His apologies echoed into the void, unable to coax Zyra back to reason.In that moment, Zyra seemed to revisit her deepest sorrow, involuntarily curling into herself. "I was in agony, hating myself for not protecting our child, realizing he and I were done for good..."Zyra's heart was in knots, an impenetrable barrier to accepting Tyler, even for a day.Tyler stroked her hair, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "It's not over. As long as you're willing to look back, I'll be right here waiting."Through tear-stained eyes, Zyra looked at his strong jawline and kind eyes with a pained smile. "It's too late, everything's already too late...""Then tell me, do you still have feelings for him?"Zyra blinked back her tears. "I've always liked him. I've only ever turned away from his advances, never once denied my feelings."With those words, Tyler felt a sense of peace wash over him. "If you still have feelings for him, he'll make sure you're safe and never be hurt again."Zyra
For three long years, Matheo had been the big brother to a band of boys, and at last, his wish for a little sister came true.It was not that he did not love them, but somehow, his family seemed cursed with a streak of boys. Two years ago, it was Henry and Xora with their son—Arturo. Then, Brad and Roselyn welcomed Doniel Carden into the world last year. With Caleb already in the mix, that made for four boys.Caleb was quiet, Arturo kept to himself, and Doniel was a bit of a daredevil. Matheo, the ever-cheerful big kid, found them all a bit tiresome. He dreamed of a sweet little girl trailing behind him, calling him 'big brother' with a giggle that could stir him from the deepest sleep with a smile.That year, his prayers were answered when his godmother Zyra gave birth to a baby girl, and they named her Whitey Stone.Matheo was over the moon when she arrived. He paraded around with her in his arms, his happiness written all over his face.As time passed, he eagerly stepped up to
Matheo was aware that his recent outburst had been scary, but it was a spur-of-the-moment reaction driven by his temper. "Okay, I promise. I won't do it again when you're around."Whitey, still a bit stunned, nodded.After all, Matheo had always been a reliable protector."You're such a good kid. Tonight, I'll take you home for dinner," Matheo said, adding, "To my place."The whole ordeal seemed minor, but it was far from over.Blythe, the kid who Matheo beat up, did not leave it alone. He went straight home and told his parents.His parents were livid when they found out their kid had been beaten up. They went to the school and demanded justice for their son.Turns out, after piecing together the story and evidence, Matheo was the one who had laid into Blythe.In the principal's office, Matheo stood defiantly, not a shred of regret on his face.The principal was torn in two. On one hand, there were the rightfully upset parents, and on the other, the son of a big-time school i
"What are you doing down there?"With a grin, Matheo reached down and helped her to her feet. "You're a mess, all covered in dust from leaning against the wall."Whitey pouted as she frowned. "I was worried about you, Matheo. Your dad didn't give you a hard time, did he?""He didn't say a word to me. In fact, he gave them a piece of his mind."As Matheo recalled his father's commanding presence, a seed of aspiration took root within him. He knew he had to become a man like his father to truly keep Whitey safe. Then, no one would ever think of messing with her.Oblivious to his resolve, Whitey mistook his silence for distraction.She tugged at his sleeve, coaxing him. "Matheo, snap out of it. Let's go have some fun."Matheo glanced at his smartwatch and shook his head. "Break is almost over, and it's nearly time for class. You should head back to your classroom."However, Whitey was having none of it. The thought of returning to that dull classroom for another boring class was u
Time flew, and before they knew it, a decade had passed.High school had brought a new awareness to Whitey—the realization that boys and girls were different, and that made things between her and Matheo kind of weird.By eighth grade, she had put a stop to Matheo's daily school pick-ups, but it was not all that bad. Matheo had finished college and was caught up in the grind of work, hardly having time to hang out.Their rare run-ins were brief, just quick nods. Nothing that really shook her world.Whitey fiddled with the bread in her hand, lost in thought, until a glance at the wall clock snapped her back to reality—she was late.Bread clenched between her teeth and backpack slung over her shoulder, she dashed downstairs.Stepping out of the villa, Whitey's eyes landed on a familiar car parked outside. A black Maybach, the epitome of luxury without screaming for attention.Unlike Doniel, the wild one who loved to zoom by in his attention-grabbing pink Ferrari, creating dust stor
Once inside the school, Whitey quickly found her classroom, walked in, and took her seat.Her deskmate, Jade, noticed Whitey's breathlessness and offered her a tissue to dab at her sweat. "What's got you so spooked today? You look like you've seen a ghost.""It's even scarier than a ghost."Whitey had just managed to steady her voice when an announcement made her jump."All students who've arrived, please make your way downstairs to the central square for assembly.""Okay, we'll chat later. Let's head down for the assembly."Attendance was compulsory at the Monday morning flag-raising ceremony.Whitey nodded. She put her backpack away and followed Jade down the stairs.Whitey squinted against the harsh sunlight at the podium and caught sight of a blurry figure. Without her glasses, the details were fuzzy, but the figure struck a familiar chord.Jade elbowed her, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you see that guy on the podium? Isn't he just drop-dead gorgeous?""Gorgeous?"
Whitey was fourteen that year, and Matheo was twenty-one.Matheo was doing his usual after-school pickup routine. As he threw Whitey's backpack over his shoulder, a hushed gossip caught his ear from around the corner."There goes Matheo. Such a looker.""He's more than just eye candy. He's the only heir to the Warren Group, and he's super smart too. You wouldn't believe how many girls at our school used to fall all over themselves trying to be his girl.""Those girls from way back? Heck, even I get butterflies seeing him now."Matheo did not let it get to him. Nothing mattered more than being there for Whitey.However, Whitey was not looking too well. He thought she might be coming down with something. He leaned in, cupped her face gently, and after making sure she was okay, he let out a relieved sigh."I was worried you were sick. If you're alright, let's head home," Matheo said with a relieved smile as they walked on."Oh, and guess what? Mom made your favorite grilled fish t
From then on, Whitey made it a point to steer clear of Matheo.No matter how he grilled her, she stuck to her guns, insisting that boys and girls needed to keep their distance as they got older. However, that did not stop Matheo from drowning his sorrows more often than not.Her mind snapped back to reality, and she found herself face-to-face with him, words failing her. "Look, I'm fine, really. Please, just stop pushing me," Whitey begged, her eyes downcast for the first time.Matheo's words were lodged in his throat. They were locked in a silent standoff until Whitey had enough."If there's nothing else, I'm out of here.""Wait."The word froze Whitey's hand mid-reach for the doorknob."I need to explain about that day... I was drunk, I..."Whitey turned away, her face a mask of forced composure. "Matheo, I was just a kid back then, and I don't remember much. Let's just forget about it, okay? I treated you as my brother, no matter what."That simple plea somehow managed to
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