Ah Ah Jangan Sayang

"Kau bukan kriteriaku, Crys." Brandon berkata tegas. Tatapan nyalang oleh amarah. "Aku menyukai perempuan yang be--" "Perempuan muda, berusia sekitar 20-22 tahun." Crystal memotong dengan cepat. "Sedangkan aku berumur sudah seperempat abad. Aku cukup tua dan tidak akan masuk menjadi kriteria utama wanita pilihanmu." Crystal menyeringai meremehkan. "Ah, kau juga mencari wanita muda yang agresif dan berpengalaman, 'kan?" "Sedangkan aku masih belum pernah tidur dengan pria mana pun selama ini. Jadi, kau merasa aku akan sulit mengimbangimu." "Aku bodoh karena aku ingin dirimu yang pertama memilikiku seutuhnya, tapi kau sama sekali tidak tertarik denganku, Uncle." Crystal berdecak sinis. Namun, kontras akan matanya yang sudah berkaca-kaca. Ia sendiri benci harus menunjukkan kemarahannya dengan cara seperti ini. Akan terlihat lemah. "Aku hanya bisa minta maaf. Aku tidak dapat memberikanmu kesempatanmu untuk lebih menyukaiku, Crys. Itu adalah kesalahan." Brandon mulai melunak, suaranya melembut. "Kau akan tetap menjadi keponakanku, ti--" "Dan, aku akan membuatmu pada akhirnya menyukaiku. Memintaku untuk menjadi milikmu seorang." Crystal berujar mantap. "Aku pasti bersedia mengubah statusmu dari paman menjadi suamiku," imbuhnya dengan suara penuh keyakinan dan ambisius. ………………… Crystal Smith dan Brandon Smith, memang memiliki nama belakang keluarga yang sama, tetapi mereka tidak ada hubungan darah sedikit pun. Hanya secara hukum saja Brandon berstatus sebagai pamannya. Jadi, Crystal membiarkan rasa cinta tumbuh untuk pria yang sepuluh tahun lebih tua darinya. Walau, tidak berbalas sama sekali. Namun, Crystal pantang menyerah dengan apa yang diinginkannya. Dikerahkan berbagai cara agar dapat mengklaim Brandon sebagai miliknya. ………….

La nonagésima novena vez que mi prometido, Draven Frost, me colgó la llamada, fui como pude hasta la iglesia de la familia, aferrando en la mano el diagnóstico de enfermedad renal terminal. —Padre, quiero romper todos mis lazos con la familia Rocci y anular mi compromiso con Draven Frost. Apenas terminé de hablar cuando mis padres irrumpieron en la iglesia con mi hermana adoptiva, Bianca. Mi padre, el Consigliere de la familia, no dudó. Me dio una cachetada, ahí mismo, frente al sacerdote. —¡Tu prometido es un Capo muy respetado en la mafia y te atreves a insultarlo de esta manera! ¡Estás manchando el nombre de la familia frente a toda la organización! Mi madre me arrebató el diagnóstico de la mano y dijo con desprecio tras una rápida mirada: —¿Otra vez con tus mentiras para llamar la atención? ¿Ahora qué quieres? Mi hermana adoptiva, Bianca, se aferró a los brazos de nuestros padres, con la voz quebrada por el llanto. —Ay, hermana, lo siento mucho. Si quieres, te cedo mi lugar en la gala. ¡Pero por favor, ya no les causes más problemas a papá y a mamá! Me limpié la sangre que escurría de mi nariz y, con calma, le repetí mis palabras al sacerdote. —Ya no soy hija de la familia Rocci. No soy digna de una alianza con los Frost. Me quedan tres días de vida. Y quiero que este compromiso se anule antes de eso.

En nuestro séptimo aniversario de bodas, estaba montada sobre las piernas de mi esposo, Lucian, el Don de la mafia, besándolo con pasión. Mis dedos hurgaban con disimulo en el bolsillo de mi costoso vestido de seda, buscando la prueba de embarazo que había escondido ahí. Quería guardarme la noticia inesperada para el final de la noche. La mano derecha de Lucian, Marco, preguntó con una sonrisa sugerente en italiano: —Don… ¿qué tal su nuevo secretito? La risa burlona de Lucian vibró en mi pecho y sentí cómo se me revolvía el estómago. Respondió, también en italiano: —Como un durazno verde. Fresco y tierno. Su mano todavía acariciaba mi cintura, pero tenía la mirada perdida. —Que esto quede entre nosotros. Si mi Donna se entera, me mata. Sus hombres rieron con complicidad, alzando sus copas y jurando guardar el secreto. El calor que sentía en el cuerpo se me fue extinguiendo. Lo que ellos no sabían es que mi abuela era de Sicilia, así que entendí cada una de sus palabras. Me obligué a mantener la calma, con la sonrisa perfecta de una matriarca, pero la mano con la que sostenía la copa de champaña me temblaba. En lugar de hacer una escena, tomé el celular, busqué la invitación que había recibido hacía unos días para un proyecto privado de investigación médica internacional y acepté. En tres días, iba a desaparecer del mundo de Lucian.

