Franz Joseph I

"You're saying?" "I'm saying, I know you're avoiding me." She froze. "I see the way you look at me Tarah." Their eyes met. But she quickly looked away. "Look at me darling." He said huskily. He lifted her chin. She finally looked at him in his soul sucking eyes. "Are you attracted to me?" "No." She lied. TARAH What do you do when you feel things you never felt before? Feelings you never thought you would feel, towards someone you shouldn't feel that to. Feelings you should never feel towards your husband's brother. And what if it happens, he feels the same. What do you do? What do I do? How could I keep myself away from him, when we live under one roof. How can I not get attached to him, when he's all I am into. He showed me my darkest desires I never thought I had. He awakened my deepest feelings. He opened the door to my heart, and my damn legs as well. He was the greatest temptation that I failed to resist. I never thought of getting married through a contract. More so of falling in love with my husband's brother. EZEKIEL The marriage contract wasn't entirely legal, but still, a grooms valid name was needed. There was no second bastard son at all, and I couldn't come up with a name. So, I put my name on it. Making Tarah married to me. Yes. To me. She's married to me. Which she didn't know. And wouldn't know. I know she's just adopted, but I'll still mess around her, as planned. And what could I do? She's undeniably very pretty. So pretty. I wanted her attention on me. I want her. I want my wife. I want what's mine. I'll do everything to get her.

I never believed in second chances. Not after Cynthia. She was my confidant… until death tore her from me and left this mansion echoing with ghosts. Inilibing ko na rin ang puso ko kasabay ng pakamatay ni Cynthia . She was my wife. My peace. My mistake. Then her daughter moved in. Liza. The forbidden reminder of everything I shouldn’t want—young, alive, reckless in ways her mother never was. She looks at me like she sees through the monster I’ve become. Sa tuwing ngingiti siya,  the ache in my chest returns—violent, dangerous, hungry. Every brush of her skin ignites something I can’t bury anymore. I tell myself it’s guilt. I tell myself I’m just protecting her. Pero ang totoo? I want her. Hindi bilang stepdaughter. Not as Cynthia’s child. I want her as mine—completely, ruinously, irredeemably mine. They’ll call me a sinner. A man who crossed the line. Ngunit sa tuwing tinitingnan ako ni Liza, trembling, wanting... I knew I’d already crossed it. I tell myself I’m protecting her, but each night, the lie weakens. Because when she looks at me, it isn’t fear I see—it’s want. And God help me... I want her too. This isn’t love. It’s a beautiful disaster. And I’d burn the world just to feel her breathe my name again.

"Get up, I'm hungry. Cook for me NOW!" The authoritative tone jolted me awake, not giving me a moment to freshen up or even change. We don't sleep side by side; he stays in the master bedroom while I occupy the guest room. He can't stand being near me. It hurts deeply when those words come from him, but it's a recurring pattern. I hurriedly made my way downstairs, still tying the robe around me. In the kitchen, I began preparing his breakfast. You see, I'm his secret wife. No one knows except our parents and a few friends. Since we got married, not a day goes by without him reminding me that he doesn't love me. Not a day goes by without him hurting me. But that's alright because, as I've mentioned, I love him so much that I'm willing to do anything just to earn his love in return. A single tear escaped and fell onto the clove of garlic I was chopping. I quickly wiped it away. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Manang watching me. I took a deep breath to regain my composure before turning to her with a forced smile. "I'm sorry; I got emotional over garlic." I lied.

BREE LEV. I thought it stands for something simple until I heard his deep soulful voice. A single hello was all it take for him to have my undivided attention. Akala ko hulog siya ng langit. Isang anghel na magsasalba sa akin. I was all wrong. He's a fallen angel with dark blue eyes and cold leather-covered hands. A man mantled with power and veiled with sin. We're opposites. I'm weird and a social butterfly. He's terrifying and brooding. A lone wolf. I love pinks and swirls. He prefers pointed knives and black guns. Darkness seems to be his fave companion and death his pastime. I, on the other hand, will always choose life. He told me to stay away from him. Guess, you know by now, that I did the exact opposite, right? I stayed 'cause I want him so bad, it hurts. I, Bree De Veyra, daughter of one of the families of The Council, lay my life to the head of the Foedus Corp– Lev Petrov. My father's sworn enemy. The master manipulator and my protector. Or my destroyer? LEV Three years ago, one phone call, two minutes. I swore I will kill her. Four weeks before her 16th birthday, I did the unthinkable. I destroyed her trust and left her. Broken and beyond repair. Twenty-four hours before her 18th birthday, nagbalik ako para bawiin s'ya. Twelve hours after I abduct her, we exchange I dos. Eight seconds after our first kiss, I know I will protect her with my gun and with my life. I, Lev Petrov, Heir to a fallen empire, vows to avenge Bree from all of the people that wronged her. It will be my life's mission until the last drop of my sinful blood...I will never let them rest in peace.

