Own Goal

My so-called best friend pretends to be me and steals my identity as the CEO. She spends money recklessly and announces she'll buy apartments in the city for our long-time employees. Everyone praises her as the perfect boss. Not only that, but she also steals my husband. Even my son calls her "Mommy". So, when I'm accused of having bipolar disorder and other mental health issues, no one speaks up for me. My young son has no idea that I am his birth mother. The company and assets my parents have left me have been taken by my best friend, too. In the end, my body ulcerates, and I pass away in a psychiatric hospital. When I open my eyes again, I realize I'm back on the day my best friend used my money to buy apartments for our employees. She stands in the center of the crowd, taking in all the praises. "You're beautiful and so is your heart, Ms. Moore! You care about us so much, always handing out bonuses. And now, you want to set up a fund to help us buy homes? I'd work for you until I die!" And so, I quietly change the password on the bank card that funds all this. This time, I'll make sure my dear friend and my beloved husband experience the "wonderful" life they truly deserve.

In this story, Zeus has long had feelings for Zaica but couldn't get the chance to court her because she already had a boyfriend. When Zaica and her boyfriend broke up, Zeus didn't waste any more time and kidnapped Zaica to get her attention. Before taking Zaica, he asked for her parents' permission so they wouldn't worry. Just as they were getting close, Zeus' ex-girllfriend, Kera, showed up and caused trouble. When Zaica saw Zeus and Kera together in bed, she left him, taking their child. But when she got home, she found out she wasn't actually their child, she was adopted. The same day, her adoptive parents were going to introduce her to her real family. Zaica then hid their child from Zeus.

Serena’s POV Matagal kong inakalang hawak lang ako ng kontrata—isang papel na pumirmi sa buhay ko, sa katawan ko, at sa kalayaan ko. Pero ngayong nakahiga ako sa tabi ni Damien, natatakpan ng init ng balat niya ang lahat ng sugat sa puso ko, alam kong mali ako. Hindi na kontrata ang nagbubuklod sa amin. Hindi na utang. Hindi na desperasyon. Ako mismo ang pumili sa kanya. Dahan-dahan niyang hinila ang kumot pababa, inilantad ang bawat bahagi ng katawan kong kanina pa nanginginig, hindi dahil sa takot kundi dahil sa pananabik. Mainit ang hininga niya sa leeg ko, at ang bawat halik na inilapat niya ay parang panata na hindi na niya ako bibitawan. “Wala nang papel na nagdidikta sa’yo, Serena,” bulong niya habang pinapadaanan ng labi ang balikat ko. “Ako na ang pipiliin mo. Ako na ang kailangan mo.” Napapikit ako, hinayaan ang katawan kong lunurin ng bawat haplos niya. Hindi na ito transaksyon. Hindi na ito kasunduan. Ito ay kagustuhan naming pareho. Nagtagpo ang mga labi namin, mas mariin, mas buo—parang wala nang bukas. Ang bawat paghinga niya ay naging akin, ang bawat ungol ko ay naging kanya. Hanggang sa wala nang natira kundi ang mga katawan naming nag-uusap, nagsasanib, nagtatakda ng bagong simula. At sa gitna ng dilim ng kwarto, habang pareho kaming nilalamon ng init at ng pagmamahal, alam kong wala nang atrasan. Ako si Serena Villareal. Hindi na bilang alipin ng kontrata, kundi bilang babaeng kusang nagpa-angkin, kusang nagmahal, at kusang nagpasakop—sa lalaking siya ring nagpalaya sa akin.

Isang prinsipe ang pinalaki na pinagkaitan ng maraming karapatan, itinago sa mata ng karamihan at itinakwil ng sariling mga magulang. Sa kaniyang pagtungtong sa ikalabing walong taon sya'y pinalayas sa palasyong kanyang naging kulungan dahil sa isang pangyayaring hindi nya sinasadya.

Kania--seorang single parent, muda, luar biasa menawan, jenius, anak emas perusahaan --terpikat pada pandangan pertama dengan CEO baru yang baru saja naik tahta. Saat ia mengetahui sang CEO tampan pun tertarik padanya, ternyata seorang petinggi perusahaan yang selama ini dibenci juga ikut memperebutkan cintanya. Tanpa ia sadar dirinya telah terbawa pada intrik perebutan kekuasan di kerajaan bisnis tempatnya bekerja. Mampukah ia menghadapi pesona dua pria tampan berbeda karakter itu?

