Midsummer By Manuel Arguilla Summary

He has made it crystal clear that I’m not to call him ‘boss’ except on certain occasions, like right now, when his dominating gaze carries a hint of playfulness. I can’t help but smile every time he gets like this, all lovey-dovey, but when he whispers in my ears asking me to go on an adventure with him, it is like an invitation to a forbidden feast and the thought sends a shiver down my spine which unlike you would think, is almost painful. Maybe this is because I have been on an adventure with him for as far as I want to recollect. My memories, if you peeked inside, would be overflowing with every moment with him, each one a brushstroke painted with his boldness and my, well, let’s call it a touch of recklessness. I now wear a souvenir, a mark etched onto my soul. It’s like a silent agreement, a reminder that our fates are tangled, intertwined like climbing vines. He’s the puppet master, my very own Mr. Strings, and every twist and turn of his whims gets woven into the fabric of my being. Maybe you find that hard to believe, like something out of a fairytale. But trust me, my darling, as I unravel the threads of our adventure, one by one, you’ll understand. With each turn and twist, you’ll find yourself hooked, a willing captive in the captivating narrative of our lives, possibly harnessed in the labyrinth of our love, where danger dances with delight, and fate is etched in the footprints of a love like no other. So buckle up, dear reader, for this isn’t a mere tale, it’s a thrill ride, a love song made of equal parts fear and freedom.

He rejected her to chase power. She gave herself to a stranger... and woke up marked by fate. Ryker, the mate River Moonstorm thought she was destined for, tossed her aside — choosing his best friend instead, all to earn a spot in his dream biker club. Broken and drowning in betrayal, River finds herself in a bar, face-to-face with Orion — mysterious, magnetic, and oozing danger. One drink turns into a night she can’t forget. One touch unlocks a part of her wolf she’s never known. But Orion isn’t just a dark escape. He’s the star of the Sexy Groove Bikers Club — and he’s hiding secrets that could turn River’s world upside down. Can she handle the fire he ignites in her? Or will falling for Orion burn her all over again?

Demon | Slave | Possessive | Steamy | Stockholm syndrome Fay has been captured by Satan, the ruthless demon king infamous for his torturous ways. He thrives on pain, war, and domination, and has finally found a human he desires to make his sex slave. However, Fay is unlike any human the demon realm has encountered. No man can break her spirit or bend her to his will. Even when Satan unleashes his dark powers to force her submission, Fay stands defiant. Intrigued by her resilience, Satan becomes obsessed with the one being who dares to oppose him. This is a story of fire and ice, where two powerful forces collide. As Fay and Satan discover a mutual pleasure in pain and biting, their relationship takes a twisted turn. Amidst this dangerous game, Satan's wife looms in the background, and the Envy war rages on, threatening everything. Can Satan keep Fay safe from his own world? Obsession is a very, very dangerous thing... Note: It is recommended to read "Captured by the Demon King" first for a richer experience. The first page of this book provides a brief overview of that book (beware of spoilers!). While this book is a sequel, it can also be read as a standalone novel.

“ I don’t like you, you’re not fit to be called my mate,”he growled , his cold gaze piercing through me. “ I hate you , I don’t want to be your mate ,” I fired back at him. Thereafter he rejected me, I accepted ,but the bond refused to break. *** When Layla was forced into an arranged bond with the Heir-Alpha after the moon goddess chose her as his mate during a ceremony, he doesn’t love her because his heart is tied to someone else. She doesn’t have any reason to be tied to a cold , bitter Alpha. But then they had no choice. Living under the same roof, in the same room, resisting their mate bond became a daily battle. When dark secrets begin to unfold and danger threatens the pack, their fake connection may be the only thing that can save them. Will they finally seal the bond to protect everything that they know or will their secrets tear them apart?

