Taboo Aunt

On my birthday, I personally prepare 16 dishes. After setting up the candlelight, I open a bottle of red wine. I take a photo and send it to my husband, Eric Sinclair. "I'm working late tonight. Don't wait for me," he replies. I choose to believe him. But after midnight, I notice an Instagram story posted by Shirley Huxley, his secretary. Eric was there with her, dressed in the trench coat I once gave him. They sat side by side in the VIP seat of football stadium where my favorite Super Bowl take place. Entwined in a passionate embrace, they kissed beneath a sea of shimmering lights and the roar of thousands of fans. That game is the one I have always longed to experience with him. I look down at the cold food on the table. Eric's words keep ringing in my head. "I hate kissing." "Marriage is a partnership, not about love and kisses." Though we've been married for ten years, we've never shared a single kiss. Meanwhile, he's out there, kissing Shirley openly and passionately. Despite it all, not a single tear falls from my eyes. The next day, Eric settles into his chair, completely unfazed. "Return the gallery to Shelly," he commands. I nod quietly, saying nothing. Suddenly, Layla Sinclair, my daughter, comes running down the stairs and throws herself into Shirley's arms. "Aunt Shirley, you're my favorite. I don't like Mom!" In that instant, it hits me—the home I devoted my heart and soul to means nothing anymore. It doesn't matter that I've been married to Eric for a decade. Now, all I want is to find myself again. I decide to accept an invitation from the Parisoir School of Fashion Design. From this moment on, I won't wait for them to come home, and I won't look back.

Adele has been married for 10 years, being a full-time, dutiful wife and mother who sacrified her life and career for her family. But in return, their 7-year- old son, Ethan, suddenly began to despise her. “You make me sick, I wish Aunt Julia was my mother. I'm embarrassed to call you my mother, bitch!” Ethan barked. Adele was humiliated, shamed, and dragged by the public and Julia, who stole her design, yet her husband, Ryan, bowed to them and apologized. “I'm sorry, my wife has been stressed lately. Being a full-time housewife, she has no idea what the world is like. Please don't hold her accountable for this.” He turned to Julia, “Can you forgive her for crashing your daughter's birthday? I'm sure she didn't mean to. I agree, she's mentally unstable.” Adele was left reeling from heartbreak after heartbreak. She had never imagined that one day both her husband and son would choose someone else over her. Tired of trying to mend a broken relationship, she calmly finalized the divorce and even gave up custody of her son, but would Ryan let her enjoy freedom and peace, just like that? Adele soon found out that divorcing a prominent CEO who has so much power and influence than she was made aware, was no joke. God on her side, she got into a marriage contract with a bigger monster. But this monster and his 7-year-old daughter worshipped the ground she walked on. Adele rose from ashes: a net worth of over a 100 billion, one of the most influential women in the country, and a happy wife and stepmother. And now, her ex-husband and son wants her back and would do anything! But come on, the ship has sailed! However, it seems there are secrets to unravel...

Isa lang ang gusto ni Aryen Romero sa buhay niya at iyon ay ang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Ulilang lubos mula pagkabata at nakuntento sa puder ng mapanglait at mapanakit niyang tiya. Papasok siya bilang isang katulong sa isa sa pinakamayamang pamilya sa Laveda. Sa sobrang yaman ng mga ito ay kahit sino sa bayan nila ay nangangarap na mapabilang sa pamilya Lizares, at isa na ang Tita niya. Her Aunt's thirst for wealth awakened when she knew about her work. Inutusan siya nitong akitin ang tagapagmana ng mga Lizares at kung hindi niya iyon gagawin ay palalayasin siya ito at hahayaang tumira sa kalsada. Hindi totoo ang mga diyos sa mitolohiya pero mukhang naisasabuhay ito ni Armiel Frederick Lizares. At talaga nga namang sobrang imposible na maaakit niya ito dahil sa kasamaan ng ugali na parang ang tingin sa lahat ng mga mahihirap ay mukhang pera. But as she know him well, she discovered something deep in him behind his rich face, and lifestyle. Sa sandaling panahon ay nagawa niyang ibigay ang lahat-lahat sa binata. Pero hindi kailanman pabor sa kanya ang tadhana. Nalaman ni Armiel ang plano ng Tita niya at lubos itong nagalit na pinagtabuyan siya na nagpadurog sa kanya ng husto. Nang lumayo siya sa binata ay nalaman niyang dinadala niya ang bunga ng isang gabing mainit nilang pinagsaluhan. At kahit anong hirap ang hinarap niya dahil doon ay determinado siyang huwag ipaalam dito ang tungkol sa anak. Pero talagang mapaglaro ang tadhana. Gaano man niya itago ang anak ay lalabas at lalabas pa rin ang katotohanan. Paano niya haharapin ang galit nito sa ginawa niyang pagtago sa anak nila? Will he believe that she's not after his wealth? Will the chain of love between them could hold them two together again—or not?

Being the only daughter of the Calhoun family, a mafia family in Merovia, I am doted on like a princess. This changes when I turn 18, when Mom dies. On the way back from a family meeting, the car blows up, and Mom shields me beneath her. Even as she lies in a pool of blood, her gaze is tender as she says to me, "Don't blame yourself, sweetheart. I love you." Still, after Mom's death, everyone in the family starts blaming me for what happened, including Dad and my older brother, William Calhoun. I go from being the princess of the family to the jinx that everyone hates. Soon after that, Dad brings home a new adopted daughter, Juliet Calhoun. William favors her and detests me. Even my childhood sweetheart, Shawn Kramer, takes a liking to her and ignores me. Dad says his new adopted daughter is way better than his biological one. They all agree to attend my college graduation ceremony. But on the day, they end up taking Juliet onto our family's yacht and holding a cocktail party out on the water to celebrate the official addition of a new family heir. This is the 100th time they ditch me for her. Unable to stop myself from an emotional breakdown, I cry out, "I'm the one who's related to you by blood!" Dad shields Juliet, who backs away from me out of fear. Then, he slaps me on the face. "I wish I'd never had you." "Who wants to have a younger sister like you? I wish you'd died with Mom!" William roars in contempt. This time, I've decided to let it all go. I call Aunt Marissa, Mom's sister. She's the founder and a therapist at MindCare Treatment Center. "Come here. This is your home now." I know that Mom's death was a conspiracy. This isn't just me leaving, but withdrawing myself from the family entirely. I hope that the next time I meet the Calhouns, there won't be tears on my end. Instead, judgment will befall them.