The Shadow In My Eye

Lumaking mabait, masipag at masunuring anak si Anna. Kahit na salat sa buhay ay masaya ang kanyang pamilya pero nag bagong lahat yon nang mamatay ang kanyang ama. Nalubog sila sa utang at naging malamig ang naging pakikitungo sa kanya ng ina. Sa resort sa kanilang lugar ay namasukan si Anna. Nakilala nya rito si Arthur Bryce na unang kita nya pa lamang ay nagustuhan nya na ang binata. Isang secret Agent si Arthur sa isang patagong organisasyon na ang layunin ay sugpuin ang mga masasamang organisasyon. Lingid sa kaalaman ng dalaga na kaya lamang lumalapit sa kanya ang binata ay dahil kumakalap lamang ito ng impormasyon sa kanilang lugar. Unti-unting nahulog ang loob ni Anna rito pero mukhang 'di mutual ang feelings nila sa isat-isa. Lalo na mukhang nagugustuhan nito ang anak ng may-ari ng resort na pinagt-trabahuhan nya. Pero hindi naging dahilan ito para kalimutan nya si Brent kundi mas gagawin nya pa ang lahat para ma gustuhan siya ng Binata.

I went to the bar to blow off steam. He went to escape his world. Neither of us expected that moment. One too many drinks and I did the unthinkable. I kissed a stranger. Not just a kiss. A desperate, heated, reckless mess of lips and need. Right there in the corner of the bar, I kissed him like he belonged to me. And for a second… it felt like he did. No names. No promises. No consequences. When I walked into my new job the next morning, and saw him behind the desk. Matteo Russo. Billionaire. CEO. Cold-hearted devil in a tailored suit. And now? My boss. He remembers every detail. So do I. How long can I survive working under the man whose touch still burns on my lips?

Just a year after my father's death, my mother drops a bomb: she’s remarrying. But nothing could have prepared me for who walked through the door as my new stepbrother: Dave, the quiet nerd who saved me from being raped and had fucked the hell out of me on prom night. Now, he’s the handsome son of my mother’s new husband. The spark between us became a forbidden flame but impossible to ignore. As secrets, betrayals, and a surprise pregnancy threaten to tear everything apart, I realize I can’t trust anyone, not even myself. But one thing is for sure: I’m Carmen Cartier. And I don’t back down from a fight.

Today, I am going to marry the man I love, Damon Mark Olson. We didn’t have it easy. I am the veritable Cinderella and he was my handsome prince. People frowned on our relationship. Even his mother never failed to show her dislike for me at every opportunity. But Damon fought hard for me. At the church, I heard the first notes of Pachelbel's Canon in D and started my bridal walk. Damon looked dapper in his suit but he looked distracted, and his hair looked kind of mussed. Tenderness swept over me. When I reached his side, he took my hand. An electric current coursed through our connected skin. Damon looked startled, and I almost laughed, The priest gave us his blessings. And to Damon, he said, “You may now kiss your bride.” I held my breath as Damon very gently lifted my veil. Our eyes connected, and I saw a swirling mass of emotions in his gaze before his head dipped and gave me a kiss that jarred me. He kissed expertly, too expertly, that my eyes flew to his face. And that was when realization sank in. I was not kissing Damon Mark Olson. I was kissing someone who looked exactly like him.

“Are you sure she’s my f*cking mate?” I asked with gritted teeth. I already know the answer, but I still do not want to believe it. Of all the people, why does it have to be her?! Why does it have to be the daughter of the man who took my family away?

I suspected my husband was a detached ascetic. Every night, he'd skip to the backyard, muttering prayers under the stars instead of sharing our bed. When I slipped into something slinky, he'd frown and clutch his prayer beads like a lifeline. Now I was done with the cold shoulder, slapping a divorce agreement in his hands. That was when his thoughts started leaking into my head. "She touched me. Her hands are like silk. I'm dying to kiss her. When is she gonna be okay with me being a snake? I just want to cuddle her." "A snake?" I thought. "Does that mean he's packing two things? I have to find out." I leered at his chiseled frame, practically drooling. Before divorcing, I needed to test his things and my limits. I tripped purposefully and fell onto his toned pecs, ready to test the waters. "Whoops!" I gasped, setting the stage.

