Playing For Keeps

*Excerpt* My gaze met Sergio's. He didn't look away. I couldn't look away either. It felt like there was an invisible magnet pulling us towards each other. He looked away, breaking us from the trance. "Are you sure you're okay, Nicole?" "Come inside." He shook his head. "I was worried, and—" "Come inside, let's talk." He shook his head again, unyieldingly. "We're already talking." "Are you scared?" I asked in a challenging voice, my gazed fixed on him. "What are you so scared of?" "Nicole..." "To answer your question, no, Sergio, I'm not okay." "What's bothering you?" The vulnerability in his eyes towards me was palpable. It was my chance to act. I couldn't afford to waste it. "You," I replied, my gaze still boring into his. "And your fiancee. I couldn't bear watching you together." Sergio swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I was jealous, Sergio." • *Blurb* In a turn of events, Juliana bears witness to the brutal murder of her father—a sight she never thought she'd witness. Amidst the turmoil, she finds out she's their next target, but somehow, she manages to evade them. Determined to seek closure and justice for what happened to her father, Juliana takes on a new identity as Nicole and embarks on a quest for vengeance against the masterminds. With a heart hardened by grief, she takes on the journey. A journey that would test her limits and push her to do unthinkable things. Will she succeed? Follow her on this journey as she confronts the demon of her past.

After three years of secret marriage, Reginald Thompson suddenly proposed a divorce to Elizabeth Smith. Elizabeth chuckled, took her share of the property, and left the home of the past three years—using her skills to thrive in the antique world. Some time after the divorce, the former dictator Reginald saw his beautiful ex-wife Elizabeth stunning the audience on television, regretting his past actions. He regretted the divorce and pursued her all over the world, declaring, "My dear Elizabeth, my heart is yours, my life is yours. Come back to me!" Elizabeth Smith's rosy lips parted, "I'm sorry, Reginald!" Later, she encountered the man, Mayo John Brown, who had once saved her life. On the day of their wedding, news arrived. She abandoned the groom John, holding the injured body of Reginald Thompson in sorrow. Until Reginald proposed again, "My beloved Elizabeth, can we get married again?"

Sabi nila kaakibat ng pagmamahal ang masaktan. Paano naman kung sobra-sobra nang sakit ang nararamdaman mo? Magmamahal ka pa rin ba? ... Si Maria Ingrid Natasha Garcia, o kilala sa tawag na 'Ming' ay head over heels ang pagmamahal sa kanyang boss kahit pa walking freezer ito. At kasing liwanag man ng ilaw na may kasintahan na ito, patuloy niya pa rin itong minamahal. Martir na kung martir. Pero hindi naman mapigilan ni Ming ang patuloy na pagkabaliw ng kanyang puso sa kanyang gwapings na amo. At sa gabi-gabi niyang pagdarasal narindi na ang diyos ng pag-ibig kaya pinagbigyan na ang panalangin nito. Sa wakas! nakuha nito ang atensyon ng kanyang amo. Kaya lang hindi rin pala ito magta-tagal dahil muling magbabalik ang unang babaeng nag-patibok sa puso ng kanyang Boss.

My brother was a twisted, paranoid psychopath. When I was ten, my parents were murdered. Both my legs broke off while I tried to save my brother. I became his only family and also Achilles’ heel. Those who mocked me as a crippled would have their bones broken, and anyone who tried to hurt me would be smashed into a pulp. As he reclaimed our family’s fortune, he became “the Devil” in Amberwater, a man no one dared to offend. Yet, he alone spoiled me like I was a little princess. Everyone knew that Lucas’s sister was untouchable. He had sent me abroad to receive the best treatment. The day that I could finally stand up again, I received an invitation to my brother’s engagement banquet. “Veronica, we’re going to have a new family member soon.” I heard that his fiancee was the daughter of a wealthy family. She was gentle and virtuous. I dressed beautifully to meet her and planned to give her the jade bracelet that my mother had left behind. However, she had me kidnapped and taken to an abandoned construction building. “You lowly little witch. I’ll rip that face of yours since you’re such a seductress. I’ll see how you’ll steal my man now!” She crushed my mother’s heirloom, broke all my limbs, and ripped my face off. Then, she ordered a dozen men to torment me to death. In the end, she stuffed me into a gift box and sent it to my brother. “Dearest, this is your wedding gift. Do you like it?”

Emma always wanted to live a good life but when her dad's company went bankrupt; her mum was forced to file for a divorce, leaving their family in complete disaster. Her dad automatically turned into a drug addict which led to him abusing Emma and her sister. Emma worked part-time jobs to pay for her sister’s education but unfortunately for that, her dad was found unconscious due to an overdose of drugs which increased her expenses to pay for her dad’s treatment. What happens when she comes across her high school bully to work as his maid? Would she be repulsed by him? or she would end up falling for the ruthless billionaire?

