A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Novels & Stories

"Get up, I'm hungry. Cook for me NOW!" The authoritative tone jolted me awake, not giving me a moment to freshen up or even change. We don't sleep side by side; he stays in the master bedroom while I occupy the guest room. He can't stand being near me. It hurts deeply when those words come from him, but it's a recurring pattern. I hurriedly made my way downstairs, still tying the robe around me. In the kitchen, I began preparing his breakfast. You see, I'm his secret wife. No one knows except our parents and a few friends. Since we got married, not a day goes by without him reminding me that he doesn't love me. Not a day goes by without him hurting me. But that's alright because, as I've mentioned, I love him so much that I'm willing to do anything just to earn his love in return. A single tear escaped and fell onto the clove of garlic I was chopping. I quickly wiped it away. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Manang watching me. I took a deep breath to regain my composure before turning to her with a forced smile. "I'm sorry; I got emotional over garlic." I lied.

One night. One stranger. One mark that changed everything. Averylle Jasmine Yñigo has it all beauty, wealth, and power. Pero sa likod ng tagumpay niya ay isang mundong kontrolado ng mga lalaking ginagamit siya bilang tulay sa negosyo, lalo na ang ama niyang mapag-kalkula at ang boyfriend niyang sinungaling at manloloko, si Sam Reyes. Pagod na si Ave sa kasinungalingan at pananakit, kaya isang gabi, pinili niyang tumakas at doon siya napunta sa mga bisig ng isang estrangherong nag-iwan ng marka sa kanyang balat… at sa kanyang buhay. Pagkalipas ng ilang linggo, muli silang nagtagpo sa isang corporate event, sa pinakahuling taong inaasahan niyang makita. Aiden Ethan Blackthorne, the cold, powerful billionaire owner of her company… at ang lalaking tumatak sa kanya noong gabing iyon. Ngunit hindi tadhana ang naglapit sa kanila, kundi paghihiganti. Ethan believed Ave’s family was responsible for his late fiancée’s death a lie carefully crafted by Sam and Ethan’s current fiancée, Celeste Navarro. At sa gitna ng pagnanasa at galit, ginamit niya si Ave para sa kanyang kagustuhang makagpaghiganti hanggang siya mismo ang mahulog sa bitag ng damdamin. Pero habang lumalalim ang koneksiyon nila, lumalim din ang dilim sa paligid. Sam’s obsession turns deadly, leading to an ambush that leaves Ave’s mother comatose a tragedy that breaks everything apart. Deceived by lies, trapped by love, and haunted by the mark of her past. Is love still worth of saving even if it's started as revenge?

Akala ni Trisha, plantsado na ang lahat. Successful career, payapang buhay, at pusong hindi na naghahanap ng kulang. Sabi nga niya, "I have everything I ever wanted." Pero sabi nga nila, mapaglaro ang tadhana at mahilig itong mambura ng plano. Pag-uwi niya sa probinsya, doon gumuho ang pader na matagal niyang itinayo. Isang pagkakataon, isang sulyap, at isang pamilyar na boses ang bumasag sa katahimikan niya. Ang kaniyang first love. Ang lalaking pinangarap niya noon, pero naging dahilan ng pinakamalalim niyang sugat, ay bigla na lang sumulpot at pilit bumabalik sa buhay niya. Sabi nila, "Love is sweeter the second time around." Pero para kay Trisha, ang kasabihang 'yan ay parang sirang plaka, nakakarindi at mahirap paniwalaan. Paano ka maniniwala sa second chances kung ang unang pagkakataon ay iniwan kang durog at luhaan? Will She Risk It? Sa mundong puno ng "what ifs," sapat na ba ang pag-ibig para harapin ni Trisha ang kaniyang mga takot? O mananatili na lang siyang bilanggo ng kaniyang nakaraan habang pilit na itinataboy ang tanging taong nakapagpatibok ng puso niya nang ganoon katindi? Minsan, kailangan mong masaktan ulit para malaman kung worth it pa bang lumaban. Dahil sa laro ng pag-ibig, hindi sapat ang pagiging "okay." Minsan, kailangan mong maging matapang para maging tunay na masaya.

