Once Falling Slowly Novels & Stories

“You clawed your way into this position, Arniya. Now sit there like a good girl”- Nathaniel Verano. ~ “Let me take you away from all this. You don’t belong in their cage.” - David Sev Calderon. ~ "Everyone has their agenda. I just know how to play their tricks” – Arniya Belle Santillan. ~ Arniya Belle Santillan thought she had her future figured out. Arrange marriage with Nathan Verano, the man she once looked at with nothing but love, she believed she was walking into a life of stability—maybe even happiness. But the more time passes, the more Nathan starts to feel like a stranger. Cold. Controlling. The kind of man who only cares about keeping his family's image spotless, no matter the cost. Trapped in an engagement she no longer wants and expected to play the perfect fiancée to a man she barely recognizes, Arniya starts to lose herself. Then, she meets David—a man with a quiet intensity, and his reasons for hating the Veranos. He offers her something no one else ever has: a way out. But it comes with a catch. Now, Arniya is torn between the life she’s always known and the unknown path David opens for her. Can she risk everything to break free and take back control of her life, or will she end up stuck in a world that’s always told her who she should be?

Nawalan ng trabaho si Atasha Charlotte Diaz matapos magsara ang BPO company na pinagtatrabahuan niya. Habang ang mga dati niyang officemates ay nakahanap agad ng bagong trabaho, siya naman ay naiwan na walang income, baon sa utang, at hinahabol ng bills at loan collectors. Out of desperation, sinubukan niyang lumapit sa mga kaibigan—ang iba para singilin, ang iba para manghiram. Pero lahat sila, wala ring maibigay. Hanggang sa dumating ang isang offer na hindi niya akalaing tatanggapin niya: ang maging mistress ng nag-iisang Rev Kurozawa Alcantara. Siya ang taong pinaka-kinamumuhian ni Atasha. They met once before. Isang gabi lang. Isang pagkakamali na kumitil sa kanyang pagkabirhen, at pagkatapos noon ay iniwan siya ni Rev na parang wala lang nangyari. Simula noon, isinumpa na niya ang pangalan ng lalaki. Pero ngayong lugmok siya, siya rin ang taong muling kahaharapin niya. Sa huli, Atasha was forced to be Rev's mistress… kahit para kay Atasha, mas katanggap-tanggap pa sana kung maging legal na asawa na lang ang inalok sa kanya ng lalaki. “I only want a mistress… ’cause I already have a fiancée.” —Rev

Zarfa was just a simple person who tried her best to help her family. Born and raised in the province of Aether, kasama niyang lumaki ang mga kambing at palayan ng kanyang mga magulang. She was content with the life she had despite the few problems here and there. After all, wala namang problemang hindi malalagpasan basta’t magkakasama, hindi ba? Meanwhile, Vanraj was the crown prince of the kingdom of Terabestia. Palapit na nang palapit ang araw na siya na ang maghahari sa buong lugar. He may have the innate desire to help people but he was uncertain and terrified of what would happen to the people once a man like him inherits the throne. When a series of problems stitched their paths together, they soon become each other’s refuge and solace. But in this universe where deities can interfere with their lives, sa dinami-rami ng mga tao, silang dalawa pa ang napili ng tadhana. As secrets get revealed, so do the deep-seated emotions of love, hatred, suffering, pain and betrayal. Zarfa’s fate to doom seemed to be predetermined before she was even born. If Vanraj wants to save her, he has to give up something. He has to fall from grace. Love runs deep. But there are times— many of them— when it’s not worth fighting for. Lalo na kung marami na ang nadamay at nasaktan, lalo na kung sa tingin mo, wala ng patutunguhan.

