The Begging After The End

The last time I mentioned my engagement to Walter Reagle, everyone in the room went quiet at first. However, after seeing Walter's annoyed look, they all started laughing. "Who still believes in old-fashioned childhood betrothals these days?" "Is Ms. Lawson feeling insecure?" I ignored their teasing. I just looked at Walter, who was lounging on the couch with his shirt collar open, showing off the lovebites on his neck and collarbone. My heart felt like it was being stabbed. The pain came slowly. "We were too young to agree to something so silly," he said. Walter looked up with a faint, mocking smile. He gave me a lazy look. "We're grown up now, Emma. "Let's just forget about the past."

At our college reunion, I let slip about the three great catches I was dating online. One ran a successful law firm, the other was a researcher at a leading institute, while another was an up-and-coming tech mogul on the Forbes list. My so-called best friend, Cassie Young, paused halfway through her plate of ribs. Giving me the side glance, she voiced her sarcasm. “I feel sorry for your future husband. Of all the women he could have, he had to marry someone with a rich history.” I took a sip of my juice and responded, “Honestly, I’m pretty stressed about the whole thing. They are all amazing. I can’t decide between them. Cassie, does anyone tickle your fancy? You can have one.” As her cutlery clattered on the table, Cassie widened her eyes. “A-Are you for real?”

Isang kasal na walang pag-ibig—iyon lang ang turing ni Hunter kay Ayla. At nang muling bumalik ang kanyang unang mahal, wala siyang pagdadalawang-isip na iwan si Ayla at burahin ang lahat ng mayroon sila. Pero hindi lahat ng iniwan ay nananatiling mahina. Muling bumangon si Ayla, hindi na bilang biktima kundi bilang isang babaeng handang gumanti. Ngunit habang papalapit siya sa kanyang layunin, isang tanong ang unti-unting bumabalot sa kanyang puso—paghihiganti ba talaga ang gusto niya… o ang patunayan na siya ang dapat pinili? Sa laban ng nakaraan at kasalukuyan, ng pag-ibig at galit—hanggang saan kayang sirain ni Ayla ang isang taong hindi naman siya minahal? At kapag dumating ang huli, sino ang tunay na matatalo?

I'm having a mental breakdown as I face a clogged drain with my feverish and fussing daughter in my arms. Meanwhile, my husband has reserved a hotel to celebrate another woman's birthday. My mother-in-law spits on the floor. "This is what you deserve. You can't even capture a man's heart!" I clench a fist around the winning lottery ticket in my pocket. I want to get a divorce.

Sa isang gabing binalot ng alak, lihim, at pagkakamali, nabago ang kapalaran ng dalagang si Vienna Reign Gonzalez-isang bihasang secret agent na sanay itago ang emosyon sa likod ng malamig na titig at matatag na puso. Isang gabi ng labis na kalasingan ang naging dahilan ng isang hindi inaasahang bunga: isang buhay na lumalaki sa kanyang sinapupunan. Ngunit ang mas masakit na katotohanan-ang ama ng kanyang anak ay ang lalaking itinalaga niyang patayin. Si Devereux Blue Ace Guevara Montague-isang makapangyarihan, misteryoso, at kinatatakutang pangalan sa ilalim ng mundo. Isang lalaking puno ng sikreto, kapangyarihan, at mga kasalanang maaaring gumiba sa buong sistema. Siya ang target. Siya ang kalaban. Siya rin ang ama ng batang dinadala ni Vienna. Habang lumalalim ang misyon, mas lalo ring gumugulo ang kanyang puso. Sa pagitan ng tungkulin at damdamin, galit at pagnanasa, Vienna ay mapipilitang pumili: Barilin ang lalaking kinamumuhian niya... o iligtas ang pamilyang hindi niya inaasahang mabubuo. Sa mundong puno ng baril, dugo, at pagtataksil-maaaring ang pinakamapanganib na misyon ay hindi ang pumatay... kundi ang umibig.

At eight months pregnant, my younger sister, Reina York, pushed me down the stairs, causing me to go into early labor.  At the hospital, I called Xavier Morales, but he answered with an impatient scoff. "What do you expect me to do about it? Stop bothering me." Xavier hated me, and he never wanted our child. Our baby girl was born, but despite the doctors doing everything they could, she did not make it. I called Xavier repeatedly, but he coldly hung up on me every time. Then, just moments later, I saw Reina's latest social media post. Xavier was there with her, smiling like he did not have a care in the world. He had completely abandoned me just to be with Reina. Even when our baby was cremated, they were still posting about their love like nothing had happened.  I did not scream, nor did I cry—I just packed my bags and left.

"Lo pernah tidur sama cewek?” Pertanyaan itu tiba-tiba muncul begitu saja dari mulut Elaine Venesia Rinjani. Seorang gadis berumur tujuh belas tahun, yang sebentar lagi akan melepaskan masa putih abunya. Dia bertanya pada seorang laki-laki yang baru saja dia temui di sebuah kencan buta. Elaine baru saja patah hati, karena dia memergoki sang pacar tidur bersama gadis lain. Gadis itu bukan gadis biasa, pasalnya gadis tersebut adalah kakak kandungnya sendiri. Tentu saja itu sangat melukai hati Elaine. Akhirnya dia ingin melampiaskan rasa sakitnya itu dengan tidur bersama laki-laki yang tidak ia kenali. Selain itu Elaine juga ingin balas dendam pada mantan dan juga kakaknya sendiri. Namun beberapa bulan kemudian, Elaine bertemu kembali dengan laki-laki itu. Apakah mereka akan benar-benar saling tak mengenali? Ataukah sebaliknya? Apakah Elaine juga bisa membalaskan dendamnya pada dua orang yang sudah membuat hatinya patah ini? Follow, instagram ku di : @mayuunice.feli

Because of a last-minute business trip, my husband missed the Thanksgiving family dinner. I spent the entire day helping out at my in-laws' place in the countryside with our five-year-old son, only to receive a complaint from the downstairs neighbor just before dinner. "Ari, could you please close your kitchen window when you're cooking? I can smell the hot sauce from all the way here. My husband has a lung condition—he can't handle it." My neighbor's words shocked me, and I immediately called my husband, who was allergic to chili peppers. "Honey, did someone break into the house? The neighbor said there was smoke coming from the kitchen." His breathing hitched for a second before he let out a casual laugh. "No break-in. My flight got canceled, so I was home alone cooking. When are you two coming back? I really miss you." I smiled and told him we'd stay a couple more days, but in the middle of the night, I packed up our son and drove straight home.

Greed is a powerful feeling that has changed the world over thousands of years. Science, religion, and magic have built a new era and there are some who want to end it all, for the sake of a dying world. It is only up to certain beings to awaken the world and cleanse the lurking evil within the desires of the current rulers, or to wipe out those who can't contribute any good to a new rising world.

Seven years ago, I turned my back on my powerless fated mate, Soren, and chose a powerful Alpha instead. Now, I’m dying alone in this shitty apartment with seven days to live. The Moon's Glow is fading inside me. Without the Final Rite, my soul will be chained to this earth, a ghost doomed to an eternity of torment. And no Alpha will perform it for me. Coughing up another mouthful of blood, I dialed the one number I swore I’d never touch again. Soren. The mate I rejected. Now, the most powerful Alpha in the North. I begged him for the Final Rite. Moments later, his engine screamed down my street. But the boy I once knew was gone. The man staring back at me now held nothing but pure, undiluted hatred in his eyes. "Well, well. Look what we have here," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "The fallen princess. When are you going to finally drop dead? The second your heart stops, I’m dumping your corpse in the Feral Lands for the scavengers."