Cupid's Daughter

My daughter Mia's congenital heart condition had worsened. She desperately needed the one-of-a-kind miniature artificial heart I'd spent five years developing. The night before surgery, my wife Victoria stole it from the cold storage unit. I rushed to the hospital like a madman, only to find her at the bedside of her first love Dominic Forsythe's son, prepping him for surgery. "Mia can hold on for another six months. Dominic's son can't wait." "What kind of father are you, being this selfish?" Victoria stood there, righteous indignation written all over her face. I looked at my daughter lying in her hospital bed, barely clinging to life, and dialed the overseas number I'd refused a dozen times before. "Professor Ellsworth, this is Nathan Hartley." "I'll accept your offer. But I need you to arrange a medical transport—immediately—to bring my daughter to your facility. Her heart needs emergency intervention." I spent five years developing a life-saving heart for my daughter. Victoria stole it overnight and gave it to Dominic Forsythe’s son. “Mia can hold on for another six months. Dominic's son can't wait.” She had no idea I held all the core patents for that heart. That same night, I took my daughter aboard a medical jet and fled the country. The next time we met, you would be on your knees begging me.

That night, Liam served me my usual evening tea. I trusted him completely—he was my mate, after all, and a respected healer of Thornpack. I shouldn't have. When I woke up the next morning, my head was spinning. The special safe where I kept the morphing inhibitor—the one I'd spent my entire savings to import from Europe for our daughter Isla—was empty. Racing to the healing center, I found Liam celebrating. He was handing out moon-blessed wine, beaming with pride as Natalie's daughter Anna showed off her perfect transformation. My inhibitor had been used on his first love's pup instead of our own daughter. The shock triggered something in my brain. When I collapsed, they diagnosed me with the rare tumor that plagued our kind. Without inhibitors, I couldn't stop Isla's transformation that came early, her six year old body couldn't handle the massive wolf form and the force ripped through her young body. And I, for one, don't even have enough money to keep her in a treatment center. She died in my arms three days later, her little claws drawing blood as the pain overwhelmed her. Until her last breath, she kept asking why Papa hadn't come. Now, in my cold, empty home, with the white porcelain urn containing her ashes on the table, I touch her and decide to sever our partnership.

The buzzing of my phone in the middle of the night jolted me awake. On the other end of the line came a voice I could never forget. It was my daughter! However, she died three years ago!

Dinala ni Naomi Mendoza ang kanyang anak sa ospital para sa isang consultation. Ngunit tila pinaglalaruan siya ng tadhana dhil ang attending physician ay ang ex boyfriend niya. Sa loob ng pitong taon, binago na ni Naomi ang kanyang pangalan, tinakasan niya ang nakaraan, at mula sa pagiging chubby na babae ay isa na siyang sexy at charming. Hindi siya nakilala ng lalaki at lalong hindi nito alam na nagkaroon sila ng anak. Hinawakan ng kanyang anak ang kamay niya at mahinang nagtanong, “Mommy, bakit ka umiiyak?” Hindi nakasagot si Naomi. Ang tanging gusto niya ay tumalikod at tumakbo palayo. Pitong taon na ang nakararaan, si Naomi ang naging tampulan ng tukso sa St. Aurelius University nang lihim siyang maging girlfriend ng school heartthrob na si Cormac Lagdameo. Inakala niyang tunay ang pagmamahal nito sa kaniya hanggang sa winasak ng malamig na tinig nito ang kanyang puso. “It’s just for fun. I’m going abroad soon.” Naomi ended that bitter love. Ngayon, muling pinagtagpo sila ng tadhana. Pilit na lumalayo si Naomi, ngunit hindi siya pinakawalan ni Cormac. Ginamit nito ang kapangyarihan, at kayamanan upang muling itali siya sa mundo ng lalaki. "Dr. Lagdameo, may asawa na ako." Sa loob ng marangyang Maybach, mahigpit na hinawakan ng lalaki ang kanyang baywang bago siya mariing hinalikan. “Naomi, let me be your lover. I’m richer, younger, and I’ll give you a better experience than him.” Seven years ago, she was his secret girlfriend. Now, he’s begging to be her lover.

