Bato Bato Pick

I'd been engaged to Ivan since we were kids. When he went off to the military, I stayed behind—ten years of caring for his paralyzed mom, putting my whole life on pause. By the time he came back, I was at the age where most women were settling down. And he showed up with someone else. Ivan laid it out, stone cold: "Nadia's my comrade's widow. If you want to marry me, you'll have to accept her too. Most of my pay goes to her. I promised I'd take care of her. She gets first pick of everything in the house. Don't like it? Then forget about getting married." I looked past him. Nadia stood there, tears dripping down her cheeks, playing the poor little victim. Right then, I ended it. No drama. No regrets. Signed up for the Rural Teaching Support Program the same day. Left love behind. Threw everything I had into teaching.

The day before New Year's, my younger brother announced he was bringing his girlfriend home for dinner. Excited, I drove my new car to pick them up, taking my daughter along with me. However, as soon as his girlfriend got in the car, her face darkened. "Henry, you didn't tell me your sister was staying at your place—and with a kid!" she snapped. I frowned and was about to explain when my brother quickly interjected, "She's not staying. After dropping us off, she'll be heading to a hotel." Only then did his girlfriend's expression ease. I swallowed my discomfort and asked my brother what he was planning. He leaned in with a conspiratorial grin and said, "Sis, don't cause any trouble for me, okay? My girlfriend is the daughter of the Cromwell Group's CEO!" My eyes widened in shock. Was not the Cromwell Group the same company my ex-husband had just handed over to me as part of our divorce settlement?

"I want this girl." He let go of Azfarin with a jerk. Azfarin staggered to the ground and did not understand what the man was saying. But he was now walking back and forth, and the three black men were shaking their heads and heading towards Azfarin. "Till Heradi Macy's Op" "Pick up this girl" He was speaking in his own language, his neck pointing towards the girl. The atmosphere was in full swing, the sobs and cries of the people were drowning out in fear. Everyone was taking two steps back. The girl in the black shirt grabbed the woman's hand tightly. The weapons in their hands and the horrible looks were enough to terrorize. The tall man lifted the girl on his shoulder in one jerk, she was swaying from her shoulder to the back on her stomach, her legs were forward. "Leave me, leave me, save someone" She was screaming in pain and fear, hitting him on the back and trying unsuccessfully to free herself. Her hands were tied behind her back. The girl's screams were so painful that everyone forgot to cry and began to tremble. The echo of her screams was reaching far and wide in the forest. It was almost as if they, including the girl, were disappearing from their sight, a roar was heard. "Liu Har" "Leave her" All eyes were on Xavier.

Kiara Retania, or Kia, has just had her heart broken. The man she loves is about to marry—but not her. She was merely the mistress of Alex Guntoro, her boss, who is set to wed the woman chosen by his parents, leaving Kia behind without a second thought. To mend her broken heart, Kia decides to go to a club and pick a man to spend the night with. In a reckless game, she spins a bottle on the table, intending to let fate choose her companion. But to her surprise, the bottle points directly at a charming and handsome bartender. But... is he really just a bartender? Or is he a man determined to make Alex pay for the pain he caused Kia—and to claim Kia, both her heart and body, for himself?

Emmi: The princess of Solace City, has grown up knowing that the deal her parents agreed with The Wolversons before she was born means she has no escape from the life ahead. Growing up knowing she is going to be sent to The Wolversons city to marry one of the brothers, she has fought to find ways to avoid it, especially as being the princess of Solace city means no man has ever touched her, and the thought of living with these unknown men while being a virgin worries her. She has never once met any of the Wolversons brothers. But her rebelling forces her family to send her to the Wolversons sooner. As Emmi tries and figures out a way to escape this arranged marriage to pay off her parent's debt. She soon realises, that her own family has lied, and is willing to hurt her in any way possible to get to The Wolversons to win their city from me. Facing the reality that her family are trying to kill her, she agrees to side with The Wolversons to stop them even if it means losing her family forever. The biggest battle, however, is she needs to choose one of the brothers to marry, but she can't pick as she finds herself falling for them all. Is love enough though? When the brothers offer her freedom and a way to escape both families and cities, will she take the escape and leave them all behind or stay and finally make a choice of who to marry?