**When ambition blinds you to what truly matters, but one woman helps you see the light...** Victor Difabio once believed that winning the **Best Actor Award** would fill the emptiness in his life. He sacrificed everything—his time, his body, and his very soul—only to find that success comes at a devastating cost. The moment he finally achieves his dream, tragedy strikes when his beloved, **Phinea Lawson**, takes her own life, leaving Victor with nothing but a trophy and a heart full of regret. --- *"I need to make things right,"* Victor vows, awakening to find himself back in time, just before his wedding day. *"This time, I will prioritize your happiness, Phinea."* As he sets out to spoil her and repay the debts of his past, Victor embarks on a new project that intertwines their fates: an adaptation of Phinea’s favorite novel, **"Suddenly, I Know Nothing."** He works tirelessly to ensure its success, unaware of the profound connection between the story and their lives. --- *"You think you can change the future?"* Phinea asks, her eyes filled with hope and skepticism. *"What if the past is already written?"* Victor's heart races as he faces the challenges of fame, jealousy, and the haunting shadows of their past. With adversaries lurking in the wings, including Phinea's twin sister, **Peregrine**, he must navigate a treacherous path to protect the woman he loves. --- *"You don’t understand, Victor,"* Phinea says, tears glistening in her eyes. *"I’m not worthy of your love. I’m not even a true Lawson."* Victor steps closer, his voice firm. *"You are everything to me, Phinea. Your worth isn’t defined by your name. You are the woman who saved me from myself."* --- **What happens when a man driven by ambition learns that true happiness lies in love and connection?**

Hindi na mapigilan ni Eloisa na tuluyang mahulog ang damdamin sa boss nyang si Andrew. Andrew is a young bachelor at successor ng kompanya. Maraming nagpapantasya dito subalit tila manhid ang lalaki. Even though she knows na one-sided lang ang kanilang relasyon at lalong lalo na malayo ang kanilang estado. He is filthy rich while she was just an employee. Everything started with a challenge she knew she could never win. "It's not like I'm not interested but I want a real relationship. If you want to date me, stop fooling around. and date me for real." Napakurap si Eloisa sa tinuran ng boss nya. Is he for real? How can she trust his words when many guys have left him after a stemy night? She vowed not to fall for anyone and just date. But eventually, she found herself falling much deeper in love with Andrew. Doon nya mas nakilala ang boss and she found out he was as broken as she was. They could actually help each other heal. Noong una ay pilit nyang kinokontrol ang kanyang damdamin hanggang sa hindi na nya nakayanan. She decided she doesnt want to runaway from her feelings so she bravely confessed to him only to be rejected not just once but many times. How far can she go to stay in his life when he couldn't reciprocate her feelings? Bakit tila hindi sya kayang mahalin ng lalaki?

10 years have passed and she got everything, so they said. A face that no one could ever deny its beauty, a body that makes men go crazy and a successful career in the legal profession. She has it all, except him- the man she so dearly loved but has to let go of for her to get all these things she has now. Cattaleya Rillera really thought then that it would be worth it. Afterall, she was only 17 at that time when an elderly couple chose her to be their adoptee. Hindi niya inakalang may magkakagustong ampunin pa siya dahil sa edad niya. When she reached the age of 16, hindi na siya nangarap pang may magkakainteres sa kaniyang maging parte ng kanilang pamilya dahil isang taon na lamang ay aalis na siya ng bahay-ampunan dahil magiging isang ganap na siyang maygulang. At ngayong may gusto siyang ampunin, hindi niya papalampasin. This is all she ever wanted. Lahat naman sila doon sa bahay-ampunan. Thus, she consented to such an adoption even if she would have to break her promise to the boy she loves- Caleb Sanchez- the boy she promised to marry when she left the orphanage. Isa ding orphan na naunang umalis ng orphanage dahil mas matanda ito sa kanya ng 2 years. Ang taong nangakong magsisikap para makapag-ipon at paghandaan ang kanilang pagsasama sa oras na umalis siya sa bahay-ampunan. Now that she has finally achieved the success of her chosen career, she thinks it's time to locate him. And if she succeeded, she could only pray that he was still single and that he would find it in his heart to forgive her.

"You look tired and lazy. I think you're suffering from lack of vitamin me?" ~X~ Three words are enough to describe the playboy billionaire Alexis 'X' Montemayor who owns the very successful Club inside and outside the country. Hot. Dangerous. And oozing with sex appeal. He believed that he would never find the right woman for him despite having a random geisha in his very own Club-V. Not until a woman named Minzireth Paje entered his room and asked him if she is hired or not in the middle of what he called 'play time'. Lured by her sexy smile; piercing golden brown eyes; and voluptuous body, he hired her as his sex-retary. ***** Minzireth Paje is not your typical woman. Nagtungo sa siyudad upang maghanap ng trabahong makapag-aahon sa kanila sa kahirapan at matustusan ang gamutan ng kanyang magulang na may sakit. Ngunit nagbago ang lahat ng matanggap siya bilang sekretarya ng nagmamay-ari ng isa sa pinakasikat na Club sa Pilipinas. Buong akala niya'y more on paper works; answering calls; at tamang tayo lang sa gilid ng conference room ang kanyang gagawin. Not until her playboy boss, Alexis Montemayor demands her to do her assigned job. And that was to spice his night as his sex-retary. What if she found out what was her playboy boss's dark secret? Would she be able to fulfill her duty? Or resigned, and accept the fact that she is not qualified enough to be one of his sex-retary?

