Alice Masquerade

In my second year running the company, my high school class monitor suddenly started tagging me nonstop in the group chat. [Alice, Vivian was only joking with you back then. Why won't you come to her party? Are you trying to make her feel guilty?] I didn't understand what was going on. Only after reading the messages did I realize that our class beauty, Vivian Spencer, had recently found her biological parents—and today, she had thrown a party to announce it to the world. Me: [I'm busy.] I had no intention of attending a party hosted by someone who used to bully me. But my answer didn't shut them up. Instead, it stirred up even more absurd speculation. [Don't tell me you're doing some kind of labor job and can't take leave?] [We're all former classmates. If you show up, I'll give you sixty dollars. That should cover two days of your salary.] Vivian chimed in as well. [Alice, it was just a joke back then. And I'd already dropped out by then. Why can't you let it go?] I stared at her message for a long moment before typing: [Only trash would call bullying a joke.] The group exploded instantly. [Vivian's no trash! She's a wealthy heiress. She's not even in the same league as you. Poor people really love to nitpick.] Vivian, ever the hypocrite, tried to smooth things over. [No matter what, today marks a new beginning for me. I hope you'll come to witness it. [We're classmates, after all. I don't hold it against you for forcing me to drop out. If you're short on money, I can even ask my dad to arrange a job for you.] Then she sent a screenshot of her chat with her father. When I saw her father's profile picture, I froze. Wasn't that the same profile picture as my freeloading dad? But I look seventy percent like my mom—it's impossible for me to be a fake daughter. And Vivian was two months younger than me. I let out a laugh. "Alright, I'll definitely attend your recognition party."

Acquaintance Party and some students already at the center of the hall. Dahan-dahang tumingin si Leighton Wajeeh sa kanan niya kung nasaan ang isang babae. "Eun-ji... M-May I d-dance with you?" he stuttered. With a sweetest smile he's ever seen, the girl answered, "Sure, Waj!" Right after she accepted his hand, they then walked towards the center of the hall. "Alright, on my cue, wear your masquerade mask!" the host suddenly announced nung nakita niyang marami nang nasa gitna. Matapos nilang hinanda ang mask, the host then muttered, "Mask on! Music, maestro!" Romantic song then played as they wore their masks. Slowly, Leighton Wajeeh puts his hands on Nikolina Eun-ji's waist while she put hers on his shoulders. "E-Eun-ji, I..." sabi ni Leighton habang unti-unting tumingin sa labi ng babae. Leighton's heart pounded fast. He is wanting this moment to come. Eun-ji just stared at him. With that, he stared at her eyes... deeply. "I like y---" Ngunit, hindi niya natuloy ang kaniyang mga salita. Leighton's mouth gaped open and his eyes suddenly widened. Napaatras siya dahilan upang mapatigil sila sa pagsasayaw. This can't be... "Waj, what's wrong?" Eun-ji innocently asked. She tried to reach him ngunit umiwas si Leighton sa kaniya. His hands and lips trembled while still looking at the woman's face covered with mask, highlighting her eyes. Those eyes... Those eyes that brought him trauma for how many years... Similar to the eyes who killed his father!

During a turf war, I took a bullet for Daniel Wilson. When I woke up in the family hospital after three years in a coma, I discovered that Eva, the showgirl I'd saved from a black market auction, had usurped my place in the Wilson family. My husband Daniel, the family's Underboss, saw that I was awake, and his first words to me were: "The entire underworld recognizes Eva as the woman by my side now. Why did you have to wake up at a time like this?" "Alice and I both love her. She's the one who's been by our side these past three years. And you? You've just been a body in a hospital bed, absent from our lives." "We're through, Sarah." Watching the man I once loved so deeply speak such heartless words, I didn't put up a fight. I simply nodded and gave him what he wanted. But he had no idea the Wilson family was about to burn to the ground.

Nagbunga ang isang gabing pagkakamali na nagawa ni Gwen at ng boyfriend ng kaibigan niya. Nang nalaman niya na siya'y buntis ay agad siyang umuwi sa Iloilo at itinago kay Alexander ang kanyang ipinagbubuntis. Masaya na siya sa buhay niya kapiling ang kanyang anak at ama na palaging sumusuporta sa kanya sa lahat ng oras. Ngunit sadyang walang sekreto na hindi nabubunyag. Nalaman ni Alexander na nagbunga ang isang gabing namagitan sa kanila at gusto nitong panagutan ang responsibilidad nito bilang ama sa anak niya. Ngunit paano kung malaman ng kaibigan niya na ang boyfriend nito ang ama ng kanyang anak? At paano na lamang siya ngayong nahuhulog na ang loob niya kay Alexander ngunit ang anak lamang niya ang nais nitong panagutan at hindi siya dahil engaged na ito kay Alice na kaibigan niya? As heat, passion, tears and love will invade them both. Will things fall into the right places or not?

