Squad Berapa Orang

"Aku bakal beri kamu uang, berapa pun yang kamu minta pasti aku kasih. Tapi ...." Gama menghela napas berat. "Anda tidak perlu merasa bersalah, Pak. Saya sudah memaafkan Anda, meskipun itu hal berat. Saya tahu kalau Anda melakukannya tidak sadar, apalagi pengaruh alkohol, tapi kalau Anda mau kasih saya uang sebagai bentuk tanggung jawab, saya bakal terima karena saya memang sedang butuh." Bunga salah paham. Wanita itu pikir Gama merasa bersalah karena sudah merenggut keperawanannya, dan sebagai tanggung jawabnya pria itu memberikan sejumlah uang, nyatanya Gama malah menginginkan Bunga sebagai simpanannya. Lalu, apa Bunga akan menerimanya begitu saja sedangkan pria itu saja sudah memiliki istri yang sangat seksi? Atau bahkan menolaknya?

Rumah tangga yang dibina oleh Maleek dan Puteri sedikit berbeza dengan pasangan suami isteri pada umumnya. Selepas proses akad nikah, mereka masih tidak dibenarkan untuk tinggal bersama. Mengapa? Ada syarat yang Tan Sri Baharudin kenakan kepada anak serta menantunya sebelum mereka dibenarkan duduk serumah. "Kamu berdua, masih tidak dibenarkan tinggal bersama seperti suami isteri kebiasaannya." "But why, daddy?" Puteri memprotes. "Sebab, perkahwinan kamu berdua, masih digantung!" Pelbagai cabaran perlu mereka hadapai dalam tempoh Nikah Gantung ini. Jiwa dewasa yang saling mengingini terpaksa dipendam demi tuntutan syarat yang telah ditetapkan. Mampukah Maleek menahan imannya tatkala melihat isterinya yang semakin menggoda tanpa boleh berbuat apa-apa? Dan berapa lamakah tempoh Nikah Gantung yang Tan Sri tetapkan pada mereka?

Lyria Vale thought her life of privilege was the hardest challenge she’d face—until she was chosen for Alpha Hall, an elite squad in Blackthorn Sovereign Academy where heirs are tested… and eliminated. Quite literally killed if they fail to pass academy tests. When out on a mandatory wilderness survival camping trip, Lyria and her group are kidnapped by a rogue group of trolls. Which is a break breach of accords between the human realm and Mystic realm. This specific tribe of trolls is suffering from an extinction threat because the massacred their entire female population for mixing with male human they considered inferior. Now they turn to kidnapping female heirs to breed with because they believe they have superior genes. As everything unfolds Lyria discovers her growing feelings for Alaric in a place where any distractions will cost her life or the lives of the ones she loves. Survival becomes a game of wit, strategy, and courage. In a place where every glance, every corridor, and every alliance could mean life or death, Lyria must learn quickly: in this world, power is earned, trust is a weapon, and the shadows are haunting. Will she keep her promise to return alive to her parents or will she succumb to her impending death and become another heir in history?

Perjodohan! Sebenarnya Helza hidup di abad ke berapa sih? Gadis itu seketika membelalakkan mata. Saat mendengar penuturan sang nenek yang membahas tentang pernikahan dini. Ditambah kabarnya pria yang akan menjadi suaminya, itu begitu dingin. ia juga belum pernah bertemu. Hanya melihat foto masa kecil dulu. Apa lagi Informasi dari Shiza sang kakak, kalau Azam itu pria arogan dan juga sangat begitu tertutup. Kian menambah nyali Helza semakin menciut untuk bertemu pria tersebut. "Oma, kita hidup udah di tahun 2022. Kenapa sih? Masih aja mengikuti tradisi zaman kuno!" sungut Helza tidak terima. Dengan keputusan Omanya, tentang perjodohan. Seperti apa sebenarnya sosok Azam tersebut? Lalu apakah ada kebahagian, setelah Helza menerima menikah dengan Azam?

At three in the morning, I stare at the unknown transaction record on my phone screen, my fingertips turning cold. The record is for a payment of 2980 dollars, made for an executive suite at the Wisteria. The time of payment was 8:00 pm last night. My husband, Tristan Griffin, is a detective. He was on the night shift last night. I clutch my phone, my knuckles turning white as I text Tristan, "I just saw your credit card bill for a hotel stay last night. What's up with that?" His reply is instant. "Our team had to work overtime at the last minute, so they put us up at the hotel. I forgot to tell you about it." I scan the text and sputter. The Wisteria is located in the western region of the city, which is on the other end from where his squad is stationed. I don't press him for more details and click on the bank app on my phone. Having found the vendor's address through the payment record, I sent it to my best friend, Rowena Sheffield, who works as a private detective. She replies instantly with an "OK" emoji and follows up with, "Give me a second. I'll find out everything you want in a jiffy!"

