Merienda Dishes

"I can smell your arousal, Omega. Now quit being stubborn, spread those legs wide, and welcome me with gratitude." I stared at him quietly. I was dripping wet, but I wasn't letting any other Alpha use me like that. "I am sorry, Alpha, but I would have to reject your offer." He froze and stared blankly at me for a while. He looked stunned more by the fact that he did not believe anyone could reject him. Future Alphas and some selected warriors are taken away from the Titan pack to undergo serious training until the present Alpha dies. They are devoid of all forms of pleasure and denied mates until they return when they are allowed to have sex with any female and release sexual tension until they are blessed with mates. I was one of the slaves dragged away from my pack after a raid. I was there to scrub floors and clean dishes while staying invisible until I bumped into the Alpha who was said to be ruthless, and he asked to ride me. I rejected politely. It baffled him so much. Every female will die to ride him, but I, a slave from the lowest rank of Omegas had the backbone to reject him.

In the steamy streets of Miami, 23-year-old Maya Torres works hard washing dishes to buy medicine for her sick mother, her only light in a world of pain.  With a cruel brother who steals, a sister who mocks her worn old clothes, and a lonely heart, Maya’s life is a struggle—until a stormy night changes everything.  Cleaning a shadowy bar owned by the Mafia, she hears a gunshot and finds a bleeding stranger.  Brave but scared, she saves his life, not knowing he’s Diego Salazar, a ruthless Mafia boss with a crippled leg and a heart hardened by betrayal.  When Maya’s family drags her into Diego’s dangerous world, she’s forced to work for him, sneaking into rival clubs to steal secrets.  Diego’s harsh words cut deep, but Maya stays strong, her mother’s life on the line.  As they share quiet moments, something sparks—could this cold man learn to love? But secrets unravel, and a shocking betrayal from someone close threatens to destroy Maya’s hope.  With danger closing in, a hidden truth about her past could change her life forever.  Will Maya outsmart the Mafia’s deadly games and find love, or lose everything? Dive into this thrilling tale of courage, love, and secrets—you won’t stop turning the pages!

Nine years ago, Charlotte Green willingly bound herself to a companionship system to save her sister. The system guided her to the side of Eric Lorvis, a man adored by fate and envied by the world. Her role, as dictated, was to pursue him under the guise of being mute. Before long, everyone in their social circle knew of the mute woman who loved Eric with a fervor bordering on madness. At a gathering one evening, he finally relented. "If you make yourself look like Emily, I'll allow you to stay by my side." Without hesitation, Charlotte borrowed money to undergo plastic surgery. She reshaped herself to resemble Emily Spencer—Eric's first love. With painstaking precision, she molded her preferences to match his, learned to cook his favorite dishes, and catered to his every need. Yet to him, she was no more than a housekeeper. He neither hid his disdain nor spared her his indifference. His insults, his cold stares—she bore them all in silence. She didn't care. As long as she fulfilled her task, the day would come when she could finally leave this world behind. However, when Charlotte truly died, the cold and aloof Eric, who had always appeared so composed in front of others, lost his mind...

For a decade, my world had been measured in laundry cycles, grocery lists, and the ever-growing pile of dishes in the sink. I was elbow-deep in soapy water, scrubbing the remnants of another family meal, when it happened. A sudden, silent cascade of text flickered at the edge of my vision, like subtitles for a movie only I could see: [Gosh, the heroine is so tragic. Her husband's entire family has been feeding on her luck like parasites!] [Her husband stole her graduate school admission and her career!] [The in-laws are literally siphoning her health away. No wonder she's always sick.] [And the sister-in-law took her "romance" stat! No wonder her love life is a desert.] [Heads up! Her husband's about to give her another "gift." Let's see how much more he takes from her this time.] My hands, clutching a greasy plate, froze. Right on cue, my husband, Tristan, sauntered into the kitchen. A smug, self-satisfied smile was plastered on his face as he took my wet hand. He slid a flimsy, garishly colored plastic bracelet onto my wrist. "Look what I got for you, sweetheart," he announced, his voice dripping with pride. "I made a special trip after work. Found it at the dollar store. It's romantic and economical, just like you always say you want. You love it, don't you?"

Nelly Robinson stood at a crossroads, burdened by her grandmother’s escalating hospital bills and the profound grief of losing her only support. The weight of the circumstances pressed down on her, leaving her with no choice but to take action. With determination in her heart, she made the difficult decision to drop out of college, a bold step fueled by the urgent need for financial stability and independence. As she began her new life as a waitress at a bustling restaurant, she quickly learned that the job was rife with challenges. The clatter of dishes and the cacophony of voices surrounded her as she navigated the often turbulent waters of demanding customers, each interaction testing her patience and resolve. Then, fate intervened in the form of Jason Wilson, a commanding presence who exuded confidence and charisma. His sharp suit and piercing gaze made it clear that he was a force to be reckoned with in the world of business. After a one night stand with her, he presented her with an unexpected yet compelling offer—a marriage contract—Nelly's heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension. At that moment, she understood that her life was on the brink of a breathtaking transformation, one that promised to shatter her current reality and open doors to new adventures filled with both challenges and opportunities. What awaits her as she marries the wealthy CEO, especially when she starts receiving death threats from his parents' favored bride, Diana? What will happen when she discovers that she is the missing heir to the Robinson’s Enterprise?

