Theodore Dreiser

She gave him three years. He gave everything to someone else. Matapos ang tatlong taon na walang saysay na kasal, pinili ni Aella Ramirez na tapusin ang pagiging asawa ni Theodore Larson—ang kilalang malamig at sikat na CEO ng multi-billion e-commerce business—sa kadahilanan palagi nitong inuuna ang first love nito kaysa sa pamilya nito. Iniiwan siya sa mga mahahalagang okasyon ng kanilang pamilya gaya ng libing ng lola nito, isinasantabi rin siya sa kanyang trabaho at kinalimutan ang kanilang wedding anniversary. Sa huli ay binato niya sa mukha nito ang annulment paper bago iniwan kasama ang anak nila. Sa halip na masaktan ay muli siyang bumangon. Ibinalik niya ang dating negosyo na di kalaunan ay kumita ng bilyon-bilyon at nagtagumapay rin siya sa iba't ibang larangan. Ngunit, ang lalaking tumalikod sa kanya ay biglang nagsisi at nagmamakaawa na bumalik siya. Handa ba siyang balikan ito, lalo na‘t dumating si Matthias Sullivan—ang makapangyarihan at mapang-akit na kasosyo niya na handa siyang ipaglaban? Sino ba ang pipiliin niya—ang nakaraan o ang lalaking kailanman ay ‘di siya bibitawan?

“Just give in, Catalina,” Theodore urged. No way was I going to. After the worst night of my life, the last thing I planned to do was accept his ridiculous proposal. I mean, who coaches a grown man on how to win his fiancée? “I’ll help you find your son,” he added as I walked away. I froze, his car stopping alongside me. “You need my help as much as I need yours. Don’t be stubborn.” Frustration burned through me. “Why would you want me? Didn’t you see what happened with my family? I’m the villain here!” Theodore stepped out, closing the distance. When his fingers brushed mine, I sucked in a sharp breath. He grinned. “Well, in my story, everyone gets a second chance.” His thumb traced my knuckles, eyes playful but intent. “Even the villain.” ------------------------------------------------------- Catalina Rodriguez has always been the black sheep of the wealthy Rodriguez family. Having lost her mother before she opened her eyes to the world, Catalina did her best to survive even if it meant making a deal with her cunning stepmother. But all that changed when she fell into a trap and almost got thrown from the house. Then she meets Theodore Knight, a very sexy man with blue eyes who needs her help. After saving Catalina from her father's wrath, Theodore is drawn to her wit, charm, and fierce intelligence, which leads him to offer her a proposal; help him win back his ex-girlfriend from his uncle, and in return, he would help her find the son she lost years ago. But one drunken night leads to an even bigger mess: they wake up married. Will Catalina and Theodore really be able to pull through a year pretending to be in love with no strings attached?