He Tasted His Own Medicine

The night my husband, William Costello, was assassinated by his enemies was supposed to be a celebration—our wedding anniversary. I was dressed in his favorite red dress, waiting for him, when the phone rang. "Mr. Costello was shot at the harbor. The bullet went through the back of his head. He died on the spot." I collapsed to the floor. I clung to his belongings, mourning for a week straight. We even lost our unborn child during this time. Everyone said William and I were true love. Even the Don himself came to the funeral, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder with a sigh. He said, "All of Blackhaven knows you were the only woman he ever loved." Grief nearly destroyed me. I stood at the river's edge, ready to follow William into the afterlife. However, I overheard my sister-in-law, Emily Hawkins, leaning into my brother-in-law, Jones Costello, her voice dripping with a twisted affection. She purred, "William, I love you so much. Between Nina and me, who do you think is sexier?" "Of course it's you, babe!" came the husky reply. I stood frozen, my eyes wide and my body trembling. Why was Emily calling my brother-in-law by my husband's name?

I vowed to transfer schools with my childhood friend when he claimed he was being bullied. But the day before we were to finalize the transfer, he backed out. His friend teased him. "Man, you faked being a punching bag just to get rid of Alice Wiley? That's cold. You two have been thick as thieves since forever. Are you really cool with her going to a new school alone?" Shane Page brushed it off. "It's just another high school across town. Not a big deal. I'm tired of her always being up my ass. This works out perfectly." I stood frozen outside the door for a long time. Finally, I turned and walked away. On the transfer form, I crossed out Oatheport High and filled in the international academy my parents had been pushing for. Everyone seemed to forget that Shane and I were never equals.

I lifted my head from Rhys's arms, his strong chest rising and falling against my cheek. Silk sheets tangled around our naked bodies, the air thick with the scent of our passion. After a passionate night with my childhood friend, the Mafia heir, I was jolted awake at three in the morning by the shrill ring of a phone. It was the Don, ordering me to bring Rhys back to the estate for an arranged marriage. I figured it was just another heiress trying to claw her way into the Griffin family, so I kissed his forehead, pressing myself against him and whispering with a low laugh. "Rhys, what's your plan for this boring princess?" He arched an eyebrow, wrapping a lazy arm around my waist. "Baby, make sure you pick out a good tie for me. I need to make a good impression on my future father-in-law." Seeing me freeze, Rhys sat up and shot me a casual glance, his voice laced with indifference. "Maeve, what's with that reaction? We're just having fun." "You didn't actually think you were going to be the next Donna of the Griffin family, did you?"

For five years, I was married to the heir of the Romano family, Italy's biggest crime family. Every night, he'd hold me and whisper, "Just give me an heir, and I'll give him the entire Romano empire." But I never got pregnant, and the Don's disappointment in me grew with every passing month. Until I found out my husband had been secretly swapping my folic acid for birth control pills. I was still reeling from the fury when I saw a post from his ex-girlfriend: an ultrasound photo. Her caption was sweet and smug: “Ten weeks along. Vincent said he can’t wait to meet the baby.” Seeing the flood of congratulations, my mind was made up. I found the contact info for my ex-boyfriend—the one who’d spent the last five years trying to get me back. I sent him a single text. 【Give me one month. Then I’m coming with you.】

“Just...I have one question before this,” I pretend to not see his hurtful look, keeping my eyes on his chest, “...Please.” Would it change anything if I’m pregnant? I want to ask, I don’t know how. Taking a deep breath, I look up, just to catch him rolling his eyes with a sigh: “I don’t have time for your games, Scar.” Home? I laugh bitterly. We don’t have a home anymore, Sebastian. I built one for us, and you broke it.

While they slice me apart, I desperately call my brother, Nathan Slade. He finally picks up as my consciousness starts to slip and answers in an annoyed voice, "What now?" "Nathan, help—" I don't get to finish before he cuts me off. "Can't you ever go a day without drama? Gemma's graduation is at the end of the month. Miss it, and I swear I'll kill you!" Then, he hangs up without a second thought. The agonizing pain swallows me whole, and my eyes close for good, tears still trailing down my cheeks. Well, good news, Nathan… You won't have to kill me because I'm already dead.

My best friend's brother and I have been dating for half a year, and she has no clue. My best friend drags me out on Christmas for a singles' night out. Unexpectedly, we see her brother, Chris Lambert, holding hands and kissing a girl under the fireworks. "Damn, Chris finally got the school belle!" She looks thrilled and pulls me forward to say hi. Chris awkwardly rubs his nose and introduces me to his girlfriend, "This is my sister, and the one beside her is… sort of like my sister too." I smile silently. We have held hands and kissed, yet now, I am just sort of like his sister.

Lucy Castle was once labeled the ugly duckling of her school. After a humiliating one-night stand with the school’s golden boy, Richard Oxford, her life crumbled. He denied ever knowing her, mocked her in front of everyone, and left her broken. Five years later, Lucy returns—no longer the timid girl they once laughed at, but a confident, breathtaking fashion designer taking over the industry. When her path crosses with Richard again, he seeks closure and forgiveness. Now the tables have turned—but can she truly resist the man who once broke her?

She took her twin’s place to survive. But falling in love with the man meant to ruin her was never part of the plan. When Layla Ross steps into the shoes of her missing twin, she’s thrust into a marriage with Dominic Foster the dangerously powerful man who married her sister for revenge. But nothing is as it seems. Unknowingly poisoned by Layla herself under her father’s manipulation, Dominic’s life ticks on a secret clock. Layla, a woman with fifteen elite identities and a heart she swore to keep frozen, must find the cure she couldn’t create herself. Love wasn’t supposed to bloom. Secrets weren’t supposed to unravel. But in a city of lies, identity swaps, and deadly desires, one truth could shatter everything. How do you love the man you were sent to destroy… and who might destroy you first?

Chief Secretary na maaasahan lagi sa umaga, at isang nakakaakit na kasalo sa kama tuwing gabi—iyan ang buhay ni Bona Sobrevega sa mga bisig ni Sean Fernandez. Matapos ang tatlong taon na pagsasama at pag-aalaga sa isa’t isa, inakala ni Bona na pantay ang nararamdaman nila. Kung kaya’t nang alukin niya ang lalaki ng kasal, hindi niya inaasahang guguho ang mundo niya nang sabihin nitong walang halong pagmamahalan ang samahan nilang dalawa maliban sa kanilang mga katawan. Mula noon, umiwas na siya’t tinalikuran ang buhay kasama ang lalaki. Umangat ang kanyang karera at naging isang tanyag na abogada na walang tumangkang kumalaban sa kanya sa komunidad. Dumami ang mga manliligaw at dito’y nagkukumahog na gumapang pabalik sa kanya, puno ng pagsisisi, ang lalaking minsan na niyang minahal ilang taon na ang nakalilipas. Ngunit sa mga pagkakataong ito—wala na siyang nararamdaman para dito.