Fancy Dinner

Dad was poor and couldn't afford the kind of lifestyle mum wanted, we had leaking roofs and broken furnitures. Mum got worse when she met her former high school friend who got married to the CEO of a popular company in the city. Few weeks later my mum started keeping late nights, dad would ask why and she would yell at him. How can I forget that beautiful Christmas eve? it was supposed to be a beautiful dinner in our small living room when mum ruined it by announcing that she was getting a divorce. After mum left, dad became a drunk and never looked at my face, he said it reminded him of mum. My mother destroyed our family, my childhood and the little happiness I had as a child, She had another daughter for the billionaire she left dad for and forgot I exist, I became even more heartbroken, after dad died of cancer, I wanted revenge! My name is Sophia Barlowe and this is my story…

I arranged a lavish dinner cruise in Alpha Lucien Grimfang's honor. However, I mistakenly wore the ceremonial gown that had once belonged to his late Luna, Sylvia Wilder. In front of all the guests, his ten-year-old son, Rhett Grimfang, suddenly rammed me into the champagne tower. The shattered crystal glasses left deep cuts across my skin. "Don't think that you can replace my mother just because you're wearing her sacred gown! You're nothing but a dog—obedient and always at my father's beck and call! Don't you dare dream of claiming a Luna's honor!" His cold, scornful expression mirrored Lucien's perfectly. "I can make you leave anytime I want!" I forced myself to look up at the pup I had raised. "Don't trouble yourself. Tomorrow, I'll submit my resignation to the Elder Council and leave for good."

"Nyla, stop being dramatic. Raise Jordyn's baby, and I'll come home for dinner once a month." Those were the terms Clark Summer offered his wife after she discovered his affair. When Nyla demanded a divorce, Clark laughed in her face, treating her pain like a childish tantrum. "You love me too much to leave," he scoffed, convinced she was nothing without him. He was wrong. Nyla didn’t just leave; she leveled up. She walked into a bar and set her sights on Damon Summer—Clark’s estranged, ruthless, and terrifyingly handsome uncle. Clark is losing his grip on the company and his sanity, consumed by jealousy as he watches his "boring" wife shine beside his powerful uncle. He stands in the rain, begging for a second chance, but Nyla only has one question left for him: "You chose the mistress. Why are you crying now that I’ve chosen someone else?"

For years, myths and legends about the Underworld revolved around the earth. The darkest, most horrible place you could ever think of. But they were just myths and legends, carvings of ancient stories. No, Hades -God of the Underworld- did not exist. No, there wasn't anyone who could rule a place like that. No, a mere person could not radiate fear and darkness. No, millions of souls certainly would never kneel down before just one person. That's what every single one of them believed in. Unless, he was an immortal of course. Like Hayden Stone. Ava Bensen, like every other sane human, did not believe in such stuff. Yes, she had a perfect life -or at least, that's what her parents wanted her to believe in. Rich parents. Beautiful looks. Caring best friends. Everything was perfect. But sometimes, people forget how perfection is just a fancy form of fear. Fear, that kills hundreds of people each day. Fear, that everyone despised and stayed away from. Fear, that could take form of the Furies, the deadliest creatures of the Underworld. Ava didn't know that. She didn't know what was coming her way. Not until she died. For real.

Kryzelle Rivera is a hardworking and bubbly barista in a cozy café in Makati, well-known for her warm smile and her talent for crafting the perfect cappuccino. One day, a wealthy young entrepreneur named Zander Castillo walks into the café. He is known for his charm, striking good looks, and a slightly tsundere personality. Because of a small incident in the café—a spilled coffee and a misunderstanding—their awkward encounters begin, slowly turning into playful banter, heart-fluttering moments, and a sweet romance. As they get to know each other, they discover that both of them carry emotional scars and hidden secrets. Despite coming from completely different worlds—barista and rich businessman—it becomes harder to stop their feelings from growing. From simple coffee orders to fancy events, unexpected trips, and comedic situations, they slowly learn that love is much like a perfect cappuccino—smooth, warm, and balanced with just the right mix of sweetness and bitterness. Though their worlds are far apart, a love begins to bloom. But sometimes, love is like coffee—it needs the right blend, or it turns bitter. But what if one day, the man she loves is hiding a secret that should have stayed buried long ago? Will she run away from the struggle, or will she fight for love and protect the sweetness they’ve built together?