The day our daughter had a high fever, Matt was at a parent-teacher meeting for his first love’s son. I called him, only for her to pick up. Through sobs, she apologized, but Matt quickly grabbed the phone, his tone impatient. "She’s a single mom with a kid. What’s wrong with me looking out for them?" So, I turned to my daughter, who was quietly receiving her IV, and asked softly, "How about it, sweetheart? From now on, it’s just you and me."

It was the third year of my secret relationship with Garrett, my Alpha brother's best friend. Marcus laughed and nudged Garrett playfully. "You've been with that little mate of yours for three years now. When are you going to introduce her to the pack?" I pressed myself against the doorframe, my heart racing. Had my brother figured out our secret? Garrett just laughed it off. "What mate? Just some crazy she-wolf who won't leave me alone." Marcus caught sight of me and grinned. "Sage, you see this? Never pick a mate like Garrett here." "Takes everything a female offers but won't even acknowledge the bond." Just then, more of Marcus's friends arrived, and they joined in the teasing. "Your brother's right, but Garrett's had his heart set on someone for years." "What was her name again? Oh right, Aria. She's returning to the pack soon." I'd heard that name before - Aria. But Garrett had never told me she was his true love.

Over five years I’ve lived a bittersweet lie as David Hargrove’s kept woman, Maria Bell. David’s shown no interest in me beyond what he wants. Love’s a bitter pill to love when it's not returned. I'm bought and paid for. Kept in a gilded cage. David suspects nothing of the secrets I hold. Tonight, David announced he’s marrying my stepsister. He doesn’t know. The level of betrayal I’ve experienced is unbelievable. Everything becomes complicated as the lies surface. Leaving and facing it alone are my only choices. I’m living in fear as I pick up pieces of a life, I believed lost. Blackmail, sabotage, and intrigue dog my steps. I don’t know who I can trust or how to win. I won’t surrender without a fight this time. They don’t recognize me. They won’t see me coming. My name is David Hargrove, and someone is trying to destroy my family. I must marry my rival’s daughter. His stepdaughter signed the contract. Before we learned, she couldn’t deliver the Belgrave empire to me. She can help me secure my family’s empire as my fiancée. I need the ugly biological daughter, Maria Belgrave, who’s hiding. Things get confusing. Maria Belgrave sent two women to represent her. One is my Maria. My missing woman. The betrayal and conflict of interest still stand. I will say when our contract has ended. How can I work with her? I know nothing about her. She owes me answers and loyalty. Perhaps I’ll use this to my advantage. When David learns of Maria’s past life. Will he help her? Or use her and take over the business himself? It starts with an engagement and the death of a patriarch.

Sophie is speech impaired; she communicates by writing on pieces of paper, and as such, she carries a notebook along with her wherever she goes. She was able to clearly express her anxiety and pain through these papers, sometimes through text messages too. It is fascinating that whenever she goes out, she doesn’t appear to be a pitiable figure. Sophie is bold and clever, and she is an enthusiastic being. She is a baker, and she owns her shop. Sophie’s voice is a great weapon, and there is a lot to her central figure. People assume that she has been mute from birth, but her condition was the aftermath of the sexual abuse she received from Mr. Adrian, her uncle, at the age of 12, and her aunt, Mrs. Eliana, feels shadowed by societal analysis, so she keeps quiet about it. Sophie decided to fight and survive, and she always chose to pick shattered pieces of herself broken.

My husband sponsored a poor female college student. While I was being dragged into an alley by a criminal, he was helping her pick out lingerie. While I was hospitalized with serious injuries, he used the money my mother left me to buy her a limited-edition handbag. I confronted him in a heated argument, but he accused me of being unreasonable. "I thought your injuries were so serious, but look—you didn’t even die! Besides, your money is my money. I’ll spend it however I want!"