36/40

남편의 컴퓨터를 닦아주다 나는 실수로 파일 하나를 열게 되었다. 안에는 입에 담을 수 없을 정도의 수위를 가진 영상이 만 개 남짓하게 들어 있었다. 주인공은 바로 남편과 여태 결혼하지 않은 친구 윤아였다. 내가 아이를 낳고 얼마 지나지 않아 남편은 몸을 상해 더는 잠자리를 가질 수 없게 되었다며 플라토닉 연애를 하자고 했고 그렇게 40년간 내게 손도 대지 않았다. 반평생 그를 위해 아이를 낳고 키우면서 살아온 내게 돌아온 건 완벽하게 포장된 거짓말뿐이었다.

The day that I divorced my third husband, the system told me that I had completely failed my mission. I had married three times in this world and they were all targets that were supposed to fall for me. But every single one of them chose to divorce me because of Wendy Somerfield. The system pitied me for doing my best for the past 30 years, so it asked me to target my son. It said that if my son could confidently choose me, between me and Wendy, then I could live. However, it was no exception that the son I gave birth to after 40 weeks of pregnancy chose Wendy, just like my three ex-husbands. They all even pinned the cause of Wendy's illness on me. My first husband, who was my childhood sweetheart, pretended to be softhearted, but he was actually ruthless. He actually tried to convince me to donate one of my kidneys to Wendy. My second husband, who I met on a blind date, used a scalpel to personally cut open my body. My third husband, who I fell in love with at first sight, even threatened me with my son. While spitting out blood from my mouth, I agreed to their requests with a smile. However, when they saw me being pushed out of the operating room, those people who turned their backs on me went crazy.

"Ang Lihim ng Pusong Ipinagbabawal" Akira Quezon, mas kilalang Kira, ay isang dalagang may matamis na ngiti at pusong tapat. Sa kabila ng kanyang kabataan, isang lihim na pag-ibig ang matagal na niyang kinikimkim — isang damdaming itinakda ng tadhana ngunit ipinagbabawal ng lipunan. Ang kanyang puso ay patuloy na tumitibok para kay Axel, ang kanyang gwapong at misteryosong Ninong, na sa kabila ng kanyang 40 taon ay nananatiling makisig at mapanukso. Ngunit sa bawat titig at lihim na ngiti ay nagkukubli ang isang masalimuot na nakaraan. Si Axel ay isang lalaking tila binabalot ng anino ng kanyang sariling mga sikreto. Sa pagitan ng kanilang mga tahimik na sulyap at hindi maipaliwanag na paglalapit, bumabalot ang tanong — hanggang saan kayang ipaglaban ang isang pagmamahal na labag sa lahat ng nakasanayan? Habang unti-unting nahuhubaran ang mga lihim, matutuklasan ni Kira na ang lalaking kanyang iniibig ay may mga sugat ng kahapon na pilit niyang tinatago. Sa pagitan ng katotohanan at pagnanasa, kailangan nilang harapin ang kanilang mga kinatatakutan. Magtatagumpay ba ang pagmamahal nila, o tuluyan silang malulunod sa mga anino ng nakaraan?

Tyler Zimmerman had only 36 hours left to get married. Otherwise, his father’s business empire will be reduced to nothing by his step mother. However, his father added a stipulation in his will that he can marry anyone except Sophia. General Max came up with a solution, under the guise of marriage they're going to hit two birds with one stone. Protecting Jade to carry out her mission without being suspected as their informant and satisfying the conditions of his father's will to obtain his inheritance. Despite himself he married Jade Leitner, the expert hacker who wanted to avenge the death of her parents. But along their mission, an unexpected thing happened…. "What have I done to deserve this? What was my crime that you're punishing me for?" Jade eyed him, seeking an answer. "You left and robbed me." Jade's eyes grew wide in shock. "No, I didn't take anything from you, you must be wrong." With a smirk he said, "I'm an honest man and wouldn't fabricate a story." "What did I steal from you?" Jade shook her head, trying to make sense of what he was saying. "You stole my heart," Tyler bared his heart to her without holding back. Finding his confession ridiculous, Jade let out a humorless chuckle. "You made a mistake, Sophia is the real culprit." "I'm certain, you are the thief who stole my heart," Tyler insisted. "If you say so, I'm giving your heart back," Jade was stone-faced, her voice edged with scorn. "Don't give it back, I'll steal your heart and we'll get even," he said and reached out to caress her face but Jade dodged his touch. "You have nothing to steal from me anymore as I don't have my heart with me. I have given it away," Jade said emotionlessly.

They say life begins after 40, but Cassie ain't feelin' it. Divorced and feeling trapped by her job, she wants to let loose for her friend's tropical beach wedding. She decides to let her hair down and get a little unpredictable. That's when she meets a handsome bartender, Wyatt. Despite a few grey hairs, Wyatt's the liveliest man that Cassie has ever met. She knows that there's got to be more to his life story than just being a bartender, but this is just supposed to be a vacation fling. And after sunny days spent breaking all the rules on the beach together, Cassie realizes that nobody has ever listened to her the way that Wyatt does. His carefree life is enviable, his kisses are intoxicating, and she can almost imagine a life with him. But all vacations come to an end. And when Cassie invites him to visit her hometown, Wyatt reveals that he can never go back. Not to her town. Not to America. Not to civilization. Cassie leaves, confused and heartbroken, wondering just who she got herself involved with. Suddenly, her predictable life gets turned upside down when she sees her picture splashed across the Internet. And when the tabloids come looking for the mature woman who found the lost billionaire, she has no idea what to do... ...until he comes back.

