Shylah was terrified, fearing the man would return. In her haste, she forgot to call 911 and bolted from the scene.It was not until she was safe at home that she realized Louise could still be out there. However, by then, it was too late for police calls. If she were the one to make the call, the cops might trace it back to her.That could lead to digging up the Stone family's dirty laundry.To save her own skin, Shylah decided to keep quiet about the whole thing.In the days that followed, she could tell her husband was on edge, though she did not know why.Looking back, it had to be that dreadful night.Shaken from her thoughts, Shylah faced Radman, her heart racing. "I'm so sorry."Radman sneered, "Sorry? How does being sorry help? Can it undo my mom's death? Don’t forget, my mom died because of you. You've lived comfortably for years. Didn't you ever feel a shred of guilt?"Shylah's head was bowed, her voice tinged with panic. "Listen, it's not what you think. I’ve been to
Zyra blushed and looked down. "I'm upset, sure, but I just want him to be okay."Yaslyn, knowing Zyra's heart was in the right place, did not dwell on it and led her straight to the lab.The lab was a wonderland to Zyra, who was so taken by the sights that her troubles seemed to vanish.Sherman was studying some data when he noticed Zyra. "Look who's here today!" he exclaimed with a grin."Hey, Mr. Foster!"Zyra greeted him with a smile and a playful tug on his beard.Sherman pretended to be annoyed. "Are you implying I'm old by pulling on my beard?"Zyra giggled. "So, Mr. Foster, what's all this about?"Sherman lifted the notebook in his hand with a sigh. "You'll need to check with Yaslyn on that. Here I am, far from my youthful days, yet they still have me bustling about with these tasks. It's tiring."Yaslyn winked with a mischievous grin. "All in the name of public service, right?"Sherman grumbled. "Enough chit-chat. I've got data to review."He spun on his heel to leav
"Relax, Wade. It's pointless to exhaust yourself over him." Engaging in an argument with someone so contemptible will only elevate your blood pressure without bothering him in the slightest."Understood, Yaslyn."Wade slouched down and stared sharply at Zaid, who instantly felt disconcerted."What if we do this? Give me two days. If I can't find someone else, I'll be the guinea pig for the experiment. How's that sound?"Wade quickly shot back, "Are you nuts? You're the boss. If you catch this bug and something goes sideways, where does that leave us?"Wade's point hit home as everyone nodded—except for Zaid's."What's the problem? She's the boss, right? Shouldn't she be on the front lines?" Zaid casually sipped his water, throwing the challenge back. "If you're so concerned, why don't you step up?"Wade's eyes blazed with fury. "Don't push me, Zaid.""Oh, look at you, ready to throw down.""That's it!" Yaslyn's hand thundered down on the table, silencing the room in an instant
Yaslyn finally gave in to Zyra's plea.To prevent mishaps, Yaslyn spent night after night in the lab and worked to make the new drug as safe as possible.Alas, absolute safety was out of reach no matter what she did. She could not even guarantee a ninety percent certainty. However, with Zyra's well-being on the line, Yaslyn could not afford to let her guard down.Xoan watched as Yaslyn worked tirelessly, and his heart ached at the sight of her in such a state. "You shouldn't run yourself ragged like this."Yaslyn massaged her tired eyes. "Zyra's at the hospital and is counting on me. Plus, the sooner we tackle this illness, the better. I can't keep her waiting."Xoan let out a weary sigh. "Okay, just promise me you won't push yourself too hard.""Don't worry about me. I have to see this through to the end of Zyra's treatment and handle any side effects. I won't let myself fall apart that easily."Then, as if a thought struck him, Xoan asked, "I heard there was some troublemaker
It was too soon to tell. Yaslyn kept watch over Zyra as Zyra rested.The nurse incessantly warned about the risk of infection, but Yaslyn would not budge."She's in this mess because of me. I'm staying right here, so don't fret over me," she insisted.The nurse, feeling a bit defeated and seeing her superior not minding, dropped the issue.Yaslyn got to her feet and exchanged a few words with the hospital's person-in-charge."Thanks for letting me give Zyra the meds. I won't forget what I promised you," she said.The man visibly relaxed at her words. "Good, good," he muttered.Yaslyn offered a small smile and handed him a slip of paper. "Here's Sherman's number. If you need anything, he's the one to call."The man's eyes lit up as he pocketed the number and left with a nod and a grin.Over the next three days, Yaslyn watched as Zyra slowly but surely began to turn a corner, and her fever improved. Yaslyn, seeing the improvement, became even more attentive in her care.It was
Zyra's eyes twinkled. "Don't worry. I'll be there whenever you need me, ready to vouch for you!""Great. Just rest up a little longer. I'll step out and grab you some food."Zyra's hand went to her stomach. It had been ages since she last ate, and she was starting to feel it. "Okay, I'll be here waiting."Yaslyn's smile lingered as she pushed the door open and left.Once she got outside, she peeled off her protective suit, revealing her clothes underneath drenched with sweat. Caring for Zyra was exhausting, but Yaslyn did not mind.The nurse who usually checked on Zyra was poring over some data.Yaslyn walked over. "Is it time for Zyra's check-up?"The nurse seemed lost in thought and jolted to attention at Yaslyn's words."Yes... Yes, it is."Yaslyn noticed her odd reaction and felt something was off, though she could not pinpoint what it was."You seem a bit out of it. Are you not getting enough rest these days?" Yaslyn's soft voice threw the nurse off balance."Oh, no, I'
Yaslyn eyed the girl quaking on the floor and asked, "Is what he said true?"The nurse's voice quivered, betraying her fear. "I..."Yaslyn did not need more than that to guess what happened. "Why'd you do it? Who put you up to this?"The girl silently kept her head lowered until she eventually spoke up. "It was my own choice. Nobody put me up to it."Yaslyn smiled wryly. "So you acted alone. Out with it, then. Why did you do this?"As far as Yaslyn could recall, the nurse and Zyra were not at odds. They were practically strangers. What sparked the urge to frame her?Yaslyn gave her a once-over, sensing she was holding back."I didn't have a big reason. She just rubbed me the wrong way." The nurse said it with a fleeting look of malice. "Why does she get to lounge in a VIP room with all the bells and whistles, while my parents are crammed into a crowded hall, their health not getting any better?"Yaslyn listened, finding the complaint logical but not quite buying it as the whole
Doctor Lacour's eyes lit up with realization. "Got it. You're saying that someone is making Tracy do these things, and our job is to smoke out the perpetrator."Yaslyn's smile widened as she shot him a thumbs-up. "Spot on. You're quick on the uptake. But keep this under wraps for now, okay? I'm not sure if I can trust you yet."Under Yaslyn's piercing stare, Doctor Lacour mopped his brow. "You've got my word. I'm tight-lipped. Won't breathe a word of it to anyone."Pleased, Yaslyn's intense gaze softened. "Good to hear. This stays between us and your crew. No one else.""Understood."With the conversation wrapped up, Yaslyn remembered her errand—she was supposed to deliver a meal to Zyra. She strode to the door, grabbed the bag from the nearby table, and headed out to see Zyra....Wade had been swamped with lab work lately, so Yaslyn had not bothered him with the investigation.That was when Xoan stepped up to the plate, eager to dig into the case.He was a whirlwind of actio
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