Are U Okay

Astrid Guevarra, isang 3rd Year college student na gusto lamang makapagtapos. Ngunit ang kanyang ina ay mukang may ibang plano para sa kanya. Sa hindi malaman na rason, siya ay ipinakasal (ibinenta) ng kanyang ina sa isang kilalang at mayaman na anak ng pamilyang ito. "Nay naman! Nag aaral pa po ako! 3rd year nako, malapit na ako grumaduate! Hindi ba kayang maaantay yun?!" "Hindi." Sa loob ng isang araw na yun, hindi na alam ni Astrid ang kanyang gagawin. Lahat ng pagod, galit, gulat at pagkabalisa naramdaman niya, ngunit wala naman siyang ibang magawa kundi tanggapin na lamang. Eh ano pa nga bang magagawa niya? Pumayag na ang kanyang nanay? Hindi rin naman ito makikinig sa kanya. Ngunit ng paggising niya galing sa kanyang mahimbing na tulog, ay kaharap na niya ang tatay ng kanyang papakasalan. "Are you okay Miss Astria?” "I'm Timothy Miller. Ang tatay ng iyong mapapangasawa na si Tristan Miller, ang aking anak.” At teka sino si Astria?! Ito na ba ang sinasabi ng kanyang nanay? Ngunit bakit wala siya rito?! Natulog lamang siya, at pag gising ibang tao na siya?! Anong ibig sabihin non? Siya ba ay namatay? Sa buhay din na ito, siya ay papakasalan sa hindi niya na naman kakilala, at nakamaskara ito?!

I'm in the hills for a project inspection when a sudden downpour hits. I lose my footing and tumble down a steep slope. Lying in a pool of blood, I fumble for my phone and call my husband, Joel Grant, who's supposed to be nearby. "Rachel has anxiety. I only brought her back to her hometown to help her unwind. Can you stop being so paranoid and jealous for once? You're due in two weeks. I'll be there, okay? Just behave." In the background, I hear Rachel giggle softly. "The models have to be in their birthday suit for sketching, right?" Joel hangs up without another word. My sister-in-law—and best friend—Chloe Murphy finds me. She's sobbing as she cradles me, desperately trying to call her husband, Michael Grant, for help. "Are all pregnant women insane these days?" Michael snaps. "Don't start with the same manipulative crap as Anna. Joel and I are busy modeling for Rachel. We don't have time for your petty dramas." Then he blocks her. My injuries are too severe. There's no way help will arrive in time. Despite being heavily pregnant herself, Chloe hoists me onto her back and carries me down the mountain to the nearest hospital. Somehow, I survive. My baby doesn't. Chloe, devastated and physically pushed past her limits, loses her child too. "I want a divorce," I whisper with my eyes swollen from crying. "Me too. I'm done with Michael." We filed for divorce together. That's when Joel and Michael finally lose their minds.

" Put your clothes on and get out. "He said coldly making tears formed in her eyes." Cable, are you serious? "Cable stop and face her with his poker face." Since when did I said that I was not serious? Are you an idiot? Put your clothes on and get out. "He said coldly making her mouth hang open in shock. She was trying to process everything when she heard his angry voice again." Are you a deaf? I said put your clothes on and get out. I have a lot of things to do today. "Emma stood up and face him." Why are you still like this, Cable?? I-I thought after what we had done last night. W-We'll be-- "" You thought we will be okay after what he had shared last night? "He laugh sarcastically." Oh, Anna... I thought you were just shameless. But it turns out... you are a delusional too. "Harry said sarcastically and smirk evilly while walking closer to her." Don't expect too much, sweetheart. What we did last night was nothing to me. It was just a plain . Do not take it too seriously. "Cable scoffed before he continues making her tears flow down in her eyes." Don't feel special just because I had with you . I had to fulfil my needs as a man. Since there was no other woman last night who would pleasure me. I had no choice but to f*caked you instead. And besides, you are not the only woman who I laid with. "Her tears continue to flow down as her heart shattered into pieces

