John Locke: Social Contract Theory

**They wanted to choose my husband. So I bought one instead.** --- "You'll be meeting your soon-to-be husband at the next family dinner." Aunt Melissa's words hit like poison. I choked, shock stealing my breath. Family dinners at my grandparents' estate were already hell—arguments shattering crystal, curses wrapped in concern, smiles hiding knives. But this? This crossed every line. Who the hell did they think they were, choosing my husband like I was some pawn in their twisted game? *That's never happening.* I built Phias Empire from the wreckage of my inheritance, clawed my way up from the car crash that killed my parents twenty years ago. I survived being trapped underwater, survived my family's hatred, survived my cousin Sophie's lifetime of cruelty—always my shadow, desperate to eclipse me. I didn't survive all that to let them control who I marry. Then I saw him. David Kane. Six-foot-three of devastating perfection, commanding my manufacturing floor like he was born for it. Dark hair, ice-blue eyes, a body that made me forget how to breathe. A contractor. The branch manager's son. Nobody important. *Perfect.* My family wanted to force a husband on me? Fine. I'd bring them one—on my terms. A contract so airtight no one could question it. And God, I wanted him. I couldn't wait to see Sophie's face. Couldn't wait to watch their plans crumble. They forgot who I am. I'm Sophia Ashford. I don't play by their rules. And I'm about to make the most dangerous deal of my life.

Ava and her twin brother, Aiden, have endured years of cruelty under the care of their bitter Uncle Peter and his jealous wife. But what they don’t know is that they aren’t omegas—Ava and Aiden are the lost children of an Alpha, stolen as infants, and left to be raised by another family after a failed kidnapping. On the night of the Moonlight Festival, Ava is heartbroken when Liam rejects her as his mate and chooses Riley, who’s pregnant with his child. Desperate to escape the pain, Ava spends a passionate night with a stranger she met at a nightclub. But when she returns home, she’s met with tragedy—Aiden is dead, and she’s blamed for his murder. Banished from her pack, Ava’s life is shattered. Just when things couldn’t get worse, Ava was run over by a hit and run driver, only to wake up in the arms of the Alpha King, Edward. After hearing her story, he offers her a deal—a one-year marriage for political reasons, during which he’ll help her uncover the truth about Aiden’s death. As Ava is crowned Luna Queen beside Edward, her uncle and his family, including Liam, her ex mate, is shocked by her unexpected transformation. Meanwhile, Ava learns she’s pregnant, but she doesn’t know whether Liam or Edward is the father. And things only get more complicated as Ava and Edward navigate their strained marriage, each hiding secrets from the other. But when the truth about Aiden’s death comes to light, it’s more devastating than Ava could have imagined. Will Ava get her revenge, find peace, and finally claim the love she deserves, or will her past tear her apart?

Ang tatlong taong kontrata nila ay tapos na, at doon pa nalaman ni Evelyn ang totoo: Hindi siya kailanman minahal ni Dominic. Ang mga mata ni Dominic ay para sa ibang babae. Napahiya at basag ang puso, napagdesisyon ni Evelyn na tapusin na ang kasal nila at bumalik sa dating buhay niya, magbalik sa pinaka-tuktok ng kanyang karera. Ngunit sinusubok muli si Dominic ng karisma ni Evelyn nang paulit-ulit, dahan-dahan na para bang gamo-gamo sa apoy. Noong iwan siya nito, doon niya lang napagtanto ang totoo. Nakalimutan niya pala ito hindi lang isang beses, kun'di dalawa... Nadurog siya ng pagsisisi, at ang daan upang kuhanin ito pabalik ay mahaba at mahirap. Kaya lang, tiningnan siya nito at sinabing, "Mr. Ex, ayoko ng maging asawa mo kailanman."

Ivy Sterling believed fate was sacred, until her fated mate betrayed her. Shattered, she gave herself to a lethal stranger just to forget. But dawn brought a terrifying truth: her mystery lover is Killian Blackwood, her new professor and the ruthless kingpin of the English mafia. Killian doesn’t believe in destiny; he buys what he desires. Using her father’s debts as a weapon, he forces her to sign a contract that turns her into his private property. Can Ivy survive the man who bought her freedom before he steals her heart?

Helen's wedding day was meant to be the happiest, marrying her childhood sweetheart. However, it turned into her worst when her beloved husband assaulted her after the ceremony. Despite being beaten by the man she loved, fortune favored her as the third wealthiest man on Earth came to her rescue. Not only rich but remarkably young and attractive, he offered her unimaginable wealth to marry him for six months. Surprisingly, Helen agreed, but her agreement wasn't fueled by riches but a hidden motive.

