at least we met

Noong tinanong ako ng aking ama kung sino ang gusto ko pakasalan para sa kapakanan ng alyansa ng aming pamilya, iba ang pinili ko sa buhay na ito. Hindi ko na pinili si Leonardo Vittorio. Sa halip, pinili ko ang nakatatanda niyang kapatid, si Ivan Vittorio. Mukhang naguluhan ang ama ko. Alam nga naman ng lahat sa Chicago na lumaki kami ng magkasama ni Leonardo. Sampung taon ko siyang hinahabol. Bilang nakatatandang anak na babae ng pamilya Lucien, matagal ng nakaukit ang pangalan ko sa tabi ng kanyang pangalan para sa listahan ng mga arranged marriage. Naniniwala na ang pagsasama namin ay nakatadhana. Habang inaalala ang nakaraan kong buhay, pinilit ko ngumiti ng mapait. Dati, pinakasalan ko si Leonardo tulad ng matagal ko ng hinihiling. Pero makalipas ang aming kasal, hindi niya ako ginalaw kahit isang beses. Ang akala ko may sakit siyang hindi niya masabi at nagpakahirap ako na pagtakpan siya. Sa ika-anim na anibersaryo ng aming kasal ko nalaman ng buksan ko ng hindi inaasahan ang kahadeyero niya. Sa loob, may maayos na litrato niya kasama ang ampon na babae na nagmakaawa ako sa ama ko na ampunin. Sa mga litratong iyon, may dalawang taong gulang na batang lalaki din–ang anak nila. Masaya silang pamilya ng tatlo. Doon ko napagtanto sa mga oras na iyon. Hindi sa may sakit siya. Hindi niya inisip na asawa niya ako. Para mapalayas ako, nagplano sila ng ampon kong kapatid para ako’y patayin. Ngayon at nabigyan ako ng ikalawang pagkakataon, pinili ko na ibigay sa kanila ang blessing ko. Pero noong naglakad ako sa simbahan suot ang aking wedding dress, habang nakapatong ang braso ko sa braso ni Ivan, pumasok si Leonardo bigla ng may dalang baril. Mukha siyang baliw at wala sa kontrol. “Madeline!” Paos ang boses niya at halos maputol. “Ang lakas ng loob mo?”

When Charlotte’s fairytale marriage turns into a nightmare, she tries to fight to stay with her husband and build a home like the one her parents had; filled with love and happiness, but the reverse was the case. Her marriage was filled with heartbreak, neglect, and old flames, which drove them apart. Amidst their failed marriage, they embarked on different journeys as she let go to rebuild her life and pursue her dreams. Rogerio decides to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend and soon realizes that he can’t live without her. He embarks on a journey to win back her heart. Will they be able to mend their broken hearts and give their love a second chance, or are some wounds too deep to heal?

After a totally disastrous marriage, she has decided to keep her heart locked away for the rest of her life from the most hurtful things that can ever come to her. To be precise, men. She has finally realised that it’s so stupid to rely on any man or bid her own happiness on them. Even if it can be tough to be a bread earner and a single mom at the same time, even if she feels lonely at times, she will never ever enter any romantic relationship anymore. There’ll only be one person she will love with her whole heart, her babies. She can do this, and she must do this, because she is an independent strong woman who is the owner of her own fate. However what happens when the man she has solely voted to be away from comes to her aid? He comes back and asks her to be his wife? “Marry me ex-wife” on his knees, he begs. “Sorry, ex-husband, I can’t.”

WARNING: This book is unapologetically slutty. ••• “You can fuck me, but only with my mask on.” My boss doesn't know I'm his little wh*re sunshine. ••• Elissa can't remember the last time she got laid by a man. She is too caught up in meeting ends meet, and healing from the trauma caused by her stepmother. But her life changes when she goes to a masquerade ball and her eyes land on the gorgeous mysterious stranger, succumbing to his charm. They have a wild night together, their heated, lustful encounter leaving her breathless and wanting more. However, when dawn breaks, she flees the hotel room, and he is left with only her lingerie and an unrelenting obsession to find her. But when Elissa returns to her normal life, fate brings them together again in a shocking twist: Elissa’s new billionaire boss, Thane, is the mysterious man who has rocked her world. Now, he’s determined to claim her as his own, one sensual seduction at a time. But there’s a catch— he’s unaware that his secretary is the same woman he’s been p*unding at midnight, and Elissa must hide her arousal during work hours, waiting for the clock to strike 3 a.m. when she can transform into masked Cinderella once more. But for how long will it take for her identity to be revealed?

