The Perfect Stranger: A Novel

They thought breaking her would be easy. But from the ashes of betrayal, she rose stronger than ever. Mary Martel was the perfect wife—obedient, loyal, invisible. Until her husband, Alfred Martel, discarded her like trash for his pregnant secretary, Selena. Broken and humiliated, Mary Martel vanished from the spotlight, presumed defeated. But behind the silence, she was rebuilding herself—sharpening her scars into weapons, her grief into armor. Now she’s back. Not as the meek wife they used to mock, but as a powerful, enigmatic woman with one purpose: To destroy the man who broke her, expose the woman who deceived her, and prove that a wife may bend—but never breaks. Love, vengeance, secrets, and twisted redemption collide in this fast-paced, emotional rollercoaster that will keep you breathless until the last page.

Ara once thought Logan was her perfect lover. He was everything she dreamed of—charming, sophisticated, and with a deep love for art that matched her own. Together, they shared long conversations about paintings, literature, and life, and Logan seemed to understand her in ways no one else ever had. For a while, she truly believed he was the perfect man, the one she was meant to be with forever. But when she discovered the truth, she realized he’d only been using her to get closer to the woman he truly wanted. Heartbroken and betrayed, Ara walked away in the pouring rain, her heart shattered but her resolve stronger than ever. She would never let him back in. Three years later, Logan resurfaces—not through a business deal with her company, but through an unexpected acquisition of one of its key partners. Determined to win Ara back, Logan is no longer the man she once knew. He’s cold, relentless, and will stop at nothing to force her back into his world. “You can’t escape me, Ara. This time, I’ll make you stay.” But Ara is no longer the same woman she was. Her fierce independence and stubborn heart refuse to let Logan back in, no matter how hard he pushes. As their past resurfaces, secrets about Logan’s possible connection to her father’s death threaten to unravel everything.

Prologue Hawak ang maliit na bag, nakatayo si Althea Santos, 20, sa harap ng marangyang tahanan ng pamilya Velasco. Para bang ibang mundo ang kaharap niya—malayo sa simpleng buhay sa probinsya. Kailangan niya ang trabahong ito, at ang pagiging kasambahay ng isang kilalang doktor ang tanging daan upang makatulong sa pamilya. Pagpasok niya sa sala, sinalubong siya ng bango ng mamahaling pabango at kinang ng chandelier. Ang bawat sulok ay parang larawan mula sa magasin, at halos hindi siya makapaniwala na dito siya maninirahan. “Ah, ikaw pala si Althea,” isang malalim na tinig ang umalingawngaw. Lumingon siya at napatigil. Isang matangkad, gwapo, at matipunong lalaki ang naroon—may malamig na tingin ngunit hindi maitatangging kaakit-akit. Si Dr. Adrian Velasco, 25, amo niya at isang respetadong doktor. “Y-yes, Sir,” sagot niya, pilit pinapakalma ang nanginginig na tinig. Ramdam niya ang mabilis na tibok ng puso, hindi lamang dahil sa kaba kundi sa paraan ng pagtitig ni Adrian—parang binabasa ang kanyang buong pagkatao. Lumapit ito, mabagal at tiyak ang bawat hakbang. “Welcome sa Velasco residence. Sana makapag-adjust ka nang mabuti.” Kasabay ng banayad na babala ang isang maliit na ngiti na nag-iwan ng init sa dibdib ni Althea. Sa sandaling iyon, naramdaman niya ang tensyon—isang halong respeto, kaba, at hindi maikakailang kilig. Alam niyang hindi magiging ordinaryo ang mga susunod na araw. Sa ilalim ng bubong na ito, magsisimula ang kwento ng damdamin na susubok sa kanya—mga lihim, selos, kilig, at sakit na magbabago sa kanyang puso magpakailanman. ---

Lena Mercer makes a living off saving and believes that love can be saved no matter what. However, when a frightened woman named Claire Reynolds appears at her office door insisting she is being purposely murdered by her husband, Lena is hesitant to trust her. Days go by, and Claire vanishes into thin air. Worrying but brushing it off as coincidence, Lena attempts to pick up where they left off—until she uncovers unsettling information connecting Claire's life to her own. The same scent. The same coffee order. Even bruises in identical locations. And then Lena begins receiving ominous messages: "You know the truth. Don't look for me."

