Nicole Snyder

Within the circle, everyone knew I had been Leo’s most devoted, submissive admirer. For thirteen years, I chased him relentlessly, transforming myself from an uneducated, middle-school-dropout, illegitimate child of a wealthy family into an Ivy League economics master’s graduate. Only then did his mother finally acknowledge me, and I became Mrs. Smith. However, after the wedding, I no longer meddled in Leo’s company, cooked, or served him. While he stayed up late planning strategies for his first love, I traveled the world with friends. He would accompany her to Paris fashion shows, and I celebrated my cat’s birthday at home. I understood that a commercial marriage could never produce love. Everything I had poured my heart into was just my own foolish obsession. In my past life, I handled his company’s internal conflicts for him. Yet, he frowned, scolding, “You’re reaching too far.” I cooked soups for his stomach ailments, only to see him hand them off to his overworked first love, brushing it off, “She works harder than I do.” Even on the day I had a car accident, he lit fireworks across the city just to see her smile. I begged him, but he looked down at me from above. “Nicole, what we have is only a transaction.” Then, I opened my eyes and found myself back at our engagement banquet, watching him leave midway to comfort his heartbroken first love. This time, I did not chase after him. Instead, I picked up the microphone and said before all the guests. “Sorry, everyone. My engagement with Leo is canceled.”

"Allow me to introduce my wife, Nicole Hales, mother of our twins. I have loved this amazing woman for years, starting from our college days." His voice dripped with adoration, each word a dagger to her heart. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the painful truth hit her, while she had devoted herself to making his dreams a reality, he had been building a life with someone else. Eight years, eight whole years and she ended up a mistress. Alexa had sacrificed her fully paid college scholarship to support Steven's dreams, she had even taken on the role of a mother to the twins he had claimed were adopted, And now, he was ready to discard her like trash. She had built the stage where they stood in blood and sweat, she would ensure it burned to ashes. Luke was cast aside as a child by his father, Owen Hales, who had married Luke's mother only for her wealth and inheritance. After exploiting her, he brutally murdered her. Luke, who was a young boy then was thrown into an orphanage and left to fend for himself. After years of hardship and struggle, Luke was now one of the most powerful men globally and he was back for revenge determined to make Owen and his family pay. Luke observed the scene unfolding before him with great interest. His nephew, Steven, was being crowned the new CEO of Hales Enterprises, but what caught Luke's attention was the young lady who slipped past him, her eyes brimming with tears. He smiled, Steven had made a grave mistake. He had chosen the wrong woman. Amidst the tangled web of revenge and deceit, could love be found or would they be destroyed by the hatred that drove them?

Isang masayahin at palakaibigan na dalaga si Bella. Matalik niyang kaibigan na lalaki si Vin simula pagkabata. Magkapitbahay lamang sila at madalas na magkasundo sa lahat ng bagay. Naging magkaklase sila ni Vin simula elementarya hanggang high school. Sobrang close nila sa isa't isa kaya madalas silang magkasama. Ngunit pagdating ng college ay kinailangang umalis ni Vin upang mag-aral sa ibang bansa. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ni Bella na nagmula si Vin sa mayamang pamilya kaya hindi na sya nagtaka nung kinailangang umalis ni Vin upang mag-aral sa ibang bansa. Lumipas pa ang mga taon ay bumalik na si Vin sa Pilipinas at nalaman eto ni Bella. Nang magkrus ang kanilang landas ay nagtaka si Bella kung bakit parang iba ang pakikitungo ni Vin sa kanya at madalas ay iniiwasan pa nga siya. Doon na nalaman ni Bella na may nararamdaman na pala si Vin sa kanya. Higit pa sa matalik na magkaibigan. Sobra ang tuwang nadama ni Bella dahil napagtanto nyang mahal na rin nya ang binata. Ngunit isang araw ay napalitan ng lungkot ang saya na nadarama ni Bella nang makita nya si Vin na may kasamang ibang babae, si Nicole, at napag-alaman nyang ikakasal na ang mga eto. Labis na nasaktan si Bella. Akala nya kasi ay si Vin na ang nakalaan para sa kanya pero may ibang plano pala ang tadhana para sa kanila. Magagawa pa kayang ipaglaban ni Bella ang pagmamahal nya kay Vin? O hahayaan na lamang nya etong magpakasal sa ibang babae.

Kylee Nicole Montenegro, ako 'yun. Labing-walong taong gulang na at malapit ng mag-kolehiyo. Hindi na ako nagho-homeschool; malapit na akong maging normal na estudyante, tulad ng pangako ni Dad. Homeschooled ako mula nung ako'y limang taon dahil sa isang aksidente. Madalas sabihin ng mga tao na marami daw nangyari sa buhay ko noong bata ako, pero isang bagay lang ang matandaan ko — isang panyo. Isang hindi kakilalang bata ang nagbigay sa akin nito, at hindi ko alam ang pangalan niya. Malamang, hindi ko na siya makikilala matapos ang maraming taon, pero umaasa ako na isang araw ay makakita ako sa kanya para magpasalamat. Ang hindi kakilalang ito ang tumulong sa akin nang mawala ako sa mall. Naalala ko ang bahagi ng pangyayari, pero hindi lahat. Napapangiti ako nang hindi ko namamalay. Pagkatapos kong lumabas ng banyo, napansin ko ulit ang panyo at ngumiti. Mukhang may kaunting paghanga ako sa taong nagbigay nito sa akin. Ilang taon na itong nasa akin at hindi ko pa ito nalalabhan. May nakasulat ding salitang "TRIST" dito. Iniisip ko kung pangalan ba ito. Nagtango na lang ako dahil wala akong alam. Nahulog sa malalim na iniisip, isang katok sa pinto ang bumalik sa akin sa realidad. "PUPUNTA NA!" sigaw ko nang marinig ko si Ate Lena na nagpapaalam na ang almusal ay handa na. Isinilid ko ulit ang panyo sa aparador, may kakaibang tanong pa rin sa aking isipan. SINO KA?