Taking A Stand

When we get too much involved in the act of pretending, we lose the idea of knowing the pretense of others. Isn't that how it works? We don't know the acts we do thinking good for the others even to the extent of hurting them to save them from major hurt will cause them to go through much more than we can think of. Sometimes it is not too late to correct the pretenses but sometimes it is late to amend them. Let's see whether it is too late or just in time.

Apa yang kamu minta jika diberi satu permintaan? Kekayaan? Kecantikan? Kesehatan? Atau kesempurnaan? Hanya satu dan tidak boleh lebih. Hanya satu dan akan merubah segalanya. Hanya satu yang akan dikabulkan meski semustahil apapun permintaanmu. Awalnya ketika Violet ditanya apa yang akan dia minta jika diberi satu kesempatan untuk meminta apa saja. Violet menjawab bahwa dia tidak akan meminta apapun karena menurutnya hidupnya sudah sempurna. Dia tidak membutuhkan apapun lagi. Tapi suatu tragedi membuatnya hanya meminta satu hal. Kata-kata yang sempat dia ucapkan kala itu dia tarik kembali. Bukan kecantikan yang dia minta. Bukan pula kekayaan yang dia minta. Dan permintaan itu dapat langsung dikabulkan hanya dengan sekali kedipan mata. Tapi semua itu tidak gratis! Semua itu tidak bisa diberi secara percuma! Violet harus mengorbankan miliknya yang paling berharga agar permintaannya dapat dikabulkan. Dan Violet menyetujui hal itu. ️WARNING!!!️ CERITA INI MENGANDUNG BANYAK ADEGAN YANG MUNGKIN BISA MENYEBABKAN TRAUMA DAN SEBAGAINYA!!! YANG MELIPUTI KEKERASAN, DARAH, SUICIDE, PTSD, DSB. HARAP BIJAK SEBAGAI PEMBACA!!!

The very first thing I do after I come back to life is find a pig and get married to it. In my past life, I was on the brink of getting engaged to my lover of ten years, Anthony Warner, who was a regimental colonel. In order to celebrate my engagement, Hannah Larson, my cousin, gave me a bracelet, and since it was a thoughtful gift from her, I wore it all the time. Yet, on our engagement day, Anthony didn't just call off our engagement, but he also berated me, calling me a tramp and a homewrecker who destroyed his relationship with Hannah. I was completely at a loss and tried to defend myself, but Hannah suddenly stepped forward and burst out crying. "I know my family and educational background surpass yours, but you can't just ruin my relationship with Anthony out of jealousy, Natalie! Anthony and I have already made a lifelong commitment to each other, so please just let it go!" Anthony turned and led Hannah away. They then got engaged shortly afterward. I was left standing there, becoming the subject of gossip from my relatives. They called me a shameless home-wrecker, and their scorn extended to my parents, who were shamed for raising such a child. They eventually took their own lives from all the rumors, and I couldn't bear the pain of losing them, so I ended myself, too. I suddenly open my eyes and find myself returning to the day Hannah presents me with the bracelet.

He was born by a witch, fathered by a wolf and raised in an orphanage home. Because of past incidence, his mother magically prevented him from being either a wolf nor a wizard, but having inherited such great power, it could only be a matter of time, before the witches power, would no longer be able to hold him at bay. He found himself walking away from a life he had built as a human, when he started feeling his nightmares, were being too real. On the day he was supposed to tie the knot with Blair Fire, the love of his life, he could not show up, for he was in the woods, shape shifting for the very first time. He went to seek answers, wanting to go back to the orphanage home where he grew up. He found out, he is the successor of a powerful Alpha, and his mother, is the most powerful witch, who controls the twelve witch kingdom in the entire federation. His father wants him back, as he is the one, whom the prophesy spoke about. That a great Aplha would succeed him, and destroy their enemies, and his Luna have already been chosen for him, by the moon goddess, while his mother also wanted him back, as the Queen of all witches have chosen a bride for him, but he could only love Blair Fire, his human mate. What will he do, since he is obligated to be with all three? How will he protect her, when the witch and the wolf sees her as a threat, to getting the love of their Alpha? Find out, in this mind blowing story.

Chloe finds out she has been betrothed to the eldest son of the Benjamin’s family, a very influential family in America since she was a child, and it made her extremely angry. She has always been an obedient and dutiful daughter who always put her parents’ wishes before hers since she could remember, and feeling rebellious in her own way, she decides to do something for herself for once. And so, Chloe ends up in a club, which led to her having a one night stand with a hot, dark stranger. Chloe was happy to pretend that night never happened, if she hadn’t realized she was pregnant – a week to the date of her scheduled wedding. Nothing was more shocking for Chloe when fate leads her to her dark stranger once again, and he turns out to be the younger brother of whom she was supposed to be getting married to. That leads to Chloe being forced into a marriage with the father of her child, Nathan– who detests the thought of marriage to begin with. Would the contract marriage and a baby be enough to hold them together?

