A Gift Paid In Eternity

Isang iglap, nagbago ang buhay ni Ava Santos nang tumakas ang kanyang kapatid na si Bella sa mismong araw ng kasal nito sa bilyonaryong si Alexander Valderamos. Dahil sa matinding utang at banta ng pagkasira ng kanilang pamilya, napilitan si Ava na palitan ang kapatid at humarap sa altar sa ilalim ng isang kasinungalingan. Ngunit hindi lingid kay Alexander ang nangyari—alam niyang hindi si Bella ang kanyang pinakasalan. Sa kabila nito, itinuloy niya ang kasal dahil may sarili siyang plano. Sa ilalim ng isang malamig na kasunduan, ginawang legal na asawa si Ava kapalit ng pagbura sa utang ng kanyang pamilya. Sa loob ng isang taon, kailangan niyang gampanan ang papel bilang perpektong maybahay, habang itinatago ang tunay niyang pagkatao. Sa marangyang mundo ni Alexander, unti-unting naramdaman ni Ava ang pagiging bilanggo—isang babae na itinuring na kapalit sa isang transaksyon. Habang lumalalim ang kanyang paghihirap, nahaharap siya sa malamig at mapaglarong ugali ng kanyang asawa. Sa isang relasyong puno ng kasinungalingan at kontrol, kakayanin ba ni Ava na panatilihin ang sarili, o tuluyan na siyang mawawala sa mundong hindi niya pinili?

Azura is left alone at a young age in a forest filled with horrible creatures. She learns how to survive in this dangerous place, but knows nothing of her past. On a day like any other, she meets someone who will change her life. She finds a family and her destiny, but not without a struggle. She must overcome many obstacles to learn who she is and where she came from. She is sought out by an evil villain who seeks to end her life and who is also the cause of the disease that is killing the forest. She must face him to fulfill her destiny and bring peace to the land and it's inhabitants. Will she succeed or will the villain be triumphant? Keep reading to find out!

I'm the top salesperson at a tutoring center. Payday comes, and my commission is 50 cents. I'm so furious that I march straight to my boss to demand answers, but his secretary, Sasha Watson, steps in front of me. She digs through her pocket, pulls out 50 cents, and flicks it straight at my face in front of everyone. "Here's your 50 cents!" My ears ring. Heat crawls up my neck and into my skull. "Ms. Watson, this has to be a mistake. I closed 1.5 million dollars on my own last month. My team pulls in over three million dollars. My commission should be at least 200 grand." Sasha rolls her eyes. She reaches into her wallet, pulls out a dollar bill, and slaps it against my cheek. "Stop barking! Fine, I'll throw you a dollar. Keep the change!" I'm about to lose it. "My mom is still waiting on that 200 grand for her surgery. Without it, she could die." The coworkers around us start whispering. "50 cents? For the top salesperson? That's insane!" "Lower your voice. She's the boss's niece! What she says goes. Unless you want to get fired, pretend you didn't hear anything." I turn away, pull out my phone, and dial our biggest competitor. "I'm in. Five million dollars a year."

It's my and my boyfriend's anniversary. I open the glovebox to hide a gift inside as a surprise, but a piece of familiar-looking lingerie falls out. It's torn in a spot; it looks like it went through a rough battle. Before I can process the situation, I crash into a car that suddenly switches lanes in front of me. Right before I black out, I remember where I saw the lingerie. It was a gift from me to my best friend.

In my previous life, my best friend gave me a lock-shaped good-luck pendant. I never expected that once I put it on, it would never come off. Soon after, I came down with a fever that lasted seven days straight. When I finally woke up, everything in my life began to fall apart. Misfortune followed me everywhere. That was when I discovered the truth—I had swapped fates with her husband. He would get my wealth while I would get a short, ill-fated life. From then on, the two of them lived a life of effortless wealth, making money without even lifting a finger. Meanwhile, I sank into poverty, plagued by constant bad luck. I struggled through life and did not even make it to 30 before I was killed in a car accident. As I died, my mentally disabled younger brother cried out and rushed in front of me to shield me. However, he could not stop the incoming vehicle, and we died there together. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn back to the moment she was about to put the pendant on me. I let out a cold smile and pondered. Since she was so desperate to steal my wealthy fate, then she could have a XYY husband instead.

