Best New Fiction

Power is always associated with trouble. Sometimes it is great enough to save us from trouble, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it is so great that trouble can't get close and sometimes its greatness is the reason why trouble comes. Sometimes it's not about how you use it, sometimes it's about the power itself. The mere existence of a certain power could stir up fear, awe, hatred and envy depending on who percieved it and how they do.

After three years of marriage, James Chancer’s high school sweetheart came back to town. The same day, Sarah Sanders found divorce papers on her desk from the man she'd given her heart to for the past three years. Outside the courthouse, James poured his heart out to his first love,"I never even touched her in all these years. It's always been you." That was the final straw for Sarah. Writing off their marriage as a complete waste, she dove back into her career and became more successful than ever. That's when everyone finally realized what James had thrown away - Mrs. Chancer wasn't just a pretty face, but a wealthy powerhouse. A true catch in every sense. Three months later, James called her in the dead of night, his voice thick with regret, "Sarah, I made a huge mistake..." All he heard was her drowsy voice, “Zac, who's calling?" The man beside her ended the call with a smile, pulling her closer for a kiss, "Just another spam call, babe."

Lindsey Johnson asks her fiance's true love, Stephanie Sullivan, to repay her debt. The next day, Jacob Whitaker throws at her a ledger that she had never seen before. Every single expense from their five-year relationship is recorded inside. From small things like two-dollar ice cream to the expensive items like the luxury bags he gave her. Even the costs of hotel stays and condoms are recorded in the ledger. "I'll split half the hotel bills with you. After deducting the 100 grand Stephie owes you, you still owe me 2.08 million. You have one month to transfer the month to my account."

Despite having a crush on my best friend, Adam, since I was 12, I had never let him know about it. This was because I was afraid of how he would react. But one day, everything was going to change. For some odd reason, something told me to walk around the park. To which I obliged. When suddenly, my nostrils flared. Unsure of where it was coming from, I glanced around. "Hmm. What's that smell?" I whispered. Right when I said that, the sound of crunching leaves broke the silence of the night. "Is that you, Sasha?" I overheard a voice speak harshly, causing me to look up. And as I did, my jaw dropped open in shock. There he was, Adam. He was standing in front of me, looking like a God. And the feelings that were dormant 10 years prior had returned full force. Was I willing to unleash it, or would I leave it be?

Pierre Delacroix was once the powerful CEO of the Delacroix empire. But when a rather brutal attack left him with one blind eye and a weak heart, he is forced into an arranged marriage with Kate Beaumont to protect his family's reputation. Kate Beaumont who is a rising fashion designer however hides a secret from Pierre who does not know that Kate is the woman from one of his many one night stand that he has spent time trying to find. As Pierre faces several enemies who are determined to destroy him, Kate works in secret to keep him alive while betrayals, hidden truths and other deadly conspiracies also come to light. Now will Pierre and Kate face their unintentional pasts. And can their love survive the coming chaos?

Shan had grown up as a college freshman with her best friend, Ciara for over a period of fifteen years. Ciara Jones is smitten with his best friend Shan, but she can't tell because Shan is dating someone else. Being their loyal best friend, she still supports Shan with everything and shows her love for him. Shan will eventually discover the truth about his real father, Phillip Garcia, and within his family, things happen unexpectedly. Will they conquer everything? Will their family would ever be fixed through everything?

On the day of the company's annual gala, I quit my job and went back to the countryside, using up all my savings to help my best friend raise her daughter. She had died tragically, swept away by the river while trying to retrieve my hundred-million-dollar gala prize ticket that had fallen into the water. Wracked with guilt, I honored her dying wish and married her husband. After the wedding, I sold my blood and even a kidney just to make ends meet, raising my stepdaughter with everything I had. Eventually, she fulfilled her dream of winning the Best Actress Award and was about to marry the richest man in the country. But just as I was preparing to give a speech at her wedding, I saw my best friend, who had been dead for over a decade. She clutched my stepdaughter's hand and accused me of being a homewrecker who seduced her husband, and even claimed I had been the one who pushed her into the river all those years ago. Only then did I learn the truth—she had faked her death all those years ago, just to steal my prize ticket and travel the world, leaving me behind to raise her family. The shock sent me into a cerebral hemorrhage. When I opened my eyes again, I had gone back to the day she drowned.

Isla Davina is a woman who will do everything for her family. As most people say ─ the eldest child of the family is one of the bravest people in the world. She sold herself to someone she did not know in exchange for money. When she gets naked, she's getting dressed for work. Tobias Adam Martin, best friend of Isla Davina, pretending to be poor, fat, nerd and weak but little did the people know he is the only heir and CEO of M&M Company, (Marshall&Martin Company), one of the richest and successful businesses in Asia. He bought her best friend, Isla, in exchange for her body. What if she finds out that the man who bought her and the Adam Marshall who has been her best friend for very long years are the same─ person?

Victoria Lewis was twenty-one years old, kind-heated, smart, and beautiful, her father and her late mother promised her that they will never interfere in her love life. However, when Victoria found her father trying to commit suicide, she agreed to an arranged marriage to James Johnson to save her father’s company from bankruptcy. James Johnson’s father Emmanuel Johnson arranged this marriage because he didn’t want his son to marry Serene Logan since she was not compatible with his son James Johnson. However, James Johnson was head over heels in love with Serene Logan, he threatened his parents that he would kill himself should they separate him from Serene Logan. Would James agree to the arranged marriage to Victoria Lewis? Will they be happily ever after?

Si Mallie ay isang simple at mahirap lang na babae, ng mapag desisyunan niyang lumayas sa bahay nila para mamuhay mag isa at sundin na kong anong gusto niya sa buhay. Sa araw ng paglalayas niya ay nakilala niya si Losian, isang gwapong estranghero na lalaki. Inalok siya nito ng tulong at sinabing matagal na siyang gusto ni Losian. "You don't need to suffer anymore" "Just be my girl and I can be your genie" Tinanggap ni Mallie ang alok ni Losian Sa mga lumisan na mga buwan ay walang humpay na kasiyahan ang natanggap at naramdaman ni Mallie. Ngunit sa lahat nga ng kasiyahan ay may kalungkutan. Mas marami pang problema ang dumating sa buhay ni Mallie. At ang kaniyang pagmulat sa katotohanan na nararapat lang ba talaga niyang gamitin si Losian para sa mga bagay na hindi niya naranasan dati. Nararapat lang ba na gamitin niya ang pagmamahal ni Losian para sa kaniya na hindi niya makakayanang tumbasan. Malalagpasan kaya ni Mallie ang mga problemang ito. Sa kasabihan nga ay wala kang matatanggap na karangyaan na walang kapalit.