I Never Thought Of It That Way

Thirteen years of my life were given to Ethan Cross. I believed in his music before anyone else did, stayed through the long nights when success was only a dream, and held on to every promise that I would be the woman by his side when it all finally came true. After eight years as his girlfriend and four more wearing his ring, he walked away. Seven months later, an invitation arrived. Ethan is getting married. And not to me. He is marrying my cousin sister. The wedding is set on a two week getaway meant for couples only. Ethan may think I will stay behind, broken and forgotten, but he is wrong. I will not be showing up alone. My date is Adrian Cole, Ethan’s powerful boss in the music industry, the man who holds his career in his hands and the one rival he never wanted near me. Ethan thought he left me behind. But this time I am not the girl he abandoned. I am stronger, I have found my own rhythm, and I am walking back into his world with the one man who can break him the way he broke me.

The year Felix Gibson and I were most in love, we got married. After the wedding, I quit my job and devoted all my attention to him. But he thought I was too clingy and started seeing one woman after another on the side. I did not care because I knew they were just flings. That was, until he kept standing up for one of them repeatedly. When I confronted him, he casually said, "Lexie, she reminds me so much of how you used to be." I filed for divorce and moved abroad to focus on my career. Forget about being anyone’s second choice. I was determined to stand out on my own. Later, Felix came back, begging on his knees for me to take him back.

“Please sweetheart, I’m sorry for how I treated you, you know this has always been my dream job. I can’t lose it please, I’ll do anything you want please sweetheart”, came Cooper’s disgusting voice. The audacity of this man, he even had the guts to call me sweetheart, the name he had stopped calling me during our marriage. “Don’t you ever call me again in your pathetic little life and from now on, refrain from calling me inappropriate names, I am your boss’s wife. The next time you disturb my peace or call me inappropriately, you’ll be hauled off to jail”, I replied coldly and hung up. After Mila catches her husband, Cooper having sex with his “shortcut to a better life” in their matrimonial bed, he divorces her then throws her out in the middle of the night. Mila is shocked to discover Cooper also cleared their joint account leaving her penniless. Mila thought her life was over but she is swept off her feet by Ryan Anderson, the richest billionaire in New York, one who happens to be Cooper’s boss and maybe something more. Now Mila can make those that hurt her pay. Mila is finally happy but like they say good things don’t last forever. Will she be able to save herself and her family when danger starts lurking? Will she finally get her happy ever after?

Lumaki si Kiara sa mundong puno ng bawal, bawal magkamali, bawal lumaban, bawal magmahal nang sarili niyang paraan. Kaya nang ipilit ng mga magulang niya ang arranged marriage niya kay Zoren, ang cold at dutiful heir, wala siyang nagawa kundi sundin ito, kahit na ramdam niyang hindi iyon ang buhay na gusto niya. Pero ang hindi nila alam ang tunay na panganib ay hindi ang lalaking papakasalan niya, kung hindi ang kapatid nito na si Noah, isang rebelde, wild, at mapusok. Lalaking parang unos na biglang pumasok sa tahimik niyang mundo. He is everything she should stay away from, a man who rides too fast, lives too freely, and kisses like sin. Pero siya lang ang nakakita sa Kiara na matagal nang nakakulong. Siya ang nagpakita ng kalayaan, saya, at pagmamahal na hindi kailanman inalok sa kaniya. Hanggang unti-unti, nahulog siya sa lalaking hinding-hindi dapat naging bahagi ng buhay niya. Pero may tinatagong lihim si Noah, isang katotohanang itinago ng pamilya nito para protektahan ang pangalan nila. A secret that proves he was never ment to be in Kiara's world... or in her heart. Kakayanin ba nilang lumaban sa ano mang unos na kanilang mararanasan? Kahit na alam nilang bawal, mali, at madaming tutol dito. He was the man she was never meant to love pero siya rin ang lalaking hindi niya kayang pakawalan.