I stretched lazily on the bed, much like a contented kitten, before opening my eyes. Hovering above me was a face that could have been sculpted by the gods—a handsome, well-defined face with sun-kissed golden eyes. My first groggy thought was that Cara had finally brought home a decent, well-groomed man for a change. But…. Why is he in my room? I abruptly shoved him away, ending the spell. "Get off your asshole!" With a scowl on my face, I got up quickly. “Was personal space not mentioned by Clara, huh?” I spoke in an irritated tone. “Clara?” He turned and casually picked up some papers from a nearby table, settling down with an annoying smile. “And who might that be, if I may ask?” He doesn’t even remember her? Asshole “Well, if you must know, Clara—” I started, but my words faltered as something shiny caught my eye. What is..? Then my memories began to flood back. —it’s a damn golden sofa. Shit. Brain Freeze. ~~~ Growing up as the oldest kid on a Chicago farm was no picnic for Mary Johnson. Her folks, good ol' Mr. and Mrs. Becky Johnson, were salt-of-the-earth types, who worked hard on their small farm not far from the gritty backstreets of Chicago. They taught Mary and her siblings the value of hard work, self-value. But as much as Mary loved her family, she dreamed big, but those dreams took a backseat when she needed to step up and help support her family. Then, out of the blue, fate threw her a curveball. A chance in the US came knocking, and Mary didn't hesitate. And then she crossed paths with the Blacks – New York’s high society, dripping with wealth and power, who offered her a deal she couldn’t refuse.

Samantha Hurst, a showgirl from Las Vegas, did not expect that at twenty-five her life would be transformed when she met Theon Adamos at a bachelor party. Theon, from a large and noisy Greek family, could not have imagined that one phone call could completely alter the course of his life. A single fun and spontaneous weekend can have definite consequences. What happens in Vegas, does it really stay in Vegas? Sometimes life really is a bitch!

Rachel Martínez is drowning. Shuffling multiple jobs, settling debts, and taking care of her sick brother, whose failing heart needs a surgery she can't afford, she's out of options. When the hospital gives her forty-eight hours to come up with twenty thousand euros or lose Benjamín forever, she's desperate. Then a stranger walks into the bar where she works. A billionaire tech CEO who left Spain years ago to escape his family. He's back, and his dying grandmother has one wish: to see him happy with someone real before she dies. Joseph makes Rachel an offer: fifty thousand euros for one night. Just show up to his grandmother's birthday dinner and keep him company.

My wife forces my sister to accompany some men for drinks so she can help her first love get investments. My sister finds an opportunity to run but gets harassed by other drunken men. As she tries to break free, she has a heart attack, and she dies. I'm devastated as I handle her funeral alone. That's when my wife calls and snaps, "Tell your sister to apologize to Claude! Do you know how much trouble she's caused for him?" I don't know how much trouble he's in. All I know is that one must pay the price for the things they've done.

On the day I found out I was dying, Evan Buck, my husband, came home with a “dating contract” he had signed with his assistant, Cherry Mello. “She threatened to kill herself if I didn’t agree to date her for three months.” He continued with a sincere gaze. “But don’t worry. It’s just indulging a young girl’s wish. You’re the one I love. I promise you, after three months, she’ll resign, and we’ll never hear from her again.” I knew that when Evan made up his mind, there was no talking him out of it. Just like how I had long seen the unmistakable longing in Cherry’s eyes when she looked at him. However, he said I was overthinking and refused to dismiss her. Looking at the man I had loved for ten years before me, I quietly slipped the terminal diagnosis behind my back. Three months. What a coincidence. That was exactly how much time I had left.