Appearances Artinya

Aku meninggal di hari aku memenangkan Penghargaan Doktor Medis Global. Tiga jam setelah kematianku, orang tua, kakak laki-laki, dan tunanganku baru saja pulang dari pesta ulang tahun ke-16 adik perempuanku. Ketika adikku mengunggah foto keluarga kami saat merayakan ulang tahunnya di media sosial, aku sedang terbaring di ruang bawah tanah yang tertutup rapat dan berlumuran darah. Aku mencoba menggunakan lidahku untuk menggeser layar ponsel dan meminta bantuan. Di antara kontak darurat, hanya tunanganku yang menjawab panggilanku. Artinya orang tua dan kakakku telah memblokir nomorku. Begitu telepon diangkat, tunanganku hanya mengucapkan satu kalimat, “Karin, pesta ulang tahun Lina yang ke-16 itu sangat penting. Jangan pakai alasan nggak masuk akal untuk cari perhatian kami dan bersikap manja lagi!” Dia menutup telepon dan memutus harapan terakhirku untuk bertahan hidup. Jantungku berhenti berdetak karena nada sibuk telepon. Ini adalah ke-100 kalinya mereka memilih adikku, ke-100 kalinya mereka mengabaikanku, mengecewakanku, dan ini juga yang terakhir. Aku terbaring di dalam genangan darahku sendiri, merasakan napasku perlahan berhenti. Mereka mengira aku kabur dari rumah lagi sebagai alasan untuk melampiaskan ketidakpuasanku. Mereka pikir bahwa selama mereka memberiku pelajaran, aku akan kembali dengan patuh seperti 99 kali sebelumnya. Sayangnya, itu tidak akan terjadi kali ini. Karena aku tidak pernah meninggalkan rumah, aku terus terbaring di ruang bawah tanah rumahku.

Being part of a reserved family, Suki knows her place within the community of the Moonstone pack. She has her duties and she completes them perfectly, just as her father orders. As the daughter of the Beta, the second in command, she’s set to live a life of importance within the pack, helping to aid it to greatness, and that’s only meant to become stronger once she finds her mate. Like every other werewolf, she has dreamt of what it would be like to find her mate when she comes of age, to know what the power of the mate bond truly feels like. However, on her 18th birthday, she doesn’t just experience one bond… she experiences TWO. Two separate bonds with two completely different males - bad boy Brendan and the perfect soldier Reynard. How could this be? It defies the laws of nature, all werewolves are given one mate and one mate only. As she and her two mates try to understand their anomaly of a mate bond, they also have to deal with an even greater threat that’s approaching - something that’s not only a threat to their pack, but to the entire werewolf species. Will they be able to save the pack? And who will Suki choose as her mate to seal the bond? Brendan or Reynard…? NOTE: This is a spin-off story to my other original story, "The One True Alpha", and though it is not essential to read that story before this one, there will be brief mentions and appearances of characters from that story within this right from the start, as well as some potential for minor spoilers of that story. If you enjoy this story, then you'd likely enjoy reading TOTA too! (It's already complete, so check it out!)

Ariana Delaney, a middle class girl who went about her daily life with little or no excitement to it but all that is about to change when she finds out that she has been arranged to marry into the most famous and absolute richest family in the state and that too to the breadwinner. Damien Kingston, a young business tycoon, a billionaire and a force to reckon with in the cold world of business needs a simp for a wife just to keep up appearances and Ariana seems to fit into the description but he sure is in for a surprise. Follow these two as they weave through their relationship fully aware that they are from two entirely different worlds. Maybe there'll be a happy ending or maybe not. ~~~ He watched like a hawk, eying her every move hoping to swoop in at the right moment and catch his prey. Her smile, her hair, her innocence and of course, her curves. Those curves could have any man turn in her direction and it sure did. He couldn't let her go, she couldn't have been who he thought she was. No, maybe he wasn't in love with her but he sure knew one thing, she was his and his alone. ~~~ She watched his as his beautiful eyes swallowed her up. This man was beautiful but she couldn't fit into his world. It was too much for her and she just had to admit it into herself. It was never going to work.Disclaimer:This work is purely a work of fiction and any similarities in names and characters are purely coincidental. The sequel is up: Meant to Be HIS. Check it out❤️

