Elysian's Bride

The space between them disappeared. She arched into him, tilting her head as his lips traced a slow path down her jaw, then lower. Goodness, she wanted more. *** Valentina De Luca was never meant to be a Caruso bride. That was her sister's role—until Alecia ran off with her fiancé, leaving behind a family drowning in debt and a deal that couldn’t be undone. Now, Valentina is the one offered up as collateral, forced into marriage with Naples’ most dangerous man. Luca Caruso has no use for a woman who wasn’t part of the original bargain. To him, Valentina is nothing more than a replacement, a means to reclaim what was promised to him. But she isn’t as fragile as she seems. And the more their lives tangle, the harder she is to ignore. Everything begins to go well for her, well, until her sister returns. And with her, the kind of trouble that could ruin them all.

Ava and Baxter have a past that is more complex than either of them could have ever imagined. What was once a strong friendship is now an intense rivalry, and their families’ businesses are in peril. To save them, Ava and Baxter must put aside their differences and enter into an arranged marriage. As Ava and Baxter learn to navigate the strange new boundaries of their relationship, will the danger looming over them tear them apart, or will they find a way to come together and save their families?

“She was untouched, innocent, and desperate. He was ruthless, dominant, and determined to have an heir.” --- Nang mag-apply si Solenne Villareal bilang maid sa mansyon ng isang bilyonaryo, ang tanging hangad lang niya ay magkaroon ng maayos na trabaho para maipagamot ang kanyang inang may sakit. Pero sa mismong araw ng pagpirma niya ng kontrata, biglang tumawag ang kapatid niyang si Julian—isinugod daw sa ospital ang kanilang ina matapos atakihin ng seizure. Sa sobrang kaba at takot, hindi na nabasa ni Solenne ang buong kontrata. Pinirmahan niya ito nang hindi iniisip ang magiging kapalit. The next morning, she learned the devastating truth. She wasn't hired as a maid. She was chosen as a surrogate bride. Ang kanyang employer, si Caelum Valtieri, ang cold at merciless billionaire, ay sinabi ang totoong nilalaman ng pinirmahan niyang kontrata. Siya ay magiging surrogate mother ng magiging heir nito at sa loob ng isang taon ay magsasama sila sa iisang bubong bilang mag-asawa. Bilang kapalit, ipagagamot ang kanyang nanay na may sakit at tutustusan ang pag-aaral ng kapatid niya hanggang sa makapagtapos ito. Gustong mag-back out ni Solenne nang malaman ito, pero nang makausap niya ang doktor na sumusuri sa kanyang Nanay Emilia ay sinabing kailangan nitong maoperahan kaagad, kung hindi ay baka manganib ang buhay nito. And with no choice left, she accepted the bargain that chained her to the man she feared the most. Para kay Caelum, isa lang siyang kontrata—isang sisidlan para sa tagapagmana. Para kay Solenne, siya lang ang natitirang pag-asa ng kanyang ina. Ngunit sa kasal na sinelyuhan ng desperasyon at kapalit na buhay, posible kayang mamagitan ang pag-ibig sa pagitan ng isang ruthless CEO at ng inosenteng babaeng napilitang ibigay ang lahat?

When her mother was diagnosed with a serious illness, Hazel Gabriella found herself trapped in financial desperation. Her simple life took a drastic turn when Theo Filbert, a handsome yet cold-hearted billionaire, offered her a marriage contract. For Theo, this marriage was the only way to secure his inheritance and maintain his position as the primary heir of Filbert Corporation. For Hazel, it was the only way to ensure her mother received the proper care she needed. However, as the line between pretense and reality begins to blur, their feelings become the greatest risk. Can love truly blossom from an agreement that never involved the heart? Or will it only end in deeper wounds?

When event planner Sophia Martinez crashes billionaire Ethan Cross's exclusive charity gala, she's just trying to steal enough food to feed her dying mother. She never expects to catch the attention of New York's most ruthless CEO or to accept his shocking proposal. Ethan offers Sophia five million dollars for six months of her life: pose as his devoted fiancée to make his ex jealous and secure the biggest business deal of his career. The rules are simple no real feelings, no physical contact, just perfect public performances as the ideal couple. But Sophia harbors a devastating secret. She's the daughter of the man who destroyed Ethan's family empire five years ago, and she's been living with the guilt ever since. As she falls deeper into the charade, the lines between pretense and reality blur. Every stolen glance, every fake smile, every staged kiss pulls her further from her mission and closer to the man she's supposed to hate. Ethan finds himself breaking his own rules. The woman he hired to heal his wounded pride is awakening feelings he thought were dead. But when business rival Marcus Reid begins circling like a vulture, threatening to expose their arrangement, Ethan realizes the game has become far more dangerous than either of them anticipated. As corporate espionage collides with family secrets, Sophia must choose between protecting the man she loves and saving herself from a past that refuses to stay buried. When Ethan discovers her true identity, their contract becomes worthless but their hearts have already signed a deal that could destroy them both. In a world where billion-dollar empires rise and fall on trust, can love survive the ultimate betrayal? Or will the truth shatter more than just their fake engagement?

