Chapter 11

Sandra wandered through the streets of New York, strolling along the sidewalks and curiously peeking into every shop she passed.A newsstand drew her gaze. Plastered on the front page of a gossip tabloid was the face of her well-known neighbor, paired with another photo of him holding a bouquet of flowers. She skimmed through the article in silence, her only response a faint bewilderment at how something as ordinary as buying flowers could be turned into news.Placing the paper back where it belonged, she continued walking until she stopped in front of a familiar coffee shop, the same place where she’d first met up with Jessica upon arriving in the city.A “Wanted Helper” sign was posted at the entrance. Peering through the window, she saw that, just like before, it was empty of customers. Only the elderly man and the plump waitress were there, their faces looking bored and gloomy.She continued walking until she came across a large shopping mall. On a whim, she decided to go inside.

Last Updated : 2025-09-02

Chapter 12

"Mr. Jerome Hernandez, back in high school your team won the state championship, and you graduated with a general average of 97. In college, you led your team to the NCAA finals and finished with a GPA of 4. How did you manage to balance your academics with basketball?" the program’s host asked with admiration."Ever since I was a kid, my parents taught me that before I could do anything I enjoyed, I had to prioritize my studies. If I wanted to play basketball, I had to finish all my homework first and once that was done, I could play for as many hours as I wanted. When I got to college, it was hard at first, especially with all the road games. But it all came down to time management, and eventually, I was able to adjust.""Who is your idol?""Michael Jordan.""With where you are in life right now, what makes you happy?""Winning games with my team and when I have free time, playing video games," he admitted with a slightly shy smile."Aside from basketball, in what other ways can you

Last Updated : 2025-09-03

Chapter 13

The Serenity City Café owner and the waitress were staring at the young lady clutching a piece of paper with the words “Wanted: Helper” written on it. She had a youthful, pretty face with smooth, clear skin and a calm, neutral expression. Her almond-shaped eyes were framed by straight brows with a natural arch, her lips were of medium fullness, and her nose was straight and well-proportioned to her features. Her hair was cut into a short, layered bob that fell just above her jawline, dark brown, straight, and neatly styled, with side-swept bangs that partially veiled her forehead. She wore a blue denim jacket over a black T-shirt, black leggings layered with slightly tattered denim shorts, red rubber shoes, and a body bag slung across her.“Are you sure you’re applying as a helper?” asked Mr. Juancho Castro, the owner who also the coffee shop’s cashier.“Yes,” Sandra replied with a smile.“Do you know how to wash dishes, do the market shopping, cook, and clean?” the doubtful owner ask

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Chapter 14

Jerome stepped into the elevator with a heavy heart. They had lost the game. It had been a tough match. They had a chance to win, but he failed to sink the ball in the final seconds.The elevator doors were about to close when a foot suddenly blocked them. His hunched-over neighbor stepped inside and took a spot behind him. She stayed silent, her head bowed. He stole a glance at her and was startled by what he saw, a large bruise on her forehead and blood at the corner of her lips.For a moment, he forgot all about his team’s loss. His mind raced with questions about what could have happened to her. Had she been in an accident? Was she the kind of woman who got into fights? Or did she perhaps have a boyfriend who hurt her?When the elevator doors opened, Sandra walked straight out without greeting or even glancing at her neighbor. She hurried toward her unit. Once inside, she quickly took off her jacket, went to the bathroom, and looked at her reflection in the mirror.“Tsk! Look at w

Last Updated : 2025-09-04

Chapter 15

“Please request me a jersey to Jerome Hernandez!” Jessica coaxed over the phone to Sandra.“Why don’t you just buy one? Do you really have to ask for it?” Sandra wondered.“Of course! I want one that’s signed by him and given to me personally.”“Jessica, a matchmaker blood doesn’t run through my veins, so don’t ask me to do things like that. Why don’t you ask him yourself? You’ve met him in person, haven’t you? You two were even exchanging the sweetest smiles.”“I just happened to ride the elevator with him. How would I know if we’ll meet again? So keep an eye out for Jerome Hernandez, okay? And don’t you dare forget to ask for that jersey. Bye!” Jessica ended the call quickly, not waiting for the inevitable complaint from the person on the other end.“Mylene!” she called to her staff.“Yes, Ma’am!” The secretary quickly went up to her office.“Call Mr. Sanchez of Just! Magazine. Tell him I agree to an interview and we’ll just let him know when."“Okay, I’ll call him right away," Myle

Last Updated : 2025-09-05

Chapter 16

“Ma’am, the sales of your new book Red Thorn are moving a bit slowly,” reported by Jessica’s marketing staff.“How is that possible when the book is always on the bestseller list?” Jessica asked in surprise.“It’s on the bestseller list, yes, but compared to your previous books, the starting sales of Red Thorn are significantly lower.”“Why? What’s the reason? My book received good reviews, didn’t it?”“Bluestar Books Co. hasn’t offered Red Thorn to their customers yet," the staff said.“Are we having problems with them? They’ve been selling my books for a long time, haven’t they? Why is this suddenly happening?” Jessica shot up from her seat at the employee’s words.“The company was bought out over a year ago. It has a new owner now. Actually, ever since the management change, Bluestar has only grown stronger. They’re now the biggest bookstore in the country, and they’re also gaining ground internationally, so we need to get on good terms with them as soon as possible,” the staff exp