"I intend to propose to Naditya, uncle, aunt." Crazy. This is crazy. Please say that this is just a dream. Now! I tried to hold back my laughter. What's the word? Apply? Seriously! This is the most goals joke as long as I've heard. "You're kidding, huh? I swear! So funny. Wow! If you participate in stand-up comedy, I make sure you can be the winner. " "Na," said Bunda quietly. Chiko still showed a smile. "I'm serious and this is not a joke. You can tell the difference too, right?" Shit! "Ekhm ....like this Chiko, my wife and I really appreciate your good intentions. And Nana is our only daughter. We don't want Nana to be wrong in choosing a partner. ”Father began to voice, issuing his words of wisdomand I can only nod my head and wait for Chiko's response when my father refuses his proposal. "Yes, Uncle. I understand." "Since childhood, Nana has always been well looked after. Even the slightest wound, I immediately treated it. Because of that, I don't want Nana to be hurt by anyonee specially at his current age, he is still in a period of instability. He still can't tell the difference between really good and bad. " Good, Dad. Take out all your wise words. I'm curious, a lecturer who is so adored by students on campus, his application was rejected by the owner of this standard nose. "Because of that, we decided to ...." Ouch, Dad! Why do you have to hang it? Just say if you -, .... "Accept your application." "WHAT ?!"

Mature Content! "Do you want to divorce your useless husband and be with me instead?" Ang baritonong boses na iyon mula sa kaniyang likuran ay nagpatinding ng kaniyang balahibo. Tila muling nabuhay ang katawang lupa ni Adeline nang marinig muli ang boses na iyon. Pumikit siya, dinama ang init ng hininga ng estranghero hanggang sa nahagip ng kaniyang tingin sa pamilyar na tattoo sa ilalim ng pulsuhan nito. Takot ang lumukob sa kaniyang pagkatao, natabunan ang init na nararamdaman. Mabilis siyang humiwalay sa lalaki habang tinatambol ng kaba ang kaniyang dibdib. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman habang nakatitig sa itim na mga mata ng lalaking tila lalamunin siya ng buhay. "I-Ikaw?" Ngumisi ang mapula nitong mga labi, "Hello, my beautiful wife. Fancy seeing you here." *** Sa ngalan ng paghihiganti, nagpakasal si Adeline sa isang lalaking nakaratay. Ang tanging gusto niya lamang ay mabigyan ng hustisya ang dinanas niya sa kamay ng dating asawa at stepsister. Maayos sana ang lahat kung hindi lamang siya ginugulo ng isang misteryosong lalaki na nakasiping niya sa gabi ng kaniyang kasal. Dumagdag pa ang gulo nang biglang magising ang kaniyang asawa. Adeline was so confused but she knew she would choose the right path. Ang tama ang pipiliin niya pero isang sikreto ang biglang sumabog sa kaniyang harapan na nagpagulantang sa kaniyang buong pagkatao.

When her mother remarries, Elena is ready to embrace a new chapter of life—until she meets her new stepbrother, Elliot. The shock is immediate and painful: Elliot is no stranger. He’s the boy who tormented her relentlessly in high school, the source of her most haunting memories. Just as Elena steels herself for more heartache, she discovers an even bigger twist of fate—she’s been assigned as his secretary in her new job. Bracing for the worst, Elena is stunned by the man she now faces. Gone is the cruel bully who once made her life a nightmare. In his place is someone kind, protective, and determined to make amends. But forgiveness doesn’t come easily. Memories of the past clash with the undeniable chemistry sparking between them, and Elena struggles to reconcile her lingering pain with the man who now treats her like a treasure. Can people truly change? Or is Elliot simply playing another game?

Everything was supposed to be fine. I was dancing between success and happiness. My path was straight, with no major things to take away. All my things was going well, almost perfection, I swear, until I became the obsession of a boy named Maël, and my world became so crooked...