Cherry Blossom Winter

Our daughter, Luna Woods, developed a high fever. Her body was burning hot. I immediately dialed 911 for help. The dispatcher on the other end kept repeating his questions. He spoke slowly, as if deliberately stalling for time. By the time I finally heard the ambulance siren, Luna was already turning cold in my arms. In less than a year, my wife and I separated. We were consumed by endless grief and blamed for each other. Afterward, I merely existed for the sake of it. I was a hollow shell of a man. Then, one day, I received a wedding invitation from my ex-wife. The moment I played the audio invitation, a chill ran down my spine. The groom’s voice was identical to that of the slow, dawdling dispatcher from that year! I rushed out, utterly distraught, only to be hit by a roaring train. When I opened my eyes again, I heard Luna crying in the next room. Her forehead was burning hot. My wife hurriedly handed me the phone. “Quick, call 911! I’ll get a wet towel.” My hands trembled as I took the phone. When it was answered, I heard a familiar male voice through the receiver. “911, what’s your emergency?”

My suitcase, filled with precious and expensive birthday gifts, was mistakenly claimed by another person at the airport. When I opened the one left behind, I found it packed with men’s clothes instead of my belongings. Determined to retrieve what was rightfully mine, I went on a frantic search for the man who had taken my suitcase. When I finally confronted him and politely asked for an exchange, he responded with the gentlest of tones: “Oh, I opened it and realized I’d made a mistake—it’s all women’s items.” I breathed a sigh of relief, ready to thank him and express my gratitude. Then he added casually, “I couldn’t use any of those things, so I sorted them out and gave them to my girlfriend. You’re welcome.” My jaw dropped. I could barely muster a response as I muttered under my breath, “What the hell?”

She gave him three years. He gave everything to someone else. Matapos ang tatlong taon na walang saysay na kasal, pinili ni Aella Ramirez na tapusin ang pagiging asawa ni Theodore Larson—ang kilalang malamig at sikat na CEO ng multi-billion e-commerce business—sa kadahilanan palagi nitong inuuna ang first love nito kaysa sa pamilya nito. Iniiwan siya sa mga mahahalagang okasyon ng kanilang pamilya gaya ng libing ng lola nito, isinasantabi rin siya sa kanyang trabaho at kinalimutan ang kanilang wedding anniversary. Sa huli ay binato niya sa mukha nito ang annulment paper bago iniwan kasama ang anak nila. Sa halip na masaktan ay muli siyang bumangon. Ibinalik niya ang dating negosyo na di kalaunan ay kumita ng bilyon-bilyon at nagtagumapay rin siya sa iba't ibang larangan. Ngunit, ang lalaking tumalikod sa kanya ay biglang nagsisi at nagmamakaawa na bumalik siya. Handa ba siyang balikan ito, lalo na‘t dumating si Matthias Sullivan—ang makapangyarihan at mapang-akit na kasosyo niya na handa siyang ipaglaban? Sino ba ang pipiliin niya—ang nakaraan o ang lalaking kailanman ay ‘di siya bibitawan?

On the day of the United Nations meeting, I noticed a new electronic watch on my wife’s wrist. She said it was a gift from her first love to monitor her health. It was a veiled jab, which implied I was not as thoughtful or caring as an outsider. Something felt off, so during her lunch break I secretly checked, and found a bugging device. I reported it immediately, using my official title to cover her wrongdoing. Her first love, however, was now wanted by the authorities. While fleeing, he tragically died in a car accident. My wife said coldly that it served him right, yet treated me with even more care and attention. However, she deliberately leaked my translation files at work, which resulted in me being accused of espionage and taken in for investigation. “Miles, that bug was clearly planted by you. You were jealous of Ash and wanted him dead!” “I truly regret giving up Ash to marry someone as malicious as you. You should go to hell and atone for him!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back there once again on the day her first love gave her that watch. I did not interfere this time. I simply signed my name on the divorce papers.

Saat perjalanan bisnis ke Kanada, Elena Hadley memutuskan untuk menghabiskan waktu luangnya dengan mengunjungi Festival Winterlude Kanada. Di tengah lautan warna putih salju dan keramaian pengunjung, ia tak sengaja bertabrakan dengan seorang pria asing yang memiliki aroma segar bagai musim panas di tengah dinginnya musim dingin. Sekilas, pertemuan itu tampak biasa. Namun, aroma pria itu begitu segar, maskulin, dan menggoda, seakan menempel dalam ingatannya. Selepas kembali dari Kanada, sesuatu yang aneh terjadi— setiap malam Elena mulai bermimpi tentang pria itu, mimpi-mimpi yang begitu nyata dan penuh gairah. Semakin hari, mimpi-mimpi tersebut semakin intens, membuatnya terjebak dalam batas tipis antara fantasi dan kenyataan. Siapa pria itu? Apakah ini hanya kebetulan, atau ada sesuatu yang lebih besar yang mengikat mereka berdua?

