Awkward Silence

I’d been dead a month before my family even noticed. It wasn’t concern that brought them to that realization. It was my silence after the so-called “dinner” with Adam Rossi, the infamous mafia boss. My father scoffed like always,“She probably shacked up with that bastard. Too busy spreading her legs to pick up the damn phone.” My sister texted me a photo of them smiling under the Christmas tree, ornaments twinkling like nothing was wrong. Bitch, she wrote. You better talk Mr. Rossi into working with Dad, or you might as well be dead already. And my mother—once the softer one—was now colder than the frost on their windows. “I told you, we should’ve sent Gia to charm Mr. Rossi. Serena always screws things up.” They didn’t think I would die. Not until they found my body—broken, rotten, and forgotten—in Adam Rossi’s basement.

A blessing or a curse? Izzat dislikes his gift, but no one knows about his arduous hardship except his best friend, Fakhrul. Not even his family realized he hold such a big and deep secret within his heart. He occasionally pondered in silence, why a person like him is given such a troublesome gift? Does the gift exist to help someone else? Or to help himself? Once is coincidental. What about twice? And the next time after that? Can you still call this bizarre incident a coincidence anymore? Come join him in his journey of life that is full of unexpected surprises. Scared? You shouldn't be feared by those from the dark side. The scariest thing is coming from within, and every person out there holds malice in their fragile heart. After all, we do have a story that we will never tell others. This is a work of fiction. And the book cover is not mine. Credit to the real owner.

“My father didn’t protect me. He used me for his own purposes. He forced me to marry Dante—not for love, not for peace, but because he hoped to get from Dante what he needed—power. He wanted to silence his enemies, and Dante was the key. And Dante… he wasn’t just any man. He was cold, ruthless, and feared by everyone. A devil in disguise. I didn’t love him. I was afraid of him. But the more I saw behind his darkness, the more I realized—we were both broken in different ways. Two lost souls. Two shattered hearts. And a love neither of us expected. This isn’t a fairytale. This is a story of fear, power… and a love born from pain. “They call him a monster… but to me, he became home.” “Love will always find you. Sometimes, it just takes time—so give time the time it needs.” 🌼

When my father succumbed to a brutal illness, my world shattered. The day before his funeral, my fiancé abandoned me to marry his first love, which added to my grief. When I confronted him, his irritation was palpable. "Megan's dad is dying of cancer," he snapped. "His last wish is to see her get married. I did something good. Can't you see it?" That night, I called him, desperate for answers, only to hear that woman's smug voice. "Blake is in the shower. Can I help you?" I hung up without a word, my heart sinking. Later, he called back, exhausted and dismissive. "I'm swamped with wedding plans. Don't bother me with irrelevant things, okay?" Silence was my only response. I tossed the engagement ring into the trash and canceled our wedding plans, severing the ties that bound us.

Dad attends a banquet with his ex-girlfriend, and they make headlines. Everyone mocks Mom for this, saying that she hasn't gotten anything out of her relationship with Dad. They make fun of her for giving up her successful career for his sake to end up with nothing—she can't even tell a homewrecker off. Mom looks at me tiredly after bawling her eyes out. "He let me down first, so I don't want him anymore. Do you want to leave with me, Rosie?" Just then, my phone pings. I've received a text from my boyfriend of seven years. "I'm just going through the motions and registering my marriage with someone else, Rosalie. You'll still be my girlfriend!" After a brief silence, I nod and tell Mom I'll leave with her. On the day of the double weddings, Mom and I disappear after a fire at our villa.

Shaina Dela Cruz only wanted a decent job to help her struggling family in Cebu. Becoming the secretary of Lukas Vergara—the arrogant, perfectionist CEO—was never part of her plans. Their first encounter was a disaster, and her first day at work proved he was every bit the impossible boss she imagined. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Sharing the same office with him meant sharing the same air, the same silence, and—much to her dismay—the same intoxicating scent that made her pulse race against her will. Lukas was cold, demanding, and annoyingly unreadable… until one slip of her fingers on the keyboard revealed her thoughts in the most embarrassing way. For the first time, she saw him smile. Now, stuck between her pride and her growing attraction, Shaina must decide: is babysitting the boss worth the chaos in her heart? Or will this impossible man become the one mistake she’ll never regret?

Lola Smith never expected her quiet job at a medical clinic to pull her into the orbit of Melvin Walker, a devoted husband caring for a dying wife. Their connection begins as compassion, but loneliness draws them into a secret affair neither of them fully intended nor can easily walk away from. As Emily’s health declines, Lola and Melvin cling to each other in stolen moments that blur the line between comfort and love. But after Emily’s passing, grief drives Melvin into silence, leaving Lola questioning everything, including her place in his life. When Lola discovers she is pregnant, she faces the most decisive choice of her life: hold on to a man still haunted by loss or walk away to protect the new life growing inside her. Their love is messy, forbidden, and transformative forcing both to confront what they truly deserve, even if it means choosing themselves over each other.

Shaina Dela Cruz only wanted a decent job to help her struggling family in Cebu. Becoming the secretary of Lukas Vergara—the arrogant, perfectionist CEO—was never part of her plans. Their first encounter was a disaster, and her first day at work proved he was every bit the impossible boss she imagined. But fate has a cruel sense of humor. Sharing the same office with him meant sharing the same air, the same silence, and—much to her dismay—the same intoxicating scent that made her pulse race against her will. Lukas was cold, demanding, and annoyingly unreadable… until one slip of her fingers on the keyboard revealed her thoughts in the most embarrassing way. For the first time, she saw him smile. Now, stuck between her pride and her growing attraction, Shaina must decide: is babysitting the boss worth the chaos in her heart? Or will this impossible man become the one mistake she’ll never regret?

"Ms. Rowe, are you certain you want to delete all identity records? Once they're erased, you'll be completely removed from the system. No one will be able to find you again." Eva Rowe pauses for a moment before nodding with quiet resolve. "Yes. I want to disappear from this world. I want to make sure no one can ever find me." Two seconds of silence follow on the other end, as if they're giving her one last chance to reconsider. "Understood, Ms. Rowe. The wipeout protocol will be completed within 14 days. By then, you'll be officially 'dead' in all databases. Please make the necessary arrangements." With that, the call ends. Eva books a one-way ticket to Felnor, scheduled for 14 days later. Then, she turns off her phone, watching as the screen goes dark. She stands by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the endless city lights, and lets out a soft, cold laugh. She is no longer anyone's Eva.

Justin's life is thrown into chaos when he is forced to marry the girl he believes ruined everything. Deceived for years, he harbors a burning hatred for Astrid, convinced she is the source of his misery. Bound by a painful secret, Astrid suffers in silence until Justin's sister, Kris, uncovers a shocking truth. In a desperate bid to keep her hold on Justin, Audrey commits a heinous crime, framing Astrid for her actions. The lies escalate, culminating in a deadly confrontation that leaves Audrey dead and Astrid wrongly accused. Blinded by rage and grief, Justin vows to destroy Astrid, even as his father, the Alpha, decrees they must marry. Caught in a storm of betrayal and hatred, Justin and Astrid's lives are forever changed as they are forced to confront the lies that have shaped their destinies even while in college. Will Justin uncover the real truth and see Astrid for who she truly is, or will his vendetta lead to their ultimate destruction?