Best New Fiction

"Shut down for rectification, fined $500,000, plus $300 compensation per customer. That’s the penalty from the Food Safety Bureau. Let’s see if you dare serve us gutter oil again!” Yves Larson, a part-timer at a construction site, sends me a provocative text purposefully, as though he's worried that I don't know what's going on. I just stare at the sign that says "closed for renovation", which is hung on the front door of my eatery. Never would I expect that the budget eatery that I've opened for the sake of the workers will be transformed into a blade that's aimed at me, thanks to the very same workers. That night, I sit in the apartment that my dad has left to me before his death. There, I spend the whole night smoking. Early the next morning, I head over to the bank and withdraw the money left behind by my dad, which is 260 million dollars. Half a month later, my eatery is open for business again. Work resumes at the construction site as well. Yves leads the construction workers to the restaurant at lunch. "I've taught him a good lesson last time. This time, I'm very sure that he won't have the guts to serve us cheap food made of shitty ingredients!" What he doesn't know is that the original eatery is already demolished. In its place stands a luxurious five-star restaurant. I stand in front of the main entrance as I perform a welcoming gesture to the workers. "This is a five-star restaurant that offers a private dining experience to you. The minimum bill for each table is 4000 dollars. You're welcome to dine here."

Ethan Cole is a billionaire tech heir who needs a relationship as soon as possible. Not for love, but to secure a powerful merger and win control of his family's empire. Desperate, he turns to the most unexpected person: Jamie Rivera, his charming, openly gay best friend with dreams of owning an art gallery. What begins as a harmless fake romance soon turns into real emotions, with stolen glances, strange desires and forbidden kisses. But with jealous exes, ruthless family rivals, and the media watching their every move, pretending to be in love might destroy everything, unless they’re brave enough to make it real. A swoon-worthy, slow-burn romance where fake love turns dangerously real and one kiss was all it took.

To save my unconscious Alpha fiancé, I got trapped in a glacial crevasse on the frozen mountain. I tried to reach him through our bond ninety-nine times, but he blocked me out completely. When he finally found me seven days later, his first words were an accusation. "Elara damaged her eyes trying to save me, and you just had to cause trouble right now!" "You're a trained mountain warrior. How could you get trapped in a small crevasse for seven days?" "I've had enough of your games. Let's break off our engagement." He thought I would cry and argue like before. But I just nodded. "Okay." He didn't know I hit my head when I fell trying to save him. In seven days, I would completely forget him. But when I finally left him completely as he'd promised, he went crazy, searching the world and begging me back.

Sahabat itu teman yang selalu ada dalam suka maupun duka. Bukan hanya ada saat kau merasa bahagia dia ada, dan saat kau sedih dia tiada. Dengan sahabat kita bisa melewati segala rintangan, bersamanya cobaan seberat apapun akan terasa ringan. Sahabat adalah keluarga ke duamu, bersama mereka kau bebas menjadi apa saja. Ini kisah persahabatan yang tak akan bisa hilang dari ingatan. Tuhan memeprtemukan mereka di waktu yang singkat, begitupun persahabatan ke duanya. Tapi kisah di antara keduanya tak akan mampu terhapus di ingatan. Karena itu semua kekuatan persahabatan yang sesungguhnya. Persahaban tak kan terbatas oleh waktu.

Rhonda Vons is a brilliant tech mastermind who had spent years hiding in the shadows, quietly building her Alpha husband’s tech company. She returns home on their anniversary to surprise her Alpha husband with the truth behind his company’s success, only to find him raw-dogging their son’s nanny on his office desk. She was shattered, but what broke her the most was discovering that her precious pup she almost lost her life for chose his nanny over her. For six years, she had been the perfect wife and Luna to Theodore. But not anymore. She intended to ruin him and then vanish afterward. When Theodore finally realized who she really was and how much of a failure him and his company was without her, he came crawling, begging for her forgiveness. But it was too late. She was now the tech director at a rival company owned by her childhood sweetheart, and old flames may just be burning hotter than ever!

She left again. She left me again. It hurts so much. It feels like I’m slowly being killed. What else am I lacking? I changed myself for her. I loved her so much. I gave her everything—even my soul. Was that still not enough? Why did she still choose that man? I really thought we were okay. I thought she was happy with me. I thought she really loved me. But it was all just wishful thinking. This hurts even more than when she left me before.

Kylie's understanding of herself is limited to her memories. From what she remembers she has been an average girl all her life. However, those around her perceive things differently. Her best friend Davies argues that she is uncommon since she has always been faster and stronger than most of her peers; and her intelligence is nothing to scoff at. Studying at one of the best universities in the country, Kylie's life takes a strange twist when she awakens from a nightmare. Was that really just a nightmare? Or was it something else?

Ang boss ko ay may matinding trust issues—at ako lang ang pinagkakatiwalaan niya, kahit madalas niya akong nasisigawan. Pero kailangan ko nang mag-resign dahil kailangan ako ng ate ko na nasa Dubai. Ang problema? Ayaw akong pakawalan ng boss ko maliban na lang kung makahanap ako ng kapalit… in just three months. Eh choosy pa naman siya! Paano ko ‘to maaayos bago ako maiwan ng eroplano?

🥉3rd place in the writing competition "Me and My Womens" [21+, harem] Marvin Rock is the dream of many women because of his wealth and power, but his sincerity surpasses everything. His wife said proudly, "Not only loyal, you are also mighty!"

"Luna, the surgery to remove the Alpha’s mark is excruciating. After that, you’ll be treated as a packless Rogue. Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?" "Yes. I want to be a Rogue." The black market healer was utterly astonished. The entire werewolf world believed Alpha Ethan was head over heels in love with me. Just days ago, he'd spent a hundred million gold coins to buy me 'Moonlight Manor,' filling it with my favorite moonflowers. Countless she-wolves dreamed of being marked by such a passionate and powerful Alpha. But I didn't hesitate. After removing the mark, I printed out a Mate Bond Severance Agreement and booked a flight to the European pack a week later. Goodbye, Ethan.