy
Zyra, though a married woman, quickly regained her composure.Colt watched as she snapped out of her daze, and a brief shadow of disappointment crossed his eyes."You got it now, right? Just like I showed you?" He glanced back at Rafael and caught a glint of jealousy and anger in his eyes. However, it vanished as quickly as it appeared, gone the moment Rafael turned away."I got it, Mr. Wafford."With an awkward laugh, Rafael stepped in between them and said with a newfound seriousness, "Okay, let's get back to the shoot."Colt gave them space, stepping back to let the filming resume.However, Zyra was stuck, lost in the moment they had just shared. She questioned what she saw, but Colt's gaze had been too intense, too real to dismiss.Colt...seemed to feel something different for her. Piecing together their recent exchange, she was convinced it was genuine.Her eyes clouded with confusion whenever she looked at Colt, and her performance suffered.The problem was not Rafael th
One afternoon, fresh out of school, Zyra had treated herself to a savory grilled pork chop. As she savored her snack, she spotted a classmate being harassed by a muscular man on the street.Driven by a sense of justice, she dashed over to intervene and hurled her pork chop at the aggressor. However, fate had it land on Colt's face instead, who stood behind the man.He barely enjoyed a few bites when the sizable chop hit him squarely and knocked him out on the spot.The man, seeing the chaos unfold before him, panicked about getting dragged into the mess. Dropping his threats, he bolted from the scene.Zyra, in her own chaotic way, managed to save the day.At the school's award ceremony, there they were. Colt, his face neatly wrapped in bandages, and Zyra, sheepishly accepting their honors. Their expressions could not have been more different.Colt was up there because Zyra felt guilty—it was her throw that landed the pork chop on his handsome face, sending the creep packing. It w
Zyra never expected to bump into Tyler here. She thought he would be at the office, buried in legal work.Noticing his tense expression, Zyra quickly stood up and put space between them."Why are you here?""I was just passing by and saw you. I didn't expect to find you two together," Tyler said, his anger cooling slightly as he saw her confused expression.Zyra offered an awkward smile. "It's about that thing before. He saved me, so I wanted to say thanks with a meal."Tyler's gaze shifted to Colt. "Weren't we supposed to invite him to dinner together?"Zyra's voice shrank, tinged with hurt. "You were always busy whenever I called you. I figured I'd just do it myself this time and not bother you."Tyler was on the verge of losing his patience when it hit him. He had been swamped lately and unintentionally gave Zyra the cold shoulder treatment. His expression softened from frustration to understanding. "Sorry, I've been a bit distant lately. I didn't mean to ignore how you've be
Tyler's car was pulled over to the side of the road. No one was aware of the white minivan speeding toward them from a short distance away. It was not until Zyra's alarmed shout that he grasped the impending danger.Tyler's instinct was to fling open the passenger door, urging Zyra to get out quickly.Zyra was pushed to safety but could only watch in horror as the white sedan collided with Tyler's car.A thunderous explosion rocked the scene, and Zyra found herself seated among the flames, her face smeared with soot.Only when bystanders came running did Zyra notice the car's front end was a mangled wreck.Tyler had been in the driver's seat. Had he stayed in the car, he would surely have been crushed.Tears welled up in Zyra's eyes as she stared at the twisted metal."Tyler!"She tried to rush forward, her voice breaking with sobs, but a passerby yanked her back, cursing as they clutched her arm."Girl, what are you thinking?! That car's a mess and could blow any second! Get
Youri merely wanted to rattle Yaslyn, to show her she was not someone to mess with.Youri snatched the contract back and ripped it down the middle. "If that's how it is, we're done here."Yaslyn's smile did not waver. "If you go through with this, I'm sure you'll come to regret it."Youri reclined, feigning nonchalance. "Is that so? And why's that?""Because without Lukesh Company, Linton Group's chip game won't get any further."Youri nearly laughed out loud. "You make it sound so easy! Sure, Lukesh Company's got a game, but it's not like Linton Group can't grow without you."Yaslyn's confidence was sky-high."We'll see who's talking nonsense soon enough."She rose from her seat. "There's more to the chip world than just Linton Group."Youri's smile faded as she leveled her gaze at Yaslyn. "I'm well aware, but as it stands, you're short a partner."Yaslyn whipped around, her face a mask of cool indifference. "What? Do I look scared to you?"Annoyance flared within Youri. Ya
Kadesha had a point.Quigley was a big deal—a name everyone knew on the rich list and the most eligible bachelor around. The line of women wanting to marry him would stretch from Jefferson City to Montena.Sure, Kadesha was cute and all. Still, she was not the kind to make a guy fall head over heels at first sight or someone people would go crazy over.When things did not add up, sometimes it was best to stop trying to make sense of them. Yaslyn told her to take it easy. She had taken care of everything, booked the tickets, and whisked her back to the capital—to dodge the drama for a while.Kadesha stood at the threshold of the Carden family home, her heart thrumming with a nervousness she could not quite explain.It had been years, and the butterflies in her stomach were undeniable. Even the sight of the once-familiar house seemed oddly alien to her.Yaslyn gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "This is your home. Just walk in with your head held high."Yaslyn had informed Brad t
Yaslyn felt her heart sinking. She made this journey for the Carden family's support, only to be turned down flat by Brad.The thought alone was enough to give her a headache.Of course, Brad could not stand to see her so defeated. "Don't worry too much," he said gently. "There's always a way out of a jam, isn't there?""But the group is under a lot of pressure right now, and we're running out of time," she replied."Do you have any other options?"Brad's words struck her as wishful thinking. If she had any other options, she would not have made the long trek to the capital.At that moment, Kadesha, who had been brooding beside them, spoke up with unexpected calmness. "Maybe, just maybe, I do have something."Yaslyn understood what Kadesha was hinting at, but she was not ready to jump at the suggestion."Quigley might be able to help you with this."Sure, the Jentsch family had made their mark in tech, but Yaslyn had not planned on asking for Quigley's help.She had toyed wit
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