I am a headstrong woman. A black ship to my family. And a rebel to the society. Not until I met a stranger who blames me for something I am not even aware of and the next thing I knew, I became his prisoner.

I WAS walking confidently on the red carpet. Today is the event of the Cohen Modelling Agency. The paparazzi immediately went after and lots of flash stroke in my eyes. I'm a bit nervous while walking in the midst of the red carpet. I chose the right path. This is what I want. Even though I chose my career and my unborn child, my heart was still empty. I opted to leave him and break up with him. I opted all of this that's occuring around me. Fame, money, and being a beautiful woman. Until I'd decided to walk inside the event. I grasp my clutch tightly when I saw how exquisite the ambience of it. The huge chandelier at the center and waves of people were chattering inside. I held up my chin and continue to walk and I saw Sophia walking towards to my direction. "You're just in time," she exclaimed. "Come with me..." "Okay..." Nakita ko yung pamilyar na lalaki na nakatayo. I felt my heart thumping so crazily. And butterflies were twisted in knots inside of my stomach when our gaze met. It's been a days... I haven't seen him. The last time I saw when I broke up with him inside of his office. My hands began to shudder in nervous. And his wife is there beside him. I smiled. This is what I want, right? To let go of him? "Oh, Miss Portugal," he acknowledged. "Good evening, Mr. Cohen..." We used to be sweet with each other. He used to snake his arms around my waist and whispering to me all the sweet things. But that was before... I knew we can't continue this kind of relationship. It is too forbidden. Too forbidden to taste because I'll get addicted to it again and again.

I was staring at Leion. He was kneeling in front of me, begging like he would lose half of his life when I left him. "This is what you want, from the very beginning, right?" I said, while smiling from ear to ear, before I sipped on my red wine. I didn't know that red wine taste so sweet, when I feel the victory, I know I will win this one, because loathe makes me stronger, I will feel nothing, if not anger, resentment and pain. I am numb, and the day Leion hurt my feelings, over and over again. But now, look at him, acting like he loves me and he cares for me, that if his feelings are true, why couldn't he do it then? "Aubrey, I am begging you, please—" "Do you remember the day I begged you to stay, because I am weak and tired from all of your bullshits, I gave you patience and all the understanding, and now, do you think all of the so called kindness that you show me lately is enough to forgive all the things you've done to me?" "Why are you so heartless?" Leion said while his tears running down to his cheeks, a crocodile tears, I will never be taken away again. "My love, you're the reason, now deal with it."

"Scarlet you don't know how much I miss you, I'm almost crazy thinking about you every night, I'm going crazy because I'm not next to you. I can't bear to go to you." "I can no longer restrain myself from claiming you."

"I had you once and I'll definitely HAVE YOU BACK AGAIN, and that's a PROMISE." My whole body shivered as he said those words... But I won't show him that I'm scared. I looked at him straight in the eyes with so much bravery even though I'm scared to his so called PROMISE. "You won't." I don't want to go back in his arms again. I don't want to go back to the person who broke my heart before... I don't know why he wants me back but on thing is for sure... I'm not the BILLIONAIRE'S QUEEN even from before up until now...

I thought the divorce would set me free. I thought walking away from my husband would finally give me peace. But I didn’t expect him—my cold, sinfully dangerous stepbrother—to be the one waiting on the other side of my freedom. Rage Roswell doesn’t ask. He takes. And the moment he found out I was no longer married, that I was vulnerable, alone, easy to steal… he stepped in like a storm I couldn’t escape. He pinned me with those cold eyes and said one thing: “You’re mine now.” I should’ve run. I should’ve fought the tension, the heat, the hunger he ignites with just a stare. But he knows every weakness I try to hide. Every tremble. Every breath. Every part of me I shouldn’t be giving him. After the divorce, I thought I was reclaiming my life. Instead, I walked straight into the hands of the man who’s willing to burn everything—everyone—just to claim me. And this time… He won’t let me go.