The Builder By Edith Tiempo

Isang gabi. Isang kasunduan. Isang halimaw na may mukha ng diyos. Desperada si Sierra Ramirez na mabayaran ang utang ng amang may sakit, kaya’t kahit labag sa loob, pumayag siyang ibenta ang sarili—sa halagang tinakda ng lalaking may pinaka-mabangis na reputasyon sa buong siyudad. Si Leonardo Dela Vega, kilala bilang “The Devil Billionaire,” ay hindi lang mayaman. Siya ang lalaking kinatatakutan at kinahuhumalingan ng lahat. Malamig. Mapanganib. At walang puso. “Isang gabi lang,” aniya. Pero hindi iyon ang naging kapalaran ni Sierra. Dahil matapos ang gabing iyon, isinara ni Leonardo ang lahat ng pinto ng kalayaan ni Sierra. Ginawa niya itong alipin ng kanyang kagustuhan—hindi lang sa katawan, kundi maging sa puso. Ngunit may mas malalim na dahilan ang pagkakabili niya sa dalaga. At kapag nalaman ni Sierra ang tunay na rason… ito ba'y magiging wakas ng kanyang pagkatao—o simula ng impyerno sa piling ng lalaking hindi niya kailanman kayang takasan?

Nagmadaling nagpahanap si Elijah Reigo ng babaeng papalit bilang bride sa kasal nila sa Isla nang biglang naglaho na parang bula ang kanyang kasintahan. Sakto namang na-stranded si Claudette Revista sa Isla matapos ang malakas na bagyo. Dinala siya ng mga tauhan ni Elijah sa isang rest house at pinilit na maging asawa ng isang mafia boss. Sa Isla na iyon, hindi basta basta ang buhay dahil kailangan sundin ni Claudette ang lahat ng utos kung gusto niyang mabuhay. Ang kalayaan? Nasa dulo ng panganib.

“You clawed your way into this position, Arniya. Now sit there like a good girl”- Nathaniel Verano. ~ “Let me take you away from all this. You don’t belong in their cage.” - David Sev Calderon. ~ "Everyone has their agenda. I just know how to play their tricks” – Arniya Belle Santillan. ~ Arniya Belle Santillan thought she had her future figured out. Arrange marriage with Nathan Verano, the man she once looked at with nothing but love, she believed she was walking into a life of stability—maybe even happiness. But the more time passes, the more Nathan starts to feel like a stranger. Cold. Controlling. The kind of man who only cares about keeping his family's image spotless, no matter the cost. Trapped in an engagement she no longer wants and expected to play the perfect fiancée to a man she barely recognizes, Arniya starts to lose herself. Then, she meets David—a man with a quiet intensity, and his reasons for hating the Veranos. He offers her something no one else ever has: a way out. But it comes with a catch. Now, Arniya is torn between the life she’s always known and the unknown path David opens for her. Can she risk everything to break free and take back control of her life, or will she end up stuck in a world that’s always told her who she should be?

In the shadows of high society, Alpha Nick Sokolov reigns supreme, his wealth and power unmatched. Yet, beneath his polished exterior lies a past riddled with regret. When his failing marriage and old enemies threaten his life, Nick returns to his hometown, only to find himself face-to-face with Jane Mitchell—a woman he once dismissed as plain and unremarkable. As danger looms and secrets unravel, Nick realizes that true beauty lies not in appearances, but in the depths of the heart. Will he embrace the chance to rewrite his story with Jane, or will he be consumed by the mistakes of his past?

"I, Beta Atlas Redding, reject you, Ruby Angelo, as my mate." Those words shattered Ruby’s heart, leaving her feeling worthless and broken. Unlike her perfect step-sister, Ruby couldn’t win her mate’s affection, which only fueled her father's disappointment. To make matters worse, he arranged her marriage to the most feared Alpha in North America, the ruthless Alpha Kane Rivenwood. For Ruby, this felt like a punishment too cruel to bear. Would Alpha Kane see her as just another burden, or could this be a second chance at love? The only certainty was that his cold, ruthless nature might lead to a far darker fate.