Limang taon si Clyde at isang taon si Christine nang pareho silang ikasal sa isa’t-isa. Isang kasunduan ng pamilya na kapwa nila tinutulan. Ngayong bente na si Christine, kailangan nilang tumira sa iisang bubong sa loob ng isang taon… bago tuluyang maghiwalay. Si Christine, nagtago sa likod ng maskara upang protektahan ang pusong takot masaktan. Si Clyde, itinulak ang sarili sa piling ng iba, para lang huwag mahulog sa babaeng buong buhay niyang tinanggihan. Ngunit paano kung ang babaeng gusto niyang mahalin… ay siya ring asawang gusto niyang kalimutan? At paano kung ang planong wakasan ang lahat… ay mauwi sa simula ng tunay na laban, lalo na’t may isang babaeng handang sirain ang umuusbong nilang pagmamahalan? Sa mundong puno ng lihim at pride, may pag-asa pa bang magtagumpay ang pusong nagsisimula pa lang magmahal?

Pagmamahal na walang iwanan, pagmamahal kung saan nagsumpaang hindi ka pababayaan, marami mang pagsubok ang dumaan, mananatiling ikaw ang laman, mananatiling ikaw ang sinisigaw at tanging sayo lamang may pagtingin ang pusong simula palang ay pag-aari mo na at hindi nino man. ‘Pinakawalan na kita noon, hinding-hindi ko na hahayaang maulit pa ‘yun.’

I sat at the table, watching the food grow cold, much like my heart. Today was my birthday. It was also Leslie Buck's birthday—Katherine White's childhood sweetheart. I unlocked my phone and opened Leslie's social media page. As expected, a new post awaited me. "Grateful to have you by my side for every birthday. Let's keep our promise to celebrate every one of them together in the future!" The photo showed two hands forming a heart in front of a cake. One of them was Katherine's. I could tell from the bracelet she wore. It was the one I had given her. I gave the post a like, then set my phone aside. Without hesitation, I dumped the dishes Katherine liked into the trash and went out to a restaurant to order the food I liked, celebrating my birthday alone. From now on, I would make sure to enjoy every birthday of mine.

CEO vs Doctor Kung kailan gising na yung taong totoo mong minahal saka naman... makikita mo ang pagmamahal niya. Paano mo malalabanan 'yon?

Despite Chuck Garrison cheating on me seven times, I forgive him. He willingly hurts me for his first love, Rebecca Kerry, even though we've been married for seven years. In the second year of his openly pursuing me, Chuck takes the blow in my stead when a robber tries to stab me. I then promise him that no matter what he does, I'll forgive him up to seven times. I don't expect his passionate love to change immediately after we get married. The first time happens on our wedding anniversary. Chuck lies to me, telling me that he has a meeting to attend. In reality, he goes to pick up Rebecca, who has just returned to the country. The second time happens when Rebecca lies about being sick. Chuck doesn't hesitate for even a second and leaves, even though he's celebrating my birthday with me. The third time happens when Chuck hires Rebecca as his assistant. I stumble upon them hugging and kissing each other when I turn the corner. The sixth time happens when I'm pregnant. An unexpected issue occurs, but Chuck is accompanying Rebecca, so there's no one to take care of me. In the end, I suffered a miscarriage. I spend countless nights crying alone after being neglected. I force myself to endure everything because of the promise I made. Out of the seven chances I promised Chuck, there is only one chance left. This time, Chuck orders me to transfer ownership of my company, Starlight Group, to Rebecca. I say nothing as I sign the acquisition contract, hiding a divorce agreement among the documents before handing the stack of papers to him. This is the last time, Chuck. We will not be seeing each other anymore.

I spend an entire year preparing to get my daughter, Quincy Lindell, into a top international school. By the time the application review date rolls around, I have all the documents ready. I just need my wife's and my original marriage certificate to seal the deal. However, when I reach the admissions office, my wife, Wendy, blames me for taking matters into my own hands. I am about to explode when the school staff member says with a strange expression, "Mr. Howards, our system shows that you are not Ms. Lindell's spouse." My blood turns to ice. Before I can react, Zachary Shea, who has been quietly standing behind Wendy, passes his wedding certificate to the person in charge. The school staff member nods after checking her computer. "Ms. Lindell, Mr. Shea, your certificate was validated seven and a half years ago. You can now register your child for this school." Seven and a half years ago… That was the date of Wendy's and my engagement party. She held my hand in front of a room full of guests and said that I would be the only man she ever loved. That one sentence was enough to fool me for seven years.