Middle Names For Makenna

**Madilim na Romansa** Mahirap ang pagiging bagong estudyante. Si Mary ay mahiyain, introvert, at mas gusto ang mapag-isa sa kanyang mga libro kaysa sa mga tao. Ngunit sa kanyang bagong paaralan, nag-iba ang lahat nang mapansin siya ng mga maling tao. Nakuha niya ang atensyon ng bad boy ng paaralan na nagsimulang mang-uyam at mangutya sa kanya. ***** Nilaro ko ang aking mga daliri habang nakatitig siya, hindi siya tumigil sa pagtitig at nahihirapan akong makipag-eye contact sa kanya. Ang kanyang titig ay nagpaparamdam sa akin ng hindi komportable. Hindi ko maiwasang magtaka kung ano ang ginagawa niya rito nang mag-isa. "Mary Davies," bulong niya sa pangalan ko. "Virgin ka pa rin ba?" Nakangisi niyang tanong. "Hmmmn... Hindi nagalaw. Inosente. Tulad ng matagal ko nang pinapangarap." Bulong niya, habang dinadaan ang isang daliri sa aking collarbone. "Mag-eenjoy ako nang husto kasama ka," bulong niya ulit, habang hinahalikan ang aking earlobes. "Ang saya-saya." Dagdag niya, habang lumalayo sa akin. Nagsimula siyang maglakad patungo sa pinto. "Magkikita tayo mamayang gabi."

Kryzelle Rivera is a hardworking and bubbly barista in a cozy café in Makati, well-known for her warm smile and her talent for crafting the perfect cappuccino. One day, a wealthy young entrepreneur named Zander Castillo walks into the café. He is known for his charm, striking good looks, and a slightly tsundere personality. Because of a small incident in the café—a spilled coffee and a misunderstanding—their awkward encounters begin, slowly turning into playful banter, heart-fluttering moments, and a sweet romance. As they get to know each other, they discover that both of them carry emotional scars and hidden secrets. Despite coming from completely different worlds—barista and rich businessman—it becomes harder to stop their feelings from growing. From simple coffee orders to fancy events, unexpected trips, and comedic situations, they slowly learn that love is much like a perfect cappuccino—smooth, warm, and balanced with just the right mix of sweetness and bitterness. Though their worlds are far apart, a love begins to bloom. But sometimes, love is like coffee—it needs the right blend, or it turns bitter. But what if one day, the man she loves is hiding a secret that should have stayed buried long ago? Will she run away from the struggle, or will she fight for love and protect the sweetness they’ve built together?

“A marriage of convenience… turned into a love worth fighting for.” Isang kasal na hindi pinili, kundi ipinilit ng kapalaran. Para kay Vernice, ang kasal ay isang bagay na dapat nagmumula sa pagmamahal at hindi sa kasunduan. Ngunit biglang nagbago ang lahat nang mapilitan siyang pumayag sa isang arranged marriage—at ang lalaking nakatakda niyang pakasalan ay walang iba kundi si Caius, isang makapangyarihang negosyante na kilala sa kanyang malamig na ugali at walang interes sa pag-ibig. Sa simula, parang isang bangungot ang pagsasama nila. Ang buhay ng isang simpleng babae ay biglang naipit sa mundo ng karangyaan, intriga, at matinding pressure na dala ng pagiging asawa ng isang kilalang billionaire. Sa kanilang pagsasama, tila dalawang magkaibang mundo ang pinilit na pinagtatagpo—isang pusong naghahanap ng pagmamahal at isang pusong sanay nang magtago sa likod ng yaman at kapangyarihan. Ngunit habang lumilipas ang mga araw, may mga simpleng bagay na unti-unting nagbabago. Ang mga tingin na dati ay malamig, naging mainit. Ang mga usapan na dati ay pormal at walang saysay, nagiging puno ng lambing at tawa. At ang kasal na dati’y walang emosyon, nagiging isang tahanan ng pag-ibig na hindi nila inasahan. Subalit hindi mawawala ang mga pagsubok—mga taong tututol, intriga ng lipunan, at takot na baka ang lahat ng ito ay pansamantala lamang. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, matutuklasan nilang hindi ang kasunduan ang magtatali sa kanila, kundi ang pusong natutong magmahal ng totoo. Isang kwento ng dalawang taong hindi pinili ang isa’t isa, pero pinili ng tadhana. Sa huli, mapapatunayan nilang minsan, ang pagmamahal ay dumarating sa pinaka–hindi inaasahang paraan.

Nang ma-scam ang pamilya ni Jade, tinanggap niya ang alok ng isang bilyonaryong lalaki na paupahan ang sinapupunan niya kapalit ng sampung milyong piso. Walang halong pag-ibig, pawang kasunduan lang… Ngunit bakit, sa huli, bigla na lang siya nitong ginawang asawa? At ngayong asawa na siya ng lalaking binayaran siya para magkaanak, ano na ang gagawin niya?