(Area 21+) Bijaklah dalam memilih bacaan. Kayla, atau biasa disapa dengan Key, memergoki suaminya berselingkuh dengan seorang perempuan di sebuah hotel berbintang. Tak terima dikhianati, ia pun berencana untuk membuat suami dan perempuan jalang tersebut tewas dalam sebuah kecelakaan. Namun apesnya, hari sial tak pernah ada di dalam kalender. Bukannya membuat suami dan sang pelakor tewas, Key justru mengalami kecelakaan tunggal hingga menyebabkan dirinya tewas di tempat. Sayangnya, Key tidak menyadari jika dirinya sudah mati. Sebab pasca insiden maut itu terjadi, ia justru terbangun dan tahu-tahu sudah berada dalam sebuah kamar hotel bersama suaminya. "Morning, sayang. Maaf ya, aku tadi harus balas pesan dari istriku dulu," terang Brayan seraya menyapu wajah Key dengan bibirnya. "Istri?" Key terkejut mendengarnya. Seingatnya, sebelum kecelakaan terjadi, dia dan Brayan sudah menikah resmi secara agama dan negara. Itu artinya, ia adalah istri sahnya Brayan, kenapa tiba-tiba berganti menjadi ani-ani? Menyadari jika ia berubah menjadi perempuan selingkuhan suaminya sendiri, Key pun memanfaatkan keadaan. Satu persatu rahasia tentang Brayan pun akhirnya terbuka. Mulai dari alasan sang suami berselingkuh, hingga penyebab kecelakaan Key yang ternyata ulah sosok misterius yang selama ini menjadi duri dalam rumah tangga Key dan Brayan. Lalu, apa yang akan Brayan katakan saat ia tahu jika yang menjadi selingkuhannya adalah istrinya sendiri? Sampai kapan Key akan bertahan dalam tubuh selingkuhan suaminya? Apakah ia akan kembali hidup dalam tubuhnya, atau justru mati seperti saat kecelakaan terjadi?

Raja Aleandra, lelaki tampan dengan mempunyai kelebihan memikat hati semua perempuan dengan mudah. Dirinya nyaris dijadikan rebutan bagi kaum hawa, bahkan di seantero kampus pun dia sangat dikenal dengan gelar "Playboy Cap Kaleng Khong Ghuan." Kenapa bisa disebut demikian? Karena wajahnya terlalu pasaran di kalangan perempuan. Raja hampir sudah menjadikan semua perempuan di kampusnya tuk dijadikan pacarnya. Kedua temannya tak habis pikir dengan lelaki itu, pelet apa yang manjur menembus hati mereka semua. Reza juga Hito seringkali meminta mantra yang seringkali dia lafalkan, tapi hanya senyuman yang menjadi jawaban. Namun, kehidupannya seolah berubah ketika hatinya terpikat pada seorang gadis pemilik akun beauty vlogger. Ratu Nandilandri yang dijadikannya sasaran untuk sebuah challenge. Raja bisa mengambil hati gadis mana pun, maka dari itu dirinya begitu yakin akan mendapatkan hati Ratu yang memiliki masa lalu kelam perihal hati. Dia trauma patah hati, itu artinya dia takut untuk memulai jatuh. Hatinya tertutup seolah tak akan dia biarkan lelaki mana pun yang memasuki ruang hatinya. Bukan Raja jika mundur sebelum berperang, dia akan terus berpegang teguh pada niat awalnya sampai mendapatkan apa yang diinginkannya. Dengan segala cara dia lakukan untuk mendapatkan gadis SMA itu. Dengan membuat sebuah challenge mendapatkan hati gadis dengan waktu yang singkat dia mengajak kedua temannya untuk melaksanakan hal bodoh yang dibuatnya. Jika sudah mendapatkan hati gadis yang diincarnya, dia akan membuatnya begitu saja bagai barang yang tidak dibutuhkannya lagi.

Jake Monroe, heir to the Monroe Shipping fortune, boards the luxury cruise ship Royal with his ambitious parents. His father, Miles, is determined to find Jake a wealthy wife to expand their business empire. He dismisses a modestly dressed young woman as unsuitable—a "gold digger" beneath their social class. Against his father's wishes, Jake is drawn to this mysterious woman, who turns out to be Amity Jenkins, a world-renowned violinist performing under a stage name. Playing her unique transparent violin called the Crystal Voice, Amity captivates audiences with haunting melodies that speak of rebellion and longing for freedom. Both Jake and Amity are secretly struggling against their families' expectations. Jake yearns to marry for love rather than money, while Amity has been hiding her true identity as an heiress to Jenkins-Whitmore Industries, one of Monroe Shipping's biggest rivals. She's created this separate musical life to escape the politics of high society and prove herself through talent rather than inherited wealth. Their growing connection is complicated by family pressure, class assumptions, and hidden truths. Jake's father pushes him toward "suitable" matches like Rebecca Ashford, while Amity's brother Liam tracks her down, demanding she return to the family business. Past betrayals have left Amity wary of trust, especially from someone in Jake's social circle. As the ship sails toward the Mediterranean, both must decide whether to continue living the lives their families have planned or risk everything for authentic connection and self-determination. Their story unfolds against the backdrop of maritime luxury, where appearances deceive and true identity lies beneath the surface.

