The Bamboo Dancers

Irene Linardo dijatuhi hukuman tiga tahun penjara atas kecelakaan lalu lintas yang membunuh calon istri Michael Yunata, orang terkaya di Kota Cena.Setelah Irene dibebaskan dari penjara, entah bagaimana, dia menarik perhatian Michael.Dia berlutut sambil memohon, "Michael, lepaskanlah aku."Michael malah tersenyum dan berkata, "Kak, aku nggak akan melepaskanmu selamanya."Michael terkenal sebagai orang yang berhati dingin dan tidak berperasaan, tetapi dia malah melakukan segala hal untuk menyenangkan hati seorang petugas kebersihan yang merupakan mantan narapidana ini.Namun, kenyataan dari kecelakaan lalu lintas pada saat itu malah menghancurkan segala rasa cinta yang Irene miliki terhadap Michael, sehingga dia melarikan diri dari sisi Michael.Beberapa tahun kemudian, Michael berlutut di hadapan Irene sambil berkata, "Irene, aku bersedia untuk melakukan apa pun asalkan kamu kembali ke sisiku."Sedangkan Irene hanya menatap Michael dengan tatapan dingin dan berkata, "Kalau begitu, mati saja kamu."

Our wedding anniversary also happens to be our son's birthday. A month in advance, I carefully plan a family trip for the three of us—me, my husband, and our son. But right before we're supposed to leave, both of them suddenly disappear on me. I'm left standing alone in the pouring rain, dialing their numbers. On the other end, my son's young voice comes through, sounding cold and impatient. "Dad's having dinner with Ms. Moore. We don't want to go anymore." The call ends, and I'm blocked. Later that night, they intentionally lock me out of the house. I'm left standing in the freezing cold all night long. Soaked from the rain, I come down with a high fever and develop pneumonia. Meanwhile, my husband and son are off vacationing with Sophia Moore, smiling for a happy family photo with just the three of them. And in that moment, I know this marriage has truly come to an end.

Babes is a strip club where the dancers danced, there are strict rules for the dancer not to offer themselves to their clients. Prostitution is a big no at the club. Though rules are meant to be broken, especially when the dancers are desperate enough to get extra cash. Babes cater to a high-end clientele of well-dressed men with various backgrounds, from rich sleazy playboys, and bad boys CEO executives, to cheating husbands with cash to spend for a private lap dance. The dancers at Babes are beautiful sexy women with different backgrounds from struggling actresses, and single moms with bills to cover, to students having to pay for their student loans, there are also women who just like to dance and be appreciated by men. But at Babes, people fall in love, strangely they found their match in the high-end strip club where they least expected. Follow this story and read how the dancers struggle for love and how the men find their future happiness.

I had everything planned a month in advance for our holiday. I was going to take my wife and daughter on a trip to see the country's beautiful landscapes, but just before we were supposed to leave, they both disappeared. I ended up standing alone in the pouring rain, trying to call them. My daughter's voice came through over the phone—it was cold and impatient. "Mommy's having dinner with Uncle Skyler. We don't want to go anymore." Right after that, the call was cut off. I had been blocked. They locked me out of the house on purpose and left me to freeze out there all night. The rain had already drenched me, and I was running a high fever that turned into pneumonia. Meanwhile, the two of them were off enjoying a vacation with Skyler Shire. That was the moment I knew—this marriage was well and truly over.

Hindi man lang ako hinawakan ng aking asawa sa aming honeymoon. Sabi niya, masyado siyang pagod at nakiusap na maghintay ako. Pero tuwing madaling-araw, palihim siyang bumababa sa basement. Kapag bumabalik siya, agad siyang naliligo para mawala ang hindi maipaliwanag na amoy. Tinanong ko siya kung ano ang ginagawa niya roon, at ang sagot niya, nag-eehersisyo siya. Pero sino namang mag-eehersisyo sa kalagitnaan ng gabi? Hindi ko na kaya. Isang gabi, nagdesisyon akong sumilip sa basement para alamin ang totoo. Hinabol niya ako at hinawakan ang pajama ko, saka pasigaw na sinabi, "Bumalik ka rito! Hihiwalayan kita kapag bumaba ka dyan!"

"Breaking News! A certain A-lister was sent to the hospital in the middle of the night because of… anal fissures!" "This just in—a certain A-lister is witnessed being carted out of the elite heir's residence!" As I read the viral headlines featuring myself, I can't help but clench my fists tightly. "What the heck? Who came up with these stupid rumors anyway? I went to the hospital to get my hemorrhoids removed!" And here I am, thinking about why my long-time rival, Pierce Kirkland, had decided to invite me over to his place for a candlelit dinner in the first place. It turns out that he wanted to watch me embarrass myself after eating a spicy meal! But after Pierce makes a shoutout on a show, I belatedly realize that I can never escape from him anymore.

I need to drive to and from work due to a change in my job scope. However, my father-in-law hoards my car and refuses to return it. My husband stands up for him. "How can you be so materialistic? So what if you have to take an electric scooter to work?" So, I sell the car. My husband points at me and snaps, "What right do you have to sell Dad's car?" I look at him calmly. "I've sold the one you drive too."

My mother sells special éclairs. Each one costs a thousand dollars, but the female customers fight each other to buy them. They look like they can't get enough. My sister wants to take a box to share with her boyfriend when she sees how popular they are. However, my mother firmly rejects her. She says she's the only one who can touch those éclairs. My sister refuses to listen. She secretly sneaks into the freezer in the basement. Then, in the middle of the night, I hear her wanton moans.

My husband doesn't touch me on our wedding night. He claims he's too tired and asks me to wait. Then, he sneaks into the basement in the wee hours of each night. Whenever he returns, he needs to shower to wash away an indescribable smell. I ask him what he does down there, and he tells me he works out. Why would anyone work out in the middle of the night? I can't take it anymore. One night, I decide to sneak into the basement to see what's going on down there. He chases after me and grabs my pajamas, roaring, "Come back up here! I'll divorce you if you step foot down there!"

Scarlet blood trickled from my thigh as I clutched Arvin Owen's hand. "My belly... It hurts so much..." He shook off my hand indifferently. "Come on, I know it's chicken blood you are using. Debby just suffered abuse from her husband and is now in the hospital without anyone to care for her. Don't be so spoiled!" But what flowed from me was not chicken blood. It was my life slipping away.