Swimming Lessons Manila

"They say the rich live beyond consequence. That no one bleeds behind a billion-dollar smile. They've clearly never met Rico Zane." Aria Lane didn't mean to sleep with a total stranger. Especially not the battered, bleeding man she pulled in off the sidewalk outside of an elite Manhattan nightclub. He had haunted eyes and a tempest brewing behind them. They had one night of weakness. One unforgettable mistake. And by morning, he'd vanished. Months later, she's now pregnant and swimming in secrets, Aria's life takes another sharp turn when stumbles into the father of her child again. This time, he's not bleeding in the shadows, he's standing in light and power. Rico Zane is not just anyone. He's the cold, brilliant CEO of Zane Industries. A billionaire who built a dynasty from the ruins of treachery and smashes anyone who gets in his path. And Aria? She's unfortunately the daughter of the one man who tried to ruin his family. To make matters more complicated, Rico's brother, who was presumed dead for years, returns to take the company and exact revenge on a past Aria is tied to by blood. While corporate wars rage and enemies loom in designer suits, Aria is swept up in a war of secrets, seduction, and strategy. She's both a pawn and a prize in a game of power where love is a liability… and trust a slow poison. Now forced into Rico's dangerous world for the sake of her unborn child, Aria must make a decision: does she stay with the man who sees her as both his weakness and his salvation? Or does she become the woman capable of rewriting her fate one secret at a time?

My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers, "it's not your fault, Katia. " We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound... *** The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. Someone yells, “Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, “Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"

Anne came from an Island in the province of Leyte. She was raised by an old couple who wasn't blessed with child. Nang mapalayas sila sa kanilang bahay, nagpasya sila na lumuwas ng Manila upang doon makipagsapalaran. Napadpad sila sa Quiapo. Upang mabuhay, nagbenta sila ng mga halamang gamot at kung ano-ano pa. Doon nakilala ni Anne si Rose, isang nakakatuwang babae na mayroong guwapong asawa at higit sa lahat bilyonaryo. The kind woman take her into her house and offered her a job. At doon niya nakilala ang guwapong si Craig, na huli na niyang napagtanto na hindi pala Craig ang pangalan nito kundi Marko. Paano niya mababawi ang gayuma na napainom niya kay Craig dahil sa pag-aakalang siya si Marko? Na inakala niyang si Craig. Ang gulo! Pero mas magulo pa ang isip niya dahil pakiramdam niya tumatalab na ang gayuma na napainom niya kay Craig dahil wala ng ginawa ito kundi ang buntutan siya at hiritan ng kaniyang mga corny na pick up lines. "Miss, may mapa ka ba diyan? Gusto ko kasing malaman ang tamang daan papunta sa puso mo."

I sponsored Emily Fagan from an underprivileged background just to help her get through school. She was good-looking but wasn't exactly the brightest. Despite my warning not to tamper with my things, she slipped stimulants into my water bottle. Thanks to her, I was accused of cheating in the swimming competition. Our team's score was nullified. As for me, I was banned from competing for life and kicked out of college. When I confronted her, she cried pitifully, "Julie, I just wanted you to win. I didn't know that'd happen." My boyfriend, Elijah Strauss, held her and comforted her. He even snapped at me, claiming, "Em had good intentions. Why are you giving her a hard time?" Crushed, I shut myself in at home. Feeling sorry, she and Elijah visited me and brought along some vodka as an apology. After I took ten shots, I asked her to buy some over-the-counter pain relievers for my splitting headache. Little did I know that she'd make me take a dangerous dose of Ibuprofen mixed with alcohol. The bleeding in my stomach was what killed me. Emily looked pitifully remorseful at the hospital. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't even tell what I shouldn't have given her…" During the police interrogation, my boyfriend gave false testimony to protect her. He accused me of taking my own life by mixing Ibuprofen and alcohol because I couldn't handle the mental stress from cheating in the competition. When I reopened my eyes, I found out that I was transported to the day before the competition.