Kirana Ardiani, seorang gadis SMA yang mandiri dan cuek, tiba-tiba terjebak dalam sebuah program perjodohan sekolah bernama Love Contract. Program ini mempertemukan beberapa siswa secara acak untuk menjalani tantangan bersama selama satu semester. Yang lebih mengejutkan, Kirana dipasangkan dengan Revan Pradipta, kapten tim basket yang terkenal dingin dan tidak banyak bicara. Awalnya, Kirana sangat menentang perjodohan ini, apalagi Revan tampak tidak tertarik sama sekali. Namun, seiring berjalannya waktu, berbagai tantangan yang mereka hadapi bersama mulai mengubah pandangan mereka satu sama lain. Di tengah kebingungan perasaan, konflik persahabatan, dan rahasia masa lalu yang mulai terungkap, akankah Kirana dan Revan tetap bertahan dalam Love Contract ini? Atau justru menemukan sesuatu yang lebih dari sekadar perjodohan sekolah?

Itinaya ni Jean Antoinette Marcelo para sa kaniyang pag-ibig: from her career opportunities to her own bright future. Isinantabi niya ang bawat oportunidad na dumating sa kaniya dahil lang sa pagmamahal niya sa isang lalaki na inakalang mahal din siya. Her dreams shattered nang bigla na lang naglaho ang lalaki at tinangay pa nito ang kaniyang pinaghirapan bilang isang mananahi sa isang maliit na boutique. To make matters worse for her, nalaman pa niya na ipinagpalit siya ng kaniyang fiance sa kaniyang ate. Her parents disowned her na para bang siya pa ang gumawa ng pagkakamali sa kanila. She’s so broken na inakala niyang katapusan na niya. She was on the verge of giving up her own life nang may kumuha sa kaniya on the spot bilang secretary ng isang kilalang CEO. Inaasahan na niyang mahirap ang kaniyang trabaho. But then, hindi niya inaasahang mas mahihirapan siya sa pakikisama sa kaniyang boss. Kyle Zander Villaester was known for his perfectionist nature. Bawat gawa niya nahahanapan nito ng butas. He could easily tear her down with every rejection sa kaniyang trabaho. Sa kabila ng bawat pagkakamali niya ay hindi siya nito tinatanggal sa trabaho. Instead, he let her repeat everything hanggang sa makuha na niya ang gusto nito. Bumalik ang kaniyang ex-boyfriend na para bang wala itong ginawang kasalanan sa kaniya. Out of desperation, binanggit niya ang pangalan ng kaniyang boss bilang bagong boyfriend, even if alam niyang mali iyon. Kyle Zander knew that he had nothing to do with her affairs, but his ego told him to claim Jean Antoinette as his. “Ano ngayon kung nagkaroon kayo ng relasyon? You were her past, she is mine now. Gusto mo siyang bawiin? You have to pay the heavy price.”

Payne Nivanna Warwick never imagined that she will be following a man, just to get the partnership she was aiming for so many years. As a business woman, para kay Payne ay walang kasing halaga ang partnership na ito kumapara sa iba. She badly needed this partnership to secure her good spot in the business industry. Isa pa ay ito ang pangarap ng mga magulang niya kaya kaylangan niya itong tuparin. Akala ni Payne ay magiging madali lamang ang lahat sa kanya, pero mukang hindi lang sabi-sabi ang titulo ng binata na sinusuyo niya. Hindi nga ito tinawag na Ruthless Businessman dahil lang sa wala, at ultimo ang karisma niya ay hindi tumatalab sa lalaking iyon. Lahat ng paraan ay ginawa na ni Payne pero talagang nagmamatigas ang binata. Kung tutuusin nga ay madali lang ito para sa kanya, kayang-kaya niyang gumamit ng dahas makuha lang ang gusto niya. Pero hindi niya malaman kung bakit ba pagdating sa binata ay tila nakakalimutan niya kung sino ba talaga siya.

“Tell me,” I demanded, my voice a rough whisper. “Tell me how much you like being used like my slut! How you intentionally defy me so that I can fuck you like this.” Desperate to survive after being banished and left to die following an event orchestrated by a frenemy, Head Witch Hera Volkov teamed up with Alpha Atticus, her mortal enemy who blames her for the death of his pregnant mate. Atticus has to find and mark his second chance mate before the age of 30 so he can be crowned Alpha King and he has to be crowned Alpha King so he can become powerful enough to avenge his death's murder. He accepts Hera's proposal to fake a mate bond between them so she gets to stay alive and her gets to become King with the sole intention of keeping Hera close to himself and making her life a living hell. But things get more heated as sparks fly over punishments, actual mate bond comes into play, and enemies in plain sight that'd do anything to ensure that Atticus doesn't become King.

Trapped in a loveless, arranged marriage to Alpha Damian, Lana has spent years enduring his betrayal and cruelty. But when a mysterious vision reveals that Damian may have murdered her mother, she can no longer stay silent. At a lavish ball, she confronts him—only to find solace in the arms of Ethan, a rival alpha with an outrageous offer: marry him for nine months, bear his heir, and walk away with more money than she’s ever dreamed of. Torn between vengeance, freedom, and the dangerous attraction growing between them, Lana must navigate a web of secrets, power, and betrayal to reclaim her life. But in a world where trust is a luxury and love is a weapon, can she ever truly escape her past?