That Corner Novels & Stories

Noong unang beses na nakita ni Euphie ang lalaki, naisip niya: Love at first sight ba iyon? O isang nakatalagang soul mate? Pag-uwi niya, nakita niya ang isang lumang larawan ng isang matangkad at guwapong lalaki. Naglakbay siya pabalik sa panahon sa larawan, nakilala ang lalaking iyon, at natagpuan ang sagot sa tanong na iyon. Inisip niya ang lahat, ang kanyang kasintahan.

Jessica Morrison had been divorced from her ex-husband, Mark Tatum, for five years, yet they still shared a joint bank account. She made over six figures a year, but every time her salary hit her account, she transferred every last cent to him. "Even though we're divorced, we still have a child together. I can't just turn my back on him." For years, she used that as her excuse. She went to take care of her and Mark's son while her own water had already broken. Because of that, our daughter, Emma, was born with health issues. Later, when Emma had a medical emergency and needed surgery, Jessica gave all the money to Mark's son instead. That time, I asked for a divorce. But she begged me through her tears. "They're both my children. You have to understand—I'm a mother. I promise it will never happen again." For the sake of our young daughter, I gave in. But this time, Emma got sick with a high fever and was diagnosed with acute leukemia. When I went to pay the bill at the hospital, I was told the card had been declined. The bank account that should have had hundreds of thousands of dollars was completely empty. That's when I found out Jessica had transferred all the money again. Our daughter was delirious from the fever, holding my hand. "Daddy, does Mommy not want me anymore?" I comforted her as best I could, but deep down, I knew—maybe it was time to find my daughter a new mother.

While pregnant, Claire Madison Kehlani catches her husband, Charles James Ashford, bringing another pregnant woman into their home. When Claire loses her baby, her husband isn’t by her side—he’s comforting the other woman. Heartbroken and abandoned, Claire meets the last man she expected to see again, Matthew Alaric Kingsley, the ruthless heir of Obsidian Enterprises and the man she rejected years ago. Matthew makes her a shocking offer, “Divorce him. Marry me instead.” But just when Claire begins to believe she has found her second chance, she discovers the terrifying truth— Matthew may not have come back for love. He came back for revenge.

After the video exposing my sister Issa Acosta’s plot against me was revealed, my parents and my fiancé, Henry Nolan, stood firmly by my side, making me feel loved and safe. I confidently handed over all the evidence to them, trusting them to handle it. However, they told me that after Issa was kicked out of the house, she died in a sudden car accident, and I believed them. That was until five years into my marriage, when I accidentally saw Issa—the woman who was supposed to be dead. She was holding a little boy, clinging tightly to Henry’s hand. "Henry, if it weren’t for you and my parents, I’m afraid Zoe would’ve thrown me in prison. Thankfully, my parents destroyed the evidence and even opened a jewelry design studio for me. To avoid suspicion, you even sacrificed your own marriage. Thank you for everything in the past five years.” "Think of it as me atoning to Zoe on your behalf. As long as you and Bear are happy, that’s enough for me." So, what I thought was a happy family was nothing more than a giant lie—a scheme concocted by my parents and Henry. My parents, my husband, and Issa were the real family, and I? I was just the fool who had been deceived for five long years. Whether it was family or love, none of it was real, and I don’t want any of it anymore.

At my coming-of-age ceremony, I confessed my feelings to Uncle Daniel, who wasn't blood-related to me. Yet, he sent me overseas to study. Later on, I was diagnosed with brain cancer. The headaches were brutal. Left without a choice, I turned to him for help. Yet, his first love accused me of being wasted abroad. Said I got into stuff. Claimed my pain were just withdrawals. He believed her and dragged me back home. He locked me up in the family's abandoned villa atop the mountains, guards watching me around the clock. With treatment delayed, my headaches grew worse. It was a complete nightmare. One night, I couldn't take it anymore. I quietly slipped out of the window and jumped. One year after my death, he finally remembers me.

"Miss Jackson, are you certain you want to undergo hypnosis? You should know that once the hypnosis begins, it cannot be reversed. Your body will be controlled by an alternate personality, and you will fall into a sleep from which you will never wake up again," the doctor asked in a grave tone from the other end of the phone. "Yes, I'm certain," Nina Jackson replied calmly.

My younger twin sister, Emma Lawson, is everyone's favorite because she is sickly. A snowstorm traps us on the mountain and the rescue helicopter arrives with room for only one more. I have terminal cancer and am ready to let Emma take my place. Then she suddenly clutches her head and cries that she feels dizzy. My whole family rushes to her side and together they push her into the cabin. My husband, Leon Ziegler, touches my fractured arm and says, "Sarah, you'll have to wait for the next helicopter." My daughter, Daria Ziegler, even throws a snowball at me. "Aunt Emma is sicker than you. Stop trying to take her spot." Only when the helicopter takes off do I see Emma pressed against the window, smugly sticking her tongue out. She has been lying the whole time. When I am finally rescued, the doctors tell me I have three days left to live. I decide to trade everything I own for a small piece of my family's affection.

Victoria Henshaw discovered her husband’s affair with her sister, Katherine Henshaw on the night of their third year anniversary. She also learned that the child they had adopted two years after their marriage was her husband and her sister’s son. At that spot, she proposes divorce and left the house. She went to a bar, got drunk and had a one night stand with Alexander Blackwood, the CEO of Blackwood Empire, believing he was a gigolo. Weeks later, Victoria Henshaw found out she was pregnant, and at the same time, got a job as a mechanical engineer designer at the Blackwood Empire. She learned Alexander wasn’t a gigolo as she had thought, but a wealthy billionaire— The owner of the Blackwood Empire. On the other hand, Christian Santiago was reluctant to divorce her as his company is about to go public and he needs to maintain a stable family image. Also, he's still attracted to Victoria’s gentleness so he proposes an open marriage instead. When she refused, he constantly harassed her, until he learned that Katherine’s child was not his own and was diagnosed with asthenospermia. Victoria tried to tell Alexander about the pregnancy, but learned that he disliked children and anything about marriage. She dared not tell him about her pregnancy, and kept it to herself. While dealing with life challenges, Victoria gradually developed a sense of dependence on Alexander’s help as he’s always there for her. Christian, frustrated and jealous, tried to gain control of Victoria, but Alexander in turn suppressed his career, rendering him penniless. Victoria had believed Alexander was a cold, playboy and indifferent to women’s feelings. Until she realized just how intense and unwavering his devotion truly were as the two get along. But, for how long?

Natasha is a rich girl who fell in love with someone she least expected. Natasha and Michael didn’t plan to fall in love—it just happened in quiet moments, shared laughter, and long conversations that felt too easy to be new. What started as simple coffee breaks and campus strolls slowly turned into something deeper, something real. But love wasn’t the only thing growing between them. With disapproving parents and personal struggles pulling them apart, their relationship is tested in ways they never expected. Through misunderstandings, distance, and emotional walls, they are forced to question if what they have is strong enough to survive. In the end, it’s not just about love—it’s about choice, timing, and whether two people can truly find their way back to each other.

My daughter’s kindergarten held a family event, and I rushed there, only to see her holding hands with my wife’s male secretary. “Daddy,” she said, “I wish our family could stay like this forever.” I watched as the three of them hugged, radiant with happiness. Suddenly, exhaustion washed over me. Later, I filed for divorce. Then I left to teach in rural villages for thirty years. If I couldn’t light the lamp in my own home, I’d at least illuminate the path for others.