Graves Hume Public Library

Aliyah's life has been complicated since she was only a child. Her childhood was so messed up and she never experienced being loved by others— especially by her own mother. That may be the reason why her life became more complicated and uncontrollable to deal with— In fact, she became a rumored mistress of the most admirable and well-known business tycoon in the country, Caleb Walton. Her name became headlines of news and various gossip about her spread all over the country that made her quiet life become tumultuous. As her name became known by many, the negative judgments, various insults about her life, slanders, and threats from the public became much harder to take for Aliyah. But unknown to everyone, she didn't like anything that was happening in her life. She was left with no choice but to become a mistress when her mother sold her for money. How will Aliyah deal with the ordeal of being Caleb's mistress? How can she handle all the judgment and pain that people around her bring into her life when she's just The Innocent Mistress?

The world might think billionaire Xavier Gaines has it all, but he’s got a big problem. His successful software company is about to sign a government contract that’ll land him smack in the glare of the public limelight, and his lifelong battle with social anxiety has marked him as a cold, uncaring bastard in the eyes of the press. To dispel the unflattering image, he needs help, and there’s only one person he trusts with the job—Peyton Smoke. Gorgeous, kind, and funny, she agrees to be his media relations director and soon imbeds herself so deeply in his life, his world will crumble if anything upsets the balance. He cannot screw up their solid unit. No matter how achingly he desires her. Yet, how is he supposed to resist when she tugs emotions from him he didn’t think he was capable of experiencing? Especially since it appears he’s not the only one fighting their undeniable attraction. Ever-after might be possible...if he can convince her to believe in love again.Counterbalance is created by Kelly Moran, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

The AFA 2020, or the Antonio Facundo Awards, is a competition for journalists like Avery Taylor. It is also often open to writers and directors. They will take a subject, a prevalent person with people, and publish to the public how that person lives. Avery earns the honor of being an exceptional reporter and journalist every year. She won AFA 2019 last year, and he will never relinquish her seat. She will make sure she gets the same award again this year. All she had to do is find someone, a person everyone looked up to with a mysterious identity. Cormac Carter, one of the richest bachelors in the entire Philippines and owns one of the most popular car brands globally — C.C Cars, will be Avery’s target. He’s the gem of the competition. That man already has all the ‘ingredients’ for that, and Avery will not let the opportunity slide. With that desire, she had so much to go through, but Avery never expected that by digging into his past, she would find her past that was buried into her mind for a long time ago. The incident that caused her to be hit by a car and develop amnesia, the incident that made her feel the hardship of the past fifteen years..

The moment you saw my face, you lost your freedom. Now, you only have two choices, Be my wife... or be a corpse." — Kalix Valerio Si Isla Moretti ay isang simpleng pastry chef na ang tanging pangarap ay mapalago ang kanyang maliit na bakery. Ngunit ang tahimik niyang buhay ay magugulo nang aksidente siyang makapasok sa isang hotel suite na pagmamay-ari ni Kalix Valerio, ang kinatatakutang “Reaper” ng underworld. Nakita ni Isla ang isang bagay na hindi dapat makita ng kahit na sino. Sa mundo ng Mafia, ang mga saksi ay pinatatahimik... permanenteng pinatatahimik. Ngunit sa halip na tapusin ang buhay ni Isla, isang mapanganib na deal ang inalok ni Kalix. Dahil sa gulo sa loob ng kanyang organisasyon at ang banta ng pag-agaw sa kanyang posisyon, kailangan ni Kalix ng isang alibi, isang asawang magsisilbing “front” niya sa harap ng kanyang mga kaaway. Ang kundisyon? Magpapanggap si Isla na asawa ni Kalix sa loob ng anim na buwan. Kapalit nito ay ang kanyang kaligtasan at ang pondo para sa kanyang pangarap. Mabubuhay kaya si Isla sa isang mansyong puno ng baril at sikreto? O magagawa niyang paamuhin ang isang demonyo na ang tanging alam ay pumatay? Sa mundong puno ng traydoran, matutuklasan ni Kalix na ang pinakamalakas niyang kalaban ay ang sarili niyang puso na unti-unting sumusuko sa kanyang inosenteng asawa. ﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋ Welcome to the dark, seductive world of The Mafia King’s Deadly Bargain. Follow an ordinary woman caught in a dangerous criminal empire, filled with high-stakes action and a slow-burn romance. If you love possessive alphas and strong, witty heroines, this is for you! Don't forget to add this to your library and leave a comment. Happy reading!

Ling's parents have been separated since she was young, and she copes with the separation by taking good care of her father. When the public school her father works at receives news of a donor who'd supply the school with new books, Ling becomes enthusiastic. But upon meeting Joshua Aragon Villafuerte, the donor, all her senses tell her this handsome, rich boy is more than what he is. Joshua grew up never knowing what a mother's love was. He doesn't mind though since he sails through life easily with a rich father as his support. Though charming and your general nice guy, behind his easy-going smile Joshua isn't faring well--not when you witnessed your own mother put a bullet to her head at the tender age of six. Just when two people try to overcome their childhood heartaches, Ling and Joshua discover what links them together. And whatever truth comes out of their predicament, they can't deny that they need each other to get pass their demons.