Nagkaroon ng malaking pagkakautang si Laica kay Hendrick Montañez nang ang binata ang gumawa ng paraan upang maisalba ang buhay ng kanyang nakababatang kapatid. Isang bagay iyon na wala siyang kaalam-alam. Ang tanging malinaw kay Laica ay ang pagkamuhing nadarama ni Hendrick para sa kanya dahil sa pag-aakalang mas pinili niya ang pera kaysa sa relasyon nilang dalawa. Lumipas ang maraming taon. Nang muling magkrus ang kanilang mga landas ay naniningil na ang binata sa malaking halagang nagastos nito para sa kapatid niya. But how can she ever pay him if what he wants is for her to... marry him? Would she agree knowing that what he's offering is nothing but a contract marriage? That she needs to be his wife just for business purposes? Or she would take his offer, not only to pay her debt, but because deep inside, she's hoping that he loves her still? "Magiging asawa lang kita sa papel, Laica. We'll stay married 'til I get the company. Once it's done, we'll have an annulment. Don't worry 'cause it would be easy since I don't have any plan to consume our marriage..."

Once upon a time in a promiscuous beach resort which has a prude and nude side called Hydrus Haven, there was a fortress owned by a mysterious woman named Sheeva Mae Corporal. She's known for her old-fashioned black temple dress na mukha at kamay lamang niya ang nakikita. Her behavior and super conservative outfit were utterly out of place against the backdrop of the said haven for n*dists. The fortress and its owner alone had been a pain in the ass of the Turkish-Filipino owner of Hydrus Haven. Walang makapagsasabi kung ano ang tunay na misteryong bumabalot sa kakatwang tahanan na iyon ng dalaga. Fck whatever those goddamn mysteries na kinakanlung ng beach house na iyon! Basta ang natatanging layunin lamang ni Hydrus Horizon Hugo ay ang magiba ang bahay na iyon na sakop pa ng property na kanyang nabili. Subalit ang lagay ay dadanak daw muna ang dugo ng dalaga bago magtagumpay si Hydrus na maipagiba ang tahanan niya. Paano siya magtatagumpay na ipagiba ang bahay na iyon kung sa bawat impormasiyon na nakukuha niya tungkol sa misteryosong babae ay siya ring unti-unting paglambot ng puso niya? Would he be able to undesired the mysterious woman incessantly or would he forbid himself from adoring the exciting wonders his heart feels for her?

“IKAW?” My eyes nearly popped out of my face when I saw him—the mysterious stranger from last night. Is it him? The same man? Parang gusto kong mahimatay. Wehh? Hindi pwede! Impossible! my inner voice screamed, pero ang katawan ko nanginginig na parang nakuryente. Hard f*ck na yata ng buhay ‘to. And suddenly, a memory crashed into me like a tidal wave. That night. That stupid, reckless night. The stolen kisses, the laughter between moans, the way he made me beg—“Wag kang titigil!”—like I’d lose myself if he stopped. I swore I’d never see him again. I swore it was just a one-night stand, a mistake I could bury. But now he’s standing right in front of me. Not just a man. Not just anyone. But the CEO. And worse… the ex-boyfriend who once shattered my heart. His smug grin sent shivers down my spine. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” he said, like fate itself was mocking me. I froze, torn between rage, fear, and something I couldn’t even name. My mind screamed run, but my heart whispered, stay. My world was spinning, and suddenly, every choice felt heavier than ever. Will this be the start of something dangerous… or a responsibility I can’t escape?

Ysabelle Andra Guerrero never thought her love life would become a business transaction. As the only daughter and heiress of an airline company, she lived independently— an adrenaline junkie, a traveler, and someone who swore never to open her heart yet but her world turns upside down when her family uses her for a deal: a marriage contract to secure a business partnership. Worst? She must marry Aldrich Evan Lorenzo— the man who left her without any explanation. Aldrich, heir to a well-known travel company, faces his own crisis. With his family’s business on the brink of collapse, he agrees to the arranged marriage, unaware that the bride-to-be is the woman he secretly loved and lost. Bound by a contract with clear terms: 1. End the marriage once the Lorenzo company recovers. 2. Act as a powerful couple in public. 3. No strings attached. Neither of them wants to say “I do,” but both have too much to lose. On their wedding day, chaos strikes when Sarina Fructuoso—a famous dermatologist, crashes the ceremony, claiming she’s pregnant with Aldrich’s child. The revelation stuns everyone, especially Ysabelle but gives Aldrich the benefit of the doubt, suspecting a setup. As they navigate a web of lies, public scrutiny, and hidden feelings, their scripted affection begins to feel real. Behind the staged smiles and cold arrangements, they find themselves drawn back to each other. What started as a contract becomes a fight for something deeper—a second chance at love neither of them expected.

