Circles Seventeen

When my best friend, Dulcie Quinn, and I went to Westhaven on vacation, my boyfriend, Shane Lewis, got me a lower berth in a soft-sleeper. Before I boarded, he pointed at the dark circles under his eyes. “I spent three days trying to snag you a lower berth so you’d be comfortable on the trip. “So no matter what, don’t give it up to anyone else. Not even Dulcie.” He looked so serious that I nodded and told him I understood. Sure enough, as soon as we boarded, Dulcie, who had the berth above mine, asked if we could switch. Remembering what Shane had told me, I shook my head and said no. I explained it to her too. I never expected something to go wrong that very night. When she climbed down to use the bathroom, she missed the handrail and fell. Clutching her stomach, she screamed, “My baby! My baby’s gone!” I did not even have time to ask when she had gotten pregnant. I rushed her off the train and took her to the nearest hospital. Late that night, Dulcie’s husband, Wallace Lambert, arrived at the hospital with Shane. By then, she had already undergone a D&C. The moment she saw me, she pointed at me and started cursing me out. “Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed for that baby?” Shane blamed me too. “I thought you were just joking when you said you were jealous of Dulcie. I never imagined you’d be cruel enough to do something like this!” I didn’t even get the chance to say a word before Wallace slammed me against the wall and strangled me to death. After I died, Dulcie ended up with Shane. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to three minutes before boarding the train.

Forbidden Passion Bella's life has been a never-ending cycle of exhaustion and stress. She's shouldering the weight of providing for her family's needs, while her ungrateful siblings seem to take her sacrifices for granted. The emotional toll is evident in her worn-out expression and the dark circles under her eyes. Bella decides to let loose and escape the pressures of her life. She heads to a bar, orders a drink, and lets the music and liquor wash away her worries. As the night wears on, she meets a charming stranger who shares her desire for freedom and release. They dance, laugh, and eventually, the night leads to a passionate encounter. Nangamba si Bella nang madiskubre niya ang identity ng lalaking kaulayaw niya, ang CEO ng SBS Investment Corporation na si Alexander Blackwood, kung saan siya nagtatrabaho bilang marketing strategist. Dumistansya si Bella kay Mr. Alexander Blackwood, pero nagulat siya ng mag-offer ng kasal ang CEO sa kaniya. A marriage of convenience for Mr. Blackwood's twisted desire. Bunga ng pangangailangan ng pamilya, tinanggap ni Bella ang offer. Bella and Alexander develop a deep, intense connection. Despite the lack of romance in their agreement, they find themselves drawn to each other. Their relationship becomes a complex web of desire, obligation, and secrecy. Hanggang dumating ang araw na kinatatakutan ni Bella, isang babaeng nagngangalang Cherry Uytiepo ang nagpakilalang girlfriend ni Alexander. When Bella confronted Alexander, the CEO supported Cherry's claims. Betrayed and broken, Bella resigned and find solace alone in a deserted place where no one knew her. But fate had another planned as she meet two years after the twisted CEO Alexander Blackwood in one of the auction or bidding event, kung saan dinala siya ng kaniyang boss na si Mr. Ken Romualdez. Bella realized that she cannot escape from Alexander Blackwood.

“Where have you been, Cosette Blanche Warren?” he whispered darkly. My throat went dry. I could feel his hands roaming down my thighs, his touch possessive. “Someone saw my wife with Franklyn Carrington today,” Yohan continued, his voice deceptively sweet. “Tell me, Mrs. Warren… is that true?” A chill ran through me. His tone wasn’t affectionate—it was laced with something far more dangerous. “Open your eyes.” I jolted at his sudden command and immediately obeyed. My body trembled under the weight of his stare. His fingers curled under my chin, tilting my face closer. Slowly, agonizingly, he licked the corner of my lips before whispering against them. “What did I tell you before, wife?” Tears welled up as I struggled to form words. “I-I’m not allowed to meet…other men,” I stammered. “Hmmm.” His fingers traced lazy circles on my waist before pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Then explain what happened earlier.” “Franklyn is just a friend, Yohan. I-I wasn’t doing anything wro—” “Liar!” he roared. I flinched as tears spilled down my cheeks. A scream tore from my throat when Yohan suddenly lifted me, throwing me onto the bed. My eyes widened in terror as he hovered over me, his expression twisted with something unrecognizable. “No one else can come near you, touch you, or even look at you because you belong to me alone, Cosette Blanche Warren!” His voice was a venomous snarl. “You will never escape me! You will never be happy! Because I won’t allow it!” Then, he laughed. A dark, menacing sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Tears streamed down my face as I squeezed my eyes shut. This was my life now.