My daughter-in-law cheated on my son behind his back, and I caught her. When I confronted her, she turned the tables on me, accusing me instead. I told my son everything exactly as it happened, but she broke down crying and accused me of bullying her. "Ever since I married into the Simmons family, you've never been happy with me," she sobbed. "If I’d known you’d slander me like this, I would’ve been better off dead!" She attempted to hurt herself to prove her innocence, but my son stopped her. "Mom, how could you accuse my wife like that? You're my own mother, but this is too much!" he shouted. Furious, he moved out with her. Later, I fell gravely ill and begged my son to come see me one last time. When he finally arrived, he brought her with him. To my horror, they removed my oxygen tube. As I struggled to breathe, I heard her smug voice whisper in my ear: "Old hag, if it weren't for you accusing me of cheating, Herman and I wouldn’t have gotten your inheritance so quickly!" She laughed coldly. "Oh, and next time you accuse someone, make sure you have evidence. Did you really think your word alone could ruin me?" I died choking on my final breath. Afterward, they lived happily, spending my money without a care in the world. But then, I woke up. It was the day I caught her cheating again. This time, I went straight to work. I replaced the lubricant at home with industrial-strength glue. She wanted proof? Fine. I’d give her proof.

I bought my daughter Aria an island when her wolf spirit awakened. My mate, Alpha Kael, was supposed to come with me. We were going to hold our daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony on her new island. But he never showed. And he took half the Pack’s guards with him. I had no choice. I took Aria to the island myself. Just as we were about to land, we were attacked by rogues. A silver bullet tore through my daughter. She collapsed in my arms, screaming in pain. I screamed for Kael through our mind link. I called his phone. Nothing. My daughter died. I collapsed into Kael's arms when he finally showed up, sobbing. His eyes were red. "A Pack emergency held me up… I'm so sorry…" I thought he was grieving with me. Until I found his first love, Isabella, curled up in his arms. "You're so clever, Kael," she purred. "Since you never made Selena the official Luna, she had no authority over the guards. She couldn't protect that powerful daughter of hers." Kael kissed her forehead. He soothed her. "Aria's powerful wolf will cure the sickness in your son Leo's spirit. Her death was worth it. And this island… now that Aria's gone, it's the perfect recovery gift for Leo." My wolf howled in grief. My legs gave out. Tears streamed down my face. It was all a plan. He’d planned it all for his first love. I turned my back on him. I severed our mate bond. But then? He dropped to his knees, begging me to forgive him. Fine. I'll forgive him when he brings my poor Aria back. Can he do that?

My wife, Heather Conner, secretly steals the funds I've saved up for our daughter, Naomi Hartman's surgery. After that, she books a high-class hotel for Jared Winters, the low-income student she has been sponsoring, just so she can celebrate his birthday with him. When I find out about it, I demand that Heather return all the money to me. But she slaps me immediately and blames me and Naomi for causing her trouble on purpose. "This is the first birthday Jared and I are celebrating together! Since it's such a big day, it's only natural that I hold it in a grand and lavish manner! "Instead, you two insist on undergoing that stupid surgery just when I've booked the hotel instead of scheduling it at any other time! You really are vile! "I've already inquired with the doctor about the surgery. Turns out it's completely optional! I might as well put the money to good use by giving Jared an unforgettable birthday instead of having you waste it on a useless surgery! "Even if Naomi does end up dying, that means she's fated to die anyway! You can't blame anyone for her death!" Heather just abandons Naomi, who's still fighting for her life. She then drives Jared to the hotel, where they spend the night watching a beautiful fireworks display. With 12 critical notices issued by the doctor in my hand, I kneel before Monica Brown, the richest woman in the city. "I'm willing to marry into your family as long as you pay me 35 thousand dollars' worth of wedding gifts!"