난 알몸으로 냉동고에 갇힌 지 40일째였다. 그리고 모자이크 없이 찍힌 사진들이 온라인에서 미친 듯이 퍼져 나갔다. 쏟아지는 온갖 루머 속에서 어머니는 그 사진을 무심히 공유하며 내 동생에게 다정하게 말했다. “연예계는 이렇게 더러운 곳이야. 넌 그냥 네 언니 유산이나 잘 물려받으면 돼.” “넌 언니랑 달라, 내 소중한 딸은 깨끗하게 살아야지.” 내가 그 더러운 곳에 발을 들인 이유가 어머니의 암 치료비를 벌기 위해서였다는 사실을 어머니는 이미 다 잊은 모양이었다.

Sometimes love finds us in the most unexpected places—through the most unexpected person. At 40, Daniel’s life is a careful balance between raising his three children and running the family business. After losing his wife, he built a cold, impenetrable shell around himself—one he has no intention of breaking. Deanna, on the other hand, is full of dreams. With just one year left before earning her degree in Arts, she’s focused on one thing: making it to the opera stage. But when her best friend Harry begs for her help, her life takes an unforeseen turn. An outdated family rule threatens to keep Harry from marrying his pregnant girlfriend. The only solution? His older brother, Daniel, must marry first. To help him, Deanna and Daniel agree to a fake relationship—a temporary arrangement that should have been simple. But the pull between them is undeniable. She brings warmth into his cold world, while he offers her a love she never expected after a painful breakup. Together, they begin to build something real—something worth fighting for. Yet, not everyone wants to see them happy. Between outside forces determined to tear them apart and their own fears whispering doubts, their love faces an uphill battle. And with a 15-year age gap standing between them, one question remains: Can they defy the odds, or will reason win over the heart?

**Recommended, but not necessary, to read The Reluctant Alpha before reading Her Second Chance Mate.** Holly Boland - Returning to Bloodmoon was meant to be quick—settle my in-laws’ estate and leave. But seeing Alex Whitland, my former Luna’s best friend and now my second chance mate, has turned my world upside down. I never imagined loving anyone after Nigel. Can I risk my heart again, or will the past keep holding me back? Alex Whitland - I’ve loved Holly Boland since the moment I saw her, but she was never mine to have. When Nigel died, I held her through the agony and let her go. Now, years later, she’s back, both of us with lives built around our sons. Fate has given us a second chance, and I won’t let it slip away. Bloodmoon Series: Book One - Alpha Logan Book Two - Beta's Surprise Mate Book Three - The Reluctant Alpha Book Four - The Hunted Hunter Book Five - The Genius Delta Short Story - Cult of Love (included in The Genius Delta) Short Story - Spy Games (included in The Genius Delta) Book Six - Seducing The Bloodmoon Princess Short Story - Warrior's Redemption (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - Love After 40 (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - The Hybrid's Rogue (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Short Story - The Hybrid's Vampire (included in the Bloodmoon * Incubi Anthology) Book Seven - Her Second Chance Mate

결혼기념일, 나는 집 안 청소를 하다가 앨범 하나를 발견했다. 알고 보니 내 남편은 매년 이맘때쯤 자기의 첫사랑과 웨딩 촬영을 하고 있었다. 40살부터 60살까지, 검은 머리가 흰머리가 될 때까지 장장 20년간 한 해도 빠짐없었다. 심지어 사진 뒤에는 남편의 유창한 필체로 쓴 문구가 적혀 있었다. [영원한 내 사랑.] 남편이 나를 사랑하지 않는다면 나도 남편을 위해 빨래하고 밥하고 아이와 손자를 길러줄 필요가 없어졌다. 어쩌다 보니 벌써 반평생을 함께 보냈지만, 지금 모든 걸 바꾸는 것도 늦지 않았다.

Apa jadinya, ketika dua orang berbeda usia 13 tahun, harus terjalin sebuah hubungan pernikahan? Mungkinkah keributan akan perbedaan sifat, atau justru kisah menyenangkan yang akan mewarnai? Damian dan Ines, dua orang yang bersepakat menjalin kerja sama menguntungkan dalam wujud pernikahan, akibat keadaan mengimpit yang memaksa. Keluarga Damian mengalami kebangkrutan, dan ia harus menerima banyak penghinaan yang ingin sekali dibalas tuntas. Di sisi lain, Ines pun diterjang isu tak menyenangkan, tentang dirinya yang dianggap pencinta sesama jenis, karena belum juga menikah di usia 40 tahun. Hingga suatu kesempatan, Ines melihat Damian dihajar dan diusir oleh seluruh anak buah Max. Ines memerintahkan anak buahnya menyelamatkan, membawa ke rumah dan memberi perawatan. Di saat itulah, muncul ide di kepala Ines dan langsung mengutarakan pada Damian. Wanita pemegang takhta tertinggi dalam dunia bisnis itu, beranggapan bahwa Damian mudah dikendalikan dengan uang. Namun, rupanya Ines salah menilai sosok Damian. Seiring berjalannya waktu, rahasia demi rahasia pun mulai terbongkar. Pada akhirnya, Ines mengetahui banyak kebenaran tentang Damian, yang tak pernah diketahui atau sekedar dipikirkan selama ini. Lantas, apakah rahasia yang dimiliki oleh Damian? Mungkinkah, jika Ines akan bisa memaafkan Damian, ketika mengetahui tentang kebenaran hidupnya?