Short Tragic

My estranged husband suddenly barges into my parents' home, demanding to know where I am. He forces my mother to her knees and pushes my paralyzed father to the floor before beating him up. He even renders our four-year-old son half-dead. Why? Because his true love is disfigured and needs a skin graft to restore her looks. "Where is Victoria? She should be honored that she can do this for Amelia! Hand her over, or I'll kill all of you!" It's too bad I've been dead for a year.

After five years in a world ruled by werewolves, I still haven't found a way back to the human world. So I did the only thing I could. I married my fated mate, Ryan Darcy, a devastatingly handsome Lycan Prince with a towering frame. The night we sealed our mate bond, we traded secrets. Leaning close, I whispered in his ear, "The truth is, I'm not from this world. Treat me wrong, and I'll disappear back to where I came from. You'll never find me again." Ryan immediately swears he'll love me more than life itself. He pulls me close, holding me so tight it's like he's afraid I'll disappear any second. But then Eleanor Darcy—his stepsister, sent away for a political marriage in another pack—returns. Bit by bit, I watch as Ryan's attention shifts to her. Devastated, I start looking for a way back to the human world. I throw myself at walls, try to hang myself, even jump into the lake, but nothing works. Ryan grows more distant with each passing day. "Susan, I expected better from you. Since when have you stooped to cheap attention-seeking stunts? 'Crossed over from another world?' You can't honestly expect me to buy that nonsense." That's when I realized he hadn't believed a single word I'd said.

I never would've expected the child my father adopted out of the kindness of his heart to destroy my family. A few years later, he becomes a rising star in the business world, and I become a hostess in a club. He pays a fortune to become my patron so he can keep me by his side like a bird in a cage. He's about to marry soon, but he doesn't bother keeping our relationship under wraps. His wife torments and abuses me upon learning of my existence. Finally, when I've made enough money off of him to pay for my mother's medical bills and live a comfortable life, I choose to run away. He chases me to the airport and pins me to the wall in the restroom. His eyes are red as he demands to know one thing. "What am I to you?" "A patron and cash cow, at most." The iciness in my eyes is almost tangible.

Sa araw ng kasal ko, dumating ang first love ng fiance ko sa wedding ceremony suot ang parehong haute couture gown na gaya ng sa akin. Pinanood ko silang tumayo ng magkasama sa entrance, binabati ang mga bisita na para bang sila ang bride at groom. Nanatili akong mahinahon, pinuri ko sila, sinabi ko na bagay sila sa isa’t isa—maganda at matalino, itinadhana sila para sa isa’t isa. Napaluha ang babae at umalis. Gayunpaman, ang fiance ko, ay hindi nagdalawang-isip na ipahiya ako sa harap ng lahat, inakusahan niya ako na mapaghiganti at makitid ang pag-iisip. Noong matapos ang wedding banquet, umalis siya para sa dapat sana ay honeymoon namin—at siya ang kasama niya. Hindi ako nakipagtalo o gumawa ng eksena. Sa halip, palihim akong nag-book ng appointment para sa abortion.

I run into a group of rogues on my way home for my daughter's birthday. I call my wife for help, but she blocks my number. I'm dragged out of the car, stabbed a dozen times, and thrown into the bushes to die. My neck is broken, and my organs are spilling out of my body. The rogues think I'm going to die—they even mention each other's names before me. Then, they drive off in my car while whistling happily. I hold onto my head and organs as I crawl to the roadside, hoping against hope that someone will save me. Before I'm taken to the hospital, I see my wife's social media update—she and her secretary have taken a sweet photo together while celebrating our daughter's birthday. The first thing I do after being discharged is demand a divorce.

My sister had struggled with severe depression for years, and the only thing that seemed to ease her pain was her dog, Toto, who had become her constant companion. But when her illness flared up again, Toto was nowhere to be found. Then, my husband, Lionel Cress's childhood sweetheart posted a picture of Toto on social media. [With her, it feels like you're here with me.] I lost it. I called Lionel in a frenzy, but despite being my sister's psychologist, he was completely indifferent. "Your sister has been sick for so long. How could she suddenly relapse just because Toto's gone for a few days?" When I rushed back home, I found my sister in the bathroom, her wrists cut. Later, Toto's body was discovered outside our building, with Lionel's gift to his childhood sweetheart—a ring—lying next to her. I buried both my sister and Toto, and left behind nothing but a divorce agreement. Lionel went crazy, desperately trying to find me.

Hadden's sister had merely choked on some water at the pool while she was swimming, and for that, he shoved me into the pool after tying me up. He left me with only a small hole for air that was barely an inch. He said I would have to pay double for every grievance Julia suffered. I never learned how to swim. There was nothing I could do but try my best to breathe as I sobbed and begged him to let me out. Yet all I received was a lecture. "You'll never learn if I don't teach you a lesson now." I struggled to stay afloat, but… It took five days before Hadden's anger dissipated and he put me out of my misery, but it was already too late. "I'll let you go this time, but you'd better not make the same mistake again!" I had already drowned to death.

It was on our wedding night when my husband stole my heartblood to save his childhood sweetheart. His lips were on my forehead as his dagger carved my chest open. "Good girl. This is the last time, I promise," he breathed bewitchingly, his scalding tears dripping on my skin. "Once she's better, let's consummate our marriage." That was what he said, but I had heard it countless times before. In my despair, I used my last ounce of strength to tug on his sleeve. He urgently drained my blood to save another woman, not even looking my way as he did. What he didn't know was that it was my last drop of heartblood. And I was going to die.

Halos muntik lang naman malunod habang lumalangoy ang kapatid ni Hadden, at para diyan, itinulak niya ako sa pool pagkatapos itali. Iniwan niya lang ako ng maliit na butas para sa hangin na may sukat na isang pulgada. Sinabi niya na pagbabayaran ko ang lahat ng doble para sa bawat pagdurusang dinanas ni Julia. Hindi ako marunong lumangoy. Wala akong magawa kundi subukan ang aking buong makakaya habang umiyak ako at pinakiusapan siya na pakawalan ako. Pero ang natanggap ko lang ay leksyon. “Hindi ka matututo kung hindi kita tuturuan ng leksyon ngayon.” Nagpumiglas ako para manatiling nakalutang, pero… Inabot ng limang araw bago naglaho ang galit ni Hadden at itinigil niya na ang pagdurusa ko, pero huli na ang lahat. “Pakakawalan kita sa pagkakataong ito, pero huwag mo nang uulitin ang parehong pagkakamali!” Namatay na ako sa pagkalunod.

My husband is my supervisor. Before the Day of the Dead comes, I submit an application for leave so I can pay my respects to my late mother. However, he refuses to approve my application. He insists on having me care for his childhood sweetheart, who got into an accident. He even berates me and tells me it's my duty to care for the patients. I can't second-guess them out of jealousy. But I saw him kissing his childhood sweetheart passionately in the hospital ward. He even slipped his hand underneath her clothes at the peak of his passion. "Let me check whether your wounds are better. Do you need more treatment?" She leans closer saucily, and he spanks her. "Do you think you'd be getting this treatment if not for Kaia being pregnant?" I look down at my baby bump as my heart shatters. No wonder he insisted on having me work despite me falling pregnant. How can he possibly love me? If that's the case, I'll give them my blessings.