The Zookeeper's Wife Novel

Second Chance Series Book One. ***** To some, marriage is a word. To others, a sentence. ***** Excerpt He unlocked his safe and pulled out some papers. He threw them on my face and gestured me to pick them up. I glared at him, refusing to listen. "Come on, pick them up" he ordered like he was talking to a pet dog. When I didn't listen he crouched down to my level and picked them up himself. "Do you know what it is? It's our marriage contract, read it!" He threw them on my face again. "I said fucking read it!" He yelled loudly. "Don't make me do something, you'll regret afterward, read it, I'll beat you if I have to" he threatened. I picked them up with trembling hands and blurry vision. I saw my signature at the bottom of the page, my breath seized as I stared at it. "Read it!" He ordered, standing tall before me. 1. I will not work. 2. I will respect my in-laws. 3. I will do whatever my husband tells me to. 4. I will take care of my husband as an obedient wife whether I am treated like a wife or not. 5. I will bear children for my husband, I won't have any parental rights over them. My husband will have their sole custody. 6. Finally, I will be ready to go to bed with my husband at his wish whether I like it or not. A single tear fell on the page followed by many others. He snatched the contract back from me. "Now you understand your place?" He asked menacingly.

Lumaki si Angela mula sa bahay ampunan dahil sanggol pa lamang siya nang iwan siya ng kanyang mga magulang. Simula nang magkaisip siya ay si Donya Cynthia na ang nagbibigay ng lahat ng pangangailangan pati na rin ang nagpaaral sa kanya hangang kolehiyo. Ngunit nang maka-graduate siya sa kursong business administration ay tuluyan na siyang inampon ni Donya Cynthia. Upang ipakasal sa nag-iisa nitong apo na si Rafael Valdez. Matangap kaya ng binata si Angela upang maging asawa? Paano kung bumalik ang kasintahan ni Rafael na dalawang taon nang nang-iwan sa kanya ng walang dahilan? Kaya bang panindigan ni Rafael ang sapilitang kasal?

The night my husband, William Costello, was assassinated by his enemies was supposed to be a celebration—our wedding anniversary. I was dressed in his favorite red dress, waiting for him, when the phone rang. "Mr. Costello was shot at the harbor. The bullet went through the back of his head. He died on the spot." I collapsed to the floor. I clung to his belongings, mourning for a week straight. We even lost our unborn child during this time. Everyone said William and I were true love. Even the Don himself came to the funeral, resting a heavy hand on my shoulder with a sigh. He said, "All of Blackhaven knows you were the only woman he ever loved." Grief nearly destroyed me. I stood at the river's edge, ready to follow William into the afterlife. However, I overheard my sister-in-law, Emily Hawkins, leaning into my brother-in-law, Jones Costello, her voice dripping with a twisted affection. She purred, "William, I love you so much. Between Nina and me, who do you think is sexier?" "Of course it's you, babe!" came the husky reply. I stood frozen, my eyes wide and my body trembling. Why was Emily calling my brother-in-law by my husband's name?

Naging masaya ang pagsasama ni Kimberly at Alex sa loob ng ilang buwan. Hindi man gusto ng mga magulang ni Alex ay itinuloy niya pa rin ang pagpapakasal kay Kim at napagpasyahan nilang manirahan nalang sa New York. Dahil sa isang aksidente ay nagbago ang kanilang buhay. Hindi siya makapaniwala na ang tanging taong nagmamahal sa kaniya ay nawala na. Napag-isipan niyang bumalik nalang sa Pilipinas dahil alam niyang mabubulok lang siya sa New York. Ikinagimbal naman ng sarili niya nang makita ang isang diyaryo kung saan kalat na sa buong bansa ang engrandeng engagement party ni Alex at ng bagong fiancée nito, na ang nakakagulat pa ay pinsan niya itong is Breatrice. Hindi alam ni Kim kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya sa nalamang balita. Ang akala niyang napayapa nang asawa, ay magpapakasal na pala ngayon sa bagong fiancée nito. Hindi naman inaasahan ni Kimberly ang mangyayari, hindi siya kilala ni Alex, at lalong hindi na rin siya mahal ng lalaki. Matagal ding ipinilit ni Kimberly ang sarili niya kay Alex, ngunit kahit ano pa ang gawin niya ay mukhang hindi na talaga siya kilala ng lalaki. Kimberly needs to redeem herself again. Nawala siya sa kaniyang sarili simula nang malaman niyang patay na ang asawa, at ngayon na hindi na siya kilala nito, mas lalo namang lumakas ang loob ni Kimberly na magpursigi sa buhay. She wants to prove herself, ipapakita niya sa buong pamilya ni Alex na ang dating babaeng kinukutya nila ay nawala na.

