Toxic Relationship

Setelah Hendra kembali, aku melihat kolom voting di internet: [Setelah seorang pria berselingkuh, biasanya lebih merasa bersalah pada istrinya atau kekasihnya?] Yang memilih kekasih mencapai 99% suara. Aku berbalik dan bertanya pada Hendra, "Apa kamu juga merasa gitu?" Hendra meletakkan bukunya dan menatapku dengan ekspresi acuh tak acuh bercampur lelah. "Caroline, aku sudah kembali." "Kamu mau apa lagi?"

Selama delapan tahun, keberadaanku di kerajaan bisnis Leonardo Wistara bagaikan hantu yang tak terlihat. Pada siang hari, aku menjadi asisten eksekutifnya, bekerja bagaikan mesin yang menggerakkan bisnis gelapnya. Namun pada malam hari, aku menjadi burung peliharaan paling patuh di sangkar emasnya. Sesosok tubuh tanpa nama di ranjangnya. Aku mencintai dia dengan pengabdian yang nyaris berubah menjadi kegilaan, api cinta konyol yang kupelihara sejak aku masih jadi mahasiswa penerima beasiswa yang terseret masuk ke dalam orbit pria itu. Aku percaya cinta rahasiaku suatu hari bisa mencairkan hatinya. Namun, ternyata aku salah. Suatu hari Isabel, cinta pertama Leonardo yang sulit dilupakan, kembali muncul. Di hari yang sama, sosok pria yang selama ini kukenal langsung lenyap. Senyum langka yang dulu hanya untukku, kini semuanya untuk Isabel. Kebersamaanku dengannya seolah-olah dihapus begitu saja, digantikan dengan kehadiran cinta pertamanya. Bahkan ketika Isabel menjebakku, Leonardo tetap memercayainya tanpa ragu. Dia selalu memilih Isabel, setiap saat. Aku pun menyerahkan surat pengunduran diri. Leonardo menandatanganinya tanpa menoleh padaku. Dia mengira aku akan merangkak kembali padanya, memohon dengan hati yang hancur. Namun, dia salah. Sementara dia sibuk bermain rumah-rumahan dengan "Darling" kesayangannya, aku diam-diam menata ulang seluruh hidupku. Bersiap-siap untuk menghilang dari dunia pria itu, untuk selamanya.

Di kehidupan sebelumnya, Maya Asraf menikah dengan seorang "suami tak kasat mata". Di hari dia bersalin, Maya mengalami perdarahan hebat hingga koma. Namun, panggilan teleponnya ke Howard Bandri tak pernah diangkat. Setelah dokter menyadarkannya, dengan tangan gemetar dia menandatangani sendiri surat persetujuan operasi. Saat anak-anaknya demam tinggi hingga 40 derajat, Howard tetap tidak menampakkan batang hidungnya. Maya pun menggendong anaknya sendirian ke rumah sakit. Penjagaan selama tiga hari tiga malam, membuatnya sangat letih hingga jatuh pingsan di lorong. Di hari orang tuanya meninggal karena kecelakaan, Howard masih tidak ada. Ketika dia membawa pulang kotak abu kedua orang tuanya, pamannya langsung menamparnya dan mencaci-maki dirinya yang tidak becus menjaga hati suami. Akibatnya, orang tuanya meninggal dengan tidak tenang karena menantu mereka tidak hadir di saat terakhir. Hingga pada usia lima puluh delapan tahun, kanker stadium akhir merenggut sisa hidupnya.

"Nona Lea, apa Anda yakin mau mendonorkan semua organ tubuh Anda?" "Iya, aku yakin." Setelah Lea mengatakan ini, dia tersenyum seperti sudah bebas. Dokter malah kaget dan membujuknya lagi, "Meski kanker Anda sudah mau masuk stadium akhir, asal Anda rawat inap dan melawan penyakit ini dengan semangat, mungkin bisa memperpanjang hidup Anda."

"If you dare think of leaving me, i will make your life so miserable, you will plead for death. You're mine and the earlier you accept that, the better for you.” Mike told her in harsh tones and she froze with shock as the soft spoken words washed over her. As the power boss of Diamond Investment Company, Mike doesn't waste his words on empty threats. If he says he would do it, expect him to deliver with an extra payment. ~~~~~ Intelligent and amiable, all Liza wanted was to do her job and make wedding plans with her long time boyfriend. Unfortunately, her boss had another thing in mind entirely. Ruthless and possessive, Mike was all determined to break off the relationship between Liza and her boyfriend. But, equally blessed with a stubborn spirit, Liza was all determined to marry her long time boyfriend and she didn't give a about Mike's feelings. With a promotion offer in one hand and an intense chemistry on the other hand, Mike went for the .