After the Ig publication S.H.I.T Journal goes viral, I search its website out of curiosity. The satirical journal bills itself as a home for all things academic garbage. The moment I open the site, the top trending article catches my attention. It reads, "A Research on How to Deceive a Gullible Foster Mother With Face Blindness and Trick Her into Raising Me as Her Biological Daughter for Twelve Years". "Keywords: deception, face blindness, self-delusion, false family bonds" I freeze and click into the full article with trembling fingers. The more I read, the more terrified I become. "1.1 Definition of face blindness and how to swap daughters to deceive the foster mother" "2.1 Practical uses and drawbacks of the foster mother" "3.1 How to profit by exploiting the foster mother through her face blindness" The content sends a chill through my entire body. The comment section is already in chaos. "Does this mean the author is actually the daughter of the mistress, and her father swapped her to be raised by his wife for twelve years?" "That's not all. Didn't you read 2.1? The wife had her own daughter, and the husband deliberately handed her over to traffickers!" "What the hell… In 3.1, it even says that because the wife has face blindness and can't tell people apart, the author makes deals with single fathers of classmates and sends the wife to…" At that point, my phone slips from my hand and crashes to the ground. The screen shatters instantly. I have severe face blindness, and I have a daughter who was kidnapped and only found again after three years.

(Ship of Temptation 2) Nang dahil sa wine, nalagay sa panganib ang buhay ni Meldy. Muntik na siyang ipakulong ni Eliot Santisas, ang mayamang negosyante sa bayan nila sa pag-aakalang ninakaw niya ang isang box ng wine na nagkakahalaga ng isang milyon. Ngunit sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, biglang dumating si Elise—ang anak ni Eliot at inakalang si Meldy ang ina niya. “Bad ka papa! Inaway mo si mama!” Umiiyak na sabi ni Elise habang yakap-yakap si Meldy. Nakita yun ni Meldy na oportunidad para hindi tuluyang makulong. “Sir, b-babayaran ko po ang wine. Pagta-trabahuan ko po yun sa inyo kung maaari.” Tumingin si Meldy kay Elise. “Pwede po akong maging yaya ng anak niyo. Magta-trabaho po ako ng libre hanggang sa mabayaran ko po ang halaga no'ng nawalang wine niyo.” Isang mahabang katahimikan ang namayani bago sumagot si Eliot. “Pag-iisipan ko,” sabi nito at kinuha si Elise at umalis. Nakahinga si Meldy at inakalang nakalusot siya sa kamalasan sa buhay, hindi niya alam na pinasok niya pala ang pa-in na nilaan para sa kaniya ni Eliot Santisas. Ngumisi siya habang binabaybay ang daan papunta sa kwarto ni Elise. “I think it’s time for you to pay your sin.” Ang mga salitang naglalaro sa isipan ni Eliot.

Nabuntis si Samantha Davis at wala siyang alam tungkol sa lalakeng nakabuntis sa kanya. Matapos siyang itakwil ng kanyang ama, nilisan niya ang lungsod para magsimula muli. Pinalaki niya mag-isa ang mga anak niya, nagsumikap at nalampasan ang hirap. Lingid sa kanyang kaalaman, hinahanap ng kambal niyang mga anak ang tunay nilang ama at hindi sila pipili ng iba! Sa edad na tatlong taong gulang, nagtanong ang mga anak niya, “Mama, nasaan si Dada?” “Ano… nasa malayo si Dada.” Ito ang pinakamadaling paraang para kay Samantha na ipaliwanag sa kanyang mga anak ang dahilan kung bakit wala ang ama nila. Sa edad na apat na taong gulang, nagtanong sila muli. “Mommy, nasaan si Daddy?” “Ano… nagtatrabaho siya sa Braeton City.” Pinili muli ni Samantha na magpalusot. Napagtanto niya na sasagutin din niya balang araw ang tanong ng mga anak niya tungkol sa kawalan nila ng ama at napagdesisyunan na oras na para sabihin ang totoo. Pero, isang araw, lumapit ang mga anak niya sa kanya habang kita ang kinang sa kanilang mga mata, “Mommy, nahanap na namin si Daddy!” Nakatayo sa harapan niya ay isang bloke ng yelo, si Mr. Ethan Wright, ang pinakamakapangyarihang businessman sa lungsod.