"Who's the artist you're talking about?"Yaslyn understood most of the situation. Another pitiful soul."Heh, it doesn't matter who it is. What matters is… All of this is your doing!"The man had lost his sanity. In his mind, all that mattered was capturing Yaslyn and tormenting her. He would only feel relief then. "You and Zyra, both of you are the root of my misfortune. You both deserve to die!"He pulled out a dagger and lunged at her. Yaslyn's reflexes were sharp, and she caught his wrist, pushing him aside. He fell to the ground with a thud."You!"The man did not expect Yaslyn's sharp reflexes. He was momentarily frozen, even forgetting to pick up his dagger."Spencer, I know you might be upset about being fired. You want to take it out on us, but do you really think you'll feel better after dealing with us? If I die, countless people will hunt you down. Your wife and children will be bullied. Is that what you want?"Yaslyn's words were powerful, striking fear into Spen
"It's all Marcus's fault. I wouldn't have been so angry and stormed out if it weren't for him. I wouldn't have bumped into the agent of my worst enemy and gotten caught."Zyra fumed upon remembering how intimate Marcus was with that girl. Her teeth gritted in anger."You're the one who's interested in him. You wouldn't be so mad if you didn't care about him. Now you're blaming him?" Yaslyn responded.Knowing she was in the wrong, Zyra quickly changed the subject. "I thought you came after me right away. Why did it take you so long?"Zyra's tone was not accusatory but rather one of curiosity."Because... I tripped over a dog on the way," Yaslyn said through clenched teeth."A dog?" Zyra was puzzled. "They feed dogs in the bar? That's strange.""Enough about that. You should go back and stay with your brother.""What about you, Yaslyn?"Yaslyn took a deep breath. "I'll walk alone for a while."After saying goodbye to Zyra, Yaslyn wandered to the riverside. The night was filled
Zaylee never expected Yaslyn to be able to find so much evidence against her. Fear coursed through her body, making her legs weak as if they would give out."What's the matter? Speechless now, are you?" Yaslyn laughed softly, watching Zaylee tremble."You were quite eloquent arguing with me earlier. All of this evidence I found is genuine, you know.""It's not true! It's all fake! You fabricated all of it!" Zaylee stammered, her voice shaking as she looked at Yaslyn's smug expression.The room seemed to spin around her.Yaslyn continued, "How about you explain how all this was fabricated? If you don't believe the photos, take the videos to get them checked to see if they're real."Xoan was shocked as he saw the evidence laid out on the table. He could not believe that Zaylee—the little girl he had grown up with and would cry over stepping on an ant—could do such a thing."Zaylee, explain yourself," Xoan said, still willing to give her a chance."I... Xoan, you know how good Mrs
Xoan said seriously, "When we were kids, Zaylee didn't like Yerick at all. He was gentle and seemed easy to pick on, so she looked down on him and stuck with me."Yaslyn could not help but tease Xoan. "Looks like you've always been a charmer since everyone loves you. No wonder she was drawn to you.""Enough with the jokes," Xoan replied."Do you believe me now?" Yaslyn asked expectantly."Yes, your calm demeanor compared to Zaylee's panic made it clear," he admitted.Yaslyn's mood brightened, and her attitude softened. "So, what are you going to do about it?""I've realized that Zaylee and Yerick are unreliable. I'm going to move my mother to another hospital. It's been a week, and she hasn't shown any signs of waking up. Something feels off," Xoan shared, his concern evident.Yaslyn winked at him. "Seems like you're not as foolish as I thought."Xoan stared at Yaslyn, relieved to see her returning to her usual self."Since that's the case, I'll help you. We can't let Yerick a
Yaslyn clenched her dress tightly, her heart suddenly leaping into her throat."So, what are you getting at?" she asked, feeling uneasy.Yerick revealed the truth without hesitation. "I meant to say that Zaylee is indeed the culprit behind all this. The deaths of Ruby and her mother were orchestrated by her too. Of course, I wasn't involved in any of it."His straightforward confession made Yaslyn confused.According to Xoan's analysis, the two seemed to have conspired together. Why would Yerick openly betray Zaylee?"What's your point?" Yaslyn asked, skeptical that Yerick had any intentions of helping her clear her name.Yerick replied, "I'm saying that if you agree to one condition, I'll help you prove that all of this is Zaylee's fault."Zaylee was nothing more than a pawn to Yerick. Since she was no longer useful, it was time to discard her. It would be worth it if he could gain something greater in return.The condition was tempting.Yaslyn had no other opportunity to gat
The night was hot and dry, filled with the loud chirping of cicadas. Yaslyn's heart began to pound, realizing that Xoan's words came from a place of sincerity."Okay," she said.Xoan was taken aback, taking a moment to process her response."You said you'd be with me only if I pursued you, didn't you?" he asked.Yaslyn joked, "By the time you pursue me, it'd probably be too late."Perhaps that was just how Xoan was—unromantic with no flair for passion. Yaslyn had seen Xoan's previous exchanges with his first love. It was bland and uneventful, even without a simple kiss.Xoan was uncomfortable. "So?"Yaslyn yawned. "So, let's go to sleep. It's late. We'll talk about everything else later."She hung up, leaving Xoan alone and secretly brooding.The next morning, Yaslyn woke up early to meet with Wade to discuss their next steps. However, she realized she was out of gas when she was about to get in the car.The place was rather remote, and finding a taxi would be impossible. Wit
Two middle-aged men argued outside, seemingly disagreeing over a parking issue. The man who was speaking seemed quite angry about hitting someone's car.Yaslyn thought the man looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was York, who went missing for a long time.He was dressed in old clothes that appeared to be bought from a street stall. The once lively and proud man turned into a plain commoner.She initially pitied him, but she dismissed the feeling when she remembered how despicable he was beneath his pitiful looks.However, when York turned and saw Yaslyn, a new idea struck him.Rushing forward, he pointed at Yaslyn in the car and shouted, "This is my wife! Let her pay you. I have no money!"He thought it would be no big deal to make Yaslyn pay since he was in that state because of her.The man seemed to believe him and approached Yaslyn."You're his wife, huh? Alright, he smashed my car, and it cost over a million. Do you want to use PayPal or
"I'm looking for Wade. Where is he?" Yaslyn asked the moment she entered the office.The executive pondered momentarily before replying, "He's away on a business trip and won't be in today. By the way, who was that man who brought you here? Is he your boyfriend?"Yaslyn blushed. "No."The executive laughed. "Come on. I have two kids, so I know these little secrets. The man looked quite impressive. Why not give him a chance?"Yaslyn raised an eyebrow, "You don't know him?"The executive was taken aback, "Who is he?""Xoan.""Xoan Warren?" the executive's voice changed noticeably.Yaslyn nodded, amused at her reaction. "What's wrong with Xoan?""Although many women would like to marry him, he seems too cold-hearted and emotionless. He wouldn't be a good match for you. I don't think he suits you… You deserve better."Yaslyn could not help but chuckle, remembering the man who had offered to send her to work in a helicopter that morning."Alright, since Wade's not here, I'll leav
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