“Oh… Lucien,” I moan, his name as he circles his thumb faster. I move my hips, with the rhythm of his finger. “Fuck… Maya,” he mutters, watching me squirt, his eyes dark with desire. He lowers his head, replacing his hands with his tongue. My eyes roll back in pleasure as his groan vibrates against my core. He continues to lap on my juice, his tongue stroking over my cunt until I can’t take it anymore. He stops between my thighs, and without warning, pushes a finger inside me. I cry out, my hips buck off the bed. “Maya,” he moans, his voice rough, “you’re soaking wet… so fucking wet.” He pulls his hand away, and my body betrays me instantly. Then he brings his finger to his mouth, licking the juice off while never breaking eye contact. Fuck, that turns me on. I can’t take the torture anymore. I grab his hand and press it back between my thighs. I see his face curl into a smirk. He finds this amusing. “You want me?” *** Three years ago, Maya defied her family’s objections and married Ethan, becoming his Luna. Although Ethan wasn’t her fated mate, Maya believed that love was stronger than destiny. But one day, when Maya finally receives the joyful news that she’s pregnant, she rushes to share it with her husband, only to see him returning with another woman in his arms. The woman is his fated mate. As Maya’s world collapses, she discovers she’s carrying twins, while Ethan’s true mate claims to be pregnant with his child. Betrayed, heartbroken, and stripped of everything, Maya decides to leave the pack and rebuild her life… until the man from her past returns to claim what was once his.

His gaze met mine, intense and possessive, his lips just an inch away as his lips left my nipple. “Say it, Erica,” he commanded, voice rough. “Say that you belong to me.” I swallowed, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might drown out my thoughts. He held me tightly, his fingers pressing into my skin as if trying to claim every inch of me, refusing to let me escape. “I... I don’t,” I whispered, my voice barely steady, the denial weak even to my own ears. He gave me a dark smile, then continued, his mouth finding my other breast. He sucked lightly, his other hand gripping my waist, making it clear he didn’t plan on letting go. His tongue drew imaginary circles around my nipple, his teeth nipping at my sensitive bud before he sucked it whole again like a starved man. “You don’t?” he murmured against my skin. “Then why haven’t you stopped me?” I opened my mouth to protest, but only a soft sound escaped, my hands tightening on his shoulders as he kept pushing, each suck and touch breaking down my defenses. I let out an ear splitting moan, “Raffael please…” *********** Erica’s world is shattered when she’s forced into a dangerous deal with Raffael Greco, the ruthless crime boss who now owns her. By day, she’s his maid, and by night, she works in his strip club—her body no longer her own. Drawn to the ruthless man who both torments and ignites her, Erica can’t resist the tension simmering between them. Raffael, obsessed with controlling her, finds himself slowly losing control instead. Can Erica survive being Raffael's sinful desire, or will his desires destroy her before she can escape?

Seventeen year old Regina May has always been a sickle cell fighter. Battling from one crisis to another for most of her teenage years, she dreams of a perfect healthy life. But when a mysterious accident struck, she awakens to a shocking reality: she is married to the cold and wealthy twenty-four-year-old Quin Steel Incorp heir, Quin Deshawn. As Gina struggles with her new life, she discovers that her marriage is not just a whirlwind romance; it was just to save the face of the Quin Steel Incorp heir from a scandal which threatens to destroy his father’s company, so she thought. Torn between her heart break from one sided feelings she has for her childhood best friend, Mace, and the sudden appearance of Deshawn lavish world with the constraints of her own fragile health, Gina must navigate a cage filled with secrets, expectations, and the shadows of Deshawn’s past. She wanted freedom, love and above all a loving husband but her marriage to Deshawn had only restraint her, bounding her not only to her ill health but to a marriage she finds a heavy burden. As the lines between love and obligation blur, Gina must decide if she can embrace this unexpected life or if she will fight to reclaim her independence, even if it means risking everything she’s come to cherish. Will Gina find the strength to break free from the chains of circumstance, or will she remain forever entwined in a life she never chose? And what happened when she wands up falling head over heels in love with her Mr Pervert, at the same time Mace finally confessed his feelings for her?

"I told you not to touch me," Audrey said. "In front of people," He reminded her. Audrey could feel the smirk in his voice. ~~~ Audrey's seventeen years in the Grey Blood pack were like a caged animal. She lived each day dreading the next unexpected thing the Alpha could punish her for. Audrey tried hard to understand the mysterious dream she'd been having, but nothing made sense to her, she was lost. She wished to be freed from the Grey Blood pack, but she lost all hope of survival when she found herself locked and chained in the cold dark dungeon. She hated him, she cursed him as her blood drained from her. She was happy to die and go away from that monster-alpha. Audrey awoke in a magical world where she learned everything about herself, she cultivated herself to become the strongest wolf and witch alive. One item though, led her back to the last place she wanted to be. Alpha Aloha Lake ruled the Grey Blood pack, the largest and strongest pack in the States. He was known to be brutal, even the mafia feared him. Nothing or anyone bothered him, except one; the damned bitch Audrey. He hated her, and he would make her pay for her mother's sins. But he could not kill her...yet. Alpha Lake emotionlessly stared at Audrey's bleeding body that lay on the cold dungeon floor, he ordered his beta to dispose of her without a second thought. One year later the enemies met again. Will hatred be the only emotion they share? Could they resist the fatal attraction they felt for each other?

