Jerome Hernandez was the hottest name in the NBA. He's an overnight sensation admired for his hypnotic moves on the court, striking looks, sharp mind, and refined demeanor. He embodied pure charisma. Yet, behind his skyrocketing fame, Jerome remained a humble, God-fearing gentleman who effortlessly captured the hearts of millions of adoring women. What no one knew was that he harbored a secret love for Jessica Lopez, the world’s youngest, richest, best-selling author. Jessica, with her beauty, elegance, and undeniable glamour, quietly admired Jerome as well. Their paths intertwined through Sandra Mariano, Jerome’s new neighbor and Jessica’s closest, yet undisclosed, best friend. Haunted by the trauma of her parents’ tragic death, Sandra lived a life shadowed by mystery and occasional bouts of multiple personalities. With Sandra’s help, Jerome and Jessica finally found each other and soon became the most envied couple in the celebrity world. But their picture-perfect love story was suddenly put to the test when Jerome began developing feelings for Sandra. Though he tried to resist, the pull only grew stronger until it became impossible to ignore. In the end, he risked his spotless reputation and credibility, silently confessing through his actions the truth he could no longer deny...he was falling for his girlfriend’s best friend.
View MoreMadison Square Garden, New York City.
The cathedral of basketball. The stage where heroes were born and legends were immortalized.More than twenty thousand fans rose as one, their voices merging into a thunder that rattles the rafters.
"MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The lights blazed down on the court, catching the flash of cameras and the sea of jerseys bearing his number. Everywhere, handmade signs swayed in the air…I love you, Marry Me, The NBA Superman, Basketball Superstar, My Future Husband, Please Be My Man!
And at the heart of it all stood the man they’d come to worship, the player who’s captured not just the game, but the hearts of millions.
"Jerome, here we are again for another walkout interview. Another 50-point game from you tonight. Wow! You never fail to amaze the crowd. What can you say about your performance?"
Jerome drew in a deep breath, his chest still heaving from the game. He wiped the sweat streaming down his face before answering with humble sincerity.
"First of all, I want to thank God for blessing me with another great game tonight. My teammates and I worked hard to execute our coaches’ instructions, and we’re just glad it all came together for the win."
"And what’s your message to your fans? To those who nearly shook the entire arena with their cheers every time you scored."
A warm smile spread across Jerome’s face. He glanced upward, letting his eyes sweep across the sea of roaring fans before raising a hand to wave at them.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, everyone. You’re one of the biggest inspirations and sources of strength for our team to keep pushing ourselves to play better. We wouldn’t be here without you."
"Thank you, Jerome, and good luck in your next games," the reporter said with a bright smile.
"Thank you, too!" Jerome replied as he made his way toward the locker room, stretching out his hands to greet the eager fans reaching for a chance to touch him.
He was Jerome Hernandez. Twenty-two years old and the very definition of perfection. Strikingly handsome, sharp-witted, kind at heart, and grounded in humility. A prodigy in the sport he had mastered, and a proud graduate of Harvard University, he seemed to have it all.
He played for the New Yorks Picks. It was only his third season in the NBA, yet his rise to fame was nothing short of meteoric, fueled by rare qualities not often seen in the league’s culture. Many players had reputations for being troublemakers, womanizers, arrogant, covered in tattoos, and, in most cases, college dropouts…. Jerome was the exact opposite.
From the moment he stepped onto the court as a rookie in New York City, he had captured the admiration and respect of countless fans.
They called him a generational player. In just his first two months in the league, he had already graced the cover of Sports Illustrated twice, back-to-back. His name had been printed in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, and online sites. He was a constant trending topic on social medias, a favorite subject of sports analysts, and his basketball highlights played on loop across countless sports channels.
As fast as his rise to fame had been, so was the magnitude of change in his life. The once simple, quiet days he knew were replaced by a life that was loud, complicated, and constantly in the public eye. There was no place he could go without drawing a crowd. Cameras and reporters seemed to shadow his every move, ready to capture anything even if it’s from the game-winning shot or to the smallest flicker of emotion on his face.
