thick as daphne

Her silky hair was a mess. Her makeup, ruined. Her dress wrinkled like she slept on it. She was there, but her mind, elsewhere. Her eyes went to me. Her lips curled into a lazy smile. In every step she gave, my heart sank thinking she would fall. “What happened to you? Are you okay?” I rushed towards her. Her face twisted with disgust. “Oh, perfect Bella. The golden girl. Always correct. Always the best.” “What…” “Perfect Bella. Has the best grades. She doesn't have to fight to get into college, colleges fight over her.” “Emma, you are drunk.” “Perfect Bella doesn't drink. She is as pure as water. Saint Bella.” Her eyes glinted. “Perfect Bella doesn't sleep with her best friend's husband.” My body froze as a wave of chill ran through my spine. “What… what are you talking about?” She leaned in, her breath thick with alcohol, “Where do you think Marcus is? Why do you think I can barely walk straight? Is it hard to believe he took me and not you to that bad that was supposed to be yours?” My heart clenched. Tears started forming in my eyes. It didn't take long till they gave up to gravity. He… he didn't. We'd promised this morning. He couldn't. “He wouldn't.” ***** It's been a year, but the scars are still there. My past echoing in my head reminding me of everything that happened since that day. Every time I open my eyes in the morning to see... nothing. “You only get hurt by the ones you love the most.” “You only get betrayed by the ones you trust the most.” What happens when these two misbeliefs collide? ***** I hope I wrote this book good enough to make you feel it. Obrigada.☺️

On the day of the company's annual gala, my CEO husband suddenly assigned me an unexpected business trip. The plane had barely touched down when I received a call from his young assistant. Before I could utter a word, her voice came through, "Matty, did you send Daphne on that business trip just so we could spend more time together?" And then, as if to hammer the nail deeper into my heart, I heard his unmistakable tone—light, indulgent, full of affection, "What do you think, silly girl?" Her laughter rang out before she teased, "Then tonight, let's try something new. I promise you'll be satisfied..." The call ended amidst a swirl of suggestive murmurs. Staring at my phone, I waged a silent war with the pain gripping my chest. Again and again, I dialed his number, each attempt met with either silence or the cruel finality of his phone being switched off. Finally, I let out a bitter laugh, tucking the phone away as if to bury the wound it carried. From that moment on, I resolved—no more questions, no more efforts to understand this man who had once been my whole world. But fate has its own irony. Later, it was he who came back, pleading, begging me to love him again.

Daphne is a omega with a strong will to survive faced trials and challenges from not just her peers of her wolflessness but also from her mate who she expected to love and respect her. The goddess made a huge mistake when she mated Daphne with the Alpha who hated her so much for being so weak and wolfless. Refusing to admit his lust towards Daphne he continued to sleep with her whenever chance he gets. Daphne’s hope crumbled when she saw Alpha Kian’s new Luna, she tried to stay away but couldn’t. What will become of Daphne when Kian’s Luna finds out that Daphne is his mate? What would Daphne’s fate be when she found out that she wasn’t really wolfless?

Karina Wilson and Ethan Whitmore had been college sweethearts, who had promised to spend eternity together to prove the strength of their love. Karina has sacrificed her own career and an arranged match by her family to be with Ethan through thick and thin, but all that changes in one night when Ethan’s first love, Katharine, returns to the country and Karina realizes that for five years, Ethan had only considered Karina as a placeholder while he waited for his true love to return. Heartbroken and devastated, Karina returns to her home, agreeing to marry the man that her family had chosen for her. With her fiancé, Michael Hudson, she finally begins to understand the meaning of selfless love and starts to build her life anew. But with Ethan’s life crumpling, he finally realizes that Karina had been the reason he has managed to become who he was today. What happens when Ethan comes back into Karina’s life, begging for a second chance? Will Karina make the same mistake twice or will she finally choose to live for herself and the person who truly loves her?

“I need someone to act as my wife, for the time being. In return, you get everything you’ve ever wanted. This could be your chance to change everything. To fix your life. It's that simple.” She looks like his wife. But She isn’t. When Daphne is thrust into the life of a woman she’s never met, the stakes are higher than she ever imagined and she steps into a world that was never hers to claim — until now. The deal was simple: pretend, blend in, and don’t fall in love. But nothing about him—or this secret—is simple. One lie. One contract. One dangerously tempting man. What happens when pretending becomes too real, feelings get involved, and the past refuses to stay buried…? How far will she go to protect the secret that could destroy them all?

