Critical

My best friend was a "mistress breakup consultant". I had lent her money to start her business, and her very first job turned out to be breaking up my own marriage. "Jessie, what's the point of a loveless marriage? You've wasted Harold's time for five years. Are you really going to keep clinging to him and making him miserable for the rest of his life?" my best friend asked. I laughed at the self-righteous nonsense she was spouting and had security escort her out. She came right back, though, this time with a so-called "Anti-Mistress Alliance", live-streaming the chaos as they broke into my company. "The one who isn't loved is the real intruder!" "Fight for love at all costs!" They chanted while smashing up my office. I watched them calmly, waiting until they wore themselves out before pulling out a contract. "The 100,000 dollars you borrowed from me has been overdue for six months. If you don't repay it soon, I'll be forced to take legal action. "And, the lab equipment you've destroyed is valued at 5,550,000 dollars. You'll need to compensate me at full price. "Otherwise, I'll see you in court."

“The monster you’re talking about,” I muttered, my heart pounding furiously against my chest. “Let it out. I want to feel it,” He smirked, the type that sent shivers down your spine. The type that warned you ‘never make a deal with the devil’ kind. “Watch your tongue, darling,” His cold deep voice had its way of doing something to my stomach, especially when he laid threats. “I don't fuck like a gentleman. I also don't fuck like a monster,” he strides towards me, pinning his gaze on my body. “I fuck like the devil in your nightmares, and you’ll scream like I am your God.” A contract relationship. Signed by ink in words. It was supposed to be a contract, but it was a trap: “Both parties expressly agree that this arrangement is strictly contractual in nature and devoid of any emotional or romantic involvement. Any demonstration of affection, emotional attachment, or behavior suggestive of romantic intent shall constitute a material breach of contract. Violation of this clause will result in immediate termination of the agreement, and the offending party shall forfeit all benefits, assets, or compensations received under this contract. This clause is non-negotiable and emphasized as a binding condition of the agreement.” However, there was another; “Party A must be in a perfect health condition.” *** Olivia Hayes is terminally ill and suffers from cancer. She has lived all her life prioritizing her mother’s health condition until one sentence shattered her dynamism; “I’m sorry, Miss Hayes. The results confirm it is cancer.” With her mother in a critical condition, she struggles to raise the funds for immediate treatment not until her encounter with Ezekiel Grayson, a cold heartless CEO offering a contract that could directly change her life… and destroy it forever.

Kaella Ponce has always been the sales manager everyone relies on—palaging on time, mahusay sa numbers, at hindi basta-basta natitinag. Sa mundo ng Roque Corporation kung saan bawat deal ay critical, she’s the woman who keeps the department running smoothly. Kaya nang ma-assign sa kanya ang isang tila clueless na trainee, she’s ready to roll her eyes and move on. Pero hindi ordinaryong newbie si Jerome. Sa likod ng kanyang simpleng trainee facade, siya pala ang Jerome Roque, ang tanging tagapagmana ng snack empire na pinagtatrabahuhan nila. Sa utos ng kanyang ama, nagkunwari siyang baguhan para maintindihan ang kumpanya at makita kung sino ang tunay na loyal. Nang kailangan niyang biglang umalis dahil sa family business crisis abroad, hindi na niya naipaliwanag ang buong katotohanan. Naiwan si Kaella—brokenhearted at feeling betrayed—at nangakong hindi na muling magpapaloko. Pagkalipas ng ilang taon, matagumpay at kilala na sa industriya si Kaella—mas strong, mas guarded, pero may mga sugat pa ring hindi tuluyang naghilom. Sa isang malaking business conference, nakasalubong niya ulit ang isang ngiti na matagal na niyang gustong kalimutan. Si Jerome Roque, ngayon ay isang charismatic CEO, bumalik para patunayan na hindi nagbago ang feelings niya. Muling nagbabalik ang kilig, ang sakit, at ang mga alaala. Pero handa pa bang buksan ni Kaella ang puso niya? Kaya ba niyang muling mahulog—this time sa billionaire boss na minsan na siyang iniwan? O hahayaan niyang manatili ang distansya sa pagitan nila kahit na malinaw na may spark pa rin?

“I hate you!” I picked up the flower vase from the center table, and lifted my hand to throw it at him. But before I could do so, the man from behind gripped my hand, and collected it from me. “Are you going to sign the divorce papers?” he brought out a gun, and cocked it. “Or would you rather lose your life?” ****************** Sometimes, saying 'I do' could be the beginning of true marital bliss. And other times? It could be the beginning of endless suffering and torture. Abby had only ever wanted a man for herself, and when Claude showed up, he was everything she could ask for, and even more. But sometimes, even criminals wear innocent faces. What happens when Abby learns that the man whom she loved was responsible for the explosion that claimed the lives of her parents and best friend?

The air in the penthouse was thick with unspoken words and the lingering heat of a shared victory. He stood before her, the ice in his gaze finally melted, revealing a raw vulnerability that stole the breath from her lungs. “This wasn’t part of the contract,” he murmured, his voice a rough caress as his thumb traced the line of her jaw. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird against the gilded cage of their agreement. “I know.” His fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of her neck, tilting her face up to his. The world narrowed to the space between them, to the shocking warmth of his skin against hers. “Then tell me to stop, Ivy. Give me the rules. Give me the clause.” She should. Every instinct for self-preservation screamed at her to rebuild the walls, to remember he was her enemy, her jailer, her temporary husband. But as she looked into the stormy grey depths of his eyes, she saw not the ruthless CEO, but the man who had just looked at her daughter as if she were the most precious thing in the world. So, she didn’t speak. Instead, she rose onto her toes, closing the distance, her lips a breath away from his in a silent, devastating answer. The first kiss was not a conquest, but a surrender. It was not about revenge or contracts. It was a question, and in the shuddering breath he released against her mouth, she found her answer. The cold, platinum wedding band finally felt warm against her skin.