She is a French-Filipina model, began her career at a young age and worked with renowned designers. Although she was born in France, she spent her formative years in the Philippines. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she fell deeply in love with a man who ultimately broke her heart. Despite putting her modeling career on hold and expecting a child, fate had other plans in store for her. Determined to confront the man who caused her immense pain, she discovers that there may still be a chance for love to reignite in her heart.

Ingrid Alessia Romano never dreamed of marrying a man like Leonhardt Dietrich Moretti cold, ruthless, and emotionally unreachable. But when a contract marriage becomes the only way to save her family’s crumbling empire, she signs away her freedom with shaking hands and a frozen heart. Leonhardt, forced to choose between losing everything or marrying a stranger, picks the safer option. Ingrid is the woman who won’t ask for love. What begins as a calculated arrangement spirals into a dangerous game of banter, buried wounds, and forbidden chemistry. In a world where betrayal is currency and emotions are a weakness, Ingrid and Leonhardt must navigate secrets, a haunting past, and a press hungry for blood. But what happens when a fake marriage starts to feel a little too real? Will they survive the lies or each other?

There's only one word that can describe Emanuelle Dizon perfectly. Elegant. Her existence screams elegance. Namana niya 'yon sa sopistikada niyang ina. Siguro kung may perpekto lang na tao sa mundo ay maaaring isa roon si Emma. Pero hindi, dahil lahat ng tao, may kapintasan. Emma met Yael Carreon. The man who became the love of her life. She's willing to sacrifice everything just to make that man hers. Dignity, self-respect, and elegance. Just for this man to love her back.

Violet Anderson, a young artist, lived in LA with her best friend, Tracy Derwin. She was living a calm life and although she studied art, she was working in a small restaurant . Vincenzo Mercanti, a 26 years old bachelor, king of the mafia in both, USA and Italy, cold hearted, merciless killer that lived a wealthy life. One night, two incidents changed both their lives, when the mafia don wanted a little brunette to be his. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Who is she?" I asked my best man, Giovanni. "I don't know. I came here with you man." He replied rolling his eyes. "I want her." I said. "What?" He turned abruptly and looked at me. "Bring her to me Gio or I'll kill you myself." I shot him a cold glare. "Okay."

Conrad Lexus Farris. All he wanted is to skip his toxic life away from the city for a while. Dawn Zelena Augustino. All she wanted is to finish her studies and find a great job to achieve her dreams in life. But when their paths crossed, kapwa nagulo ang payapa nilang buhay. Hindi man maganda ang una nilang pagtatagpo, naging daan naman iyon upang makilala nila ang isa't-isa. But the summer that made their heart extremely happy, was also the summer that made their heart empty. Akala ni Dawn, kaya niyang ibaon sa limot ang lahat. Ngunit paano niya magagawa iyon gayung sa init na kanilang pinagsaluhan, may nabuong sanggol na mag-uugnay sa kanila ng lalaking bigla na lamang siyang iniwan sa ere at naglaho na parang bula? At sa di inaasahang pagkakataon, muling nagtagpo ang kanilang landas. Yun nga lang, hindi siya nito kilala. Malamig at arogante ito makitungo sa kanya na parang hindi na ito ang lalaking nakilala at minahal niya limang taon na ang nakararaan. Ayaw niya na sanang ipaalala ang masaya at mapusok na pinagsaluhan nila noon. Ayaw niya sanang umeksena sa buhay nito lalo pa't nalalapit na itong ikasal sa ibang babae. Kaso nang makita ni Conrad ang anak niya, di maipagkakaila na parang pinagbiyak na bunga ang dalawa. At ang masaklap pa nito, ang bata mismo ang umamin sa lalaki. "You're my dad right? Mama has many photos of you together and told me a lot of stories about you!" Connor screamed in excitement. Napaawang si Conrad at di makapaniwala sa natuklasan! At nang magtama ang mata nila ng lalaki, alam ni Zele na ito na ang magiging simula ng kalbaryo niya.