“are you ok” Halley says through mindlink. “no I need to get out of here” I reply “what’s wrong” “that’s my brother” I say, panicked “sh.it" she says out loud “Just stay here, and I will sneak off. If he’s here, Shane might be, too. He’s your mate, you have to talk to him” “I’m not going to be his mate” she says out loud, sh.it. Why couldn’t she use her inner voice “sorry” she looks at me and shrugs, realising she said it out loud. Sam looks around confused “what’s wrong? we don’t know each other. You have to give me a chance before deciding that” he pleads “I know enough about you to decide” she says as I try to get up without him noticing. He looks really upset and confused, and then he turns and sees me. “Aria” he says, shocked before he hugged me “I thought we lost you. We looked for you everywhere” he says, upset. “Why would you do that? You made it clear I am not your sister, with words and actions now. Please let me go. I would like to leave” I say, annoyed and worried “Please just wait, let me talk to you, I’m sorry” he begs, but I can’t it must be a trick

He was magnificent in her eyes before. The way he strides down the stairs which such power and authority, the way he carried himself with such elegance and dignity, the way those eyes scanned the area while it shone vividly like the bright morning sun. He was her god, before. Now that she was given this chance to redeem herself, to save herself before disaster strikes once again in the Empire. She will waste no time freeing herself from the clutches of this man. The Crown Prince. She bowed her head as soon as he descended and everyone in the ballroom, including herself, greeted the prince. "Welcome back, Your Highness!" 'Yes, welcome back indeed.' - - Amerielise Lovette was nothing more than a social butterfly. She was well-known for her appearance that sends men into an abyss of admiration and longing for her. She was so beautiful that she was described as the flower in the cliff when the sun sets. However, no matter the effort many men put to make her notice them, she only has her eyes on one man. It is her childhood friend, the Crown Prince. She loved the crown prince and was loyal to the royal family. She was like a dog willing to abide every wish he whispers, kissing the ground he walked on, blindly following him. She was naive to the dark intentions that the prince has in stored for her. In his eyes, she was just another pawn. She died. She was given a second life, a life where she vowed to do the right thing and not be the dog that she once was. She stepped away from her fate. The moment that she did, things go south and that is how she ended up in the Crown Prince's clutches again.

Francine Forenbach is the Green River Pack's Princess. The great Alpha King's daughter. At the age of 14, the Forenbach family adopted an unknown civilian. The Forenbach provided him with garments, food, and shelter. Azure's life has always been sad and lonely since he was born. But as he entered the Pack, he began to rethink the decision that had always surrounded his mind. Francine developed feelings for Azure. As they mature, Azure finds himself vulnerable, realizing that his feelings for his adoptive sister are not the result of their shared childhood. Now that they are both consenting adults, the two must figure out how to understand their feelings before things get even more complicated. He couldn't possibly love her. Francine is forbidden to love. It is a sin to love her. She is his younger sister. But the question is... how could he resist those innocent brown eyes?

"I do not need a broken thing. I need a Luna." Those were the last words Elara heard before Alpha Ashren Thalric rejected her. Born without a wolf, she was the pack’s shame, weak, powerless, and unworthy. Broken by the bond he severed, she was left to die in the frozen Forbidden Forest. But Elara didn’t die. Five years later, the Silver Creek Pack is on the brink of annihilation, overrun by a rogue army. Desperate, Ashren begs the Lycan King for help. He expects a relief squad. Instead, he gets General Elara. She isn't the fragile girl he threw away anymore. She is the long-lost Lycan Princess, heir to the Onyx Throne, and the deadliest warrior in the kingdom. Now, Ashren must take orders from the woman he broke, watching her rule with the power he despised. As the war rages, the mate bond reignites, fiercer and hotter than before. Ashren wants her back. But Elara didn't return for love. She returned to watch him bow. Will she save her fated mate or let his kingdom burn?

I stare at the email on my screen, unable to move my fingers. Tomorrow is our company's crucial product launch, and I just learn that the patent for the algorithm I spent three years developing is now filed under Matthew Ashford's new assistant, Sophie Bennett. I storm into Matthew's office to confront him. Sophie sits on his desk with her legs crossed, looking completely innocent. She claims that she filled out the form by mistake. "It's just a clerical error. The patent still belongs to the company. What's the big deal?" Matthew stands up from his chair, positioning himself in front of Sophie. I can't believe what I am hearing. "Matthew, this is my research!" "Emma, you're thirty-five. Why are you picking a fight with a twenty-three-year-old intern?" He frowns. Then, he turns to Sophie. "Starting tomorrow, you're the new CTO. Emma needs… some time off." I'm utterly stunned. A decade of marriage and five years dedicated to building a company together have been shattered by a few casual words from him. Thirty minutes later, Sophie posts a photo on social media of herself sitting on Matthew's lap. They are both clinking champagne glasses. "So lucky to have the best boss ever. I'll make sure to be his loyal kitten." Below that, Matthew leaves a comment—three red heart emojis. I shut my laptop and pick up my phone. "Hello. Is this Mr. David Langley from Novara Group of Sundale Valley? This is Emma Whitmore. I've changed my mind. I'm ready to join you." I pause. "And by the way, about that unreleased algorithm upgrade, I have the complete technical blueprint. Make me an offer." Later, I fly to Tallisport with an eight-figure check in hand, while Matthew goes frantic trying to find me.