Between The Lions At The Library

ในวันครบรอบงานวิวาห์ปีที่เจ็ดของเรา ฉันกำลังนั่งตักลูเซียนสามีมาเฟียของฉัน และจูบเขาอย่างดูดดื่ม นิ้วมือควานหาผลตรวจการตั้งครรภ์ที่ซ่อนอยู่ในกระเป๋าชุดราตรีผ้าไหมแสนแพง ฉันอยากจะเก็บข่าวเรื่องการตั้งครรภ์ที่มาอย่างไม่คาดฝันนี้ไว้จนกว่าจะถึงช่วงท้ายของค่ำคืนนี้ มาร์โกลูกน้องมือขวาของลูเซียนเอ่ยถามเป็นภาษาอิตาลีพร้อมรอยยิ้มแฝงเลศนัย “นายท่าน โซเฟีย นกน้อยตัวใหม่ของท่าน เด็ดไหมครับ?” เสียงหัวเราะแกมเย้ยหยันของลูเซียนแล่นผ่านทรวงอก ทำให้ฉันรู้สึกเย็นยะเยือกถึงกระดูกดำ เขาตอบกลับเป็นภาษาอิตาลี “เหมือนลูกพีชดิบที่เพิ่งเด็ดจากต้น ทั้งสดทั้งนุ่มนวลดีนะ” มือคู่นั้นลูบไล้ไปตามเอวของฉัน แต่สายตาของลูเซียนกลับไร้ซึ่งอารมณ์ “ปิดปากเอาไว้ให้สนิท ถ้านายหญิงของฉันรู้เข้า ฉันตายแน่” บรรดาลูกน้องหัวเราะคิกคักอย่างรู้ทัน พร้อมยกแก้วขึ้นสาบานว่าจะเงียบปากเอาไว้ เลือดอุ่นในกายของฉันค่อย ๆ กลายเป็นน้ำแข็งทีละนิด สิ่งหนึ่งที่คนเหล่านี้ไม่รู้เลยคือ คุณย่าของฉันมาจากเกาะซิซิลี ดังนั้นฉันจึงเข้าใจทุกคำที่พวกเขาพูดกัน ฉันพยายามคุมสติตนเองให้สงบ พร้อมกับปั้นรอยยิ้มไร้ที่ติในฐานะนายหญิงไม่ให้คลาย แต่มือข้างที่ถือแก้วแชมเปญกลับสั่นเทาไม่หยุด แทนที่จะสร้างเรื่องราวอะไร แต่ฉันกลับกดเปิดโทรศัพท์มือถือและเลื่อนหาจดหมายเชิญเรื่องโครงการวิจัยทางการแพทย์ระหว่างประเทศแบบรายบุคคลที่ได้รับมาเมื่อสองสามวันก่อน และกด “ยอมรับ” ภายในสามวัน ฉันจะหายไปจากโลกของลูเซียนแบบไม่ให้เขาตามหาได้อีก

After three years of marriage, William Harris’s first love, the woman he broke up with six years ago, returned from abroad. And she brought back a five-year-old son with her. Charlotte handed him the divorce papers with both hands. “Let’s end this. It’s better for you, for me, and for her.” William glanced at her and said dismissively, “Divorce? Can you afford to leave me?” Charlotte threw down the divorce papers and cut him out of her life for good. She severed every tie to the past and poured all her energy into her career, quickly rising to become an internationally renowned sleep disorder specialist. Powerful figures across the globe owed her favors and respected her work. The youngest heir of a foreign financial empire said, “Charlotte, just divorce him already. I can’t wait any longer.” The CEO of a multinational corporation said, “Charlotte, I’ll go with you when you file for divorce.” A world-famous attorney told her, “Charlotte, I’ll handle your divorce case myself.” Charlotte rubbed her temples. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the divorce. He was the one who refused to divorce her no matter what. Left with no other option, she made a public announcement. “Whoever can actually get this divorce finalized gets VIP seating at my divorce party.” Not long after, William received a divorce notice from her lawyer right in the middle of a shareholders meeting. Soon after that, a multi-billion-dollar project of his fell through. That same afternoon, he was nearly hit by a car right outside his own company. Later, Charlotte arrived at the hospital carrying a bouquet of flowers. “Let’s end this,” she said softly. “It’s better for everyone.” The cold and dignified William pulled her tightly into his arms, his eyes reddening. “You want a divorce? That’ll happen over my dead body.”

