Pop Ice Toping Keju

Terrance Burgess slapped me in front of the entire company, all because I accidentally knocked over his assistant's vase. My five-year-old son, Claude Burgess, stood off to the side, clapping like it was something worth cheering for. Afterward, the assistant walked up to me while holding the bouquet the father and son had given her, showing it off right in my face. "So what if you're the wife? The one who isn't loved is the real outsider." I looked at her calmly. "Then you'd better watch yourself. If he can have you on the side, he can just as easily find someone else after you." I used to think I had a happy, complete family. Until Terrance's assistant came along and made me realize it had all been in my head. The love from that father and son had already moved on to someone else. That was the moment something in me went completely still. I called a number I hadn't contacted in years. "Dad, I want to come home and take over the family business."

Dalam perjalanan merayakan ulang tahun anakku, aku mengalami kecelakaan mobil. Saat terbangun, aku melihat anggota keluarga mengelilingi ranjang rumah sakit, lalu aku bercanda, "Maaf, kalian siapa?" Aku menahan tawa, ingin melihat bagaimana mereka akan menghiburku, si "pasien amnesia" ini. Apakah ibu dan suamiku akan menggenggam tanganku dengan penuh kasih? Atau anakku akan menerjang sambil menangis memanggil Mama? Namun aku tidak menyangka, mereka malah tertegun sejenak, lalu sama-sama menghela napas lega. Ibuku yang pertama kali berbicara, suaranya terdengar lega, "Bagus juga kalau lupa. Sebenarnya kamu cuma anak angkat Keluarga Kurniawan. Bella-lah putri kandung Keluarga Kurniawan yang sebenarnya." Suamiku juga menunjuk ke arahku, lalu berkata pada anak kami, "Kamu seharusnya panggil Tante." Belum sempat aku pulih dari keterkejutan, kulihat anak yang selama ini kulindungi mati-matian, menoleh dan langsung berlari memeluk putri palsu itu. "Mama! Aku seharian tadi main di luar, kangen sekali sama Mama!" Ternyata, amnesia ini malah persis seperti yang mereka harapkan. Kalau begitu, semua yang palsu ini, tidak perlu lagi dipertahankan.

Being a mute used to be simple before all the craziness started. I just can't talk and that's who I am. Mum has learned to accept that and I guess so have I. Everything was just fine in my high school in Shanghai. I had finally made it to year twelve and even though I was in China, I was actually being treated as a human being despite my disability. Things were definitely not perfect but I would give anything to go back to that, like it was before. I heard my first voice that year, right at the beginning of year 12. I didn’t really have any real friends, but I was used to it and before the voices started, I was fine with that. But it all changed when I first heard them. The voices inside their heads started then and my life was never the same. They weren't just thinking about school or they girls or guys they were into, no they were thinking about doing things, doing horrible things to each other and I was the only one that knew how messed up they really were.

[It's an unedited book. Typos and grammatical errors are common] What happens when a mafia and police get in a contracted relationship? They say if two people end up badly in one life, they get another chance in their new life. Shawn and Bella were meant to be together, but what holds them back was the past and secrets. They got to shield their hearts but instead, these two people from opposite sides of the law collide and build fiery attraction among themselves with explosive chemistry and an instant connection. There are no laws for love.

Because of the incident, my life changed completely. I never thought that in an instant, I would lose everything. Family, friends and even the man that I loved. But I met a man which I did not expect to love him. He is the mysterious one, cold as ice, introvert, anti-social but he really caught my attention. But the way his voice sounds or the words he speak makes me think that I met someone like him before. Curiosity kills me inside. Naging parte kaya siya nang nakaraan ko? Nakilala ko na ba siya noon? Pero hindi ko inaasahan na isang araw, mahuhulog ako sa kaniya. Can we bring back our past or remain strangers?