"Look at you, all grown up and mature, son, opps sorry Alexander. Now, I'm your mother and I'll call whatever the hell I want and you my dear son, will not question it. And what did you say about patience? You are not patient, Alexander, let's start from here. Don't tempt me to inform Zane about this behavior of yours'." Mom states while eyeing my up and down. Herr words were like a trigger for me and eventually the last straw of my control snapped as I gave in the burning rage. "Tell him whatever the fuck you want, Mother. If you want to loose your mate in a one on one duel, I don't see a problem because I'm not gonna loose mine in any fucking condition. Now," ****** It is said that 'Patience is the key' but at times the wait is too long, long enough that we stop waiting or maybe that's what the fate wants. Future is a mystery that would only unravel when we live it but what if that mystery destroys lives, lives that matter the most to you. Is it worth unraveling such mystery, such future? But then again can you stop time, stop the events that are bound to happen? The answer is NO but will that stop us from trying?

Monalisa, a young girl who was abandoned at a very young age, lived with her relatives who used her as they pleased without giving her proper attention neither did they show her love or kindness, not even the people around her. She met and fell in love with a man called Bret but was heartbroken when she realized the man only used her because of a bet he made with his friends. Monalisa got pregnant from her short relationship with Bret and out of hatred for the father of her child she ended up abandoning her son to die by a seashore, she wanted to kill herself too but was captured by a vicious vampire, there, she sort to become powerful in other to be free to get back at all the people that had hurt her and made life miserable but will she succeed especially when she falls in love again and found out that her lover was the son she never knew was still alive, who had also become a powerful werewolf?

Bata pala lamang sina Gian at Jia ay nag katagpo na ang kanilang Landas dahil sa isang aksidente na muntik na niyang ikalunod. Sa insidenteng ito nag simulang umusbong ang kanyang nararamdaman para sa batang nag ligtas ng kanyang buhay. Ang batang Gian din ang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya sumubok mag mahal kahit maraming gustong sumubok na makuha ang puso niya. Simula pagkabata niya'y natatak na sa isip at puso niya ang pangalan ng batang iyon ngunit hanggang kailan niya kayang alagaan ang kanyang damdamin kung walang kasiguraduhan na hinahanap at iniisip din siya nito. Kayanin nga kaya niyang hintayin ang batang iyon? Paano kung muling may lalaking dumating para guluhin ang puso niyang nakalaan para lamang kay Gian? Handa ba niyang tanggapin ang kasalukuyan at kalimutan nalang ang nakaraan?

"Who are you?" hissed Amanda." Who am I? That's not important!" said the man."What are you doing in front of me, then?" hissed Amanda in her curt voice."I want you with me. On my bed!" The man whispered without any guilty face." In your dreams, Sir!" hissed Amanda. While the man just smiled crookedly responding to the treatment which he thought challenging."Let's see! This is a good start, Amanda."

In her past life, Zoey was slain before realizing she'd misidentified her savior, a blunder that cost her everything. After being reborn, she found she was a werewolf. Determined to change her fate, she kicked away the scumbag and vowed to reclaim all the honors she'd given to her foes. Most importantly, she clung to the scumbag's disabled uncle, Russell. As rumors spread, some scoffed that Zoey was just using Russell's influence. What they didn't know was that Russell, a financial tycoon, was also a powerful Alpha and Zoey's fated mate. Financial bigwigs, medical masters, movie queens, and tech gurus all defended her, saying, "Zoey never depends on men." This sent the whole network into an uproar. Everyone was curious about their relationship. The next day, a video shocked all. The once - disabled Russell not only stood up but cornered petite Zoey with his Alpha power. His eyes glowed possessively as he said, "Zoey, you're mine!"

His face turned to stone, and he grabbed my arm, dragging me into the janitor's closet. "I, Derek Thayne, reject Roxanne Meyers as my mate," he spat, and I snarled. "I accept your rejection." *** Alphas always have to be careful when it comes to their children; they are the perfect targets to the pack's enemies. No one was prepared though when the rogues attacked the Black River Pack and kidnapped the Alpha and his family. For months they were tortured, focusing mostly on the youngest child: Roxanne Meyers. Roxanne endured the abuse for months, constantly reminding herself that she was the daughter of an Alpha, that they would not break her. But one day she had no choice but to succumb to their demands. She returned to a pack that hated her; she killed their Alpha and Luna. Even her older brother turned on her. She became the lowest ranking wolf in the pack: the omega. Every attempt to escape the pack's abuse failed and her only hope was to find her mate. But her mate was none other than Derek Thayne, the son of the Alpha who took over following her parents' deaths. After accepting his rejection, she escaped to a nearby pack with the help of her new Alpha. She was thriving and rising up the ranks in her new pack. But unfortunately for Roxanne, Derek was far from finished with his rejected mate. And he wasn't going to let the threat of war stand in his way.