Aira Vizmonte been a very very good niece to her Auntie Sam. Because she is the only one family members who raise her since her Mom and Dad died from a car accident when she was a kid. Itinuon lahat ng Auntie Sam niya ang buong atensiyon at buhay niya sa kanya kaya malaki ang utang na loob niya rito. Kaya naman nang lumaki siya at nakarating sa legal na edad, sinabi niya sa sarili na aalagaan at poprotektahan ang Auntie bilang pagtuon ng utang na loob sa nag-alaga sa kanya. Not until one day her Auntie brings a boyfriend/fiance to their hometown. Pitong taong mas bata ang lalaki sa Auntie niya at kaedaran niya lang ito. Isang araw nahuli niya ang lalaki na may kausap na ibang babae sa telepono kaya lalo siyang nagduda na baka niloloko at pineperahan lang nito ang Tita niya. Will she accept him as her soon to be uncle? Or it's the other way around?

Angela Bailey spent six years believing her marriage was built on love, only to discover her devoted husband was nothing more than a polished illusion. When she filed for divorce and asked her daughter to leave with her, the little girl clung to another woman’s hand and called her “Mom.” Donald Turner, cold and entitled, told her, “As long as you apologize to Nina, you can still live your high-society life.” Angela scoffed. “You might not even stay in high society yourself.” She walked out of the Turner household with nothing, determined to rebuild her life from the ground up. With her own talent and grit, she joined a new company and went head-to-head with her ex. Just when Donald realized his mistake and wanted her back, another man stepped into Angela’s life—someone who protected her openly, supported her quietly, and cherished her without hesitation. Donald regretted everything and wanted her back. He appeared with their daughter, eyes red as he pleaded, “I’ll give you the entire Turner family. Please love me and our daughter again.” The man beside Angela laughed. “The Turner family? That means nothing. Angela doesn’t need it. And as for a daughter…” He looked at Angela, and together they said, “We already have one.”

Si Thalia Hernandez ay isinilang sa mundo na kailanman ay hindi nasilayan ang liwanag, sa kabila ng kanyang kapansanan ay nanatili pa rin siyang matatag. Hindi naging hadlang ang kapansanan ng dalaga bagkus naging inspirasyon pa niya ito upang maipakita ang natatangi niyang talento. Isa sa talento niya ay lumikha ng tula kaya normal na sa dalaga ang pagiging makata. Siya ang isang malaking sikreto ng pamilyang Hernandez. Dahil isang pulitiko ang kanyang ama ay itinago siya sa lahat upang maprotektahan. Kaya inakala ng lahat na nag-iisa lang ang anak ni Cong. Hernandez, at iyon ay si Ashley Hernandez. Sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari ay namatay ang kanilang mga magulang mula sa isang car accident ngunit hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng magkapatid na bago mamatay ang mga magulang ay nakipagkasundo ito sa pamilyang Welsh sa isang marriage agreement. Isang lalaki na tinatamasa ang lahat ng karangyaan ngunit ang ugali ay kakaiba sa lahat, inilalayo ang sarili para sa lahat upang makaiwas sa mga taong mapanlinlang higit sa lahat ay sa mga babaeng tanging yaman lang ang habol sa kanya. Siya si Alistair Welsh ang nag-iisang tagapagmana sa kanilang pamilya at kasalukuyang CEO ng isang dambuhalang kumpanya sa bansa. Natakot si Ashley ng malaman niya na ikakasal siya sa isang binatang baldado na may masamang ugali kaya nagawa niyang lokohin ang sariling kapatid. Sapilitang naikasal si Thalia kay Alistair ngunit labis siyang nasaktan ng matuklasan na siya ay panakip-butas lamang upang mapag takpan ang relasyon ng magpinsan. Paano kung malaman ni Thalia na ang lalaking ikinasal sa kanya at ang Nobyo na nang-iwan sa kan’ya noong kasalukuyang siya ay bulag ay iisa pala? Mangibabaw pa rin kaya ang pag-ibig sa puso ni Thalia o patuloy itong kamumuhian dahil wala na itong ginawa kundi ang saktan siya sa simula pa lang?

