Zyra's voice grew more painful as she spoke."I looked for you for so long that I nearly gave up hope. These past years, I almost fell into a deep depression. If it weren't for Tyler sticking by me, I don't know where I'd be now."Yaslyn could not stand to see her friend in pain, so she wrapped Zyra in a comforting hug and softly ran her fingers through her hair. "Hey, no more tears, okay? That's all behind us.""It doesn't feel like it's behind me..." Zyra whimpered, her voice tender and vulnerable."You've been in my debt for years. It's time you paid up."Yaslyn could not contain herself and let out a chuckle. "Alright, what do you want from me?"Zyra nestled her head against Yaslyn's shoulder, her lips pursed in thought. After a moment, she said, "How about you let me spend some time with your 'little sticky rice dumpling'?"It took Yaslyn a second to realize that Zyra was talking about Matheo, whom she affectionately called her 'little sticky rice dumpling.'"Why don't you
Zyra, standing nearby, could not help but burst into laughter upon hearing the conversation. "Matheo, let me tell you, your dad holds the lowest rank in your house."Matheo gave Xoan a look of deep sympathy. "Wow, Dad, I didn't know it was that bad for you."Xoan's already gloomy face turned a shade darker.Luckily, Matheo was a perceptive kid. He caught the hint of displeasure on his father's face and figured there must be something Xoan was keeping to himself, so he let the matter go.A little later, Sophie returned with a plate of sliced fruit, and the three of them settled into the couch for a good catch-up. It had been ages since they had last seen each other, and the conversation flowed happily.However, Sophie's phone broke the mood with its sudden ring."Mom, Xora's in labor!"Labor was no walk in the park, and the news had everyone's faces turning pale. Yaslyn's voice was urgent, "Which hospital? We need to get there fast."Sophie nodded, her face tense with concern.
"Don't worry? How can I not worry when the kid's dad is in showbiz?"Sophie's words struck home for Henry and unexpectedly resonated with Zyra, who nearly choked on her water. "Ahem..."The mention of showbiz sparked something in Henry, and a sly grin spread across his face. He pulled out his phone and began to furiously type.Yaslyn caught a quick look at his screen and saw him on Instagram. With a moment's thought, she got the gist of what was happening. Surely enough, Instagram was in meltdown mode within seconds. A chart-topping singer had just dropped the bombshell that he was married and had a kid. Predictably, the application's servers buckled under the sudden surge of traffic. Yaslyn, who had been curious about his post, could not even get the application to load. After a tense fifteen-minute wait, the servers came back to life, and Yaslyn finally saw the full picture. Henry was beaming with pride as he shared the news of his son's birth. Yaslyn could only shake her
Henry's eyes sparkled with excitement as he heard the news. He raced into the room and stopped by Xora's side. Her eyes were barely open, and she looked exhausted. Henry's heart clenched with tenderness as he caressed her cheek."My love, you've been amazing.""It's nothing, really."Xora's smile was weak but genuine. Then, a thought struck her."Where's the baby? Can I see him?"Yaslyn, who was nearby, could not suppress a smile. "Eager to see the little one already? He's doing great. A handsome boy, snug in the incubator."Xora blushed. "It's just that I—"Yaslyn interrupted, "Now that you've had the baby, I've got a special present for you.""What kind of present?""I'm giving you fifteen percent of the company's shares."Xora's eyes went wide. "That's not right. I can't accept that."Yaslyn gave her a teasing look. "Why not? You've brought a new life into the world. Let this be my gift to you. You've done so much for me, and I've been wondering what to give you in return
Zyra was not exactly warm to the guy standing before her, but when it came to Shylah, she was all smiles. She could brush off Tyler without a second thought, but turning down Shylah, with her big heart and how she doted on Zyra, was a no-go. "Look, I'm not threatening you. Don't believe me? I'll show you the text from my mom," Tyler insisted. Zyra snorted. "So, you're saying you only came to see me because Mrs. Stone wants to have dinner with me? You wouldn't have bothered if she hadn't asked, right?" Tyler gave a resigned chuckle. "That's not what I'm saying." Zyra had played the game long enough. She crossed her arms and did not even bother to look up."Lead the way." Tyler went off while Zyra took her time, turning to Yaslyn to bid farewell. "Yaslyn, Mrs. Stone invited us to dinner, and it's not really something I can turn down, so I'm heading out." Yaslyn looked like she wanted to say more but ended up sighing instead. "Alright then, go ahead." "Thanks." Once Zyra
Yaslyn did not hesitate to turn down the Jentsch fortune. "Juggling the Lukesh Company is enough of a headache. Let Gary handle the Jentsch mess."She had not forgotten Gary's biting words. If she took over the Jentsch estate, Gary would never forgive her.Besides, Gary had already accepted her as his sister. How could she justify snatching the family legacy from him?Truth be told, she could not care less about the Jentsch empire. However, Yaslyn had not realized that Gary had changed a lot over the years.Quigley scoffed, "Him? All he does is moon over his love life. He's got no time for the family business."Silvestra and Gary... Were they an item?Yaslyn had been gone four years, and while the country's economy was stagnant, relationships had flourished.Suddenly, a gentle voice came from behind them."Grandpa!"A petite, soft, and chubby girl dashed toward them. Eyeing the two strangers, she nibbled on her lip."Grandpa, who are these people?"Though she looked a bit sh
Sheldon laughed, ruffling his son's hair. "No way. Tell them, Caleb, have I ever been tough on you?"Caleb smiled. "Never. You've always been great, Dad.""See? My boy's got manners."Yaslyn could not help but whisper, "Your boy, your boy, as if having a son's such a big deal. It's not like you're the only one."At the dinner table, Matheo's head shot up. "Mom, what's that supposed to mean?"Yaslyn was at a loss for words.Sheldon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, when are you going to change the kid's last name?"That was when Yaslyn realized Matheo still had her last name.Xoan, unfazed, just sipped his tea. "Why change it? I like it as it is."Sheldon looked at him, puzzled. "Xoan, he's your son. Don't you want him to have your last name?""He's Yaslyn's son too."Yaslyn's heart skipped a beat when she heard those words."Anyway, it's not like we can't have more kids. The next one can just carry my last name," Xoan added with a shrug.Yaslyn, her temper flaring, punch
In Jefferson City, Tyler lounged on his office's plush leather sofa, scanning the day's headlines with a frown.His assistant, no stranger to drama, watched with a mix of awe and anxiety."Should we pull this piece of news?"It was a bit of a scandal. The president's soon-to-be wife was on the front page for the thirty-eighth time that month!Last time, it was a kiss with a co-star that got blown out of proportion.Before that, a playful flirtation with a fresh-faced actor had sparked a fan frenzy.Before that...The words 'passionate kiss' emblazoned on the paper nearly knocked the assistant off his feet."We've pulled enough stories for her. She can handle this one," Tyler declared, massaging his temples to ease the headache."How come you're never angry about these incidents?" the assistant ventured to ask, noting the lack of expected rage."It's because they're all just her way of getting a rise out of me," he explained.Sweat trickled down the assistant's forehead. Some
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