Social Graces

My husband finally keeps his promise to take me on a trip abroad after I've given birth to his child. However, he disappears the moment we get off the plane. I roam the foreign land alone, unable to reach him. Two hours later, I stumble upon his childhood sweetheart's social media update. It's a photo of her and my husband sweetly feeding each other ice cream. It's captioned, "Someone who cares about you has you in their heart wherever they are." After a long silence, I comment, "Now you can live in his heart forever." I walk away after leaving nothing but a divorce agreement behind. That's when my husband, who's always been cold and aloof, panics.

“What is your proudest moment alive?” “That I hate my family.” Rosie Ellery hates her family. Her parents don’t even bother to hide the fact that they treat both children differently. Rosie never gets the proper life she deserves, while her step-disabled-sister, gets it all. Rosie knows she should get out of this fuck up house before her parents sell her to a stranger. Alex Angelo graduated from a good college and has a decent job as an editor in a magazine company. Mrs. Angelo is a single parent and rarely home because she travels a lot for work, which Alex and Ayle, his sister, are being grateful for. In conclusion, Alex Angelo has a stable life. Or at least that’s what he would like to believe. Rosie Ellery and Alex Angelo meet through a social experiment run by Your Daily Updates! Magazine. The blonde screams everything but his mom’s approval. After what Ayle has been through, Alex knows better than to try his luck. But damn... You only live once. ‘Let’s play with the fire. Better crying for the result than dying in curiosity.’ For the first time, the obedient puppy chooses to stop pleasing other souls, but a certain blonde. Growing up in a fuck up house, makes Rosie Ellery realize one thing. ‘I’ve had enough of people who doesn’t value my worth. Go fuck yourself if you don’t like me.’ “Let me teach you how to forgive people and move on with your life.” “And why would I do that?” “So you can start a new life with me, obviously?”

SIS (Social Issue Series) #2: StereotypingPiercing, Tattoo, Dyed Hair. Usual indications of a badass. Kapag babae ka at meron ka nito ay malamang fuck girl, adik, slut, o wala ka raw patutunguhan sa buhay.Lia Kennedy grew up doing whatever she likes. Wala siyang nakitang rason para pigilan ang sarili sa kung ano man ang mga nakapagpapasaya sa kaniya. Ngunit nang mamulat ay nagising siya sa mapait na katotohanang hindi mo magagawa lahat ng gusto mo sa mundo. Madali para sa iba ang manghusga base lang sa kung ano ang nakikita nila sayo.Ridge Terrence is no exception. A serious guy who had things plan ahead for his life. He's one of those who believe that what you see is what you get. He gives no time for bullshits.As Lia gets stuck between being herself and changing to be accepted, she faced several conflicts in her teenage years that brought their fate together.Will it be a good thing? Or a bad thing?

Carol: Life was never a bed of roses. At least for me. Abandoned at birth by both parents, and made to go through too many foster homes, I had to put in twice the amount of effort of my peers. Both in education, and in my career. I love children, and I've aspired to land a very good job as a social worker who cares for kids for as long as I can remember. When New York's most eligible bachelor and billionaire Evans Armstrong propositions me to become a nanny for his nephew, I'm speechless. Out of every options he had available, he choose me. And his nephew is the sweetest boy I've ever encountered. Maybe, just maybe I can achieve my dreams after all. Evans: Life was never the same ever since my sister Serena died, leaving me with her son Brandon. Each day that passes, I strive to be a better man, and provide for Brandon everything he needs. He's a smart kid, and he deserves the best. Which is why I go out of my way in searching for a suitable nanny to tend to him, since my efforts can only go so far. When I see Carolina for the first time, she's striking. And her polite demeanor has a ripple effect on young Brandon. I know immediately that she's the right one for him. She would make a wonderful nanny. And perhaps, a wonderful wife.