Rewrite dari Novel ALPHA VETA series dengan beberapa revisi dan penambahan cerita : Sebuah bintang raksasa yang diketahui telah lama mati tiba-tiba memancarkan energi kembali. Dua tahun kemudian, diketahui aktivitas Bintang yang bernama Alpha Veta tersebut semakin meningkat, dan karena jaraknya yang relatif dekat serta ukurannya yang jauh lebih besar dari matahari, peningkatan aktivitas itu dapat dapat membakar planet-planet yang berdekatan dengannya, termasuk Bumi. Kehidupan di Bumi terancam punah..Beberapa negara besar seperti AS menyiapkan cara untuk menyelamatkan kehidupan umat manusia, walau kemungkinannya sangat tipis. Ditengah tugasnya, Arya bertemu dengan Priska Chindyana, temannya semasa kuliah dulu. Tanpa sengaja, Priska yang bekerja sebagai reporter di salah satu stasiun tv swasta ikut terlibat dalam penelitian Arya. Setelah mengalami beberapa kejadian, Arya dan Priska sempat mengenang kembali masa-masa saat mereka masih kuliah, termasuk perjalanan cinta mereka. Berbagai pikiran dan perasaan juga berkecamuk di setiap manusia menjelang detik-detik kematiannya. Ada dokter yang egois, juga narapidana yang merasa yakin dirinya tidak bersalah. Ada juga pemimpin sebuah aliran sesat yang yakin bahwa hari kiamat akan datang hari ini, seperti yang pernah dijanjikan. Sementara itu waktu semakin habis. Beberapa jam lagi Bumi akan menuju kehancurannya, menuju ke hari kiamat bagi umat manusia.

Ava has been in love with her cousin Lucas since she was a teenager, but knowing the taboo nature of their feelings, she has always kept them buried deep inside. She moves on and starts a serious relationship with Ethan, a good man from a wealthy family. Everything seems perfect for a while. However, when their families plan a luxurious vacation together, those long-suppressed feelings resurface. Ava and Lucas have an unexpected encounter that leaves them questioning the boundaries they've set for themselves. They give in to temptation, and a forbidden kiss leads to a series of moments where they struggle to keep their passion under control, knowing they can never act on it. Ava finds herself torn between loyalty to Ethan and the burning desire for Lucas. As the days go on, secrets start to unfold, and the lines between family and romance blur. Ava tries to bury her emotions, but with Lucas constantly around, she realizes she's never truly gotten over him. Tensions rise when Lucas begins to test the limits of their connection. The family event, meant to be a joyous occasion, ends up being a catalyst for betrayal. Ava's emotional turmoil leads her to make a choice that will affect her relationship with both Lucas and Ethan forever.

Every person has an angel that watches over them to ensure that they make the rigth decision when possible. Everyone except Josie. Josie Tria has always seen the angelic beings, watching over each human, and when she turns twenty-two, she just about gives up on the hope that maybe she too has a guardian angel. But Josie is different, and she's not sure it's a good thing. When she walks near the angels, they cower in fear, and run from her. Then, everything changes when instead of her guardian angel appears, it turns out to be a demon, named Loss. Loss is hiding something from her, something Josie is determined to figure out. And it doesn't matter if she develops complicated feelings for Loss.

“He said he was just helping me rehearse... So why was I moaning his name backstage with his hand under my skirt?” Harriet Avery is the school’s invisible girl: brilliant, overweight, and bitter from years of bullying. But when her name appears as the lead in the school play—thanks to a cruel prank everything changes. Nick Marsh, the cocky captain of the hockey team, unexpectedly offers to help her. Their rehearsals are supposed to be harmless. But heat builds under stage lights. Chemistry simmers behind closed doors. And soon, Harriet is glowing—inside and out. She’s falling. Hard. But the cruelest twist comes after the curtain falls: the entire thing was a dare. Now with her heart broken, Harriet has two choices: fade into the background like she always has… or finally step into her own spotlight and set fire to everything that tried to break her.

Terinspirasi dari kisah nyata, tentang cinta pertama yang begitu manis antara guru dan murid. Serta akan membawamu bernostalgia ke enam belas tahun silam dengan segala keterbatasannya kala itu.