Jade Nightshade never wanted a life bound by destiny. Growing up as the Alpha’s daughter, Jade believed her future lay with Rowan, her childhood love, and the dangerous oath they’d made—to defy fate and stay together no matter what. But when Rowan discovered his true mate, Kassandra, he betrayed Jade, leaving her shattered. Soon after, Darius, her childhood friend and strongest warrior, returned, revealing himself as her true mate but asking her to risk her life in a binding ritual. Feeling betrayed by both men, Jade made a shocking decision at the Blood Moon Ceremony, declaring, "One of you must die for me to know who truly deserves me." In a clash of fate, love, and loyalty, Jade is no longer the one bound by destiny. Now, the men who would die for her love must prove they’re willing to live up to it.

After her mother's death and her brother Reno's deportation, Riana is left alone in NYU. Life seems to only get worse when she finds her roommate and her boyfriend having sex in her bed. Alan's girlfriend just cheated on him. With his PA. In public. And they were caught by a server. Angry on his behalf, Riana bids on him at a charity auction to make sure his cheating girlfriend doesn't go near him again. She wins what she thought was a simple date with the man, but boy was she wrong. Riana wins a date with billionaire Allan Sinclair and a trip to Venice. For two weeks. With him.

Hasmine is torn between love and ambition. No matter what she chooses, someone’s heart is bound to break. This is a beautiful story of first love, heartbreak, second chances, and finding the courage to fall in love again.

FRAGMENTS OF MEMORIES 1: MARRIED AT SEVENTEEN AN ENGLISH NOVEL Thera De Marco was hated and feared by many. For inexplicable reasons, within five years of marriage to her husband Sean, she has gone from being soft-hearted and happy, to savage and ill-tempered. Despite her unhappiness, and her hate towards her husband she has refused to get her marriage annulled.Just before her 30th birthday, Thera is hit by a car, causing her memory before she met Sean to be wiped out. When she resumes her life, she begins to question why she was so unhappy in her marriage.Will her feelings change while she couldn't remember anything? Or do the secrets run deeper than she ever realized?

Ethan’s life is falling apart, but rescuing a stray dog in the rain changes everything. By morning, the dog is gone—replaced by a striking, silver-haired man with piercing blue eyes, and an unsettling obsession with Ethan. Killan is wild, powerful, and utterly devoted. He calls Ethan “Master,” follows his every move, and tests every limit. But as strange desires awaken and Killan’s true nature is revealed, Ethan realizes one chilling truth—he isn’t the one in control. Not anymore. Because Killan isn't as simple as he looks.

Three years… That is how long Eunice Tsui spent in a coma after the car accident five years ago. Now that she is awake, the perpetrator must settle his debts. She's returning to the country that never gave her a warm home, and this time, she's taking matters into her own hands. She will track down every rat hiding in the sewer and eliminate them herself. No more being pushed around or feeling unwelcome—she's taking control of the situation. However, her well-thought-out revenge compromises when Jullian Lopez keeps appearing before her. What will be his role in the stage she built for the culprits to gather around? EXCERPT: “Mommy, I missed you!” A four-year-old boy rushes to her side and gives her a loud kiss on the cheek. “How’s my baby?” With an unusually delicate smile on her lips, Eunice asked softly. “Mommy, don’t embarrass me!” Eunice raised a brow and chuckled. “And why is that? You will always be my baby. Besides, we’re the only people here. Why would you feel embarrassed if I called you my baby?” Jillian pouted, folding his arms as he looked past his mom and pointed at the man who emerged from her bathroom only wrapped in a bath towel, barely covering anything. “Eunice Tsui! Why does that child look so much like me?” the man inquired. Eunice rolled her eyes and retorted, “Jullian Lopez, stop assuming. We never sleep together!” Astounded, Jillian shifted his gaze from the two adults to the bedroom, which looked like a super hurricane had passed because of how messed up the bed and every corner of the room were.