A 23 year old writer—journalist, Hans Angelo Gejero is one of the rarest gem living for his attractive innocence. His life changes when he went back to Manila from Canada along with his father. After finally almost an eternity, he has finally got to meet the one and only Miggy Rior. The moment they met, a fire sparked between them. Every time they would see each other, their hearts started rampaging inside their chest. It was unusual than before. Until Miggy can’t resist himself anymore so he grabbed the chance to kiss the lad and do something with him more than just a kiss. Those things they were doing is new to both of them and they didn’t know why they always feel something like that and why they always do that together. Until Hans fell in love with Miggy for his flowery words. He’s now afraid to do things with him for his feelings were attached to the guy who kissed him firstly. He knows that it is dangerous to fall in love with a friend with just the benefits yet he cannot stop himself from loving the gentle guy. His hot lips and presence are what made him more attractive fort he latter. Even if he tried to get rid of him, his heart always looked for only one thing. The one real thing he always asked for, love. One question remained in his mind. “Will this remain just the benefits?”

Luna, and her journey of self-discovery and finding her place in the world. Despite initial difficulties, she realizes that she needs to adapt to her new situation for her own growth and development. Her mother wants Luna to pursue higher education and convinces her to study in Manila. She agrees, understanding that education is a powerful tool for personal progress. She prepares for enrollment and plans to leave for Manila soon. However, her encounter with Ryker Gregory, who seems to have negative feelings toward her, shakes her confidence. “I find myself swept away by the profound emotions that linger in the air. It is a realm where authenticity becomes fleeting, leaving behind nothing but remnants of my once vibrant feelings. Thoughts echo within me, whispering their secrets and leaving me yearning for more. Within the depths of my heart, I discover a peculiar contradiction—a longing for simplicity entangled in the complexities of love. Despite the dangers that lie in exposing my soul, it slowly emerges from its hiding place, craving connection and intimacy. Words wield an intriguing power in this realm, embracing both poverty and richness. Love becomes the enigmatic pursuit we strive for, seeking to be seen and appreciated amidst the captivating beauty of the world. Yet, I encounter individuals who weave intricate webs of lies, whether out of habit or with deliberate intent. In the face of such encounters, I am confronted with a choice—one that encompasses the essence of great and true love. As I traverse this labyrinthine journey, I embark on a quest to unravel the enigma of love. It is a search that takes me to the depths of my soul, forcing introspection and contemplation,” – Luna.

Grace Fajardo grew up in a small province in Palawan. Simula pagkabata ay namulat na siya sa hirap ng kanilang kalagayan. They're not financially stable, Grace had to take scholarship para makapag-aral. When she graduated college, lumuwas siya sa Manila until she became a Wedding Coordinator. After the incident in the hotel where it took place, ginawa ni Grace ang lahat makalimutan lamang ang pangyayari. Gayunpaman, hindi niya magawang kalimutan ang ginawa ng mapangahas na lalaking pumasok sa kanyang room sa nasabing hotel lalo na't muntik na niyang maibigay ang sarili rito. Tyron Villarreal is a business tycoon and the CEO of their own company at the age of 25. He owns several branches of High-Caliber Guns in Asia and is also a member of a highly confidential Organization. He loves his grandfather so much that he would do everything that his grandfather would asked him to, even if it means he have to find a girlfriend— bago nito ibigay ang hacienda sa kaniya. Desperately, Tyron used his connections to find the woman he accidentally met in the hotel, definitely not planning of letting her go. In order to pay the debt of Grace's parents to Tyron, she had no choice but to accept the deal he offered. Tama kaya ang naging desisyon ni Grace na tanggapin ang alok ni Tyron? O itong desisyon na ito ang pagsisihan niya habang-buhay?