I was the company's top sales performer, but I never clocked in or out, and I rarely showed my face at the office. Two-thirds of the employees had never even met me. Yet somehow, I single-handedly dominated the sales numbers, outperforming everyone else and propelling us to the number one spot in the industry. Then came the day they handed out year-end bonuses. Jeffrey Young, the new sales director, fired me on the spot, claiming it was bad luck that I stepped into the building with my left foot first. When I demanded to know what gave him the right, he sneered at me with pure contempt. "Because I'm going to be the future owner of this company! You just got lucky landing a few big clients, and that was all thanks to the company's existing customer base anyway!" He continued, "Let me tell you something... Kieran Campbell, whoever the company gives resources to, becomes the top seller!" I could not help but laugh. All they saw was that I never clocked in, but they never saw me out there day and night, running around to maintain those client relationships. The truth was, in this industry, clients were loyal to me personally, not to the company's brand. I pulled out my phone and called my wife, Melanie Gardner. "When did you get yourself another husband behind my back?"

I’m a Straight Police Officer, but I’m falling for a 19-year-old JOCK! Officer Langdon Never in a million years did I imagine that stopping a speeding car one morning would thrust me into a wild encounter that would change the trajectory of my entire life. When I pulled over Tristan, a 6'9 African American college basketball player who also happened to be a rich bad boy who had no regard for the law, I didn’t anticipate that his muscular frame that oozed sex appeal and deep voice would have me weak in the knees and questioning my sexuality. His flirtation and bribe to perform a naughty and forbidden favor for me if I ripped up the ticket, threw me into a world of unexpected passion, shaking up my mediocre, repetitive and mundane life. This steamy escapade pushed me to explore my desires in ways I never thought possible and awakened feelings I didn't know existed . There are just a few problems: 1. I’m still in love with my live in ex-girlfriend. 2. This Jock’s dad is a future politician and homophobe and extremely controlling. 3. My ex-girlfriend’s brother is my boss, The Police Chief. And now I have to decide, between by my ex-girlfriend, my children, my job, or Tristan.

Stanley Porter, my wife Jessica Evans’ close male friend, and I are both competing to be the next fire captain. In my first lifetime, I was chosen by a unanimous vote. On my very first night on duty as captain, Jessica came over to the fire station to celebrate with me. Sticking to my duties as captain, I didn't touch a single drop of alcohol. Yet, after drinking the chicken soup Jessica gave me, I fell into a deep sleep. That night, a massive fire broke out in the old district, resulting in the deaths of 58 people. Because I missed the station's alarm, I was accused of dereliction of duty and labeled as the main person responsible for the tragedy. The enraged families of the victims ended up beating me to death. In my second lifetime, I withdrew my name from the selection for captain. I handed the badge over to Stanley instead, saying, "You're better suited to be captain than I am." I'd assumed that this was enough to ensure that the fire couldn't be pinned on me. Yet, when the authorities looked into the fire, they ended up seeing me appear in the security footage from where the fire began. Everyone assumed I'd deliberately started the fire to get back at Stanley out of jealousy for losing out on the captain position. I now open my eyes again to live my third life. I watch as Stanley excitedly gives his speech on the podium after being made the captain. This time around, I submit a request for annual leave and take a cab straight to the airport.

Kaia Isabelle is a rare case of rags to riches. She's a poor lady from the slums who made it to the top after her mother was murdered and her almost raped. She managed to rise from the mud she was in when she became one of the most sought after models and fast rising artist. Only that, there's one thing that keeps on haunting her even after everything she has achieved... a dark mystery of the past... a nightmare.... a face of a dark love that keeps on haunting her shattered soul.

Her parent's death had taken a part of Beatrice. Having grown into a cold-blooded vampire, she was weak, unlike the others. The Coldblooded vampires were the ancient virtue of the night. Passed down to generations and lineages, the blood never lies. After her parent's death, she moved to the other part of the land. The land of Viscoria unlike the other lands was ruled and settled in by the other creatures, the wolves. Having met the Lord of Viscoria, Beatrice was determined to unlock her powers and become the hybrid Hostess of land of Viscoria. **** "Aye Milord, this maiden does not need a broth," Beatrice said with a smile. "Did you have fun Beatrice, I heard you went to the brothel to meet a friend. "...."