Luna, and her journey of self-discovery and finding her place in the world. Despite initial difficulties, she realizes that she needs to adapt to her new situation for her own growth and development. Her mother wants Luna to pursue higher education and convinces her to study in Manila. She agrees, understanding that education is a powerful tool for personal progress. She prepares for enrollment and plans to leave for Manila soon. However, her encounter with Ryker Gregory, who seems to have negative feelings toward her, shakes her confidence. “I find myself swept away by the profound emotions that linger in the air. It is a realm where authenticity becomes fleeting, leaving behind nothing but remnants of my once vibrant feelings. Thoughts echo within me, whispering their secrets and leaving me yearning for more. Within the depths of my heart, I discover a peculiar contradiction—a longing for simplicity entangled in the complexities of love. Despite the dangers that lie in exposing my soul, it slowly emerges from its hiding place, craving connection and intimacy. Words wield an intriguing power in this realm, embracing both poverty and richness. Love becomes the enigmatic pursuit we strive for, seeking to be seen and appreciated amidst the captivating beauty of the world. Yet, I encounter individuals who weave intricate webs of lies, whether out of habit or with deliberate intent. In the face of such encounters, I am confronted with a choice—one that encompasses the essence of great and true love. As I traverse this labyrinthine journey, I embark on a quest to unravel the enigma of love. It is a search that takes me to the depths of my soul, forcing introspection and contemplation,” – Luna.

Si Sabria Antonella Sienna ay lumaki sa isang mayaman at magarbong pamilya. She's the heiress of their family who owns the biggest shipping lines and logistics business in the country. Pero dahil sa problema sa negosyo ay kinailangan niyang isuko at talikuran ang lahat ng kaniyang mga ari-arian, kabilang na ang lalaking pinangakuan niya ng kasal. Meanwhile, Magnus Laurent Del Rio is a quarter Italian business magnate who owns a world reknown tech company, multiple chains of hotels and restaurants, as well as numerous businesses in the industries of cosmetics, food manufacturing, furniture manufacturing, airlines, and construction. He is a business prodigy and a young STEM genius that at age 18, he already had the highest net worth ever recorded in the Philippines, making him the youngest billionaire in the country. But apart from all of those successes, he only desired that one special thing that he believed to complete his bustling life — that is, a marriage with Bria. Kaya naman, nang hindi matuloy ang kasal nila ay para siyang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa. Still, so many questions remain unanswered. Why did Bria not ask for help when she faced bankruptcy? Why was it so easy for her to break up with him knowing that he can willingly offer his help? Why did she choose to break his heart? Didn't she love him enough to stay? Ang mga tanong na ito ang balak iwasan ni Bria habang nagtatrabaho siya sa mansyon ng mga Del Rio bilang isang maid habang ang mga tanong naman na ito ang balak bigyang-kasagutan ni Magnus. In the midst of their confusion and angst against one another, could really a spark of lust and desire for answers bring back their love that had been cut short 10 years ago?

When assertive and alpha heiress Clara Ardiente is forced to marry a dominant and cold businessman Damon Barreto, she'll have the almost but quite life. Hindi niya pa nakikilala ang businessman na magsasalba sa kanila. With their empire falling, she is desperate enough to marry that man just to save their name and wealth. Ayaw niyang mawala ang lifestyle na nakasanayan niya. Damon is a ruthless businessman and he doesn't want to have a nosy wife. Everything should be part of agreement and contract. But beneath that contract, there's an unspoken affection he can't recognize... and secrets. Hindi naman totoong pusong bato si Damon. Ang totoo ay nang makita niya si Clara ay nagandahan siya sa dalaga. Talagang pasok sa kanyang tipo kaya niya inalukan ng partnership ang pamilya Ardiente. It was easy for him to get what he wanted. Damon and his ways. Well, not for Clara. Nang makilala niya ang kanyang mapapangasawa, nagdadalawang isip siya kung talagang worth it nga ba ang pakikipagkasundo niya para lang isalba ang kanyang karangyaan. To be the wife of a ruthless business and arrogant tycoon? Medyo dehado ata siya. Pero wala na siyang takas. Lalo na noong ibinigay ni Damon lahat ng gusto ng kanyang mismong pamilya. Lalo na't may kontrata. "Go... run away. But you'll never escape me," bulong ni Damon sa kanya. "Leaving me, abandoning that contract won't save you. Kahit saan ka magpunta, you will always be Mrs. Barreto. My last name will mark you wherever you go." Gusto niyang alisin sa utak niya 'yon at magtrabaho nalang para isalba ang pangalan niya, but it was too late. Hindi na siya makakatakas pa... so she needs to live with only rule; no attachments. No falling in love. Just a contract and promises. Or that was she thought so.