"Since you have already agreed to the deal you must know that being my personal killer would mean that you have to listen to everything that I tell you to do. There will be punishments if you fail to follow this," he said mirth swimming in his eyes taking Vevina by surprise. She wasn't prepared for this new twist and glaring at him she wretched her hand out of his hold and shouted, "You never said anything about that! And why the fuck would you kiss me with your filthy lips?" ~ Vevina Yaretzi doesn't believe in love. Why would she when all her life she had only been abused by every person that she had ever met including her parents. She is so suffocated by the torture that when her brain finally snaps she decides to fuck it and just kill her parents. She doesn't have a will to live and doesn't care what happens to her future. Sinking deep in her madness, alone, she finds her hand being gripped by another man who is pulling her out of the darkest parts of her mind...towards love? ~ Alastor Tynen is a ruthless Alpha famous for his cruelty when he finds out that he has been mated to an abused weak human or so everyone believes. She is unstable, chaotic and although human she has the potential to scare away werewolves like him only if she was honed right. He knows that the only way to make this crazy woman his is to clash against her craziness. The problem was his pack wouldn't accept a 'weak human' as their Luna and neither did Vevina seem in a state where she would love him or accept them. But Alastor is set on making her his. Would this love be possible?

For years, Lira lived a simple life in the province—until a stranger came and turned her world upside down. Her grandmother. A Montenegro. Biglang nagbago ang lahat. She was offered a life of wealth and privilege, but in exchange, she had to leave everything behind and live with a family she never knew. On her way to Manila, fate played a cruel trick. Naiwan siya sa isang stopover—walang pera, walang gamit, walang paraan para makarating sa bagong buhay niya. Then she meets him. A stranger. Dark. Dangerous. Powerful. "Nothing in this world is free," he tells her. "If I help you… what will you give me in return?" She has nothing. Except herself. One night. One mistake. One secret that can never be spoken. Kinabukasan, naghiwalay silang parang estranghero. Akala niya tapos na ang bangungot. But when she finally steps inside the Montenegro estate, her world shatters. Because he is there. Xavier Montenegro. The man who stole her innocence. The man she must now call "uncle." But something feels… off. Their gazes hold too much tension. Their connection is too intense. And deep down, something tells her—something tells him—that they were never meant to be family. Their secret is dangerous. Their attraction is forbidden. Pero habang pilit nilang nilalabanan ang nararamdaman, lalo lang silang nauubos. And when the truth finally comes to light, Lira will have to ask herself: Was that night truly a mistake? Or was it only the beginning of something far more dangerous?

Triple Threats -Strong Female Lead -Three scoundrels, Cough! Cuties on a mission. -Rebirth Interviewer, "If you and your husband's mistress are drowning, who would he save first?" Scarlett Tates scoffs, "That's a ridiculous question. I don't have the time to play such stupid games. In Fact, you've just reminded me to take swimming lessons." Dakota Asgrave frosts over, "Mrs Asgrave how can I be your prince charming if you don't spare me some opportunities? You, stop this interview! How dare you put bad thoughts into my wife's mind?! Isn't it hard enough that she is a prodigy in everything?!" Interviewer, "..." * * * Scarlett Tates, an overbearing aristocrat, didn't expect the cliche that happens in books to happen to her as well. Her fiance, whom she donated a kidney to, cheated on her with her senior step-sister. Distraught, she sought solace in alcohol and ended up sleeping with an unknown man! Strangely, after that steamy night she found herself, bloody and with a sickly baby girl in front of her parents' gates with no memory of what had happened or where she's been in the last 9 months! Over the next ten years, the once proud woman was chastised by the world, used and abused by her family, fiance and her once greatest hope of a love-filled life, her husband. What's worse she was separated from her daughter for five years! In the end, Scarlett died a miserable death of being run down by a car like an animal and made a wish in her last breath. It seemed God had finally noticed her when she opened her eyes, back five years in the past! After being given a second chance how will Scarlett take charge of her life? What truths might she discover on her way of becoming the next top doctor?