In the third year of my marriage, I endure a full day of painful labor to give birth to my first child. However, my husband steals the baby to give to his true love. I try my damnedest to stop him, but all I get is a barrage of insults. "It's just a baby! I'm the one who planted the seed, so I get to decide who gets the fruit!" I'm overwhelmed by grief as I watch my husband leave. However, he shares a happy post on his social media. "Mother and daughter are safe." His true love comments, "Thank you for giving me a child, Jaspie. I'll be the happiest woman in the world with you two by my side." Clueless friends bless them and wish them well. I silently comment, "Give me back my child." All I get is another round of insults. Then, I'm blocked. I don't want to endure this anymore. I hire a lawyer to draft divorce papers before making a police report. "Officer, I want to report my husband for child trafficking."

I double over in pain after assisting Adrian Randall with a late-night operation. He immediately carries me to a ward to check on me. However, before he can do that, he receives a call from a patient and hurries off. That night, I miscarry. When I come out of the operating theater, I see his childhood friend's social media update. She's shared a photo of her baby bump. "He hurried to come to my side just because I was lost. You have to treat Adrian well in the future, my darling!" I rub my belly, which throbs with a dull ache. I don't cry and demand an explanation from Adrian as I would have in the past. Instead, I like the post and apply for a position on the Borderless Medical Assistance Program. The day I leave, the high and mighty Dr. Randall looks at me with red-rimmed eyes. He asks, "How can you bear to leave me behind?"

From the time I was ten until I turned eighteen, my parents made me write 299 IOUs. Every time I needed money, I had to borrow it and pay it back as an adult. Then I got into a car accident. I needed money for surgery but was still short by 3,000. With no other options, I went to my parents for help. But they just gave me cold smiles. “Clara, you’re eighteen now. We have no obligation to give you money anymore. If you need it, write another IOU.” While holding back tears, I wrote my 300th IOU. After my surgery, I saw my adopted sister’s social media post. In the pictures, she was celebrating her 18th birthday on a cruise. She was the center of attention, like a princess. My parents had given her a luxury apartment in the city and a Maserati as birthday gifts. Even my childhood friend was looking at her with love in his eyes. She said they were the ones she loved and thanked them for giving her the best of everything. I looked down at the crumpled IOU in my hand and suddenly laughed. Once I paid off my debt, I would no longer need such a family.

It was my 30th birthday, and my husband said he had a surprise for me. However, on the day of my birthday, he was nowhere to be found. I called him countless times, but no one answered. Just as I was about to panic and consider calling the police, I happened to see a post on the social media feed of his female secretary. “A typhoon hit, and my boss was worried about my safety, so he personally took me home. How wonderful! I’ve got a guardian angel for myself!” My anxiety turned to cold calm in an instant. I commented on her post: “Traveling during a typhoon is dangerous. Tell him he doesn’t need to come back.” Not long after I posted the comment, my husband called. “Kelly, I was only concerned about the safety of my subordinate, and yet you’re thinking such vile thoughts. “Birthdays come every year. Missing one won’t kill you!” You were right. Birthdays came every year. But there was no way I would celebrate them with you.

On my birthday, Heather Pond’s lover posted a sonogram on his social media account and captioned it, [We’re going to be parents!] I commented, [Congratulations. You can have the baby cot from my place.] The next second, Heather called me to give me a warning. “Brandon Smith is dying. I’ll come back to you once I give birth to his child. Please don’t trigger him any further!” I remained calm and collected when I served her the divorce papers. Then, I packed my bags and went on a vacation in Europe.

The dangers of social media, rebellion and fake friends all come into play in this novel. Chinyere Awaziem is a rebellious teenager and the youngest daughter of ten children. One day, due to Chinyere's rebellion and ignorance, she ends up being abducted and a victim of human trafficking. After being bought by a wealthy old man, she finds herself in a house full of women who went through the same fate. Chinyere is forced into marriage and plots to escape from her buyer's home. But what happens when she finds out that being bought by them is not just a coincidence? What happens when she finds out that their families are linked in more than one way? COMPLETED!