No Better Than Strangers

In my last life, I was kidnapped alongside the fake heiress, Lilith Howe, at the same time. My father, the richest man in the country, claimed he had to prove his impartiality. Without a second thought, he told the police to rescue Lilith first and refused to pay a ransom for me. In front of the cameras, he declared with solemn conviction, "A daughter of the Howes must have backbone. We will never give in to criminals!" Lilith returned without a single scratch, and the internet crowned her a miracle girl. Meanwhile, I was killed by the kidnappers. There was barely anything left of me to bury. As my soul hovered above the scene, I watched my brother sneer at what little remained. "Good," he said. "At least she won't come back and be an eyesore to Lilith. We'll finally have some peace in the house." When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the exact moment the kidnappers called with their demands. A knife was pressed against my throat. On the other end of the line, my father's voice was just as cold, just as absolute. "I'm not choosing. My money belongs to charity. If she's a Howe, she should be ready to sacrifice for the family." I laughed. If he was willing to destroy his own flesh and blood for the sake of so-called honor, then this time, I would grant them a reunion in hell!

I was a painter, but a car accident took my eyesight. When I was at my lowest, it was my childhood friend, Connor Pitt, who stayed by my side the whole time. He became the only light left in my life. Later, we got married. However, two years into our marriage, I accidentally discovered a recording on the computer. “Connor, thank you for saving me. But you hid the truth from Faye and took her corneas for me. When she wakes up, how are you going to explain it to her? What if she calls the police?” “She won’t find out the truth. I won’t let her. She’s blind anyway. I’ll marry her and keep her under my control, right by my side. June, for you, I’d do anything.” I was stunned, and a shiver ran down my spine. The salvation I thought I had found had been a lie from the very beginning. After sending a copy of the recording to my phone, I scheduled an abortion at the hospital. If that was the case, then it was time for us to go our separate ways.

A year after my divorce, my ex-husband, Harvey Fisher, pings me in a group chat. "This cold war has gone on for long enough. Come home—let's remarry." I reply, "Have you lost your mind?" Everyone in the group chat tries to convince me to take Harvey back. Meanwhile, he asks, "What have you been doing without me in your life?" I turn to look at my current husband, who's putting our child to sleep. I reply, "Recovering after having a child." The group chat members are initially excited, but they instantly fall silent at my words. Harvey angrily calls me countless times, but I ignore him. His mind is not the only thing he's lost—he's also lost the young woman who once loved him more than life itself.

Mi esposo, comandante del batallón, me prometió que solo acompañaría noventa y nueve veces a su “amor de juventud”, Paula Ferrer, cuando su depresión se descontrolara. Pero cuando terminé de contar las noventa y nueve veces, lo vi abrazándola, él la sostenía fuertemente entre sus brazos. Después de eso, dejé de llorar y de intentar detenerlo cada vez que iba a buscarla. Solo le pedí un amuleto de protección como regalo para el hijo que estaba por nacer. Cuando mencioné al bebé, su expresión se suavizó un poco, era suave y tierna. —Espérame, volveré e iré contigo al hospital para el control prenatal. Yo solo asentí obediente. No le dije que, diez días atrás, ya había presentado la solicitud de divorcio en el registro civil. Ahora, estamos divorciados.

Three years into my marriage with Shawn, I found out I was pregnant. I nervously but joyfully prepared to surprise him with the news. Yet what I received was the news of Shawn’s accidental death. Devastated by the blow, I miscarried the child and killed myself in despair. However, after death, I saw him drinking and mocking me with his rowdy friends. “Samantha is so dumb. I can’t believe she really fell for that prank. Does she really think I’d be fooled by her? I’m not an idiot like her. What, she’s pregnant? If she was going to make up something to fool me, she should have at least made it more believable.” But our child really was gone, and I had really died.

La noche que le declaré mi amor, mi novia no podía parar de llorar. Decía algo sobre haber visto el futuro y que necesitaba que hiciéramos un pacto. —¿Por qué? —le pregunté. Ella respondió: —No recuerdo bien, solo sé que en el futuro me arrepiento mucho. —Rafael, pase lo que pase en el futuro, ¿me prometes que me darás tres oportunidades? ¿Sí? Claro que se lo prometí. La amaba profundamente. Pero con el tiempo, ella pareció olvidar por completo aquella promesa. Hasta que la vi meterse con su asistente y entonces empecé a entenderlo. En el momento exacto en que firmé los papeles del divorcio, una voz conocida resonó en mi mente. Era la Lorena de diecinueve años. Lloraba, suplicando: —Rafael, me lo prometiste que me darías tres oportunidades. ¿Verdad?