Financial reporter Zoey, known for her pride and icy beauty, and with a formidable business acumen, finds herself at the center of a scandal on the very day she and financial tycoon Barlen are to get their marriage license. An insider exposes her, claiming that she loves only Barlen's wealth and that their marriage is merely a product of her exquisite acting skills. Unaware of the brewing storm, Zoey and Barlen are in the midst of obtaining their license when the news breaks. Barlen, upon reading the revelations, 'borrows' Zoey's phone and promptly turns it off, facing the onslaught of public opinion with firm evidence in hand. Surrounded by media reporters, Barlen is bombarded with questions about his perspective on the scandal. He deliberately twists the narrative: "My wife, she doesn't just love my money. Could she possibly love someone else's?" The reporters press on, clarifying their query: "Do you mean she only loves money, not you as a person?" Barlen remains composed: "She loves my money, and I love her as a person. Is there a problem with that?" In a single sentence: He redeems her with all his love and warmth. How could I not be enamored with someone like you?

Raine Ellery never imagined her survival would come at a deadly price. Confined in a contractual marriage with the billionaire CEO Cassian Ashcroft to save her late mother's legacy, Raine simply had to escape her crumbling world. But the moment she signs the contract, Cassian collapses at her feet, and by midnight, he's declared dead. The media named her the bride of bad luck. The public thinks she’s cursed, while the Ashcroft board accuses her of murder. And the bargain she thought would be her salvation becomes a trap from which she cannot escape. Imprisoned in a penthouse filled with secrets and haunted by scandals, Raine is forced to play a high-stakes game of silence and survival. But when rumors of Cassian's secret enemies, a hidden inheritance war, and a conspiracy of faked death begin to surface, Raine is drawn into a quest for the truth before the world buries her with it. And just when she believes it's the end, Cassian returns—alive. Now Raine must face the most dangerous twist of all: the man she never truly knew is back… and he is not alone in what he wants.

On the day of my wedding gown fitting, a stranger burst into the VIP suite and stabbed me with a knife. “You think you deserve a dress this expensive after stealing someone else’s man?” She tore at the delicate fabric of my skirt. Then, with a twisted smile, she hurled a bottle of acid at me. The blade was buried in my lower abdomen. The pain drove me to my knees. She grabbed my hair and yanked my head up. “Gerald’s my husband! What are you? You’re nothing but a mistress who can’t even be seen with him in public!” Blood dripped down my fingers. That was when it finally sank in. The man I had been with for seven years had been keeping another woman by his side. “What’re you staring at? Even if I kill you, with my husband’s influence, no one will dare touch me!” Staring at her smug face, I pulled out my phone with hands slicked in blood and called my brother. “Matt…” My voice was unnervingly calm. “Come pick me up at the bridal shop. And please inform the Hoover family that the engagement is off.”

On the day Moon Spencer received the Medal of Honor, she made a public declaration of love on live television to her accompanying military medic, Xavier Quinn. “If it weren’t for Xavier, I’d have died in that storm at sea. He is the most important person in my life.” At the same time, her husband, Nathan Johnson, was lying on his deathbed at home. For years, he had taken care of Moon’s parents and raised their child alone. The strain destroyed his health, and he had little time left. He never expected that after twenty years of sacrifice, he would not even hear a word of thanks from her. What truly broke him was their daughter’s comment. “Dad, don’t you think Dr. Quinn and Mom are perfect together? You should leave sooner and make room for him.” Nathan collapsed in fury and regret. He died that night. When he opened his eyes again, he was back to the night before Moon left for her coastal deployment. This time, he refused to stay behind as the forgotten man who kept everything running. In this life, he would pursue his own dream.

Seraphina Vale has always been a survivor. Bullied mercilessly by her affluent college classmates and betrayed by her closest friend, Isla Kensington, Seraphina has spent years hiding behind a quiet, unassuming façade. Her turning point comes when Isla’s ultimate betrayal, she leaked Seraphina’s private journal containing intimate reflections about her deceased mother and that led to a public humiliation so devastating that Seraphina ends up hospitalized. Emotionally shattered and at her lowest point, Seraphina stumbles upon Adrian Montclair, a charismatic yet ruthless Mafia boss who offers her an unexpected lifeline. Adrian, a man haunted by his own dark past, sees something in Seraphina that reminds him of the person he used to be: broken but not irreparable. He offers her a "contract." He will help her rebuild herself, reclaim her life, and exact justice against those who wronged her. In return, she must agree to one favor in the future, the nature of which he will not reveal. Desperate and with nothing to lose, Seraphina accepts, plunging herself into Adrian’s dangerous world.