Plain. Normal-looking, to say the least. Pessimistic with a job she despised. And most importantly, she was dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Ryan. Iyon si Ashley. She didn't just enroll in graduate school to earn a promotion; she also wanted to forget about the breakup. Then, she met Nathaniel. Her initial impression of him: a Womanizer! She saw how ladies flocked to him, which made her cringe. Ngunit isang araw ay ipinatawag siya ng kaniyang mga magulang upang ipaalam na ipinagkasundo siya ng mga ito sa isang kasal. Worst, ang kaniyang mapapangasawa ay walang iba kundi ang babaerong si Nathaniel! Sa kabila ng pagtutol ay naikasal sila. What she didn't imagine is Nathan would notice everything she'd been hiding; her worries, sadness, and the things she genuinely wanted to do. Because of him, she discovered a side of herself she hadn't previously known existed. Ayos na sana ang lahat. Ang problema na lang ay siya. Hindi niya kayang pagtiwalaan si Nathan. Will she be able to resist his charm? Is it worth it for her to put her heart and soul at risk once more? And most of all, will she be able to set aside her insecurities in the face of Jenny, the only woman who has ever broken Nathan's heart?

First Generation: Entangled Hearts Series #1 Anak nang isang kilalang business owner si Katherine Victoria Von Schmitt. Matapos niyang magbakasyon sa ibang bansa, umuwi kaagad siya sa Pilipinas, at dumiretso sa kanilang bahay. Ngunit hindi niya inaasahan na may naghihintay pa lang malaking problema sa kaniya. Her father was using illegal drugs, got addicted to gambling, and drank liquor as if his life depended on it. Ang nakaiinis pa ay walang alam si Katherine sa mga bisyo ng kaniyang ama. Kung hindi pa dumating ang mga lalaking hindi pamilyar sa kanilang bahay, baka habang-buhay ‘yon itatago ng kaniyang ama. “Your father had a huge debt, Miss Von Schmitt.” Para siyang pinagbagsakan nang langit, at lupa. Ni hindi niya alam kung paano magre-react, dahil sa kaniyang narinig. Nagkaroon sila nang malaking utang, at imposible raw na mabayaran niya ‘yon. Millions din ‘yon, at malaki ang interest kaya mas lalong lumalaki ang utang ng kaniyang ama. “Sign the damn document, Miss Victoria. Be my contracted wife and carry my child,” he mumbled dangerously. “Once you fulfill your duty, you will be free from this setup. You’re not going to pay his debt anymore.”

Ataisha was on the brink of losing herself. Everything has gone cold—he has gone cold. It all played perfectly a few months back but everything changed in a blink of an eye. She couldn’t handle the pain all at once, especially when she felt the love she had always craved in him. Siya na lang ang nakakapag paramdam kay Aisha na may taong nagmamahal sa kanya at magpapahalaga, but what happened? Why does it have to be like this? She was never loved by her family, treated less than trash. She was always desperate for affection and when she finally gets it with him, this has to happen. He kept blaming her for something she doesn’t even remember doing, and he won’t explain. He will keep acting like he hates her, or maybe he really does. Who knows, she might have really done something to push him away like this. But the truth is always bound to be unveiled, and in desperation to find answers and make sense of it all, Ataisha found herself trapped in a deeper hole of secrets waiting to be freed. Secrets that will bring new wounds and open scars she never knew were still needed healing. Secrets that will forever open her heart to acceptance even if it’s going to be painfully difficult. Will she be able to free herself from the chains holding her in that deep hole of secrets and lies? or will she forever be tangled in whispers of secrecy and distrust?