“Mom, please… just this once, grant me this chance. Let me be the one you listen to,” Jessica pleaded, her voice soft yet desperate.“I’ve told you countless times, I don’t want anything to do with that noisy world of yours,” Marta replied stubbornly, her tone sharp as the sound of dishes clinking under running water.The older woman still lived in the ancestral house Sandra had inherited. You’d never guess she had a daughter who was both a millionaire and a celebrity. Dressed in a simple housedress and apron, she went about cleaning the house, her hair tied neatly in a bun, with not a single trace of luxury on her.“Mom, this has nothing to do with the world you keep talking about. This is about the man your daughter loves.”“Love?” Marta scoffed. “Did that man ever love you for who you truly are?”“Jerome loves me, Mom. And he’s not the kind of man you think he is.”Marta let out a bitter smirk. “I know everything, Jessica. I know how your relationship with that famous man began. Wa
Jessica caught the look on Sandra’s face…the quiet disapproval she didn’t even try to hide. “You don’t know anything about love, Sandra. That’s why you’ll never understand me.”“I didn’t say anything,” Sandra replied calmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll respect whatever you’ve decided.”She turned to leave the office, her footsteps heavy, but something made her pause. She glanced back, wanting to ease, even just a little, the weight pressing on her friend’s heart.“Oh, and about Clark,” she added softly, “I just want you to know I’ve been thinking about what you told me.”Just as she expected, a faint light flickered in Jessica’s eyes, a brief spark of hope amidst the tension that hung between them.As she stepped out of the office, Sandra came face-to-face with Jerome. He looked startled to see her there, his eyes searching for answers. But she averted her gaze and walked past him with a poker face as if he were a stranger.She stood quietly by the elevator, lost in thought. Her mind was alrea
"Please, I need to talk to Jessica!" Sandra pleaded, desperation lacing her voice as the employees blocked her way to the office.“You can’t just barge in here, Miss!” Mylene snapped, clearly losing her patience. “Miss Jessica doesn’t see just anyone. If you want to speak with her, you’ll have to set an appointment first!”“I said let me in! Jessica, talk to me!” Sandra shouted, struggling to push past the hands restraining her.“Let her in!” Jessica’s voice finally rang out after a few tense moments of commotion outside.Everyone turned their heads toward Jessica, who now stood on the loft, looking down at the commotion below. Her expression was grave, her arms crossed firmly over her chest.Sandra met her gaze fearlessly, her steps loud and deliberate as she approached the desk. Jessica had let the chaos unfold before allowing her in and that alone stung.“Did you hesitate to let me in because you were afraid I’d bring up what you did at the foundation?” she asked with a faint, mock
Sandra couldn’t erase from her mind what had happened between her and Jerome. Every now and then, she found herself lightly smacking her own head in frustration.“What’s wrong with you?” Vicky remarked, eyeing her with disbelief. “You’ve been hitting your head for a while now. You’ll crack your skull open at this rate!”“I just remembered… a mistake I made,” Sandra muttered, wincing.Vicky crossed her arms and gave her a pointed look. “You and your blunders! You’re always getting yourself into trouble. What did you do this time? I just hope you didn’t get yourself hurt.”Vicky walked up to her co-worker and turned her around to inspect her. “Let me see. You might’ve sprained something again, or have another bruise somewhere!”Before Sandra could protest, a customer came in, halting their little exchange. She quickly approached the counter to take the order, two take-out chocolate chip frappuccinos. After the payment was made, she started preparing the drinks.But then Vicky’s eyes wid
When Sandra returned to her unit, she closed the door behind her with a weary sigh. The weight of the night pressed down on her shoulders as she sank onto the couch and buried her face in her hands. It wasn’t supposed to be time for her to leave...not yet. But lately, it felt as though misfortune had been following her footsteps, one after another, as if she were the very cause of it all.After a moment, she rose and walked to her room. The soft glow of her desk lamp illuminated the scattered pages of her unfinished manuscript. She picked up one sheet and read through the lines in silence. A deep sigh escaped her lips. One that carried exhaustion, regret, and something she could no longer name.Once again, she had a story that would never find its ending.The doorbell rang.Listlessly, she opened the door. She gasped when Jerome suddenly pushed it wide and strode inside without a word.He turned to face her, his face flushed and his breathing uneven. “Don’t leave!” he burst out. “I’ll
Jerome was quietly unlocking his door. He had just returned from dinner with his parents and Jessica. The door next to his unit suddenly opened. Sandra stepped out, her expression taut and unreadable. Before he could even greet her, she seized his hand.“We need to talk,” she said, her tone edged with restrained urgency.Without another word, she pulled him toward the elevator and led him all the way up to the rooftop.“Don’t you ever do that to my friend again,” she said the moment they stepped out into the open air. Her voice was firm and unwavering. Her eyes locked on his, leaving no room for doubt about how serious she was.“What do you mean? Did I do something wrong to Jessica?” he asked with confusion flickering across his face.“Don’t hurt Jessica’s feelings just because of me. I heard your conversation at the foundation!” she replied with her voice rising slightly.Jerome realized what she was trying to point out, and a faint, amused smile curved his lips. “Jessica is my girlf
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