Ageing Like A Fine Wine

Sanggano. Barumbado. Tarantado. Ilan sa pantukoy kay ISAGANI TRINIDAD sa lugar na kinalakhan. Wala siyang pakialam sa kahit anong marinig lalo na kung walang ambag sa buhay niya. One night, he was kidnapped. And the one who abducted him, was a beautiful woman named Willow Esposito Ivanov. The reason---Willow wants him to join Foedus, an organization that once he won't survive the initiation, it means he will die. Snatched. Fascinated. Jeopardized. Three words he felt while being initiated. And when he thought everything was fine after he became a member of Foedus and has Willow on his side... the reason why he was chosen, and the secret behind his past will blow to his face like a bomb.

Jason Halem believed in order, tradition, and his pack. Those were his principles. He had no concern with the issues of the heart and he was just fine with being alone until he met Jasmine Calvin, the walking chaos that stumbled into his office and ended up taking more than just his secretary position. She was not a werewolf like him but that didn't stop her reign over his entire life, for she was his mate. Jasmine Calvin knew how to work a man to her advantage and she had her eyes on the wealthy cold hearted Jason Halem. He intrigued her in every sense of the word and from the moment she saw him, she knew he would not be an easy case to crack.

"It's alright Luciana, everything will be fine—they're just like you.”"No they're not, they have wings." Luciana Morgenstern has been hunted all her life. The High Council told everyone it was because she was a hybrid, but Luciana knows they truly consider her a threat because she has abilities that could make her far more powerful than even the Council's leader—so they take away the one thing that allows her to use her gifts, and put her into the Angel Academy. She has lived in the Academy for nine years now, and at the start of her tenth year, a dozen new angels join. One of which, will turn her miserable life upside down as the Council's intricate web of lies starts to unravel . . .

Braving a downpour, I delivered a lavish food order, anticipating the hefty commission and a $100 tip. Laughter suddenly echoed from the villa. Someone started, "He really believes your car crash left you paralyzed? He's hustling deliveries to support you and even pawned his dad's heirloom?" Another said, "What if he discovers you're actually a billionaire heiress, just playing poor? He'd probably break down in tears." Jessica Stark toyed with her wine glass. "Guys like him are wired to serve, especially since he always outshone Mark in our school days. This is his comeuppance." I stood in the relentless rain, a bitter chuckle escaping my lips. Turned out, her two-year charade of paralysis was merely to avenge her childhood sweetheart. Her broken legs, deceased parents, and helpless tears were all meticulously crafted lies. Disillusioned, I dialed my estranged tycoon mother. "You win. I'll go through with the arranged marriage."

Evelyn Monroe is a 27 year old kindergarten teacher who absolutely loves kids. Things change when Evelyn's twin brother - Everett suggest she becomes his best friend (Cassian James)’s daughter's nanny for a month that was going to be very busy for him. As far as Everett is concerned, it's good as she’s between jobs since she’s planning to move states soon. There is only one problem. Evelyn and Cassian can’t stand each other. They’ve never been able to. She finds him insufferable, and he thinks she’s annoying. Everett convinces them that they haven’t seen each other in 6 years, and they’re adults now. He’s sure the childish bad blood is a thing of the past. He’s wrong. The two still can’t stand each other. They’re at each other’s throats the moment they meet again. The only thing that’s changed is… well… they can’t keep their hands off each other. As it turns out, anger is great passion fuel. Everything is fine, and Evelyn is even beginning to like Cassian. She stays an extra two weeks even, when Cassian can’t finish up work in time. His little girl Amelia is an absolute sweetheart as well. Everything is fine until Evelyn can’t find her period. She’s pregnant, and it’s Cassian’s. She asks Cassian if he wants another child and he says no, which is why he got a vasectomy. Evelyn says nothing about the child, and leaves for her fresh start as previously planned. A whole year passes like this until Cassian is visiting San Francisco for business and decides to drop in on her, hoping to rekindle their flame. He finds her with a baby, and realizes quite quickly that it’s his.

My dormmate invites me to a college mate's engagement party. I choose an expensive tailor-made gown for the occasion. When I arrive at the hotel, I see several of my former classmates are already there. Everyone looks like they're doing well—they're wearing expensive clothing. Someone is even wearing something from a luxury brand. As soon as I enter the private room, a familiar classmate rolls her eyes at me. "Look at who it is—the woman who was once the most outstanding student in our class. You're dressed so plainly for such an important occasion." Everyone is circled around the classmate who's wearing something from a luxury brand. They ignore me. Only our former class monitor clinks glasses with me and consoles me softly. "It's good enough that you're here. You're dressed plainly, but don't give up. You'll succeed one day." I sip my wine and smile. "My outfit may not be too opulent, but it's an expensive, tailor-made piece. It's 100% handcrafted by a master designer."

Lily Bashwood's only crime is looking exactly like the recently dead daughter of Don Grander. She is only a poor server at a wine shop. When she is kidnapped, and forced to impersonate their dead daughter just to be Christopher's wife, billionaire heir to the Bridger Empire for one year, she is left without a choice, especially when the life of her only brother is threatened. Lily is thrown into a world of wealth, lies, deceit and foul play, the survival against the enemies being the wife of Christopher have accumulated, and navigating the complex personality of the dead girl she is impersonating; wild, adventurous, and luxurious, a sharp contrast from the life Lily is accustomed to. The marriage contract is to last a year, and Lily is to play by the rules of Don Grander and his extravagant wife for their personal gain. As Lily plays her role, she realizes there is more than meets the eye with everyone in the world of the rich. Will she be able to keep herself from falling for the handsome billionaire? Will Lily survive a year without being caught, or will she be swallowed up by the woes surrounding her? Only time will tell for Lily Bashwood.

My mate-to-be, Ethan, said he had some urgent work come up right before our planned full moon trip. He bailed. I was missing him like crazy, so I immediately drove for over ten hours to his city. I hadn’t told Ethan I was coming. There I was, flowers in hand, standing outside his mansion, ready to give my destined mate a sweet surprise. But then I caught the mixed scent of Ethan and another female werewolf. The scent was sickeningly familiar. Amber Collins. Ethan’s ex-mate. I fought back the burn in my nose, my eyes already red, and pushed the door open. And what did I see? Them, sharing a glass of red wine, cuddled up, practically on top of each other. When Ethan finally noticed me, he jerked his arm away from Amber, walked stiffly over, his voice laced with panic. "Scarlett, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"So, what do you think about my brilliant idea?" he continued this time, with a glimmering smile on his face. "My name is Ghino Frost, by the way. Just like you, I was betrayed and cheated by the ones I loved the most."     Ghino's proposal completely tempts me as it makes me realize the reason why I dream of someone impossible. Dylan is my best friend - the love of my life.     And it appears that my one-of-a-kind dream - holding his hands - kissing his lips - and making love with him forever stays in a dream. Dylan and I will never happen.     But I badly need anything that can distract me and survive for the night. Just for the night. "Fine," I finally spoke up after a few minutes of considering everything. "Let's do it. Let's have sex."

I'm six years older than Bernard Jackman, but he always smiles and says, "Lucky me. I got to marry you." I think we will live happily ever after until a message pops up on his phone and shatters the illusion. "Bernie, be honest. Who's better in bed, me or your wife?" "Come on. That old hag smells like mothballs. She can't be compared to you!" And yet, he still showers me with love. How can a man say he loves me while sleeping with another woman? So, I tear off his mask and leave him. "Bernard, it's not that I can't live without you! You're filthy, and I don't want you anymore! I can find another man just fine!"