Zara Castellano doesn’t cry. She doesn’t beg. She doesn’t love. As the only daughter of the most feared mafia family on the East Coast, Zara was raised to command armies and slit throats in silence. At twenty-three, she’s spoiled, dangerous, and untouchable. Men want her. Enemies fear her. And everyone obeys her. Everyone… except Lucien Blake. A self-made billionaire with no allegiance to blood or bullets, Lucien becomes the pawn in a deadly marriage contract—one that ties him to a woman he’s never met but already loathes. Zara doesn’t want a husband. She wants a pet. A toy. A man she can dominate. Lucien isn’t used to bowing. But this time, saying “no” means death. Thrown into a marriage forged by blood and greed, the two clash like fire and ice. Zara pushes. Lucien resists. But behind every fight is a heat they can’t escape—and a twisted attraction that might just destroy them both. Zara doesn’t believe in love. She believes in control. And now, she owns a man who refuses to break. “You don’t have to love me, Lucien. You just have to kneel when I say so.” NOTE: If you’ve read my other books, you know my women bite back and my men bleed beautifully for them. Married to a Monster flips the classic dark romance—this time, the monster wears red lipstick and diamond stilettos. Expect power games, obsession, hate that turns to heat, and a heroine you’ll love to fear. This story contains dominance, manipulation, dark secrets, and psychological warfare—but always consensual. Trigger Warnings: Violence, dark themes, emotional manipulation, power imbalance, sexual tension, sex, obsession. Tags: Mafia Princess, Billionaire Husband, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Marriage, Dominant Heroine, Dark Romance, Power Couple.

Ayana Ara Titania, mahasiswi pemalas plus penulis tak terkenal yang entah kenapa selalu jatuh cinta pada pemuda yang salah. Dua kali jatuh cinta, dua kali juga patah hati. Seolah dilarang move on, Ayana kembali bertemu dengan dua pemuda yang pernah menolaknya. Bahkan bertunangan dengan salah satunya. Apakah kali ini nasib percintaan Ayana akan lancar jaya seperti jalan tol? Oh, tentu tidak!!! Karena disaat yang bersamaan Ayana mengetahui rahasia gelap kedua pemuda itu, kenyataan bahwa kedua pemuda itu tidak pernah menyukai wanita. "Rasanya aneh melihat dua orang laki-laki yang pernah kusukai saling bermesraan," gumam Ayana linglung.

Sudah lima tahun lebih Bimala menjalani hidup rumah tangga bersama Prada. Pernikahan mereka berjalan harmonis meskipun tidak ada anak di antara mereka. Namun, Prada tiba-tiba membawa pulang seorang wanita dan mengaku pada Bimala kalau wanita itu adalah istrinya. Apakah Bimala akan mempertahankan rumah tangganya dengan Prada? Atau lebih memilih berpisah?

My girlfriend suddenly told me she had six small beads implanted inside her, blushing as she said it was meant to please me. The next day, I made soup and brought it to her office. To my surprise, I saw her in the arms of my good friend, Henry Somerset. Henry wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice deep. "Baby, you're such a good girl. You really did the implantation as I told. My dumb friend even thought you did it for him. Do you reckon he'll lose his mind if he finds out you and I are getting married soon?" My girlfriend's voice turned cold. "This is nothing more than a marriage of convenience. I'm warning you not to let Chris find out." Henry chuckled and moved his hand downward. "Don't worry. As long as you keep me happy, I won't get Chris into trouble." After hearing all this behind the door, my entire body went cold. Clutching my phone tightly, I recalled my boss saying he would transfer me to a subsidiary company a few days ago. I no longer hesitated and sent him a text. [Boss, I'd like to be transferred to the subsidiary company in Hailborough City in three days.]

[cw//mature content] Tunanganmu adalah pria simpanan dari istri pamanmu sendiri? Cherry Naomi mungkin sudah gila menerima perjodohan dengan Jenaro Rafandra yang jelas–jelas sudah menjalin hubungan terlarang bersama Jessica Alice, istri pamannya sendiri. Wanita penuh ambisi itu menantang dirinya untuk mencuri hati tunangannya itu selama 200 hari. Mampukah Cherry Naomi melakukannya?