I Knew Her Well

On my son Theo’s birthday, my husband Dashiell brought home his first love, Sabrina. My son was forgotten, I was ignored, and my mother-in-law treated me like a servant. Dashiell, instead of comforting me, declared that because Sabrina was dying of cancer, he would fake a divorce and marry her to fulfill her dying wish. I could no longer endure it—I decided to turn the “fake divorce” into a real one. Dashiell thought he had everything under control, but he underestimated me…

Everyone says I have the face of an angel. However, I choose to take a knife and slash my own beautiful face. When my twin sister sees the drastic change in my appearance, she loses it and screams at me, wanting to know why I ruined my face. In my past life, she couldn't stop stealing food deliveries. When our next-door neighbor caught her, she shoved the pregnant woman so hard that she miscarried. The woman was seven months along, and both she and her baby died. But my sister just shrugged it off, bragging that she was some popular influencer, and two pathetic lives didn't matter. She even slapped down a 50-dollar bill like it was nothing, just to humiliate them. "Still trying to scam my money? For all we know, that woman's baby was already dead inside her. Your family must've done pretty awful things to deserve losing two lives like that!" When the dead woman's family showed up at our door with kitchen knives, ready for revenge, my sister chickened out and hid. Before that, she tricked me into coming home instead. The second I walked up to our front door, the grief-stricken husband slashed at my neck, severing the artery. I died right there on the spot. After I died, everyone spat on my memory. They all said I got what I deserved, and my parents covered up what my sister really did. She even had the nerve to come forward and apologize for me, cashing in on my death while hooking up with my boyfriend. The two of them became this perfect couple online and made tons of money. This time around, I decide to destroy my face. I want to see how she will steal my identity and pin her crimes on me now!

Joseph Larkin, my husband, who has been missing for seven years, suddenly comes back. Not only does he bring another woman back, but he is also asking me for a divorce. Joseph says, "Mabel risked her life to save me. That's why I have to marry her to repay her. If you know what's good for you, you'll tell everyone we're already divorced." Looking at his haughty expression, I calmly say, "But I've already married someone else." Joseph laughs disdainfully. "Who are you trying to fool? Everyone knows you only have eyes for me."

Sienna Colton, the naive and innocent youngest daughter of the Colton family, makes the gravest mistake of her life when she falls in love with her sister's rival, Adrian Humphrey. To please him, she gives herself to him in every place imaginable. During a camping trip, after another reckless night together, Sienna is shocked to discover that her sister, Winona Colton, is Adrian's first and unrequited love. Adrian had only approached Sienna, showered her with affection, and taken her to bed as part of his revenge against Winona. Heartbroken, Sienna vanishes, leaving Adrian with nothing but her abortion papers. When they meet again, Sienna is no longer the docile, obedient young woman Adrian once knew. She is also the mother of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Adrian, who has long missed her, is no longer the prideful, arrogant man he once was. Trembling, he clutches the hem of her dress and pleads, "Anna, please come back. I'll treat your children as if they were my own." But Sienna flings his hand away and brushes off the spot he touched. A mocking smile curves on her red lips as she replies coldly, "They already have a father. There's no need for you to pretend."

I'm a nationally certified animal trainer running the Lion King, Caesar's final assessment. I've barely stepped into the enclosure corridor when the steel guillotine door slams down behind me. My wife's laughter crackles over the loudspeaker. "Everyone, we're doing the ultimate challenge today! We're locking the so-called number-one animal trainer in the Lion King's enclosure and taking bets on whether he wets himself in ten minutes!" Caesar crouches low and rumbles a warning. I reach for my tranquilizer gun but stop cold. The liquid isn't the right color. In a phony sing-song voice, the veterinarian, Hugh Archer, says, "Lucian, I forgot to mention, I swapped your tranquilizer darts for pepper spray so you won't hurt Caesar by mistake. "You two are so close. Just win him over with love!" I look at Caesar, his eyes bloodshot from the stimulant, and it clicks. Hugh still resents that I stopped him from touching a tiger with his bare hands a few days ago. I tune out the trash blaring over the loudspeaker, pull a remote from my pocket, and hit the button. It's the master switch for the electric fence gates around every predator enclosure in the zoo. If I don't make it out, no one does.

The company holds a management meeting. My wife's secretary, Lisa Carter, is checking IDs at the conference room entrance. She greets everyone who enters with a warm smile. But when it is my turn, she lets out a scornful laugh. I frown and pull out my Cybersecurity Department Manager's ID, but she doesn't even glance at it. "Mr. Torres, Ms. Shaw took pity on you and made you a manager. Do you really think you're somebody important?" I ignore her and dial the CEO's direct line instead. "Someone's saying my position is just charity from you. Is it true?"

Sa araw, siya ang mahinhin at maparaan na chief secretary, at sa gabi, siya ang malambot at charming na kapares sa kama. Paglipas ng tatlong taon ng mutual support, akala niya ay minahal siya nito. Nagpropose siya sa binata, ngunit narinig niya ang sinabi nito: "Ito ay laro lamang na kasali ang katawan pero hindi ang puso. Sa tingin mo seseryosohin ko to?" Sobra siyang nasaktan at lumingon paalis. Simula non, ang buhay niya ay umangat, umangat din siya sa career, at naging gold medal lawyer na walang sino mang nangahas sa legal community. Merong hindi mabilang na manliligaw sa paligid niya. Pinagsisihan iyon ng binata at tinulak siya sa dingding na may namumugtong mata: "Ang katawan ko, ang buhay ko, lahat ay sayo, will you marry me?" Maliwanag ang mga ngiti niya: "Pasensya na, gumilid ka, hinaharangan mo ang panibagong buhay ko."

Talia Herman thought life couldn’t throw anything worse at her than Maxton Carter, cocky, arrogant, and the hockey heartthrob who once broke her leg and nearly her spirit. But when her mother marries into the wealthy Carter family, Talia is forced to live under the same roof as her worst enemy… who might just be her biggest weakness. Maxton is hiding more than just bruises from the rink, he’s hiding how much he actually feels for the firecracker now sleeping across the hall. Their chemistry is undeniable, their tension explosive, but one dangerous bet threatens to destroy any hope for peace. Between fights, stolen glances, and secrets that could burn the whole Carter mansion down, Talia and Maxton are about to find out what happens when love and rivalry collide, on and off the ice.

Thirty days into our argument, my girlfriend kissed her first love passionately right in front of me. I quietly asked my boss for a transfer to the Northern City branch, which was thousands of miles away. Her friends clapped and teased me. “Ivan, your girlfriend’s getting a new boyfriend. Aren’t you going to win her back?” I held her hand and sincerely said, “I’m sorry.” She looked down at me with a proud smile. “Okay, I forgive you. Tomorrow, pack your things. We’re going to see my parents.” I smiled and agreed. But she did not know I was leaving for Northern City that night.

When small town librarian Maryanne learns that she is the temporary guardian of her best friend’s toddler, she is ready to take on the responsibility of parenthood. However, when she discovers that she must co-parent Riley with Max, the charming billionaire playboy who broke her heart all those years ago, she is horrified. They have one year to decide who will be the better guardian; Max has one year to prove his love to Maryanne. As Max and Maryanne work side by side to create a loving home, Maryanne will see a new side of Max and realize just how badly she wants to change the past. Her Billionaire and Her Baby is created by Sierra Christenson, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.