Sa edad na kinse, ulilang lubos na si Myla. Namatay sa plane crashed ang kaniyang mga magulang. Dahil wala na siyang mga kamag-anak, naiwan siya sa pangangalaga sa mag-asawang malapit na kaibigan ng kaniyang mga magulang. The family treat her well. Tinuring na din siyang parang pamilya. Mabuti ang pakikitungo sa kaniya ng mga anak ng mag-asawa. Maliban na lang kay Ivan na may sariling mundo. Pero kahit na ganoon, gustong-gusto pa din siya ni Myla. Ivan is seven years older than Myla. Mayroon na siyang nobya at patay na patay siya dito. But one night will change everything. When Ivan went home, drunk and wasted. That leads him and Myla into bed. Nang malaman ng pamilya niya ang nangyari. Agad nilang pinakasal ang dalawa kahit pa labis ang pagtutol ni Ivan. "Masaya ka ba sa pagsira sa buhay ko?" tanong ni Ivan habang matalas ang mga mata na nakatingin kay Myla.

Kaitlyn Ashenwood faced a choice when she discovered her partner wasn't in love with her. Opting to grant him the freedom he desired, she expressed her decision with the words, "He was in love with someone else, not me." On the other side, Dean Castellan, despite achieving his planned success, found himself at a loss when the woman who brought him happiness that he never appreciated, exited his life. Now grappling with emptiness, he yearns to win her back, questioning the validity of his feelings. As the story unfolds, the 30-year-old businessman must confront the challenge of regaining his ex-wife's affection or accepting the possibility of her finding solace in another's embrace.

Blair endured a marriage of convenience with the renowned racing driver, Ethan, for three long years. Despite her love and devotion, all she received in return were betrayal and humiliation. When Blair finally gathers the courage to divorce Ethan, fate deals her a cruel blow in the form of a car accident. Shockingly, the vehicle responsible for her injuries is none other than her ex-husband Ethan's car itself! Determined to sever all ties with Ethan and vanish from his life, Blair concocts a plan to fake her own death. However, she knows she cannot leave Ethan's life without a lasting reminder, and the most poignant reminder of all is the child growing within her womb.

Abigail Gutierez is the wife of the billionaire businessman, Sebastian Ashford. Maganda, mapagmahal, mabait at maalaga. They're happily married for 2 years kahit wala pang anak. Hanggang sa napag desisyunan nilang mag-asawa na mag-ampon ng bata. Dahil ayon sa doctor na tumingin sa kanya ay baog siya. At hindi ito lingid sa kaalaman ng kanyang asawa. Tinanggap pa rin siya nito ng buo. Akala ni Abi sapat na ang bata para matawag sila na isang buong pamilya. Ngunit habang tumatagal nararamdaman ni Abi ang kagustuhan ng asawa niyang magkaroon ng sarili nitong anak na galing mismo sa dugo't laman nito. Isang bagay na hindi niya maibigay-bigay sa asawa. Hanggang isang araw nadatnan niya ang kanyang asawa na nakapatong sa ibang babae. Masakit na malaman niyang baog siya, ngunit mas masakit pala na makita ang asawa mong may pinapatungang iba. At sa kanyang paglayo ay mayroon namang dumating na panibagong pag-asa na kukompleto sa kanyang buhay. Ngunit paano kung muling bumalik ang taong nanakit sa puso at pagkatao niya? Magagawa pa bang magpatawad ng isang pusong wasak?

Her world was crumbling under the betrayal of her fiance and sister, spurred on by her parents’ favoritism, when he appeared before her. He was her guardian angel in her darkest hour. This man could change the Brookville city’s destiny with just a glance, yet he chose her. “"Marry me. I'll bring you unimaginable happiness!" After marriage: "Sir, her elder sister's been terrible to her!" “Get that agency contract signed and make my wife the boss instead!" "Sir, your grandfather is offering the lady money to leave you!" "Did she take it?" "Yes, but she claims it's not nearly enough!" "Well, then let's double it," he said, pausing thoughtfully. "Get the extra from Granddad." "Sir, everyone’s whispering about how she's not good enough for you!" "Well, they've got it wrong. It's me who strives to be worthy of her presence." As time went on, all of Brookville came to know of Charles Hoffman and the wife he cherished beyond reason, doting on her to the point of wild abandon. However, not a single one of them knew about that fateful summer day she leaped into his embrace under the rustling trees. In that moment, their love was sealed for eternity.

What would you do if your world suddenly turned upside down? How much can you sacrifice just to win back the one you love? Amanda ‘Mandy’ Collins, a young beautiful girl who loves to play with every man’s feelings, was forced to marry the son of her mother’s best friend, Andrew Bradford. She hated the idea but later on agreed as her mother fell ill. Andrew Bradford is the most perfect man every girl would ever meet. He is a rich and handsome billionaire who was secretly in love with Mandy even before their marriage. One day, the situation suddenly reversed. Andrew became cold towards Mandy and brought a woman into his mansion. While Mandy realized that she fell in love with Andrew when she felt hurt and jealous by the presence of his other woman. How long could Mandy hold onto her feelings after this playful twist of fate?