Rice By Manuel Arguilla

Selena Formosus is a regular woman with a good heart. She always grins to put a nice atmosphere about herself. She had always wished to work for Silvenia Technology Company, which she did, and to be the wife of the CEO. Everything is fine until Jaxon needs to fly with his ex on a business trip. Selena had a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right, but she ignored it in favor of looking for herself and her family. She almost forgot she was four months pregnant at the moment and needed to be strong for her unborn child.

Hazel was once a mistreated omega, only to be betrayed on the night of her wedding to Alpha Damien. Left for dead, she is saved by Callan, a powerful and cursed alpha who reveals that she is his destined mate. As Hazel grapples with her past and the rising conflict with powerful enemies, she learns that she is part of a greater prophecy—one that could change the fate of all supernatural creatures. Torn between the love of two alphas and the betrayal of one along with the threat of a dark magic that could destroy everything, Hazel must choose whether to accept her destiny or fight it to protect those she loves. Will she be torn by fate or bound by love ?

When Izzy finds out her fiance and long-time boyfriend is cheating on her. She dumped him and went to a nearby bar to get wasted. Crazy fate when she stumbles on Fabian -the dangerous billionaire who is having a hard time and a bad day like her. Izzy wasn't aware of who Fabian was! As they say, broken people meet together to help each other to mend what is broken. As the night passes by, they finally find each other talking comfortably and enjoying themselves. When fate decides to play with you, it's more dangerous than marrying a dangerous man. In order to live perfectly and fit in the society that hates her, Izzy agrees to the marriage contract he offers. The contract will just last for two years or depends if they still need to add another year. She needs someone who will stand by her side now that her heart is crippled. Before the contract was terminated, someone from his past came to take him back at all costs. Unfortunately, they were already entangled with the contract unknowingly. Will they tear up the contract to fight the inevitable together or will they take matters into their own hands to make it happen for real? What measure will his past and his family take to tear them apart? Can she become the billionaire woman she dreams of? What inevitable instance will Cupid do for them?

Henry Payne has everything, the looks, the money, the name, the good grades in Oxford university and always a beautiful girl wrapped up around his arms. He thinks he has it all until he sees the new girl at a party. She is unattainable, wild, and doesn’t care for his attempts to conquer her. Abbey Hardy arrived like a hurricane into Henry’s life, and she turns his head upside down. She becomes his little obsession when she turns him down. Henry makes a bet with his friends, and Abbey is the ultimate prize. Abbey could cost Henry more than just his sanity, and she can cost him his relationship with his father. Will Henry be willing to give it all up for Abbey, or will he chose money and family?

When Vynessa summons the demon Azaziel to exact revenge on those who wronged her, no one could have prepared her for the uproar that would become her life. She unknowingly unleashes a very powerful and very seductive force into her life that changes EVERYTHING. As Vynessa becomes more and more entwined with Azaziel, she must confront the darkness within herself and decide whether to wallow in her past and deep depression, or finally become what her name depicts; A glass of wine for a God.

Born under the silver glow of the moon, Liora was marked with a mysterious birthmark and a destiny she could neither understand nor escape. Raised in the Beta household, her life was one of cruelty...scorned by her stepmother Mariseth and tormented by her sister Ravena, whose envy grew sharper with every passing day. Liora’s only solace was Kaelen, the Alpha’s son, her childhood sweetheart and the secret keeper of her fragile hope. But everything shatters on the night of the shifting ceremony. While Ravena blooms into a powerful wolf, Liora collapses under the weight of the Moon’s power, left motionless and declared wolfless. Whispers spread like wildfire, unwanted, useless, broken. Yet, Kaelen’s lingering affection keeps her spirit alive… until the truth claws its way into the light. The Moon Goddess has chosen. Drawn by an irresistible bond, Kaelen and Ravena discover they are mates, bound by fate itself. To Ravena, it is triumph at last, the ultimate way to crush the sister she loathes. To Kaelen, it is torment; his heart burns for Liora, yet the pull of destiny ties him to another. And to Liora, it is the ultimate betrayal: abandoned by the one she loves, broken promises and hunted by the jealousy of her sister. But Liora’s birthmark holds secrets far greater than anyone realizes. A destiny tied not just to a pack, but to the balance of wolves and the Moon itself. As love turns to obsession, and envy turns to violence, the question lingers: Will Liora rise from the ashes of rejection to claim the power meant for her, or will the wolves who betrayed her destroy her first?

Daisy’s heart raced with excitement as she entered the elegant wedding venue, the sweet scent of flowers filling the air. She held onto her boyfriend Noah’s arm, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation. But as she laid eyes on her best friend’s soon-to-be husband, her world shattered. The man standing before her was the one she had been searching for all these years. The room seemed to spin as she struggled to comprehend the cruel twist of fate. Her heart sank as she realised he didn’t remember her, treating her like a stranger. The disappointment was crushing, but she accepted the harsh truth with a heavy heart. She steeled herself, determined to witness her best friend Julian’s wedding with the man she had longed to meet. But she didn’t knew that fate had a unique plan in store for her. Unbeknownst to Daisy, she was about to find herself standing on that very aisle, adorned in a wedding dress, instead of her beloved Julian. However, the man she has married - Dylan Astor, despises her with an intensity that is palpable. He has transformed into a completely unrecognisable figure from the man Daisy had encountered years ago. His once radiant, charming smile has transformed into a dark, icy countenance, causing Daisy to hold her breath whenever she sees him. The tension in the air is suffocating, as if a storm is brewing. Dylan knows very well that Daisy doesn't have feelings for him, which only makes him even more angry at her.

One lie sets off a chain of events that drastically alters the lives of several people involving them in a world they had no way out from. Facing the risk of losing her home, Love at the push of her best friend Mira agrees to pretend to be blind in order to secure a job. Her decision is driven by a pure heart, wanting nothing more than to help a struggling soul. As she works, she helps Sebastian while falling in love with his brother, Christian. Love struggles with the burden of her lie, she considers walking away from everything, even if it means losing Christian forever but the lie has already laid roots tying her down and ultimately making her pay the price of her dishonesty while seemingly stripping Christian off of his humanity.

On her wedding day, Isabella Hernando stared into the mirror and wondered— how could she possibly marry someone she barely remembered? Miguel Martez, the man she was arranged to wed, was only a childhood friend who had long since disappeared. But just before the ceremony was about to begin, Miguel vanished without a trace. To save the family’s reputation, Maximilian Martez, his elder brother, was forced to take his place at the altar— without anyone knowing, not even the bride herself. But when Isabella finally stood before the man, she was shocked. That face, those eyes… that voice…

Demon | Slave | Possessive | Steamy | Stockholm syndrome Fay has been captured by Satan, the ruthless demon king infamous for his torturous ways. He thrives on pain, war, and domination, and has finally found a human he desires to make his sex slave. However, Fay is unlike any human the demon realm has encountered. No man can break her spirit or bend her to his will. Even when Satan unleashes his dark powers to force her submission, Fay stands defiant. Intrigued by her resilience, Satan becomes obsessed with the one being who dares to oppose him. This is a story of fire and ice, where two powerful forces collide. As Fay and Satan discover a mutual pleasure in pain and biting, their relationship takes a twisted turn. Amidst this dangerous game, Satan's wife looms in the background, and the Envy war rages on, threatening everything. Can Satan keep Fay safe from his own world? Obsession is a very, very dangerous thing... Note: It is recommended to read "Captured by the Demon King" first for a richer experience. The first page of this book provides a brief overview of that book (beware of spoilers!). While this book is a sequel, it can also be read as a standalone novel.