Zyra had zero interest in chatting with her brother. She rolled her eyes and shot him a scathing look."You know, Tyler really went out of his way to chase you down, even buttering me up a lot. Should I tell him about your date?"Zyra clenched her teeth in frustration. "What's your motive, Zander?""Whoa, whoa, whoa, I'm not implying anything. Just thinking out loud, that's all."Zander might have been a jerk, but he could tell when Zyra was about to blow a gasket, so he quickly dropped the subject."Okay, ease up. I'll spill who you're meeting this afternoon. How's that?"Zyra snapped, "Spit it out.""Colt."The name hit Zyra like a thunderbolt.It had been five years without a single word from him. She had ignored Colt's advice and stubbornly returned home to chase after Tyler. Worried about Colt's reaction, she never reached out, and as time passed, their connection faded to silence.Why him, of all people?Zander let out a low whistle. "I didn't see this coming. Looks li
Zyra gave a disinterested hum, not bothering to respond.Colt, reading her expression, figured she was not in any real trouble and let out a quiet sigh of relief."What made you think of coming to this matchmaking thing? Did you lose feelings for him?"The thought sparked a flicker of hope in Colt. However, the woman in front of him turned away, clearly not on the same page as him."You think I wanted to be here? If my parents hadn't been on my case, I wouldn't have bothered showing up. It's just for show, not like I'm here to actually get hitched."Colt looked disappointed. "Well, that works for me. I'm just here for show too. If there's nothing else, maybe we should get out of here."Zyra nodded. "Let's sneak out before they come back."Colt let out a dismissive snort, "Why the hurry? Can't stand another minute with me?""That's not it. Didn't you say we're just here for show? I thought you'd be eager to leave."Zyra got to her feet and, seeing him still sitting, tugged at h
As the memories faded, Zyra looked up at the stoic man before her, her heart swelling with a mix of tenderness and remembrance."You don't have to be haunted by what happened. I've moved on, and you should too. It's time we both lived freely."Zyra knew he carried some dark memories in his heart, and it was those very shadows that kept him unwaveringly by her side. That was her wild card."Hearing you've moved on makes me happy, but I'm still not up for a drink," he said.It was not that the past had wounded him deeply, it was just that alcohol had become a distant memory, and drinking had lost its appeal.Zyra did not quite catch his drift but nodded anyway. "Guess you're on duty to get me home then."With that, Zyra dove headfirst into a drinking spree, glass after glass. As she drank, Colt appreciated his own sobriety more than ever.Men with roving eyes and bad intentions would linger with their gaze before trying their luck, only to be swatted away by Colt with ease. The wo
Colt dutifully drove Zyra back to her home.As he pulled up to the house, Zyra was a restless presence in the passenger seat, her cheeks flushed, murmuring and humming in a way that set the imagination racing.While Colt was unbuckling her seatbelt, she suddenly clasped her hand around his neck and leaned in close to whisper."I've got a secret to tell you, but you can't tell anyone else, promise?"Colt's heart skipped a beat, thinking she had mistaken him for Tyler. His face clouded over, but he managed to ask, "What's the secret?"Zyra was insistent, her voice tinged with a stubborn edge."First, you have to promise me you won't tell a soul about this."She added under her breath, "Especially not Tyler. He must never, ever find out."Colt, reassured that she was still grounded in reality, nodded with satisfaction. "You have my word. I won't breathe a word of it to anyone."With Colt's promise, Zyra began to spill her secret, one she had kept from everyone. "You see, people a
Zyra's rejection was as straightforward as it got.Mr. Stewart's optimistic expression faded, his hopeful eyes turning to Colt. "What's your take, Colt?"Colt coughed lightly. "Mr. Stewart, this all feels a bit too sudden and pressured. Maybe we should revisit this conversation later on," he suggested diplomatically.With neither of the young ones on board, Mr. Stewart's eyes dimmed with a hint of sadness."Alright then, if you two aren't ready, just spend some more time together. I'll bring it up again when it feels right. I guess I got ahead of myself," he admitted.Mrs. Stewart, arriving with two cups of tea, stepped into the midst of the tense conversation.Zyra and Colt were perched on the edge of their seats, fidgeting and unsure of where to put their hands. Mr. Stewart, on the other hand, kept turning away, his eyes frequently misty with unshed tears."What's happened here? I step away to make tea, and I come back to find you all acting so peculiar," Mrs. Stewart said, se
True to her word, Zyra called Colt the very next morning to arrange a ride to and from work.Seeing Colt pull up, Mr. Stewart's face lit up with happiness."My dear girl, I'm so surprised you've warmed up to him so fast. Don't worry, I trust this young man. He's got a good heart and he'll take good care of you."Zyra dabbed at the sweat on her brow. "Dad, I've known him for a good while. Trust me, I'm not the type to rush into a romance without thought.""That's great," Mr. Stewart said with a casual nod, then quickly stepped forward and grabbed Colt's hand."Colt, you're here early. Hungry? Come on in and grab a bite."Colt shook his head with a smile. "I appreciate it, Mr. Stewart, but I've already eaten. I'm just here to pick up Zyra for work."Mr. Stewart gave Zyra a mock stern look. "Making this young man come all this way just for you, huh? You don't live around the corner, do you?""It's no trouble at all. It's not that far, and it's the first time Zyra's asked me to pic
"I'm asking you a serious question. What's that supposed to mean?"Zyra's impatience lit a fuse in Haisley. "Seriously, Haisley, you're all up in everyone's business, but can you even handle your own? What's wrong with you? I told you I needed to change. Is that so hard to understand?"Zyra let loose without holding anything back, leaving Haisley speechless.After her outburst, Zyra's eyes swept over the crowd. Those who had been smirking at her expense suddenly lost their grins and looked away, pretending they had not seen a thing."What's everyone staring at? Don't you have your own work to do? Such a drag."Why not hit the books or join a class instead of hanging out here? Is everyone here out of their minds?"Zyra was known for her short fuse, but she had never blown up like that before. She had never cut with words so sharp.A girl nearby sensed trouble brewing and quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Zyra, chill out, will you? They're just clueless, that's why they
"You could record this whole scene and blast it on the internet. Go ahead, show everyone how I've supposedly been bullying you," Zyra spat, her composed gaze fixed on Haisley."You... I..."Haisley was a mess, drenched in coffee stains, but Zyra's words left her seething silently.Crossing Zyra in public was a definite way to stir trouble, and Haisley knew it.Although Haisley could confront Zyra about her faults to her face, she never took it any further."Zyra, I haven't done anything to you, right? Why are you coming at me like this? We're all part of the same company, and here you are, accusing me without any proof. You're just smearing my name for no reason."When toughness failed, Haisley switched tactics. She changed her expression to a miserable one, aiming to win the crowd's hearts.It worked. The onlookers began to murmur, their faces a mix of bewilderment and skepticism, clearly leaning to Haisley's side.Zyra could hear the whispers nearby."Why's she acting all hig
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