Ryo is an Omega, a half-breed vampire born by a human. He was once a famous perfumist who makes only one bottle a year, an exquisite potion that can attract what you want, eyed and coveted by anyone with good or bad desires. Despite his fame, he lowered his status for his fiance, family, and best friend, only to get betrayed three times. The first and second betrayals were by Sachin, his best friend, and Wilson, his lover, whom he caught having sex in the car he gifted to his soon-to-be husband. The third betrayal was by his father, whose mistress turned out to be none other than his ex-best friend's mother. The worst scenario was that he and Sachin were half-brothers. In a devastating situation, he mistakenly entered a room and slept with an Alpha whom he assumed was a prostitute. But who is this Alpha? Why does he have to suffer more after getting pregnant by him? Why, of all beings, does it have to be him, an enemy?

She left him after that steamy night, and she was confident he would never look for her because he never saw her face because of the mask she wore. But what if fate suddenly pulls its strings and bring them back together? ----- Autumn Aurello did something three years ago. For the sake of money, she did pole dancing in front of someone she admired, not expecting she would give in to the way he stared at her, and to the way he caressed every inch of her skin. After that steamy night, she left him, moved on from that night and got herself a boyfriend. She became a successful painter in those three years and went to Manila. When she came back, she planned to surprise her partner, waiting inside his room only to witness his adultery. Taking her broken heart with her, she hurriedly left his unit but accidentally broke his flower vase. She didn’t have any choice but hide in the next unit which had its door opened. And it was a decision she regretfully made. Because in front of her is Dr. Knoxx Silva, the man whom she had a one-night stand with three years ago. Now that their paths crossed, fate never separated them from each other, especially when Knoxx asked her to become her date in his parents’ anniversary and things took a turn when the supposed-to-be anniversary turned into their engagement party. Now, what will happen to them? Will Knoxx find out about their steamy night? Or will their sudden wedding make him get his mind off from that night?

After a steamy one-night stand with a mysterious stranger, werewolf Selene wakes up to find herself alone and betrayed. Months later, she discovers she is pregnant with his child. Despite being rejected by the father of her unborn child, Selene is determined to raise her secret baby on her own. But when the father suddenly reappears, begging for forgiveness and a second chance at love, Selene must decide whether to follow her heart or protect her broken heart from further pain. Little does she know, the father holds a dark secret that could change their lives forever. Will Selene be able to trust him again or will she turn her back on the only man she's ever loved?

On the day the privileged heiress, Olivia Cruz, and I register our marriage, she leaves me and Mom stranded on a deserted road before running off to her childhood sweetheart, Brad McCoy. Rage triggers Mom's cardiac arrest, so I call Olivia in anxiety, begging her to come back and save Mom. But she just says a cold line before ending the call, "Not this again. Every time I have to step away, your mom suddenly has heart pain. Your family sure knows how to put on a show, huh?" With that, Mom misses her chance at rescue and dies. That night, a mutual friend posts online. "Growing up together is a whole different kind of bond!" The post shows Olivia perched on Brad's lap with his hand resting on her waist. It's the perfect picture of intimacy that leaves little to the imagination. I expressionlessly tap on the like button before typing my comment. "Is this what you meant by 'something important'?" The friend sneers. "Relax, it's just a game of Truth or Dare. I can't believe you're taking it so seriously." Olivia doesn't even bother to explain, but when I walk away without a word, she finally panics.

By the time I return home from a business trip, it is past midnight. However, my wife, Celeste Beaumont, isn't home. A man's shirt that isn't mine is lying on the couch. When I call her, she tells me that she's working late at the office. "Whose shirt is it on the couch?" I ask, cutting straight to the point. She playfully scolds, "Who else would it be? It's a gift for you, so hurry up and try it on." I skeptically put it on and immediately feel how tight and uncomfortable it is across my shoulders. "This is an L, babe. I've always worn XL." Celeste runs a clothing company. She's the one who handles all my clothes and even uses my body measurements for her menswear line. There's no way she doesn't know my size. The line goes quiet for half a second before she thoughtfully says, "It's from my new menswear collection. "I had pieces custom-made for you and Felix, so I must've grabbed the wrong piece. I'll swap it tomorrow." A beat later, her voice carries a little sob as she continues, "Babe, I've been so exhausted without you these past few days. I've missed you so much…" It's past midnight. As I listen to the undeniable weariness beneath her affectionate, playful words, my heart aches in distress. I can't help chiding myself for overthinking. However, after hanging up, realization hits me. Her brother, Felix Beaumont, and I are about the same build. He's always worn XL.