I've been in a three-year relationship with Antonio Bianco, the successor of the Bianco family. Everyone knows very well how much he loves me. But everything has changed the moment Antonio's older brother passes away, leaving behind his newly-widowed wife, Rosetta Serra, who's also pregnant. Antonio heeds Augusto Bianco's last wish by taking great care of Rosetta. He even ditches me at the altar numerous times for her sake. On our 51st wedding, Antonio still ends up leaving with Rosetta, who keeps crying her heart out. I just gaze at the way Antonio scrambles to come up with a new excuse. I notice how skillfully the wedding planning company is cleaning up the wedding venue in advance. I also spot the flash of a provocative smile Rosetta has shown to me behind Antonio's back as she links arms with him. Suddenly, I feel like a total joke for being with such a man over the past three years. When the hotel manager gives me the bill, he asks casually, "When will the 52nd wedding be held, Ms. Marino? We can make the preparations in advance." "There's no need for a wedding anymore," I respond with a smile. "Even if a wedding is to be held, the groom won't be the same person anyway." After leaving the hotel, I dial the number of the person in charge of the International Medical Organization. "Hello, I'm Cecilia Marino. I'd like to accept your invitation to join your organization, and I can leave anytime soon."

"Mari bercerai!" Suara bariton itu terdengar dengan jelas di telinga Anya. Suara yang sangat tidak asing baginya. Selama 3 tahun pernikahan mereka, kenapa baru sekarang pria yang menjadi suaminya meminta cerai? Seharusnya di awal pernikahan dia memikirkan semuanya terlebih dahulu. Anya Valerie, wanita yang harus mengorbankan diri demi kedua orang tuanya. Perusahaan ayah wanita itu terancam akan bangkrut dan satu-satunya cara agar bisa menyelamatkan perusahaanya adalah, Anya harus menjalani kencan buta dengan seorang pria yang sudah ditetapkan ayahnya, pria yang bahkan tidak ia kenal. Felix Vincenzo, CEO dari perusahaan Evangeline Beauty. Felix adalah CEO termuda dan perusahaannya termasuk salah satu perusahaan besar di dunia dalam bidang kecantikan. Di usia 26 tahun dia bisa mencapai prestasi sebesar itu. Tidak hanya itu, wajah yang tampan dengan bentuk tubuh atletis membuat dia digilai para kaum hawa. Ekspresi wajah yang lebih cenderung datar membuat kesan misterius meningkat berkali-kali lipat dari orang biasa dan hal itu yang membuat para wanita penasaran dekat dengan Felix. Siapa yang tidak tertarik dengan pria sesempurna itu? Pernikahan mereka memang tanpa cinta karena mereka menikah akibat ikat kerja sama agar bisa memperkuat perusahaan keduanya. Bagaimana bisa pria yang ada di hadapan Anya mengatakan cerai dengan wajah yang tanpa ekspresi? Apakah tidak ada rasa bersalah sedikitpun yang dirasakan pria itu? 3 tahun menikah, mana mungkin suaminya tidak memiliki perasaan sedikitpun terhadap Anya meski secuil saja? Lantas bagaimana kelanjutan kisah cinta bertepuk sebelah tangan kepada suami sendiri? Apakah Anya akan menyerah?

"He is no hero, but he is willing to fight for her..." Abigail fucking Howard! Typical sweet girl, a nerdy girl who always has that cute button nose of hers buried inside a book. She wants to be an author and she's got what it takes. She has also got her whole life planned out. Study, get her degree, then get an internship in some publishing company and work her way to becoming the best selling author. I could also see her getting married to some preppy rich guy who is going to be a lawyer and then they'd have two kids and live happily ever after, cool story right? Wrong! I was wrong because Abigail wants me and the crazy thing is I want her too! I have for a long time but the problem is I am not good enough for her and I am mixed up in too many fucked up shits to be the man she wants me to be. I am not the hero she reads in those romance books of hers, I am no hero and I'll never be!

"Our time as contract lovers ended. I was no longer his tool. We both went our separate ways, but never did I expect to see Kai Winson, a renowned billionaire, at my work doorstep two weeks later, asking for a second chance." "Name it. Your price, anything if you become mine, no contract, just you." Two weeks later. After Tiffany had moved out of his mansion. Kai finds himself on the next flight to Seattle as his desire for Tiffany grows. However, Tiffany has no plans to get back to him, but Kai is down to do anything for even her attention if that means being a regular customer or her neighbour. Tiffany, on the other hand, is heartbroken and plans to focus on her job, but Kai's presence stirs something within her, as Tiffany gets closer to Kai, her past life hunts her threatening the life of everyone she loves. Extract: He needed to stop before he lost himself completely. His hands fisted in her hair, pulling her away. He leaned in, kissing her deeply before guiding her onto her back, spreading her legs wide. "You're driving me insane, Tiffany Halton," he rasped, his forehead pressing against hers. "God, what am I going to do with you?" She gasped, every inch stretching around him, her breath coming in sharp little cries. Kai clenched his jaw, struggling to keep himself in check as he buried himself inside her. Each time he tried, her body responded with a shiver, a breathy moan that drove him wild. Finally, he breached her, sliding deep inside, burying himself to the hilt. They both moaned. "Oh, fuck," he groaned. Kai looked down, mesmerized by the sight of them joined together. The way he disappeared into her over and over.