WARNING: This story contains mature content and not suitable for very young readers. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be produced without my written permission. This a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are purely coincidental. Dawn Tonette is a cold ambassador of love. Heart-wrecker most people call her, but once she set eyes to Petrus, she becomes no less than a cute high school girl with a battalion of cherring squad, ready to win the heart of the man she loves. Karma is not a good enemy, though. Because now that her heart started beating again, she has to taste her own medicine. Petrus, a famous varsity player, has no eyes for women. He much rather touch a ball to see not the frown of his father than flirt with a girl who's not even worth his attention. However, Dawn is nowhere near giving up. She's ready to do anything in her power to force him to reciprocate what she feels. So, be ready, Petrus, for you'll soon have to see what a heart-wrecker can do for the thief that stole her heart.

Attending the ten-year high school reunion for the cheerleading squad and football team, I arrived in an old domestic Ford, while the parking lot was filled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Maybachs, and even a gold Bugatti. It was as if I were the only relic from another era. The moment I stepped out of my car, a former classmate, whose name I could no longer remember, looked at me with a sneer. “Well, if it isn’t the coach’s pet. How is it that after all these years, you’re still driving this beat-up old Ford?” “This thing looks like it belongs in a scrapyard from the last century!” During dinner, everyone gathered around the Bugatti owner, raising their glasses in celebration, while I was left ignored at the side. Only the cheerleading assistant sat next to me, raising a glass in my direction with a comforting smile. “Don’t let it get to you. Your car may be old, but I believe you’ll be driving a luxury car one day.” I let a small smirk curl at the corner of my lips and lowered my voice. “This car may look unimpressive, but it’s been fully upgraded with a carbon fiber body. It’s already worth over half a million dollars. Too bad, none of you even recognized its true value.”

Buried deep in the Aster estate was the Heartwood—ancient, sacred, mine. Told my husband, Julian Aster—back when he actually listened—that if it ever fell, I'd die with it. At first, he freaked out. Flew in glacier water, hired a whole squad of plant experts to nurture it 24/7. Then one day, just because his childhood friend—Isabella Duvall—got a scratch from the bark, Julian had the Heartwood ripped out. The second it crashed, I choked on glowing blood—ichor. My power? Gone. Barely standing, I grabbed his arm. "You knew. If the Heartwood dies, I—" He laughed. Straight-up mocked me. "Sera, come on. That fairy tale? Only Grandma still believes that crap. Is that mayo on your mouth? Relax—it's a tree. I'll buy you a forest if you want." Overnight, my hair turned gray. Skin cracked. Eyes dulled. Still, I dragged myself to his grandmother, Henrietta. "I kept your family safe for two hundred years. That's why the Asters thrived. But the Heartwood's gone. Debt's paid. One day left. Whatever happens next? Not my problem."

Namaku Key, aku sangat terobsesi ingin menjadi artis ibu kota. Sedari dulu. Aku memiliki mimpi untuk menjadi seorang artis terkenal. Namun, aku di jebak oleh sahabatku sendiri. Ia menjualku ke mucikari dan menjadikan aku sebagai bintang film dewasa. Dan bukan itu saja, aku juga di jual ke para pria hidung belang. Di jadikan simpanan oleh pejabat. Aku ingin kabur dan memulai hidup baru, tapi itu tidak bisa. Sebab ibuku butuh biaya untuk berobat. Alhasil aku memilih bertahan pada pekerjaan ku sebagai wanita malam. Tapi rasanya begitu hampa, terlebih saat aku ternyata ditipu oleh Revan sahabat ku sendiri. Ibuku ternyata tidak sakit dan itu hanya akal-akalannya saja untuk mendapatkan uang dari ku. Baca terus kisahku agar tau berapa beratnya ujian hidup yang aku jalani kini.

Rania Keysha Wardhani, seorang dosen filsafat yang dibuat bingung oleh sikap tunangannya. Pria itu terlalu sulit untuk dikenal, meski mereka sudah bersama sejak di bangku sekolah dasar. Ada saja hal yang membuat dirinya bertambah ragu dengan keputusan mereka yang akan segera menikah. Selalu ada cara yang dilakukan pria itu untuk menahannya pergi meski rasa lelah seringkali muncul di hatinya. Ini seperti dia yang berjuang sendirian, dan si pria hanya diam memperhatikan. Padahal kenyataannya, tidak ada yang perlu diperjuangkan dalam hubungan mereka. *** "Kamu hanya perlu diam, duduk, dan menunggu." Laki-laki itu memberi perintah. Rania terdiam. Menunggu katanya? Berapa waktu lagi yang harus dia habiskan untuk menunggu? Apa belasan tahun itu belum cukup bagi laki-laki ini? Dan apa yang harus dia tunggu lagi kali ini? Rasanya, semua sia-sia.