"Your highness, this is my daughter, and I offer you my loyalty." At a fancy party, I hid in a corner and watched my father, an alpha, bend over to speak to the prince on the throne, while my sister, Bernice, wore a tight, glamorous dress, sit at the prince's feet and show him a charming and smug smile. It was a reception for the Prince and for my sister to be his mate. "My girl, I got you." My cousin's disgusting voice sounded. A chill ran down my back. "You can't get it off," he said, reaching for me again. No... At the same time, there was a low cry from the banquet center. Bernice looked pale, and the prince frowned at the crowd before him. He had a Lycan oppressive aura that made everyone afraid to breathe. "Not her," said the prince, refusing even to look at Bernice. How did this happen? Isn't the Prince's mate Bernice? I hid in the corner. I wasn't in the mood to see what was going on at the party. I just wanted to get rid of the jerk in front of me. But why did the Prince look at me hiding in the corner? Oh, Moon goddess, I can't read his eyes.

Vera thought she had it all. The fancy life, a loving husband, a place she could proudly call home. But it turned into a nightmare when her husband’s HER returned. She came to her breaking point after her darling husband, Anthony publicly humiliated her, threatening to jail her for confronting his mistress disguised as his business partner. Done with her husband’s excesses, she opted for divorce but Anthony taking advantage of her poor status, threatened her to stay for his benefits. Except that life opened an astounding chapter for Vera when she discovered she’s the lost daughter of the richest family in metropolis. Not only did she become the youngest of the five most powerful men in the city, they doted and swore protection to her. Now wielding so much power, Vera becomes the only link for Anthony to win the billion dollar deal with the Hudson’s which he had longed for. With tables turned, guess who knelt before Vera begging? But what makes this drama more interesting is that decisions don’t solely rest on Vera’s shoulders but Anthony has to confront her overprotective brothers who swore to ruin him for hurting their sister.

Three days into the silent treatment, Derrick—my fiancé and CEO—greenlit his assistant's pitch for a self-driving road trip. He expected me to flip, like always. I didn't. A month later, he came back and saw it—I wasn't the same. He backed Molly, stole my project, and thought I'd explode. I didn't. I just helped her draft the proposal. He trashed everything I built, just so she could snag her year-end bonus. I didn't fight back. Took the blame, took the hit. Molly was all smug. "See? Told you. You can't go at Yara head-on. Give her the silent treatment—she folds. She's scared of losing you. That's why she's playing nice." Derrick ate it up. Called her smart. Then he pulled me aside—offered a raise, a promotion, even a fancy wedding. First time he'd ever brought it up. But he missed one detail: he'd already signed off on my resignation while he was off playing road trip king. And I'd already dumped him. That was it. Clean cut. Nothing left.

I was getting married—but I didn't tell my parents. It was my fifth wedding. The last four? Total disasters, thanks to them. Every time, they claimed something was "wrong" with the wedding car and somehow scared the guy off. First was my college boyfriend. We were solid—four years strong. My parents pushed for marriage... then ditched the idea on the big day because his car wasn't "fancy" enough. Second groom? My boss. He pulled up in a shiny new car they actually approved—until they didn't. Yanked me right out. Third time, they set me up with someone themselves. The guy brought ten cars to play it safe. Didn't matter. They shut it down before I even stepped outside. Fourth time? Same story. I kept wondering—what was so cursed about these cars? Why push me to get married, only to destroy it every single time? This year, I was trying again. Wedding number five. This time, I was pregnant—with the son of the country's richest man. I didn't tell my parents. Thought I'd finally outsmarted them. But just as I was about to get in the car... I saw them sprinting toward me.

The casino my husband and I ran was about to go through a chaotic police raid. Anyone who got caught would likely end up arrested. We had the time to leave. But we couldn’t all leave. One of us had to stay behind, or the cops would keep chasing us. Elias, my charming husband, didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed Mireille and left me to handle the cops, tossing over his shoulder, “I’ll send a lawyer to you.” Lucky for me, I managed to walk away without any consequences. And then, I saw, Elias, the man who was supposed to have my back, not only did escape without me, he also whisked Mireille away to some fancy resort, like they were on vacation. He looked so carefree, so unbothered. Not a hint of concern for the wife he’d just abandoned. “Think Seraphina’s gonna be mad that we left without her?” Mireille asked, all innocence. Elias laughed, that cold, detached laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “Please. As if she’d ever get mad at me. She can handle herself.” He didn’t care. But you know what? Neither do I. Not anymore.