เมื่อยูทูปเบอร์สาวดาวรุ่งกำลังดวงตก งานหดเงินหาย บริษัทที่เคยติดแกรม อาจจะต้องกินแกลบทั้งออฟฟิศ งานนี้ต้องไปมูวัดไหนถึงจะรอด......

Ang akala mo ay makakatakas ka na din sa pang-aalipusta sayo ng mga magulang mo dahil sa may taong nagmamahal na sayo, ang hindi mo din alam ay ginagamit ka lang din naman nito. Pag-ibig? Ano ba talaga ang silbi ng salitang iyan, kung lahat naman sila ay pinagkakaisahan ako, pinagkaisahan ako ng tadhana. Ang pagmamahal na kay sagana noong una ay bigla na lang naglaho ng malaman kong ginagamit niya lang ako. Ng mapakasal ako sa isang lalaking hindi ko kakilala ay mas naging impyerno pa ang aking buhay. Wala na bang mas ikakalupit ang tadhana? Pagod na ako, pagod na pagod na ako, kung bakit kasi nangyayari sa aking ang mga ganitong bagay. Naghintay ako, kinuha nila ang kompanya na dapat ay para sa akin, mga ari-arian na dapat para sa akin, ang anak ko na pinatay nila kahit nasa sinapupunan ko pa ito, hindi pa sila nasiyahan at pati ako ay pinapapatay nila. Naghihintay lang ako ng pagkakataon, hintayin niyo ang aking pagbabalik. Tiyak na sa pagbabalik ko ay hindi ko kayo papalampasin lahat.

Lena Mercer makes a living off saving and believes that love can be saved no matter what. However, when a frightened woman named Claire Reynolds appears at her office door insisting she is being purposely murdered by her husband, Lena is hesitant to trust her. Days go by, and Claire vanishes into thin air. Worrying but brushing it off as coincidence, Lena attempts to pick up where they left off—until she uncovers unsettling information connecting Claire's life to her own. The same scent. The same coffee order. Even bruises in identical locations. And then Lena begins receiving ominous messages: "You know the truth. Don't look for me."

Sage Monroe lost everything when her father's company collapsed in scandal. Desperate and broke, she applies for a job at the one place she swore she'd never go. Greyson Enterprises. Run by her stepbrother Kaid, the cold billionaire who's made it clear he hates her family. But Kaid doesn't offer her a job. He offers her a deal. A contract marriage to save her family and his reputation. She'll play the devoted wife in public while he uses her to complete his revenge against her father. What Sage doesn't know is that Kaid destroyed her father's company. That he's been planning this for years. That the car accident that killed his mother and paralyzed his sister wasn't an accident at all but murder orchestrated by James Monroe. As hate turns to obsession and fake marriage becomes real passion, Sage discovers she's pregnant. But before she can tell Kaid, his mistress Vivian pushes her down the stairs. The baby is lost and Sage's world shatters. Then the truth comes out. Vivian isn't just Kaid's ex. She's James Monroe's illegitimate daughter. Sage's half sister. And she's been playing both sides, manipulating Kaid's revenge to destroy both families and take Greyson Enterprises for herself. Now Sage and Kaid must choose between vengeance and love. Between destroying each other and saving what's left of their broken families. Because the real enemy has been hiding in plain sight all along.

Si Felicia ay isang batang ulila na may pambihirang talino at diskarte. At isang utak kriminal kung tutuusin, pero hindi kailanman ginamit sa kasamaan.  Sa murang edad, naging banta na siya sa kapulisan at naging pakay ng mga pinuno ng kriminal na sindikato. Hangad nilang gamitin ang galing ni Felicia para sa pansariling kapangyarihan. Ngunit isang gabing puno ng panganib ang tuluyang nagbago sa kanyang kapalaran. Iniligtas ni Felicia ang mga anak ng mayaman na biktima ng kidnapping, at hindi niya alam na doon na magbabago ang tadhana ng buhay niya. Tinulungan siya ng isang binatilyo at pinapanggap na apo ng pinakamaimpluwensyang businessman sa boung mundo at nakuha niya ang pansin nang matandang businessman na iyon na matagal nang naghihinagpis sa pagkawala ng kanyang pinakamamahal na apo. Inampon siya ng matanda at ginawa bilang huwad na tagapagmana. Kahit batid ng matanda ang buong katotohanan, buong puso niya itong tinanggap bilang apo, sa hangaring makaramdam muli ng init ng pamilya bago siya tuluyang mamaalam. Pero hindi ganoon kadali ang buhay sa loob ng mansyon. Ang mga magulang ng nawawalang bata ay malamig at mapanakit. Ang kanyang stepsister, parang ahas na laging handang manira.  Hindi niya ginusto ang lugar na ito, pero pinili niyang manatili, para tuparin ang hiling ng tanging taong naniwala sa kanya. Hangad lang ni Felicia na maging mabuting apo. Pero kailanman ay hindi naging sapat ang kabutihan sa mundong puno ng kasinungalingan at inggit. At sa likod ng bawat ngiti sa mansyon, may mas malalim palang lihim… Isa siyang pamalit.... Pero baka siya rin ang susi sa pagkawasak o pagsalba ng pamilyang ito. At kung aapakan siya ng mga taong dapat ay pamilya niya... Pasensya na lang sila. Hindi siya ang tipo'ng basta na lang magpapatalo. Dahil siya ay si Felicia o nagtatago sa pangalan ni Lucia Moretti. *****