Brief Bedford Reader

BLURB Maya Blackwood has spent five years as the perfect wife to a man who doesn't love her. But when a terminal diagnosis gives her only six months to live, Maya finally finds the courage to demand what she's never had: one month of being Alexander's real wife. Alexander Blackwood has spent those same five years resenting the arrangement that tore him from his true love, Isabelle Chen. Now that Isabelle has returned to claim him, he's ready to file for divorce—until Maya makes him an offer he can't refuse without risking a scandal that could destroy his family's reputation. Thirty days. One month to discover whether a loveless marriage can become something real before time runs out. But as Maya and Alexander begin to truly see each other for the first time, secrets, lies, and the manipulations of those who want them apart threaten to steal even this brief chance at happiness. And when Alexander finally learns the devastating truth Maya has been hiding, he must face an impossible question: Is one month enough time to fall in love with someone you've already lost?

Hindi alam ni Lia kung bakit napakamalas niya pagdating sa pag-ibig, twenty-eight years old na sya ngunit NBSB pa rin na maging ang mga taong nakapaligid sa kaniya ay nababahala na rin… Na nagtulak sa kaniya para pumasok sa isang night bar. “Don’t be nervous, Lia, matutuwa ka sa main event ng bar na ito!” Saad ng kaibigan niya habang nakatanaw sa entablado. Bago pa man makakibo si Lia at nagsimula ng maghiyawan ang mga babae sa paligid, isang lalaking naka-mask ang lumabas na tanging brief lamang ang suot. “The bidding will start now!” anunsyo ng MC sa gilid. “29 thousands!” Sigaw ng isang babae na nagpatahimik sa lahat. “29 thousands, going twice, going trice, wala na bang hahabol?” Muling tanong ng MC. Hindi alam ni Lia kung ano ang pumasok sa isip niya para itaas ang kamay, “30 thousand!” Sigaw niya bago pa man i-close ang bidding. “30 Thousand, the bidding is close! You’ll have one night with him!"

Aurora Santos enters college believing her life will remain small and ordinary. Raised in an orphanage, her world revolves around classes, late nights, and the quiet hope that the boy she once loved might finally notice her. Everything changes when she meets Jared Grey. At twenty-one, Jared is the youngest alpha in history—charming, reckless, and dangerously magnetic. College was never meant to be more than a brief stop for him, but Aurora’s presence awakens something neither of them expected. Drawn to Jared by an inexplicable pull, Aurora begins to uncover a truth that shatters everything she thought she knew: she is not human, and her past is tangled in secrets far older and darker than she imagined. As Aurora is pulled into a hidden world of packs, loyalty, and ancient bonds, she must decide where she truly belongs. Jared, too, must learn that being an alpha means more than power—it means knowing who is worth protecting at all costs. But just as they begin to envision a future together, another alpha emerges. Gregory is powerful, calculating, and unnervingly interested in Aurora. His arrival threatens the fragile balance Jared fights to protect and forces long-buried truths about Aurora’s past to the surface. Because some bonds are written by fate. And once awakened, they cannot be denied—especially when darkness is determined to claim her.

Vera Susan discovered from a mutual friend, just a week after her breakup, that her ex-boyfriend and best friend had become engaged. Outraged by the betrayal, Vera unexpectedly showed up at their engagement celebration and indulged in alcohol. She maintained a composed demeanor and extended well wishes to her ex-boyfriend and best friend. Claiming to be in a relationship already, Gabrielle approached a stranger and kissed him without hesitation. Fidelis Aaron, the CEO of the Fidelis Crystal Corporation, had never shown interest in a woman. Content with running his business, he had no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship. One evening, while excusing himself from a family gathering, a girl approached him and unexpectedly kissed him. His heart raced! Aside from the pounding sensation in his chest, he felt everything around him go silent. He took a deep breath and savored the blossoming fragrance emanating from the girl. His eyes involuntarily closed as he found himself enjoying the brief yet stirring kiss! When the kiss concluded, Fidelis struggled to open his eyes. It felt as if time had halted, and it suddenly dawned on him that, for the first time in memory, he was experiencing the sensation of getting an erection. Following that memorable kiss, he vowed to claim Vera as his own

On our tenth wedding anniversary, I made a special trip to the salon to have my hair done. While settling the bill, I noticed an extra charge on my account. It was a coloring and perm package. Judging by the price, it was a package meant for waist-length hair. Mine had been cropped short for seven or eight years. I called my husband, Jason Moore. "Have you used my salon membership card recently?" There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before he laughed lightly, "Oh, I lent it to Quincy a few days ago." Quincy Hahn was his business partner, a fine arts student with long hair. She treasured her natural curls more than anything. She would never be willing to dye or perm it. More importantly, her elder sister was a major shareholder of this salon. Why would she ever need to use my card? I said nothing more and ended the call. Then, I headed straight to a location displayed on my phone. In the cafe, a long-haired lady was nestled in Jason's arms. Her freshly permed curls were soft and bouncy, framing her blushed face with certain demureness. Jason had always complained that my short hair made me look rough and manly. I lacked gentleness and charm. It seemed this long-haired lady suited his tastes perfectly.