Two souls, forged in suffering, would collide in a dance of darkness and desire, testing the limits of love and redemption. Their paths meet when Asher's sister becomes the target of a predator, and Kaidën sees an opportunity for justice. As they navigate their dark worlds, they must confront the demons that haunt them. Will Asher's desire for protection and Kaidën's quest for vengeance spark a twisted romance, or will their shattered reflections destroy them? *** “You killed my mother.” Asher's voice trembled with fury. Kaidën's smile was cold, almost mirthful. “Who gave your sister to her husband who sold her to pay off his debts.” “I watched you murder her in cold blood!” Asher’s fists clenched around the gun he held pointed at the killer, memories of that night flooding back. Kaidën leaned closer, a sinister smile creeping onto his face. "I remember begging you to look away. But you didn’t. Did you enjoy it, Asher? Watching the woman who shattered your world writhe in agony? Or would you prefer to keep that little secret buried deep? Ah, but don’t answer that. Come, help me gather the pieces of your father's remains. It’s time to tidy up this little mess." Asher’s eyes widened in horror, realization crashing over him like a wave. All this time, he had been unaware that he was not only a witness to his father’s murder, but had watched it unfold until the very end, just like he had done that night when he watched his mother’s murder. Nodding, he picked up the severed hand of his father—the same hand that had beaten and broken him until his skin grew numb to pain. ‘Oh, sweet Emily, if only you could see our father now. How the mighty have fallen.’

Ah! Mrs Gates, you're glowing. Your husband is taking good care of you. You keep getting more beautiful by the day.” “Of course, Mr Clinton loves his wife the most. Can't you see how in love they are? Do you think he would let her do something as stressful as working?” “That's true. I wish I were in her shoes. A perfect billionaire housewife with a doting husband who worships her. The last time he bought Star of the Sea at the auction, I immediately knew that his love for her was unlimited,” another high-class woman chimed as I passed by them. I halted in my tracks. Star of the Sea? How come I can't remember him giving it to me? Before I could process everything, another figure stepped in. A figure that I dread mentioning her name. Yeah, it was her. Louisa Carter, my husband’s childhood sweetheart. The woman whose existence threatens to tear my marriage apart. “How does it feel to be divorcing the man you love? Why didn't you tell those silly women the truth— that you're nothing to Clinton? You're just trash, not worth mentioning.” She hissed. I looked up at her the moment I heard divorce. Clinton has not told our family yet and even ordered me to keep it a secret. How did she know? “Mrs Gates? What a joke!” she continued. You're just sitting on an empty shell. His heart, his body, his wealth, his company, they all belong to me. You have nothing except the name. ******* Everyone in the city assumed Joanna was the precious wife of Clinton Gates because of how boastful he was of her. What they didn’t know was that all he did was just a public stunt until Joanna boldly threw divorce papers in his face.

Kinan--namaku seorang wanita karir yang punya satu orang anak dan suami yang sangat aku sayangi. Awalnya hidup kami bahagia, namun semua berubah ketika suamiku mengatakan, "Sayang, aku mau menikah lagi," ucapnya. "Menikah? Kenapa harus menilai lagi, sayang?" Aku tidak percaya ini bagaikan mimpi. "Maaf, aku ingin punya istri shalehah yang menutup auratnya, istri yang bisa membimbing aku ke jalan Allah SWT," Sebuah kalimat yang menyinggung sekaligus menyakitkan. Bagaimana aku menjalani hidup bersama maduku?

Prologue Hawak ang maliit na bag, nakatayo si Althea Santos, 20, sa harap ng marangyang tahanan ng pamilya Velasco. Para bang ibang mundo ang kaharap niya—malayo sa simpleng buhay sa probinsya. Kailangan niya ang trabahong ito, at ang pagiging kasambahay ng isang kilalang doktor ang tanging daan upang makatulong sa pamilya. Pagpasok niya sa sala, sinalubong siya ng bango ng mamahaling pabango at kinang ng chandelier. Ang bawat sulok ay parang larawan mula sa magasin, at halos hindi siya makapaniwala na dito siya maninirahan. “Ah, ikaw pala si Althea,” isang malalim na tinig ang umalingawngaw. Lumingon siya at napatigil. Isang matangkad, gwapo, at matipunong lalaki ang naroon—may malamig na tingin ngunit hindi maitatangging kaakit-akit. Si Dr. Adrian Velasco, 25, amo niya at isang respetadong doktor. “Y-yes, Sir,” sagot niya, pilit pinapakalma ang nanginginig na tinig. Ramdam niya ang mabilis na tibok ng puso, hindi lamang dahil sa kaba kundi sa paraan ng pagtitig ni Adrian—parang binabasa ang kanyang buong pagkatao. Lumapit ito, mabagal at tiyak ang bawat hakbang. “Welcome sa Velasco residence. Sana makapag-adjust ka nang mabuti.” Kasabay ng banayad na babala ang isang maliit na ngiti na nag-iwan ng init sa dibdib ni Althea. Sa sandaling iyon, naramdaman niya ang tensyon—isang halong respeto, kaba, at hindi maikakailang kilig. Alam niyang hindi magiging ordinaryo ang mga susunod na araw. Sa ilalim ng bubong na ito, magsisimula ang kwento ng damdamin na susubok sa kanya—mga lihim, selos, kilig, at sakit na magbabago sa kanyang puso magpakailanman. ---