“The one person who makes my life worth living is dying. . .Kelvin is sick with lung cancer and the doctors say he's going to die if we do not begin his treatment immediately," Zara blurted out. “His treatment costs twelve thousand US dollars for the first six months. Now I'm going to lose Kelvin because I can not arrange the money that is needed for his treatment. He's dying and I'm helpless," Zara cried. "Zara? What if I told you that I have the solution to your problem? My company is dying. The only way to save it is to get married and I do not want to do that right now. I am willing to pay the bills you need if you become my fake wife. So the question is, will you, Zara Lawman, accept to be my fake wife?" ___________________________________________________ When love plays a cruel game, what will they do? In the aim to save her beloved Kelvin from dying, Zara accepts a contract marriage. In order to save his company, Oliver takes a fake wife. Everything goes as planned until Zara starts falling for Oliver . Meanwhile, Kelvin’s body starts rejecting treatment. As hard as Zara tries not to love Oliver, she finds herself dreaming of only him. This makes her miserable. As hard as Oliver tries not to fall for Zara who he believes loves her boyfriend, he finds himself wanting only her. Things begin to go south when Vanessa— Oliver's nemesis—does her possible best to destroy whatever he has with Zara. At the same time, Kelvin finds out the truth about Zara’s feelings. Now Zara is forced to chose who she will keep loving and Oliver is forced to do what he believes is the right thing, terminate the contract wedding. Meanwhile, Kelvin is dying. . .

This is the darkest kind of story - pull at it and you will bleed. Be ready for consequences. The deeper you read, the harder it will clutch at you. A violent night. Two lives shattered. One child plucked from the river and hidden away. Years of running, of fierce protection, of desperate love that wears the face of a wound. When the disease drags them back to the city that stole everything, the past wakes like a predator. He is a monster wrapped in grief - magnetic, ruthless, and obsessed. She is the woman who saved a life and raised a devil of her own making, unaware that the blood she shields belongs to the man who destroyed her world. He does not know; she does not know. Fate will tell them both.

Arya Astrid Fonacier is a lot of things; she's beautiful, cunningly smart, restless, and outgoing. She just wants nothing but to prove herself to their school that she and her entire volleyball team deserves the support they can get. That's what only matters to her. Life is never difficult for her. Her family loves her, her friends are supportive of her and she has a boyfriend that she can be proud of. What could go wrong? Well.. It all started when she unwittingly called a deal with their school rival's Alpha, Blaise Rafaelo Gandia. Things in her life is never the same again. And it is a game that Arya definitely doesn't want to play.

Mabel was forced to marry a billionaire after her father's company hit the rock. Williams, a ruthless billionaire with a soft spot for Mabel. He married her with a cold desire for an heir. Along the line, Mabel became pregnant. Just as she was about to share the news with Williams, she catches him in bed with her best friend. Brokenhearted and resolute, Mabel runs away and finds solace in the hands of William's cousin, Lavia. Still, as Williams plots to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his, the web of lies gets increasingly intricate. Will Mabel succeed in escaping the shackles of her past, or will William's unrelenting pursuit force her to return to her painful circumstances? Find out in this intriguing story.

One reckless night. One dominant stranger. One obsession that refuses to end. Ava Sinclair thought the dark, sinful stranger she met at an exclusive club will be a fleeting escape from her suffocating life. But Damien Blackwell doesn't let things go easily. Marked by a single night of passion, Ava is dragged into Damien's world. A world of power, jealousy and secrets. He owns the night, and now he wants to own her. But Ava isn't one to be caged...or is she?

When a shy and selfless Sophia Carter agrees to a contract marriage with Alexander Blackwood, her father’s friend's son and ruthless billionaire,she affirms that she is laying her freedom for her family's survival.. However, the arrangement became a web of deception and betrayal. Sophia discovered that Alexander not only married her to secure his inheritance but also to gain control of her late father's company. Sophia faces constant humiliation from Alexander’s manipulative ex-fiancée, Victoria Hastings, and his estranged cousin, Julian Cole who has developed affection for her for so long, seeks to destroy Alex. Despite her initial weakness, Sophia begins to change, seeking the truth about her father’s business downfall and challenging the forces that seek to break her. During the challenging times, Sophia and Alexander suffered with their relationship through different schemes of betrayal from Julian and Victoria that threatened to set them apart. When Sophia becomes the target of Julian’s final, dangerous scheme, her courage and recent strength turn the tide. Alexander admits his own flaws and fights to win Sophia's life and affection.