On the night of her eighteenth birthday Alice suddenly got proposed to by the legendary prince of Aceland who is soon to be emperor. Although she is the most hated daughter of the family and of her kingdom people wonder why she got a better suitor than anyone would ever get and this causes problems for her and her step sister which nearly caused her her life. Luckily her prince charming, or not so charming prince comes to her aid and takes her away from all the hardships she's facing. But then another hardship awaits her in his kingdom, much more harder than all the hardships she's ever come across. Her finding out she was a fairy and had powers didn't go down well with her, she had to fight and help retrieve the two twin swords which were the soul of the glitz planets and help solve out the undying dispute between two brothers that has lasted for centuries. Will she succeed or fail? And even if she does will she still be able to be together with the man she loves? Why don't you dive into the book and find out yourself?

Ako ang tunay na anak ng pamilya Stone. Gamit ang gossip-tracking system ko, nagkunwari akong mahinhin at masunuring tao, pero sa loob-loob ko, matindi ako gumanti sa tamang oras. Ang hindi ko napansin ay may nakakarinig sa isip ko. “Kahit na anak ka naming tunay, si Alicia lang ang tunay naming tinatanggap. Kailangan mo matututong lumugar,” sambit ng mga kapatid ko. ‘Iniisip ko na baka sinira ko ang usapan namin ng demonyo sa nakaraan kong buhay kaya ako napuntas a pamilya Stone ngayon, naisip ko. Tumigil bigla ang mga kapatid ko sa paglalakad. “Si Alice ay masunurin, may sense kausap at mahal ng lahat sa pamilyang ito. Huwag ka magsimula ng drama para lang magpapansin.” Hindi ko mapigilan isipin, ‘Kung ganoon, may sapat ang sense niya para sirain ang buhay ng lahat at mahal na mahal kayo sa puntong nakakasuka na.’ Natanga ang ekspresyon ng mga magkakapatid.

Back then, Alice was framed by her stepsister and had a one-night stand with a strange man. When they met again three years later, she was a single mother and a urologist, and he was David, a billionaire with sexual dysfunction who couldn’t get an erection. She said, “Go lie on the treatment bed and take off your pants, including your underwear.” He stood up, unbuttoned his Tom Ford suit, and casually threw it on a chair. Then, he walked to the bedside with those long legs that would go on a runway, and slowly undid his belt, each movement carrying a kind of silent threat. “If you can‘t cure me, be prepared to be completely blackballed in the American medical circle. Don‘t even think about holding a scalpel in California for the rest of your life.” When she examined him, the change under him was astonishingly fast, like a sudden Flash fire, burning away the wasteland he had maintained for three years. His breathing instantly became heavy, and the bottom of his eyes was stained with a scarlet mixture of shock and madness. “Who the hell are you?” His voice was incredibly hoarse.

After five years of marriage, my wife’s childhood friend posted a photo of a property deed in his social media circle with the caption, [Thank you, Miss CEO, for transferring the house to me.] I was stunned when I saw the address on the deed—it was my home. Confused, I left a comment. [?] Almost immediately, my wife, Alice, called and scolded me. "He’s a single dad, so pitiful! I only transferred the house to his name to make it easier for his daughter to attend school. It doesn’t affect us living there. How can you be so heartless and lack even a shred of compassion?" In the background, I could hear her childhood friend complaining bitterly. Half an hour later, he posted on social media again and tagged me. This time, he showed off a $150,000 sports car with the caption, [Paid in full! As the saying goes, where a woman spends her money is where her heart lies.] I knew it was my wife who bought him the car to make up for upsetting him. But this time, I’ve made up my mind—I’m filing for divorce.

"I would take a bullet for you, but I never thought you will end up being the one holding the gun." *** Alice Deborah Quinto, an extrovert, strong-confident woman. A woman who will never lower her guard down to anyone. Halos perpekto na ang kanyang buhay. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, magbabago ang kanyang landas. Upang mapanatili ang negosyo ng kanilang pamilya, nagtakda ang kanyang mga magulang na ipakasal siya sa anak na tagapagmana ng isa sa pinakamaipluwensyang negosyante sa bansa. Dean Larry Valerco, a goody-two-shoes introvert man. Siya ay isang taong may matigas na puso. Mas gustong manatili sa bahay kaysa gumala at mag-party kung saan-saan. But as the heir of their family, he needs to remain his communicating and socializing with people. Palagi siyang nakabuntot sa kanyang mga magulang, kaya hindi na siya nag-abala na ipasok siya ng kanyang mga magulang sa isang political marriage. An extrovert vs an introvert. Isa nga bang delubyo ang pagtatagpo ng dalawa?

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. ***EXTRACT*** “Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?” he asked, standing to his feet. “Then why aren’t you?” I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and same time, erotic. “Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. I did as he instructed and he settled between my legs again. “Now close your eyes. And try not to move.” Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing hand, seeking more. “Ohh—” My body trembled under his touch. “Please…” ****** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic’s dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?