He leans his face close to mine, so close that I could feel his breath licks the skin of my face while his fingers wrapped around my chin. My skin tingles at the point of contact. Sparks of electricity traveled from his skin to mine, igniting a kind of hunger I've never felt before. I hold my breath. Unable to move or think, other than let him sucked me deep in his hypnotizing stormy orbs. “One of these days your stupid dreams will get you killed.” I heard him say. And then he's gone and so was the bubble of that brief magical moment. Funny, he is one of those stupid dreams. ••• Meet Victoria Lyn de Cordova a.k.a Sarah Brewer a 24-year-old, hopeless romantic runaway princess from a small hidden Kingdom of Terra. Fueled with fear of marrying a man who was rumored to be an a merciless assassin, she runs away from the place she called home. Meet Alaric Mendez a Hispanic rogue assassin that has only one mission and that was getting his revenge from an unknown enemy that killed his family. A runaway Princess and a broken anger-driven Assassin in a story of love, hope, and healing. Will their newfound love would be enough to heal the wounds from the past or will they let the past hunt them down to wound them apart?

Fucking hell,” was the last thing I heard from him before his lips met mine, his hands cooling my skin. But it still wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I needed him to ease the burning inside me. “Inside—” I gasped, turning my head to the side. “It hurts inside of me.” Seth was breathing heavily above me. “Do you know what you are asking for, Camilla?” I swallowed, looking at his face before spreading my legs. “Yes, Beta. I want you inside of me.” Camilla had always lived in the Green Hill pack but hadn't found her mate yet. She started to think she was either mateless or her mate wasn’t in her pack. After an attack with while she was cleaning the Luna’s house , she was taken to the hospital by their Pack’s beta, Seth. But when Camilla opened her eyes and looked into Seth's brown eyes, she felt sparks. She had known Seth, but even with their brief encounters, there was nothing. Camilla’s happiness faded when she remembered Seth was married and had a four-year-old son. Now, what would Camilla do, especially after finding out she was carrying the Beta's child? Would she remain the Beta's dirty little secret?

Catherina Hanshaw Dalton has spent six years believing she lived a fairytale, married to billionaire Xavier Dalton, cherished by him, and building a life rooted in devotion, even amid one heartbreak she cannot control: their inability to have a child. Though Xavier assures her she is enough, Catherine senses his quiet disappointment, a wound deepened by the venomous hostility of his mother, Lydia Dalton. Lydia never misses a chance to insult Catherine’s infertility, idolize Xavier’s sister Mia and her children, or imply Xavier married beneath his status. Catherine endures it all, clinging to the one constant comfort, Xavier always defends her. Or so she believes. This Christmas, however, Catherine’s dread of another humiliating Dalton family gathering turns into confusion. Lydia is gracious….kind, even. The manor is full of relatives, business partners, and esteemed guests, including Hunter Powell, Xavier’s ruthless business rival. The brief moment when Cathy’s eyes meet Hunter unsettles her, but nothing prepares her for Lydia’s “special Christmas gift.” During the toast, Lydia presents Caroline Turner…a beautiful young woman who is allegedly four months pregnant through surrogacy…with Xavier’s child.

"Does this mean you approached me on purpose?" Lucas asked with his eyes narrowed darkly and pure anger floating around his blue iris. "Fucking speak! Tell me the bloody reason you approached me?" Lucas yelled in her face as he slammed her back against the wall in the process. She stared in his face for a brief moment, looking very deep in his anger filled eyes, then she let out a mocking chuckle. "Yeah, I, Susan Owen approached you on purpose and I swear on everything unholy, I won't rest until I've made you feel every ounch of pain you made me feel" she let out a spooky laugh which sent an eerie chill down Lucas' spine, even her makeup is making her look like Lucifer's bride at the moment. Sophia Owen was once a sweet and lovely lady, just like every sweet ladies out there. She had always dream to graduate with good grades and get a good job, to cater for her family. But sadly, she met him and that was the end of her dream. However she found another dream and that's to make Lucas and his entire generation pay for what he did to her. Will she get her revenge?

"What... What are these?" Selene stammered, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Divorce papers?" She looked up at Maximus, searching his face for some sign of a joke, a mistake - anything to tell her this wasn’t real. His eyes flickered with a brief moment of hesitation before hardening into a steely gaze. "If Jess hadn’t disappeared, we never would have gotten married” he drawled before delivering the final blow. “Well, Jess is back now.” She couldn’t breathe. Despite her best efforts over their three years of marriage, Maximus had never acknowledged her nor loved her the way he loved Jess. **** She signed the papers, and left his life for good, taking the babies growing in her womb with her. A few years later, She became a top medical doctor and did everything possible to stay away from Maximus. However, on her twins’ fifth birthday, they came running to her, giggling: "Mummy, we found our billionaire daddy!" She looked up and saw Maximus standing in front of her, clearly expecting her to run into his arms. Instead, She chuckled. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when she responded with a deadpan expression, "No, babies, your Father is dead."