A hint of something sinister lingered, putting Zyra's instincts on high alert."Your words... They seem to carry a hidden threat."The man's hands opened in a gesture of innocence, though his expression betrayed a hint of frustration. "I get it. My words might come off as a little menacing and a bit too forward.""Maybe we shouldn't get acquainted after all."Zyra rose, ready to beat a strategic retreat. Lingering might lead into unknown territory."Why not? Aren't you curious about Tyler's news?"His voice was soft but pierced through her defenses, rooting her to the spot."Who are you talking about?""Tyler."At the mention of his name, Zyra's composure shattered, her eyes brimming with unshed tears."What do you know about him? How do you know our connection?"The man raised an eyebrow, taken aback. He had pegged the girl as an easy mark, but she threw him a curveball with her questions.Zyra's gaze was piercing, as if trying to drill through his facade to the secrets be
"I'm wide awake, so let's cut to the chase. Tell me what's really going on, and then we can go our separate ways," Zyra said, her patience wearing thin.The man chuckled at Zyra's fiery demeanor. "Easy now, no need to get worked up. What's on your mind? Ask away—I'm an open book."Zyra took a deep breath, her anger subsiding. "I need to know, what's your connection to him?"She was convinced the man before her had deep ties to him, his knowing demeanor was a dead giveaway.He nodded, as if to say she had hit the nail on the head."First things first, I'm Radman," he introduced himself.Radman Stone... It all clicked into place."And your exact relationship with him is...?"Radman rubbed his chin, a secretive smile playing on his lips. "What if I told you I'm his half-brother? Would you buy that?"Zyra frowned in concern. To her knowledge, there had been no divorce in the Tyler family. Was Radman claiming to be the Stone family's secret son?The revelation left Zyra reeling.
Zyra's brow furrowed in displeasure, clearly indicating that she felt insulted. "Please watch your behavior. This may be your territory, but I won't tolerate any foolishness, and I can't guarantee I'll remain calm."Radman could not resist smiling at her spirited response. "I must admit, you're quite spirited. It's no surprise my younger brother is so fond of you."He stepped back, giving her some breathing room. "Okay, okay, I'll lay off. You're just too cute when you're riled up."Her cheeks flushed with irritation. "Cute? How about you try being serious for a change?"His laughter caught her off guard. "I just gave you some pretty big news. What, are you going to bite the hand that feeds you?""Thanks for the info, but let's not mix things up.""I was only pulling your leg.""Well, it wasn't the least bit amusing.""Alright, if you didn't find it funny, I'll drop it."Watching her puff up like an angry cat, Radman reached out to tousle her hair but she swatted his hand away
Yaslyn's thoughts were cut short by a call from the factory.The latest round of drug trials had reached a critical phase—testing the first batch of samples. In a high-stakes game, there was no room for error. A single slip-up meant more than just tarnishing the company's image—it could spell disaster."We've got a major problem!"The alarm in the voice jolted Yaslyn from her chair, her long-simmering worries becoming a stark reality. "What's going on?""I was at the factory checking on the new shipment today, and I found everything's been ruined. I asked the factory staff, and they're clueless. They said everything checked out fine at the last inspection, and now, out of the blue, it's all a mess."Yaslyn frowned with concern. "Stay calm. I'll be right there."It was a close call. Had they not caught it, the defective batch could have wreaked havoc in the market.Throwing on a jacket, Yaslyn raced to her car and sped off to the factory on the outskirts of town—a mere thirty-min
Yaslyn's commanding voice sent a jolt through the man, and he started to trip over his words. "I swear, I don't know a thing. I was just here to mop, I-I...""Come clean now, and I might just let this slide."'What could a woman do to me?' he thought.However, the icy resolve in Yaslyn's gaze sent a chill down his spine, and his knees buckled.He pleaded, "Ms. Lyon, I swear, it was the boss who dragged me into this mess. I never wanted any part of it, but he threatened my family. I had no choice. Please, I'm begging you to forgive me. I've got my parents to look after and kids to feed. I can't afford to screw this up—if I go down, there's no one else to take care of them."Yaslyn watched his tearful display with a furrowed brow. "Just stay put, I'll get to you soon enough," she said with detachment.Turning to face the boss, she saw him sweating bullets. "Well? He told the truth. Are you still going to play dumb?"The boss shot a weak glare at his underling and forced a slimy gr
Yaslyn was aware that it was more than a simple case, and just nabbing the factory boss would not cut it. She did not have anything solid on the Linton Group yet. Youri was clever by using an international number to stay off the radar.However, Yaslyn knew there was always a way.That evening, Brad had dinner ready early. He went to get Roselyn, only to find her deep in sleep, a peaceful expression on her face. She had been running herself ragged taking care of Amelia.Brad watched her for a moment, then gently pulled the covers up to her chin, letting her rest.His sudden movement was enough to jolt Roselyn from her deep sleep. She blinked in confusion at the sight of him crouched beside her with a tender smile."When did you get here?"Brad felt a twinge of embarrassment as he realized he had just barged into her room uninvited and sheepishly scratched his head."I called you for dinner and got no answer. I was worried something had happened, so I checked on you. You were just
Brad struggled to keep his anger in check. "Just drop it? You're going to dismiss my feelings just because you think you're not good enough for me? Roselyn, do you have any idea how much you mean to me?"Roselyn did not want to keep talking about it. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she could not find the right words. "Let's come back to that later," she suggested.Brad watched her, a part of him wishing she would just escape the awkwardness, and he sighed. "Okay, I won't push for an answer until you're ready to give one. I just hope you'll give it some serious thought."Roselyn nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt as she saw the disappointment in Brad's eyes. However, she knew that sometimes, the more that was said, the worse it could get.The conversation ended in an awkward silence. Not quite a standoff, but Brad's enthusiasm had clearly waned, so Roselyn did not push for more chit-chat.Back in her room, Roselyn felt an odd soreness in her throat and a wave of dizziness and
Zyra's sobs cut off suddenly."Don’t get the wrong idea. I'm not trying to kick you when you're down. I just hate seeing you throw yourself away because I'm into you. You know, there are plenty of people who'd love to be with you. Why can't you let him go?""Who's this guy? He didn’t even bother to say hi."A familiar voice drifted from behind the decorative rocks, and Radman strolled into view, all easy smiles."Sorry for not rolling out the red carpet.""So, you're Radman?"Colt eyed the man with the beaming smile, sensing there was more to him than met the eye.He also realized, with a silent nod to himself, why Radman's friendly face had so easily swayed Zyra."Yep, that's me, and you are?""Colt.""Oh, Colt Wafford from the Wafford family?"Radman's eyes flickered with a shadow of something dark. He had not expected Zyra to be mixed up with a Wafford.Moreover, from their recent exchange, it seemed Colt harbored feelings for her too.That meant even more rivals for he
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