Tessa and Raymond’s marriage was never about love, it was convenience, appearances, and expectations. Raymond, with his conventional charm and striking handsomeness, was admired by everyone, but his heart was never fully hers. He had always been drawn to Danielle Green. He claimed she was just a friend, but Tessa knew better. Every secret outing, every hidden smile all carved wounds into Tessa’s heart, leaving her feeling invisible in her own marriage. The tipping point comes when Tessa stumbles upon a post online, a wave of public scolding aimed at her for supposedly breaking the home, for being the obstacle to Danielle. In a blaze of frustration and humiliation, she serves Raymond divorce papers. But instead of freeing her, Raymond refuses. He offers her silly, manipulative terms to meet him, seduces, and taunts her, proving he will never let her go easily. Fueled by a mix of rage and determination, Tessa begins to reclaim her power. She finds herself drawn into a complicated dynamic with Derek, Raymond’s best friend, a man with his own history of tension with Raymond and secret feelings for Tessa. The attention stirs something in her: attraction, validation, a hint of revenge. It ignites a spark Raymond cannot ignore. For Raymond, it is only the beginning. The thought of losing her shook him to the core. He begins to fight for her in ways he never has, even as his love twists into jealousy and obsession. When Raymond finally drops the mask, revealing the man beneath the arrogance, the man terrified of losing her, Tessa is forced to ask herself the question she swore she’d buried: Can love truly be reborn in the depth of hate, or is his devotion just another chain designed to keep her bound?

# Lost in Madness In the gilded halls of high society, where bloodlines matter more than hearts, Dabe has always lived in the shadow of her wealthy cousin Sally. Raised together like sisters, their bond seems unbreakable—until love tears it apart. Sally Williams-Hartwell has been groomed since childhood for one purpose: to marry Andrew Williams and strengthen the alliance between two powerful families. She's loved him from afar for years, dreaming of their destined union. But fate has other plans. When Andrew meets Dabe in high school, their connection is instant and electric. What begins as stolen glances becomes a passionate secret affair that spans years. Dabe knows she's betraying everything—her family's trust, her cousin's dreams, and the rigid social order that governs their world. Yet she cannot resist the pull of a love that feels more real than anything she's ever known. As graduation approaches and family pressure mounts, Andrew faces an impossible choice. Bound by duty and family honor, he must marry Sally despite his heart belonging entirely to Dabe. On Sally's wedding day, Dabe stands as maid of honor, watching the man she loves pledge himself to her dearest friend. The ceremony is perfect, the families satisfied, the alliance secured. But as Andrew slips the ring onto Sally's finger, something fractures inside Dabe's carefully constructed world. In the aftermath of the wedding, as Sally begins her new life as Mrs. Williams,.The weight of her secret, the agony of watching Andrew with Sally, and the guilt of her deception begin to consume Dabe. In a society where duty trumps desire and appearances matter more than truth, how far will she go to claim what she believes is rightfully hers?

Nate caught her hand as she turned away. “Say yes, Dahlia.” She didn’t look at him. “To what this time?” His smile was slow, dangerous. “To letting me eat you tonight” Her breath stilled. “You don’t take hints, do you?” “Only the ones that sound like maybe.” His thumb traced her palm, his voice low enough to make her heartbeat trip. She pulled back, just barely. “Goodnight, Nate.” He grinned, unbothered. “Night, wife. I’ll ask again tomorrow.” *********** When ruthless CEO Dahlia Reyes discovers her boyfriend and her best friend in bed together-and plotting to steal her inheritance—she does the most un-Dahlia thing imaginable. She drinks too much and wakes up married to a sex worker. Her “husband,” Nate, is charming, infuriating, and far too comfortable calling her wife. Dahlia’s ready to annul the whole disaster-until she learns she legally can’t for a year. Desperate to save face (and maybe twist fate in her favor), Dahlia decides to use the fake marriage to her advantage. What she doesn’t know is that Nate isn’t the broke drifter and he's watching her with equal parts amusement and admiration. Now, between public appearances, the plotting of the evil people ready to ruin their lives, staged affection, and the slow burn of something too real to fake, Dahlia’s carefully built walls begin to crack. And Nate? He’s determined to make sure she falls-for him, for real, and hard. A story of betrayal, accidental vows, and the slow, intoxicating fall between a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who plans to prove her wrong.

Lily never imagined she’d end up married to Ethan, her sister's boyfriend. But now, she finds herself under the same roof with Ethan and his family, her life taking an unexpected turn. Caught in the web of her confusion, anxiety, and the judgment of her family, Lily is left feeling more isolated than ever before. Once a close-knit and loving family, the atmosphere now crackles with resentment. Lily’s every move is scrutinized, and the disapproval from her own family is overwhelming. Her desire for acceptance seems impossible as the weight of her actions presses down on her. However, there’s one person who still offers her warmth, Mommy Maita, her mother-in-law. Unlike the others, she tries to make Lily feel welcome, offering her kindness and comfort. But Lily can’t help but question whether this kindness is genuine or just a way to keep up appearances in a family already torn apart by scandal. Ethan’s attitude towards Lily only complicates things further. His anger is palpable, and he seems resistant to accept her as his wife. Lily is left in the dark, wondering why he’s so hostile, when all she wants is a connection. But with every passing day, the emotional gap between them widens, and Lily is left questioning her place in this fractured life. Torn between her desire for love and the turmoil surrounding her, Lily struggles with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. As expectations and societal pressures weigh heavily on her, she starts to wonder if she’ll ever find a way out of this mess. Lily finds solace in her friends Miya and Rafael. They offer her the understanding and support she desperately needs, reminding her that maybe there’s still hope in a world that seems determined to tear her apart.