J'ai été infectée par l'aconit lunaire, une maladie chronique, et j'ai fait face à la mort. Mais le seul antidote, la Panacée rouge, a été acheté par mon compagnon Léo et offert à ma demi-sœur Jeanne, simplement parce qu'il pensait que je faisais semblant d'être malade. J'ai abandonné le traitement conservateur et avalé des analgésiques puissants. Le prix à payer : ils me tueraient en trois jours, en faisant atrophier mes organes. Durant ces trois jours, j'ai tout abandonné : Quand j'ai offert ma filature, bâtie de mes propres mains, à Jeanne, mes parents m'ont félicitée : « Enfin, Viviane sait aimer sa sœur. » Quand j'ai proposé à Léo de rompre notre lien, il a souri : « Tu deviens enfin compréhensive. » Quand j'ai ordonné à mon fils d'appeler Jeanne « Maman », le petit a ri : « Jeanne est la plus gentille du monde ! » Lorsque j'ai transféré toutes mes économies à Jeanne, personne n'a perçu l'anormalité. Ils ont simplement hoché la tête, satisfaits : « Viviane n'est plus aussi mauvaise qu'avant. » Mais après ma mort, regretteraient-ils leurs actions ?

Ma meilleure amie et moi avons épousé les héritiers d'une grande famille fortunée. J'ai dit « oui » à l'aîné, Alexandre, un brillant chirurgien, tandis qu'elle s'est unie au cadet, Thomas, un PDG aussi brillant que glacial. Le jour de notre mariage, Alexandre s'est volatilisé pour aider son ex à retrouver son chien perdu. Un comble ! Ma grand-mère, sous le choc, a fait une crise cardiaque. J'ai supplié Alexandre de revenir pour la sauver. « Tu as perdu la tête, Emma ? » m'a-t-il lancé, furieux. « Tu serais prête à maudire ta seule famille pour me faire revenir ? Chloé est désespérée, son chien a disparu. On peut toujours reporter la cérémonie. » Ce jour-là, elle a retrouvé son stupide animal, mais moi, j'ai perdu ma grand-mère à jamais. Je me suis effondrée en larmes. À mon réveil, j'ai regardé Juliette droit dans les yeux : « Je vais demander le divorce. Et toi ? » Elle m'a serrée contre elle, les joues ruisselantes : « Moi aussi, c'est fini. » Quand les frères Lefèvre ont reçu nos demandes de divorce, ils ont pleuré comme des enfants...

Ich war im neunten Monat schwanger. Ein ehemaliger Mitarbeiter, der meinen Mann hasste, weil dieser ihn ersetzt hatte, schleppte mich auf das Dach und stich Dutzende Male auf mich ein. Mein Mann, der Chef des Rettungsteams, mobilisierte unterdessen alle seine Leute, um seine depressive Jugendliebe aufzuhalten, die ihre Mietwohnung in Brand setzen wollte. Ich bat ihn nicht um Hilfe. Im letzten Leben hatte ich ihn angefleht, da hatte er sie zurückgelassen, um mich zu retten. Unser Baby und ich überlebten. Sie jedoch kam in den Flammen um, nachdem sie die Wohnung angezündet hatte. Er machte mir äußerlich keine Vorwürfe und buchte sogar einen Privatkreißsaal für mich. Doch genau an meinem Entbindungstag fesselte er mich. Stach auf mich ein. Auf unser Baby. Immer wieder! „Das war alles abgekartet mit ihm, stimmt’s?“, brüllte er. „Diese Messerstiche waren doch nicht schwer! Du wärst bestimmt nicht gestorben!“ „Wenn du Messerstiche so liebst – dann krieg sie jetzt!“ Als ich die Augen aufschlug, war ich zurückgewesen. Zurück auf diesem Dach, als Geisel. Diesmal war mein Entschluss gefasst: Ich würde ihn lassen, damit er sie retten konnte.

Mein Ehemann drohte mir zum hundertsten Mal mit Scheidung, um mich zu opfern – für meine Schwester. Ich weinte nicht und machte keinen Aufstand. Stattdessen unterschrieb ich still die Scheidungspapiere. Freiwillig übergab ich meiner Schwester den Mann, den ich zehn Jahre lang geliebt hatte. Einige Tage später machte meine Schwester auf einem Bankett unverschämte Äußerungen und zog sich den Zorn einer mächtigen Familie zu. Wieder nahm ich freiwillig die Schuld auf mich und trug alle Konsequenzen für sie. Später schlugen sie vor, ich solle als Versuchsperson für die Forschung meiner Schwester dienen. Ich willigte bereitwillig ein. Meine Eltern sagten, ich sei endlich brav und vernünftig geworden. Sogar mein gleichgültiger Ehemann stand an meinem Krankenbett, strich mir zum ersten Mal seit Langem sanft über die Wange und sagte: „Hab keine Angst, das Experiment ist nicht lebensgefährlich. Wenn du zurückkommst, koche ich dir etwas Leckeres.“ Doch er wusste nicht: Egal, ob das Experiment gefährlich war oder nicht, er würde nicht auf mich warten können. Denn ich litt an einer unheilbaren Krankheit und würde bald sterben.