Caught in a web of betrayal, Nicole’s life shatters in a single evening when her mother-in-law, Veronica, sets her up in an elaborate scheme. Blindsided, Nicole faces her husband Taylor’s cold rage as he casts her out of his life and home, accusing her of infidelity and theft. As she tries to defend herself, her best friend, Sarah, adds another blow by denying their loyalty. “Please, Taylor, you have to believe me!” Nicole pleads, her voice breaking, but his icy response is a dagger to her heart. “I don’t hate you, Nicole,” he sneers. “I despise you.” When Nicole reveals she’s pregnant, she hopes for compassion, but it only fuels Veronica’s determination to rid the family of her. After signing the divorce papers, a dejected Nicole wanders alone, where a brutal attack leaves her bleeding, helpless, and desperate to protect her unborn child. Six years later, Nicole returns from the ashes to inflict seven times the pains upon those who humiliated her and left her to die. “I’ll make them pay so dearly that they’d regret ever been born!” She declares. This is a story of romance and revenge you don’t want to miss!

Sapat nga bang gawing pambayad utang ang pagmamahal at katawan? Desperadong maibalik ni Quinton James ang yamang nawala nang dahil sa panloloko sa kaniya ng isang paluging business tycoon na si Oscar Santibañez. Kaya't gagawin niya ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya maibalik lang ang multi-million peso na ninakaw nito sa kanyang kompanya. Sa kanyang paghahanap sa nawawalang tao ay matatagpuan niya sa isa sa properties nito ang 24 taong gulang na si Renata Santibañez, ang ulilang pamangkin ni Oscar. Sa kagustuhang maibalik agad ang yamang nawala, gagawing collateral ni Quinton ang dalaga at habang hindi pa nagpapakita si Oscar ay gagawin niya ang lahat ng kanyang nais kay Renata. Walang kalaban-laban na bibigay ang dalaga sa lahat ng kagustuhan ni Quinton kapalit ng kanyang buhay. Hanggang sa isang pangyayari ang babago sa ikot ng kanilang mundo. Sino nga ba talaga si Renata at ano ang kinalaman ng kanyang nakaraan sa kinatatayuan ni Quinton?

Run away from his dad’s decision of fixing him into a marriage with the daughter of a business man, that was the option he supposed to choose for he could follow his dreams together with his current girlfriend. Not wanting his father might get sick due to his rebellion, Att. Rak Angelo De Acusta compelled himself to agree with the arrangement as his girlfriend wanted him to do so before he regretted anything. However, he swore that when the right time came he assuredly cut off the tie between him and Felicity Sandoval, and enjoy the rest of his life with his lover. While finding out the real cause of their marriage, he was confident enough within the marriage contract as he knew he will never fall in love with his drop-dead gorgeous fiancée and it seemed more fortunate of him when he finally saw her personally. As what he expected, luckily, she had most of his turn-offs— she is materialistic, talkative, prodigal, reckless, clumsy, she always wear too appealing and sexy clothes, wears heavy make up on her face, obsess with jewelries, enjoying the wealth, and many more. So there is no reason why he would cheat and betray his lover for that Sandoval heiress. He preferred to be a real man and kept his promise that no one would replace his girl. But what if god has another plan for him? Will he go against the playful destiny for the sake of that promise?

Tanya Darlington's well-planned future collapses when she catches her best friend and bridesmaid in bed with her fiancé the day before their wedding. Devastated and heartbroken, Tanya finds herself crying on a darkened street when a man, chased by armed men, rushes towards her. She impulsively unlocks her car to help him, making herself a target in the process. In their hideout, adrenaline-fueled passion ignites between Tanya and the mysterious stranger, leading her to throw caution to the wind for the first time in years. Only for her to learn the following morning that her famous musician fiance was determined not to let a "little" misunderstanding stop the wedding. It was meant to be the wedding of the year, and he wouldn't "allow" anything to ruin his good image. Furious and desperate, she makes a bold decision: she asks the stranger to be her groom for the day. Will he accept her proposal? What does he stand to gain? Who is this enigmatic man, and what are the consequences of such an impulsive choice? This story is filled with suspenseful plot twists, steamy moments, unexpected turns, and, of course, love. Enjoy!

Theressa's life, the smartest student, must change after finding out that she is Alpha's mate, Lyon, a transfer student at her school. Lyon's cold, possessive, and jealous attitude makes Theressa hesitate to stay with Lyon, after something bad happened and Theressa find out that she really in love with Lyon.