Seventeen years ago, the Hartwell family's little girl vanished into thin air, leaving her big brothers, Alexander and Julian, heartbroken and their parents wrecked until the end. Fast-forward to now: the billionaire brothers launch a worldwide hunt for their long-lost sister—the true heir to their massive empire. The big giveaway? A unique crescent-moon-and-star birthmark on her back. Plot twist: she's been right under their noses the whole time—as Elena, the overworked, underpaid maid getting bossed around by greedy widow Victoria and her bratty daughter Sophia. When the birthmark news hits, Victoria spots the real deal on Elena's back and smells money. Boom—they slap a fake tattoo on Sophia, coach her on sob stories, and march her straight to the Hartwells. The brothers, desperate for family, buy it hook, line, and sinker. Sophia morphs into "Isabella Hartwell," moves into the mansion, snags the CEO title, and starts living like royalty. Meanwhile, the actual heiress keeps scrubbing toilets. But power turns Sophia into a total monster—snobby, mean, and extra cruel to Elena. She even frames her for stealing a billion-dollar necklace and gets her kicked out. One brother (the sharp one) starts smelling something fishy. Then, at the huge CEO crowning gala, Sophia forgets to redraw the fake birthmark. Cameras flash, the mark's missing, and the internet explodes. Fake heiress busted! The brothers show up at Elena's tiny apartment begging forgiveness. She quietly shuts the door in their faces. Weeks later? Elena reclaims her empire—not as a sweet lost princess, but as a fierce boss lady who rebuilds it better, smarter, and kinder. She doesn't just inherit power—she owns it. And the brothers? They get front-row seats to the glow-up they never saw coming.

Anim na taong gulang si Jae-young nang magkahiwalay sila ng kakambal niya dahil sa paghihiwalay ng kanilang ama’t ina. Si Jae-young De Paz, kasi ang isinama ng Itay niya dahil pinili ng Inay niya ang kakambal niyang si Jelay. After seventeen years, muli silang nagkatagpo na magkapatid dahil lang pala may pakay ang kakambal ni Jae-young sa kaniya. “Okay ka lang, Jelay? Uutusan mo akong magpanggap na mag-ina kami ng anak mo sa ama ng pamangkin ko na si Ishmael Martinez, kahit na ni hindi ko nga kilala ang lalaking sinasabi mo? Akala ko pa naman kaya mo ako pinahanap dahil gusto mong makasama mo ako bilang kapatid at kakambal mo.” “Sige na Jae. Ilang ulit na akong nagpakilala sa kaniya ngunit hindi siya naniwala sa ‘kin. Wala raw siyang maalalang may nangyari sa ‘min kaya paano raw kami nagkaanak.” “Jelay, mag-da-dalawang taon na ang pamangkin ko pero ngayon mo lang naisip ito?” “Isang taon na lang mawawala na ako sa mundo. Gusto ko bago ako mawala, kilalanin muna ang anak ko ni Ishmael Martinez—” “M-may sakit ka?” “Oo Jae. Please? Pumayag ka na. Ayaw kong maiwan na mag-isa ang anak ko.” “S-saan ko ba matatagpuan si Mayor Ishmael Martinez?”

I was seventeen when Rowan Ashcroft promised we’d disappear together. I was eighteen when my father sold me to a man who wanted to own my blood. For twelve years, I was the perfect trophy wife to the ruthless Alpha Julian Cross. To the world, I was untouchable, beautiful, obedient, and carefully medicated to keep my true nature buried. In reality, I was a locked vault, a prisoner hiding a forbidden Silver Omega lineage that the supernatural Council had spent generations trying to erase. But the haze of the pills is fading, and a secret is growing inside me. I am pregnant. And I know exactly what Julian will do when he finds out his "perfect wife" is carrying a child that shouldn't exist. So, I run. I don’t get far before the Council’s executioner finds me. Rowan Ashcroft steps out of the shadows wearing the silver marks of an Enforcer and the same cold eyes I once trusted with my life. He isn't here to save me. He’s here because my bloodline and my unborn child are worth killing for. Instead of ending my life, Rowan offers a lethal contract: Three months. A fake mating bond. Absolute protection from the Council. The bond is supposed to be a lie, a way to cloak my scent and hide me in plain sight. But as Rowan’s mark burns into my skin, it awakens something ancient and primal in my blood. I was never just an Omega meant to be owned. I am the return of a legend they thought they’d killed. Julian wants his property back. The Council wants me dead. But they are about to learn what happens when the woman they tried to erase finally becomes Untouchable.