*Excerpt* My gaze met Sergio's. He didn't look away. I couldn't look away either. It felt like there was an invisible magnet pulling us towards each other. He looked away, breaking us from the trance. "Are you sure you're okay, Nicole?" "Come inside." He shook his head. "I was worried, and—" "Come inside, let's talk." He shook his head again, unyieldingly. "We're already talking." "Are you scared?" I asked in a challenging voice, my gazed fixed on him. "What are you so scared of?" "Nicole..." "To answer your question, no, Sergio, I'm not okay." "What's bothering you?" The vulnerability in his eyes towards me was palpable. It was my chance to act. I couldn't afford to waste it. "You," I replied, my gaze still boring into his. "And your fiancee. I couldn't bear watching you together." Sergio swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I was jealous, Sergio." • *Blurb* In a turn of events, Juliana bears witness to the brutal murder of her father—a sight she never thought she'd witness. Amidst the turmoil, she finds out she's their next target, but somehow, she manages to evade them. Determined to seek closure and justice for what happened to her father, Juliana takes on a new identity as Nicole and embarks on a quest for vengeance against the masterminds. With a heart hardened by grief, she takes on the journey. A journey that would test her limits and push her to do unthinkable things. Will she succeed? Follow her on this journey as she confronts the demon of her past.

Jane took a glance at his height and just like her he had a pair of beautiful straight long legs, just his was rather manly and firm in those nicely polished dark leather shoes. He was wearing sunglasses, she walked closer to him and just as she suspected, he was the CEO of Brights Entertainment Damon Miles. She had met him once but wasn’t sure if he still remembered her. “Was he also getting married today?” she asked particularly no one. Her thoughts are distracted by the arrival of his secretary. “President, Ms Grey has not arrived” the assistant behind him reported. Damon Miles shook his head in disappointment, “If she can’t make it on time for the marriage, I doubt she will make it in time as my wife” his voice was cold and firm. “No need to come” his assistant panicked as they were working on a condition. He had to get a married bride or no bride. “President, the old man said, you must marry today, even if it has to be nobody” This statement alone made Damon weak. He hearted the fact his life had been dictated at the moment by the old man. Not to mention he hates being powerless. “Pick a random girl from a reputed family, anyone is okay,” Damon Miles ordered. This gave Jane an idea. So he was faced with the same situation as her, Jane smiled. She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and it was a rather bold step from her end. This was not just any regular man but the king of bright. He could get whosoever he wanted, but she felt the need to walk up to him. “I will be your bride”

“I never believed in love and marriage. But when I set my eyes on you, everything changed. For without blinking an eye, I fell in love with you…” TEASER Nang dahil sa sugat na idinulot ng ama ni Dannah sa buhay-pamilya nila, nagkaroon ng lamat sa puso at damdamin niya. She vowed never to fall in love and be committed to any man. Natatakot siyang makahanap ng isang lalaking katulad ng kanyang ama na iniwan ang sarili nitong pamilya para sa babaeng gusto nitong makasama. Till such a moment came na hiniling ng kanyang butihing-ina ang isang apo mula sa kanya. She’s the only daughter and she loved her mom very much para ipagkait dito ang simpleng bagay na alam niyang makapagpapaligaya rito. Sa tulong ng kaibigang si Sandy ay nakahanap siya ng lalaking handang mag-“donate” ng sarili nitong “semelya.” Iyon ay si Gunther de Guzman! Tila nakiayon naman ang tadhana, for Gunther only desired sex without commitment and love. On her part, she only yearned for a baby without having a husband. Iyon ang bagay na nagbuklod sa kanila. Kaya naman they’ve shared one-night stand together. Okay na sana ang lahat para kay Dannah sa pag-aakalang iyon na ang kahuli-hulihan nilang pagkikita. Subalit ang hindi inaasahan ng dalaga ay ang pagbabago ng isip ng binata. “I want to have the custody of my child, Dannah. Kahit saang husgado ay lalabanan kita!”