Zyra's eyes bulged at the sight of the two marriage certificates. "Hold on, where did you get these?"Had Tyler lost his mind in his quest to keep her close? Was he bold enough to flaunt a fake marriage certificate?"You do realize that forging a marriage certificate is a crime, right? I suggest you get rid of these certificates quickly."Zyra pleaded with him, her voice laced with concern. She could not fathom what had gotten into him. He was a lawyer, yet there he was, tangled up in something downright illegal."I'm a lawyer, so trust me, I know much more than you," he replied.Tyler rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Look, if I'm showing you this, it means it's legit evidence, not some fake stuff I cooked up."Zyra could not help but laugh. "You don't have to go to such lengths just because you want to marry me. When did we ever tie the knot?""That one night three years ago."Zyra's face went as white as a sheet. "You mean after we had drinks that night?"She did have a fuz

The Dark Night Bar was alive with energy at three in the afternoon.Zyra was in her usual spot, knocking back drinks like there was no tomorrow. She was on a mission to drink herself into oblivion, completely ignoring her usual limits.A few guys, drawn in by her looks, thought about making a move but were quickly shut down by her icy stare. There was the one man who did not take the hint and tried to get handsy.Zyra swiftly kicked him away. "I told you to leave me alone."Her martial arts training was enough to keep the rest at bay.Peace returned to her corner of the bar and returned to her drinks, hoping to wash away her troubles. Out of the blue, she pulled out her phone and called Tyler."Hello?"Tyler's brow creased at the noise on the other end. Zyra never wanted to deal with him, much less call him.Tyler's phone buzzed unexpectedly, the background noise loud and chaotic, his mind racing with concern."Hey, can you come get me?" Zyra slurred."Where are you? At some

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

"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

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?"