For Maxine, "normal" is a costume she wears every day. She's an imposter, a forbidden creature hiding in plain sight. But her act is tested when four new students arrive, seeing through her mask as if it were glass. They are like her, but different. Dangerous. And they might be the only ones who can save her from a fate she doesn't yet understand. To survive, she must trust them, but trusting them could mean losing herself—especially to the one whose gaze makes her forget she's supposed to be human.

Lucky isn't ready to be married nor is she interested in the arranged marriage with Mafia Don, Nico Santangelo. But he has a contract out on her father for the marriage or he will have Lucky's father killed. He is a man who always gets what he wants and nothing will stand in his way. He is richer than any man and more powerful than any other Don has ever been. He rules the underworld of the New York Crime Scene and this alliance between his family and Lucky's mafia family would mean he becomes the King of New York. He doesn't care for a wife especially not Lucky but he needs her and it eats him alive that this is the only way he can be King of New York and he will do whatever it takes in his power to make that happen. Lucky is strong willed, she is fierce and not a docile dove he can easily manipulate but Nico Santangelo is not scared of a challenge, he will have her eating out of his hand and tamed if it is the last thing he does. Besides, when he is the King of New York and her father dies eventually, he will no longer need this woman. He isn't prepared, however, that he could fall in love with her.

“Forbidden marriage, dangerous love, and a bloody inheritance.” Enola Spark was nothing more than a “useless child” in the eyes of her family—beautiful but always looked down upon, oppressed by her uncle, and sidelined by her cousin, Clarine, the perfect heiress. But everything changed on the night of Clarine’s engagement to Damian Cassel, the tyrannical heir feared by the entire city. A scandal erupted in front of family and guests: Damian chose Enola instead. One night of sin binds them in a marriage that shocks everyone. Clarine is humiliated, her uncle is furious, and Damian’s stepbrother vows to bring them down. The wedding is only the beginning of the war. Enola must endure humiliation, jealousy, and betrayal from the family dinner table to the corporate boardroom. Yet behind Damian’s cold exterior, Enola discovers a side of the man he only shows her. In a world filled with intrigue and inheritance battles, can Enola survive? Or will this forbidden love be their downfall?

My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest, my world shattered into a million and one pieces. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. All I could do was stare, my eyes fixed on the unreasonable scene before me. “L...Lucia...” my father stuttered, his face flushed with embarrassment and guilt as he immediately lifted his underwear. “It’s not what it seems...” But I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to hear their excuses. “Lucia!” Beta Mario called out, his heart pounding heavily as he swallowed a heavy lump. “Mate?” I said and a pained chuckle escaped my lips. Goddess! How could you let this realisation come to me now— my cheating asshole boyfriend is— my mate. My lifelong wish had come to pass… I found my mate. And he happened to be my childhood lover, same guy who had been my boyfriend for two years. It should have been fun, this should have been a happy moment. But there was a painful twist. My dad and my mate were secret lovers, or would I rather say ‘fuck buddies’. What could be worse than this? I turned, ready to run off. My heart was already split and I knew that any more second there could make me even more furious, but there was still one thing I was yet to do. “One more thing...” “No, please Lucia... you can’t take decisions in haste. I swear I really like you...” “I Lucia Herod of Crescent land pack reject you Beta Mario of Crescent land pack.” I'm glad I rejected him— that cheating asshole. But then, the goddess wasn't done with her surprises. "I want you to become my wife!" The Lycan King said, causing everyone's jaw to drop.

Sa mundo ng mga mayayaman at makapangyarihan, ang kasal ay hindi palaging tungkol sa pag-ibig. Minsan, isa lang itong kasunduan. Solen Mira Callisto, isang occupational nurse sa Monteverde Lines Inc., ay biglang nabaon sa utang matapos pumanaw ang kanyang ama. Dalawang milyong piso—isang halagang hindi niya kayang bayaran sa loob ng tatlong linggo. Sa gitna ng kanyang desperasyon, dumating ang isang hindi inaasahang alok mula kay Leonidas “Leon” Monteverde, ang matikas pero mailap na COO ng Monteverde Lines. Bilang susunod na tagapagmana ng kanilang shipping empire, may isang kondisyon bago niya makuha ang kumpanyang matagal nang itinakda para sa kanya. Kailangan niyang magpakasal. Isang kasunduan ang nabuo. Isang taon ng pagpapanggap bilang mag-asawa. Walang damdamin, walang komplikasyon. Para kay Leon, ito ay isang kasunduan lang. Para kay Solen, ito ang kanyang tanging paraan para mabawi ang lahat ng nawala sa kanya. Dapat ay simple lang, pero bakit parang hindi lang basta umaarte si Leon? He’s too convincing and too protective. Sa tuwing tatawagin siyang "asawa ko" sa harap ng iba, hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang mataranta o kiligin. Unti-unti, nagiging malabo ang linya sa pagitan ng kasunduan at katotohanan. Sa mundo ng kapangyarihan at intriga, paano kung ang isang relasyong nagsimula sa papel… ay mauwi sa isang bagay na totoo?