"Take me back to my family, you monster." I seethed in anger at the person in front of me now. I am not bothered at the sight of him naked before my eyes. Anger and fear had over-powered me since the moment he kidnapped me and brought me in this damn place. He chuckled and as he move closer to me cupping my face with his warm hand. "I am your family... my mate." "Stop calling me that. I am not your mate and I will never be." "Oh I can't do that. You belong here and not with those weak humans." amusement not leaving his eyes. "Humans? Of course I belong there. If there's a place I don't belong to, it's in this godamn place. Just let me go." "Oh really now? How come you don't belong here when you are... " he paused a moment. "What's that term you used again?... ah, a monster....yourself?" I was taken aback at what he said. "Me? A monster? You are making a mistake. I am not like you." Just as I about to speak again, the man changed his form. With the cracking of bones and the appearance of thick black hair in his entire body, he is once again the monster I saw earlier. I am beyond scared now but I can't do anything because both my arms are chained to the wall. His eyes were a mix of amber and black that watched me intently. Then very slowly he came forward. He looked me in the eye and with that came a voice from my head. "Really? Then explain to me why you can hear me talking now? It's one thing we werewolf can do. It's called mind-link." With that he changed into human form again with a smirk in his face. "See you later." Then he walked outside the room leaving me here petrified.

"Aku sayang kamu," ucap Andy dengan santainya dan tenang tak ada ekspresi gugup atau deg-degan karena sudah terbiasa dengan cewek berkuncir dua itu. Seketika Ratu menghentikan langkahnya, menatap sang ketos itu heran. Rasanya tak mungkin jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama. "Sayang aku? Kita aja baru kenal. Masa kamu langsung sayang?" tanya Ratu heran. Langkah Andy mendekat, Ratu mundur beberapa langkah. "Karen sejak awal aku sudah nyaman sama kamu," tegas Andy dengan serius. Memang cinta tak perlu alasan jika datangnya dari hati. "Tapi kan, bukannya kamu udah-" ucapannya tersela ketika Andy mengatakan yang sebenarnya. Ratu terkejut. "Aku dan dia sudah selesai. Dan aku harap kamu adalah wanita pertama dan terakhir yang aku cintai. Ratu Wiguna," langkah Andy berlalu pergi, ia lega setelah mengungkapkan perasaan itu. Apakah Ratu akan menerima Andy?

Makasih Sen lo udah menjelma sebagai pelangi di kehidupan gue yang monokrom. Berkat lo orang seperti gue bisa ngerasa bahagia. Tapi maaf, gue nggak bisa bertahan di samping lo lagi, gue sayang lo tapi gue nggak mau bawa kesialan dalam hidup lo. Gue ikhlas, semoga bahagia karena kalo lo bahagia gue bisa ngelanjutin hidup gue tanpa rasa bersalah. Raden Akasena Kavi. Cowok bermulut pedas, tapi dengan para gadis dia masih bisa bersikap manis kecuali pada Laura. Gadis yang membuat Sena mengibarkan bendera permusuhan, Sena menganggap Laura itu munafik. Menampilkan seolah semua baik-baik saja padahal gadis itu menyimpan sesuatu yang menyesakkan dada karena terlalu mendendam. “Kasihan banget lo ye, hidup lo kejam keras dan nggak adil. Denger gue baik-baik, lo tuh nggak special tuan putri. Hidup itu nggak adil untuk semua orang bukan buat lo doang,” bentak Sena. “Stop bertingkah kalau semua orang harus ngertiin perasaan elo. Salah lo sendiri, kenapa lo nggak pernah jujur!” Anasthusa Laura Banuska. Siswi penurut dan pintar, gadis itu selalu menunjukkan sisi cerianya. Tapi siapa sangka di balik itu, Laura menyimpan rahasia besar. Dia menggunakan topeng, tetapi tidak di depan Sena. Laura bisa melepaskan topeng itu kapan saja jika Sena di sampingnya. “Makasih yah Sen, makasih karena lo selalu bantuin gue. Makasih lo selalu marahin dan ingetin gue kalo salah." “Dan makasih karena elo, gue bisa jadi diri gue sendiri,” ucap Laura dengan tulus. “Hati-hati,” ujar Sena pelan, menatap Laura. “Hati-Hati kenapa?” tanya Lauran heran. Memangnya dia melakukan hal yang berbahaya? “Ya hati-hati aja, entar lo jatuh hati ke gue. Idih najis banget,” ejek Sena disertai dengan tertawa terbahak. Jangan mau hidup seperti Sena, selalu ngoceh kalau dia tidak cinta Laura tetapi rela mati demi melindungi gadis itu. Dan jangan mau bersikap seperti Laura, mengaku cinta kepada Sena tetapi melepaskan lelaki itu hanya karena ego sendiri.