"ฟ้า..." "ตบฉันที" "ห๊ะ?" "ฉันฝันหรือเปล่านะยุ นายมาอยู่ตรงนี้กับฉันจริงๆเหรอ..." "ให้ตบใช่มั้ย" ฉันพยักหน้า วายุเลื่อนมืออีกข้างที่โอบฉันขึ้นมารั้งต้นคอฉันไว้ส่วนอีกข้างที่จับข้อมือฉันอยู่เขาก็ปล่อยให้มันเป็นอิสระ ก่อนจะเลื่อนมันขึ้นมาประคอบใบหน้าฉันให้เงยหน้าขึ้น "อะ อื้อ" เขากดจูบลงมาบนปากฉัน บดขยี้ค่อนข้างแรงจนฉันส่งเสียงออกมาเพราะรู้สึกว่าปากแตก "ตบด้วยปาก" พอถอนจูบออกวายุก็พูดขึ้น ฉันยังคงมองหน้าเขา ฉันเจ็บที่ปากแตก ฉันเจ็บและรับรู้ถึงรสสัมผัสริมฝีปากของเขา เรื่องจริง ฉันไม่ได้ฝันไปจริงๆ... ฉันโผเข้ากอดวายุ ใบหน้าฉันแนบกับแผ่นอกเปลือยเปล่าของเขา หูของฉันได้ยินเสียงหัวใจของเขา "ฟ้า..."

Sirese Euén Arcacia, dalawampu't limang taong gulang. Lumaki sa mayamang pamilya ng Arcacia ngunit salat sa pagmamahal ng pamilya. malaki ang binago niya matapos siyang itulak ng kaniyang stepsister at stepmother sa hagdan. Mahilig siyang mag basa ng mga nobela. Isa sa nabasa niyang kwento ay ang kwento ng mag kasintahang anghel at demonyo. May kung anong parte sa kaniya ang na bubuhay tuwing binabasa niya ang kwentong ito. Ang hindi niya alam ay may koneksyon ang kwentong iyon sa kaniyang buhay. Sa dati niyang buhay.

Megan Reyes, M.D., ang doktorang tanga. Tanga dahil nagpabuntis siya! Dapat bilang isang doktora ay alam niya kung paano at kailan ito mabubuntis. Pagkapasa sa Medical Board Examination ay nagkaroon ito ng one night stand with Robert, her first and only boyfriend na nagmula sa isang mayamang angkan. After two months, nalaman niyang buntis siya. Dahil dito nilait-lait siya at pinagbintangang gold-digger ng mga matapobreng magulang ni Robert. Pinalayas naman siya sa bahay ng sarili niyang mga magulang dahil sa kahihiyan sa pagiging isang dalagang-ina. Si Robert? Iniwan siya sa ere. Biglang gumuho ang mundo ni Megan kung kaya't nagpasya siyang magpakalayu-layo. Ang kahihiyang tinamo ni Megan ay nagdulot ng matinding galit sa kanyang puso. Subalit tulad ng isang Phoenix who built a nest and set itself on fire, a new Phoenix would rise from the ashes. Babangon ang bagong Megan. Pain had changed her life. Pagkaraan ng pitong taon nagpasya siyang bumalik sa Pilipinas kasama ang anak. Lingid sa galit, naghahari pa rin ang pagmamahal sa kanyang puso kahit siya ay nasasaktan. Sapat na ba ang magmahal? Di ba dapat mahal ka rin ng minamahal mo? Mahanap pa kaya ni Megan ang minimithi niyang pag-ibig?

On the way to get our marriage certificate for the twentieth time, Rolf Trivett regretted it once again. In eight years, this was our twentieth attempt to get the certificate. But every time we reached City Hall, he would always say he needed time to care for his seriously ill childhood friend and couldn't promise to marry me. This time, I couldn't take it anymore and asked him, "If she’s never going to get better, does that mean you’ll never marry me? What am I to you?" Rolf immediately lost his temper and yelled at me, "I've already promised to take care of her for life. Can you stop being so selfish? "Besides, we've been together for eight years. What difference does it make if we don't get this certificate?"

Isang gabi kapalit ng malaking halaga. Ang kaniyang virginity kapalit ng pera na makatulong sa kanilang pamilya. Isang mabuting anak at isang bilyonaryo na naliligaw ang landas.

At an investor banquet, my fiancé Tanner Clarkson’s secretary, Willow Thorne, recklessly throws a glass of wine at an investor and hurls insults without thinking. In retaliation, the investor demands that Willow make it up to him with her body, or he'll pull his funding. To ensure the company's successful IPO, Tanner hands me a glass of spiked wine. Then, he pushes me to the investor, expecting me to extinguish his flames of rage. His eyes are filled with feigned hesitation as he says, "Willow isn't like you. She just graduated—she's pure and innocent. Stop fighting it, Kathy. I'll make it up to you once the company goes public." When I regain consciousness, I stare at the man across from me, my voice hoarse. "About that deal you mentioned... I'll sign it."