Wyatt Roberts, CEO of a successful food company in the Philippines, had wealth, good looks, and power, but lacked love. A past heartbreak had built strong walls around his heart. He was serious, and his employees were intimidated by him. His peaceful life was upset by his ex-girlfriend, the daughter of a powerful business partner of his company, who kept trying to get him to marry her. Desperate, Wyatt asked his new secretary, Effie Cynara, to pretend to be his girlfriend. Feeling pressured, Effie agreed to a one-month fake relationship, hoping to quickly end the problem. But being around each other started to change Wyatt. Effie's kindness, strength, and positive attitude brought back feelings he thought were gone. Their fake relationship became real and risky. Wyatt liked Effie, even though she was counting down the days until their agreement ended. Their growing feelings threatened to ruin their plan. Could Wyatt overcome his fear of being hurt again and take a chance on love with Effie? Or would the end of their agreement and his past hurt keep him alone, even though his heart was opening up to the woman who just wanted to escape his complicated life? The situation was serious, and time was running out.

Clumsy, coffee-obsessed sports reporter Tessa Lane is just trying to survive another awkward press conference when a PR disaster turns her world upside down—literally. After tripping into the arms of world-famous, scandal-stained soccer star Leo Santiago, the tabloids explode. The solution? A fake relationship to fix his image... and her career. Tessa's no actress, and Leo's charm is far too real. What starts as staged hand-holding and scripted smiles soon turns into late-night texts, unexpected kisses, and a chemistry no camera can fake. But when the line between pretend and real begins to blur, they’ll both have to decide—are they playing the game, or falling for it?

A one-night stand meeting wasn't just enough for the both of them. Zina just applied for a job at the top company, only for her to find out that the man, Neil, was the person she had earlier slept with and was supposed to be her boss. That means the chemistry was not far from them. After Neil lays a contract marriage for Zina, they are bound by drama—to keep the relationship real to the outside world—and a contract, but how far can they keep pretending that it was just a business proposal? For how long can they spell out the difference between love and lust? And when there are a million people out there to stop what they have for each other, how long can they put up together?

I looked at her amused. I got up from my seat and stood infront of her. Not too close, not yet. ''You imagine too much Ms. Vitale. I can assure you that I'm not plotting anything, although I did plan something different". I whispered the last part. ''W-what?'' She asked looking confused. Cute. ''I'm sorry for what happened that day. You are right, I shouldn't have kissed you without your consent.'' I said taking a step forward. ''You are sorry?'' She asked looking surprised. I chuckled. ''Yes'' I said taking another step. She leaned back slightly, it's almost unnoticeable, but didn't move from her place. Trying to look brave huh? ''T-Then why are you doing all this?'' She asked in low voice. I took one last step. We are finally too close. I can feel the heat radiating from her body. I started trailing my fingers from her arm to collarbone, she shuddered and goosebumps erupted on her skin. I leaned down, brushing her earlobe with my lips, making her breath uneven. ''Are you in a relationship Ms. Vitale?'' ''N-No'' Her words came out in a whisper. ''Good.''

Pada malam hari jadi pernikahan kami yang keenam, aku tersipu dan menghindari ciuman panas suamiku, Arga, lalu mendorongnya untuk meraih pengaman di meja samping tempat tidur. Di dalamnya, ada kejutan yang aku siapkan, alat tes kehamilan yang menunjukkan hasil positif. Aku membayangkan senyum seperti apa yang akan dia tunjukkan saat menemukannya. Namun, tepat saat dia hendak meraih laci, ponselnya berdering. Suara sahabatnya, Omar, terdengar dari gagang telepon, berbicara dalam bahasa Jerman. “Pak Arga, semalam bagaimana rasanya? Apa sofa erotis baru dari perusahaan kita nyaman?” Arga terkekeh pelan dan menjawab dalam bahasa Jerman, “Fungsi pijatnya berfungsi dengan baik, jadi aku tidak perlu memijat punggung Hanna lagi.” Dia masih memelukku erat, tapi tatapannya seolah menembusku, menatap seseorang yang lain. “Hanya kita berdua yang tahu tentang ini. Kalau istriku tahu aku tidur dengan adiknya, mampus aku.” Hatiku serasa ditusuk dengan keras. Mereka tidak tahu kalau aku mengambil mata kuliah minor Bahasa Jerman di perguruan tinggi, jadi aku mengerti setiap katanya. Aku memaksakan diri untuk tetap tenang, tetapi tanganku yang melingkari lehernya sedikit gemetar. Saat itu, aku akhirnya memutuskan untuk menerima undangan dari proyek penelitian internasional. Tiga hari kemudian, aku akan lenyap sepenuhnya dari dunia Arga.