After some thought, Yaslyn drove to the Dark Night Bar. The place was bustling with noisy patrons, and the flickering lights made it hard to recognize faces. Yaslyn studied the location on her phone and finally spotted the young girl not far away.She had shed her innocent student appearance. She was dressed as a maid, seated beside a customer who was forcing her to drink.Was that really the same girl?Yaslyn watched her drink in pain and was forced to smile, her heart aching at the sight.Yaslyn wanted to help the girl because her father had died in a similar situation—sick, without the money to pay for treatment. Yaslyn had been helpless, only able to watch him die in his hospital bed.That was why she had to earn money, excel, and have the capability to protect those around her.Yaslyn approached, grabbing the girl's arm and pulling her to her feet."It's you..." the girl said, eyes wide."Ruby, is this your friend?" slurred the drunk man, eyeing Yaslyn's beautiful face and
When Yaslyn woke up, Xoan was seated by her bedside. He looked as if he waited for a long time."Why are you here?" she asked, remembering how close she was to dying in the cold storage room."Did you save me?""Just rest. Don't worry so much," Xoan said, handing her a cup of warm water, his voice devoid of emotion."The doctor said you must stay in bed for a few days. Call me if you need anything, and don't try to tough it out alone."Although his words sounded harsh, Yaslyn's resistance toward him lessened, knowing he saved her life. She nodded and took a sip of water.After a while, her curiosity got the better of her. "How did you find me? Did you put a tracker on me or something?" she asked."What tracker?""How did you know I was there? I didn't send you a distress signal," Yaslyn questioned."A girl called me. She told me you were in trouble at the Dark Night Bar and asked me to save you," Xoan replied.Yaslyn's mind clicked, and she immediately thought of Ruby. Ruby m
Sophie glanced at Zaylee, her eyes filled with disappointment. Why did Zaylee not explain things clearly, causing her to misunderstand Yaslyn?"Yaslyn really doesn't like me, and I have no other way to make her like me. I just wanted her to feel a little better," Zaylee confessed, biting her lower lip. Her voice sounded pained, and her eyes were red from crying. Zaylee continued, "I didn't think this wouldn't make her forgive me."Sophie knew Zaylee was telling the truth and could only sigh. "You can't hit yourself, my dear. You'll hurt yourself. You're such a silly girl."Yaslyn glanced at them with a smirk. She saw right through Zaylee's act of playing the weak victim."Alright, if there's nothing else, you should leave now, Mrs. Warren. You should rest, not run around."Sophie felt awkward but knew she had jumped to conclusions, misunderstanding Yaslyn. She left with Zaylee, feeling both embarrassed and helpless.Yaslyn closed her eyes, but soon after, a knock on the door di
"I am a person first, and then a doctor. People have desires, and so do I."Yaslyn's phone rang, displaying Ruby's name. She took a deep breath."Fine, I agree.""Don't think about going back on your word after the surgery. Ruby's mom's aftercare will take at least three months," Yerick warned."I know, so hurry up," Yaslyn replied coldly."Don't be so fierce. I'm your boyfriend now. You should be gentler with me."Yerick stretched again, standing up. "Alright, I'm off to do the surgery. Wait for me."He pinched her cheek with a smile and left, leaving Yaslyn feeling utterly disgusted. However, she was in no position to refuse his demands. Having finally saved Ruby's mother, she could not let Ruby down.Yaslyn joined Ruby outside the operating room, comforting the tearful girl with a gentle hug. "It's going to be okay.""My mom's not going to leave me, is she?" Ruby sobbed."No, she'll always be with you," Yaslyn assured her.The surgery lasted nearly ten hours. Yerick emerg
Xoan had to admit that he could not stand it for another minute."I have to endure it for a couple of days. Right now, Yerick has something on me."Yaslyn looked up, not knowing why she wanted to explain it to Xoan. His expression made her feel inexplicably guilty."What does he have on you?""I helped a young girl save her mother, and now, Yerick is threatening me with it. I need to transfer her mother out of the hospital before I can break up with him. Otherwise, I'm afraid he might do something without anyone knowing."Yaslyn had already thought it through. As soon as she could distract Yerick for a few days and arrange the transfer, she would immediately break up with him."I'll help you," Xoan said thoughtlessly."I can handle it myself," Yaslyn replied, looking at Xoan, whose expression seemed slightly off.She smiled and teased, "Xoan, you don't happen to like me, do you?"Xoan did not rush to deny it. He looked at her and said seriously, "I have to admit it. I do like
"That's not pushing you away," Zoe insisted, "I'm advising you to think carefully. You're young. There are so many wonderful things in this world, so why must you cling to Xoan?"Her words were interrupted by a sharp male voice from the doorway."It's not her clinging to me. It's that I like her."Xoan stood there furiously as he listened to Zoe's attempts to persuade Yaslyn to give him up."Xoan, you're here..."Zoe became awkward, knowing Xoan had heard some of the conversation.Yaslyn could not describe what she felt. Her ears tinged with red."Don't come looking for Yaslyn again. Who I like is my business, and whether Yaslyn is there or not, I will never like Zaylee. Stop trying to persuade me."Xoan's voice was icy, standing in front of Yaslyn protectively.Seeing Xoan so infatuated with Yaslyn, Zoe's hatred for Yaslyn grew.Zoe's tone was no longer gentle and kind. "Your mother will never agree to you being together. You can only marry Zaylee."Xoan smiled mockingly. "
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. I'm your boyfriend now. Shouldn't you stay with me?" Yerick asked, his voice low as he grabbed Yaslyn's wrist, not wanting to let her go.Yaslyn was uncomfortable as she frowned, struggling to break free but unable to do so. "Yerick, you know I don't like you.""I know. I'm trying to make you like me," Yerick whispered menacingly, "Don't anger me, Yaslyn."Yaslyn stared at him, thinking that he was insane. "Why are you so obsessed, Yerick? How did you become like this?"Yerick looked at her with disbelief in his eyes and smiled. "Maybe that's because I've always been this way."Yaslyn was bewildered, unable to understand what had transformed the boy from a normal person into what he had become. "Enough of this."Yerick grabbed Yaslyn's hand, ready to take her out. A sudden emergency phone call about an urgent surgery stopped him."It seems I can't go out with you this time either," Yerick said regretfully, making Yaslyn sigh in relief."You
Yaslyn simply nodded, and they hurried to Ruby's mother's room. Ruby was at her bedside, crying and calling out to her mother, her voice filled with despair.Xoan reassured her, trying to calm her down. "It's going to be okay, Ruby. I'm taking your mother to another hospital now."He gently lifted Ruby's mother, placing her carefully in the backseat of the car, and then, with Ruby and Yaslyn, they sped to the nearest hospital.The hospital staff were initially reluctant to admit them. Xoan's expression turned angry as they stammered about regulations and policies."I'm giving you three seconds to decide," he growled."Save her or lose your job."They then recognized him as a member of the well-known Warren family in Jefferson City, quickly changing their tune."Alright, alright, don't be angry," the head doctor said, attempting to appease them."We'll take her to emergency care right away."They waited outside. Ruby paced anxiously, eyes locked on the red light above the opera