The River: A Novel

The tree I fell from was rotten. It's leaves were rotten, it's bark was rotten, and it's roots were rotten. Unfortunately, I am an apple that didn't fall far from that rotten tree. I was groomed in the shadow of that rotten tree and sprayed with poison to ensure I would be nothing but it's germinated seed. My earliest memories are dark and painful. My most vibrant memories are coated in crimson red and shame. The small pieces of my soul that I kept hidden and protected are the only parts of myself I can tolerate. The rest of who I am... The despicable trash that haunts my dreams... I hate. Death is the only answer to my life. Not love. I don't deserve love. A tainted apple is never put amongst the ripe juices apples. It is thrown away, discarded... As I should be.

" let get married" I told him and he pushed my hands away and shifted back. " you don't know what you are saying, I'm not interested in your deal" he said and attempted to walk away. and this I think I have to switch to my crazy mode. " take one step again I will make life a living hell for you! I told you to marry me but you're refusing my offer, if you don't marry me I will make sure the torture you're getting worsened day after day and I will also press more charges against you... dare me Aryan!" she thudered gritting her teeth.. what?" I said in surprised gosh, what the hell have I gotten myself into, why did hell is she forcing me to get married to her ? why can't she just gets married to a business man like her in order to save her reputation and company? why is this aroggant CEO picking on me? dare me Aryan!!" she threatened.

Si Lena Cruz ay isang masipag at determinadong babae, laging abala sa trabaho at pasan sa isipan ang karamdaman ng ina. Tahimik ang kanyang mundo—puno ng pagod, sakripisyo, at pangamba para sa kinabukasan—hanggang sa dumating ang lalaking kayang baguhin ang lahat. Si Adrian Valdez, CEO ng Valdez Holdings at isa sa pinakamakapangyarihang billionaire sa bansa, ay kilala sa pagiging malamig, matalino, at kontrolado ang lahat sa paligid niya. At nang makita niya ang kahinaan ni Lena, naglatag siya ng isang alok—isang mapanganib na kasunduang maaaring tuluyang magbago sa kapalaran ng babae. “I want one night with you, and everything—your debts, your life—will be secured.” Isang alok. Isang gabi. Isang kasunduang nagsimula sa kawalan ng pagpipilian. Habang nasasangkot si Lena sa madilim at kontroladong mundo ni Adrian, unti-unting nahahayag ang lalim ng kapangyarihan niya—at ang simpleng kasunduan ay nagiging larong mahirap takasan. Mananatili ba itong isang kasunduan lamang—o unti-unting mahuhulog ang damdamin ni Lena sa lalaking hindi niya kailanman piniling mahalin.

On our first meeting, he made a fake proposal and embarrassed me, and made me lose my job, I never expected to meet him again on the same day, and this time he splashed muddy water on me. **** "It's you again? When did I become so unlucky?!" He complained. He wasn't the only unlucky one, I was also unlucky by meeting him for the second time in one day. "Get away from me," I struggled but he didn't let me go. "Where do you think you're going? Want to run away? Not without settlement. You broke my car!" Vanessa and Andre's lives were worlds apart. She was just trying to make ends meet, while he was a wealthy and powerful man who seemed to have everything. Their first meeting was a memorable one as he embarrassed her, made her lose her job, and also almost run her over while splashing water from the road on her. She retaliate by breaking his car which lands her in huge trouble as he constantly threatened to sue her if she fails to pay for the damage. He offers her a job as his assistant with plans to torture her but had no idea how he started to get used to her presence. A spark of connection, a flicker of something more. As they continued to interact, that spark grew into a flame. But with so much standing in their way, could their love survive?