Two weeks before my wedding to Alexander Hayes, he invites his friends over to our small home. During dinner, Alexander keeps groping me, whether intentionally or not. After they finish eating, I overhear their conversation as I clear the dishes and walk past the study. "Alex, Lydia's quite something. I touched her earlier, and her skin's so soft. She nearly pulled my soul out. "If you don't mind, let us guys have some fun with her once she pays off the debt for you. We'll help you cover the cost of whatever Kay wants." Alexander chuckles softly, his voice casual and careless. "Sure, I don't mind. I've been sleeping with her for so long, I'm already sick of her anyway. "Just make sure she doesn't rat us out to my grandpa... Actually, forget it. She's blind anyway, so she won't figure it out." For two years, I've devoted myself completely to taking care of Alexander, yet he's ready to throw me into other men's beds, using my body to settle his debts. I stand silently at the doorway, feeling absolutely nothing. Of course, I know that someone else has been replacing him for a year. The person who holds me close night after night isn't him, and the child in my belly isn't his either.

My boyfriend, Drew Myers, has proposed to me 99 times. Meanwhile, his childhood sweetheart, Tammy Fowler, has relapsed into depression 99 times. When Drew makes his 100th proposal, Tammy's depression strikes once more. As usual, he picks up Tammy's call, a gentle smile playing on his lips. With a tired sigh, he turns to me and says, "She's having another breakdown. We'll have to put the proposal on hold this time." Despite it being my birthday, Drew starts clearing away the freshly served dishes as if it were any other day. Fearing I might complain, he shoots me a cold, disapproving glance. "I know you're jealous of Tammy, but she's the one who's struggling. You're a soldier. You should be the bigger person and give her some leeway." Not only does Drew want me to eat Tammy's scraps, but he also orders me to bring them climbing gear at midnight. When Tammy shares intimate photos of them hugging online, his only reaction is to lash out at me. "Do you honestly find satisfaction in pushing Tammy to another breakdown? Is this the honor of a soldier? Your cruelty sickens me!" Over and over, he tears down my character and mocks my integrity. But this time, I simply look down at the special forces recruitment letter in my hand and say nothing. Drew remains oblivious. At last, I'm the one who's letting go.

My fiance, Victor Blackwood, is a mafia boss who rules the country's underworld with an iron fist. To the rest of the world, he is the epitome of power. Yet to me, he is the embodiment of love. But I do not realize the cost of loving a man like him. On Valentine's Day, I cook his favorite dishes and wait for him to come home. However, time passes, and his chair stays empty. Uneasy, I go to Queenie Stone's social media page. She is Victor's foster sister. She posts, "All I said was that I felt lonely, and he came right away. "Even when I accidentally spilled wine on him, he didn't mind. Victor is still someone who puts family first, even if it means neglecting his lover. "He never lets me down. I hope things stay that way." In the photo, Victor's shirt is soaked at the waist. Queenie's handkerchief lingers near his most private parts, but he doesn't pull away. He merely looks at her affectionately. I do not make a fuss and give Queenie's post a like. Then, I send Victor a message that reads, "Let's break up." Victor ignores it as always. Later, I discover that when my breakup message popped up, he had said offhandedly, "Vivienne can't live without me. She's just acting out. "If I ignore her for a few days, she'll come crawling back by herself. She's easy to please." What he doesn't know is that I was easy to handle only because I once loved him. But now that I have decided to leave, he cannot make me turn back, no matter how he tries to win me over.

If there was a shooting star while you wish to reach all of your dreams — will you do everything just so you can climb to where that shooting star is heading? Or will you let destiny drive your luck to the path you know nothing when will end? The dream of having a perfect life, a perfect family, and a stable future can only lead into one thing–greed of getting it all. Pero paano kung nakuha mo ang masayang pamilya, pero hindi nito kayang tuparin ang pangarap mong maging mayaman — will you risk your dream of having the perfect life and perfect family just to reach the money you yearn to have? Or will you stay for a genuine love you once wished to be felt? Sa buhay mag asawa, will you choose yourself, the man who loved you from thick in thin — Or will you choose the man who can give you the dream you desire? Belinda Cerise Rosalie Acosta-Guerra — a young woman who was once a little girl who keeps wishing for the shooting star to give her wealth and happiness. Now living her life as the working wife of Caiden Deus Royce Guerra who never graduated college. Caiden Deus Royce Guerra — a warm hearted man who was once a little boy who wishes to be both a man without a cape saving people’s lives while serving them the best Italian dishes that can make their tummy yearn for more. Now living his life as a househusband who wishes to have his own income to support his wife’s dream. Will the dream of Cerise ruin the dream of Dues for her? Or will she forever hide the fact that… Dues will never be good enough for her. But Clinton does.

"He is the only true heir to my throne. I must take him back." That day, the Alpha King descended upon our remote little pack with his royal soldiers. He pointed at Jasper—the man I had saved a year ago in the wilderness, my fated mate—and with those words, he shattered my entire world. I remember feeling this tight knot in my chest, because I'd always known Jasper was different. When I'd saved him from falling off that cliff last winter, I could feel something about him. I guessed it was his Alpha blood, but I wasn't totally sure back then. Now, his secret was out in the open. And me? I was still scrubbing dishes in the corner, because that was an Omega's duty, while everyone else cheered and celebrated. But Jasper… he stayed calm. He looked the Alpha King dead in the eyes and said, “I’m taking my pup Liam and Amelia back to the Shadowfang pack.” Yes. Amelia. Not me. In my last life, only their favorite she-wolf, Amelia, also the Beta's daughter, got to leave with them. When I broke down and asked Jasper why, his answer was cold and simple: “Her status suits me better than yours.” And just like that, my mate and my pup abandoned me. But this time—when Jasper spoke those same words again—under the mocking stares around me, I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and whispered my blessing: “Oh, well. I wish you both a happy future. I still have work to do.” I had already made up my mind. I was gonna work hard, save enough money, and get out of here, start a fresh life somewhere else. But tell me this, if I was so unworthy, then why, after I finally walked away, did he come begging me to return as his Luna?