The word 'mate' is said so often around here that it has just become a part of everyday life. But never in a million years did I ever think it would be directed at me. And the shit storm that followed was nothing I didn't expect. With a father that vowed never to let me go and a mate vowing to never leave me, things were about to get really complicated. With me stuck right in the middle

Julian Dantes lost everything—his career, his reputation, and now, his brother. When Bash is kidnapped and set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, Julian is desperate enough to make a deal with the devil himself. Cassiel Morelli is a billionaire with the power to bring men to their knees—or bury them. He agrees to save Bash, but his price is steep: Julian’s hand in marriage. It’s not love. It’s control. But when Julian learns the truth, hatred isn’t enough to stop the war between them from turning into something darker. Something impossible to escape. And when their enemies return, Cassiel makes a move so unthinkable, so monstrous, that Julian is forced to ask himself: What’s more terrifying? The man who stole his freedom… or the fact that he might never want it back?

Aria was the Luna of the Winter Mist pack, renowned for her achievements in war strategy. Her contribution was crucial in her pack becoming the most powerful in the entire country. Everything in her life should be perfect. ...Except it wasn't. In actuality, Aria's life was anything but successful. She was helpless to the whims of her abusive Alpha mate and his mistress. A mate who never loved her. As she watches their relationship grow, her options are to run away or die trying to keep her Luna position. But this is not the story of how Aria sways his closed-off heart until he finally loves her. No, this is the story of how Aria died. So when she is faced with the opportunity to go back in time and try again... will she take it? ...Or is she fated to relive her mistakes all over again? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "...And if I refuse?" I asked hesitantly. "Then you will remain in the Abyss, forever reliving your earthly memories." My mind recalled the images that had just tormented me, showing me my death over and over again. I knew now she must have shown me that strategically so I had a taste of what my refusal would look like. "Then I don't want to be Luna again... and I don't want to be Aleric's mate," I said, surprising even myself that I was bargaining with a Goddess. But I couldn't shake the feeling something seemed off. "That is the fate I have chosen for you." "Then I don't accept," I argued. "I think there is something you're not telling me. A reason why you need me to go back so badly." She was silent, her silver eyes regarding me warily. "...So I am correct," I said, taking her silence as confirmation.

A few weeks before our wedding, Rodney Luther's stepmother, Jessica Flaine, posts a photo on her social media. In the photo, she's wearing the wedding dress I picked out, holding a bouquet of red roses, and shyly leaning toward Rodney, asking for a kiss. The caption reads—"Dreams fulfilled." I don't call Rodney in tears or throw a fit like I used to. I simply like the post and leave a comment. "Screenshot sent to Rodney's father." Not long after, Jessica deletes the post, and Rodney's phone call follows immediately. "Ivana, you're being so petty! The rest of my days belong to you. It's only today that I'm fulfilling a small dream of Jessica's. Hurry up and explain things to my dad! "Come on, be good. I've got a gift for you." A scoff escapes me. "Rodney, do you hear me clearly? Go explain it to your father yourself!"

Aria Abrams, an innocent, uneducated girl is the works for the devil in disguise in his mansion as the house help. She is the gardener's grand daughter and she has no idea her life is about to change when she accepts a deal with him for something she wants in return. A life changing opportunity! Xavier Hudson, the grumpy businessman and the only heir to his entire family line is ready to do anything to get a wife, even if it means asking the first girl he sets his eyes on to marry him right after swearing off on all women. Is the deal worth all the trouble that comes along with it? Will they be able to fight the growing attraction despite the lies surrounding them? What happens when the lines get crossed and the truth comes out? Read more to find out in this steamy slown burn novel!

On the day of my wedding, my fiance suddenly announced that he had already registered his marriage with my sister. The system declared my mission a failure and sentenced me to be erased in a car crash. Just as despair closed in, Wayne Kinsey threw himself in front of me to save my life—and lost the use of his legs because of it. Later, I was given another chance to choose a new target, and I accepted his proposal. But five years into our marriage, I overheard a conversation between him and a friend. "Wayne, your crush already has a husband and children. Your legs are healed too. Aren't you going to come clean with Arden?" "No. Arden will always be a risk. Only if she keeps feeling guilty will she stay away and let Naomi have her happiness." As his familiar but cold voice echoed in my ears, my tears fell like beads of a broken string, and that was when I finally realized the so-called salvation Wayne had given me had been nothing but a lie through and through. In that case, there was no reason for me to keep holding on to this sham of a marriage.