I stepped closer. Close enough to smell his cologne—cedarwood, leather, and power. My hand moved. Smooth, practiced. The pistol slide from under the apron into my palm. I raised it fast. But before I could pull the trigger— BANG. Not my shot. A scream tore through the restaurant as another man launched himself toward Romano’s table, blade flashing. Another assassin. What the hell— Romano didn’t flinch. He shoved the table forward, knocking the attacker off balance. The blade scraped across wood, not skin. I ducked instinctively as the room erupted into chaos. Gunfire cracked. Glass exploded. People screamed and dove for cover. “Get him out—NOW!” one of the guards barked. I aimed for the second attacker. Didn’t even hesitate. One shot—head. Gone. The guard saw me. Confusion flashed in his eyes. Then rage. I ran. I weaved between overturned chairs, plates, and screaming bodies. The smell of blood was real now, thick in the air. One of the guards grabbed me. I slammed my elbow into his ribs, twisted, and brought the butt of my gun down on his skull. He dropped like a sack of bricks. Out. I had to get out. My boots pounded the floor as I tore through the narrow hallway. But then— “Elisa.” His voice stopped me cold. I turned. Antonio Romano stood in the middle of the carnage, suit untouched, blood spattered behind him like art. His eyes were on me. And he was smiling. It was darker. Slower. Like a hunter seeing something worth chasing. Somehow, he knew who I was. “Interesting,” he said softly, tilting his head. “They sent you.” I didn’t answer. I ran. But that voice followed me. He knew my name. And he let me go. This wasn’t over. It had just begun.

After my father passed away three years ago, my mother drifted through relationships, never staying with one man for long. When we moved in with Professor Williams, I was surprised to discover his two adult sons still lived at home. Phoenix seems decent, but Jack? He despises me. He’s convinced my mother is after his father’s money, and that I’m just her useless shadow, dragged along for the ride. Their judgment hangs thick in the air—every glance feels like a scalding brand. And trapped under the same roof, there’s nowhere to hide.

Masayang namumuhay mag-isa si Daphne bilang Doctor. Hanggang sa nalaman niya mula sa kaniyang Ina na siya pala ay naka-arranged marriage sa isang lalaking hindi niya kilala. Sobrang hirap para kay Daphne na tanggapin na lang basta ang mangyayaring kasal. Kaya naman may isang desisyon siyang hindi niya lubos na pinag-isipan at pinaghandaan. Isang gabi na puno ng pagnanasa at kapusukan. Mas pinili niyang Ibigay ang kaniyang pagkabirhen sa isang estranghero. At sadya namang mapaglaro ang tadhana, dahil ang lalaking kaniyang nakasama nang gabing iyon ay si Treyton Louis Fuentevalle, ang lalaking kaniya pa lang pakakasalan. Ngunit, ang nakapagtataka ay hindi siya naaalala ng lalaki, at ang mas masakit ay ang kapatid niya ang naaalala nito nang gabing sila ang magkasalo. Matutuloy pa ba ang kasal? Makakayanan ba ni Daphne na makasama ang lalaki habang kahati niya ang kaniyang kapatid na higit niyang kinaiinisan? Paano kung malaman niya ang tunay na motibo ni Treyton? Kakayanin pa kaya niya?

Blurb: For her to go to Scandinavia, Daphne marries a man she met on a dating app. She can only fulfill her desire by marrying the handsome, hot billionaire named BK. They married even without love for each other. For BK, his marriage with Daphne turned out well. He can still do everything he wants. He can date the woman he likes. Because that's what they agreed on, not to interfere with themselves. BK's mind and heart were confused when something heated up between them. As with BK, Daphne starts falling in love with her husband. What will he do when he finds out that Daphne has given up on their marriage? Can BK still save their marriage?

Aliyah Ferrer thought everything has a happy ending including her relationship with her boyfriend who accept her even though she has many flaws. She decided to give her precious virginia to her two years boyfriend na si Randell planning to surprise him for his birthday, wearing seductive dress for the first time but.. kabaliktaran ang nangyari. Siya ang na sorpresa seeing him with her friend and co-worker Celine celebrating in his bedroom, feeling betrayed. Aliyah found herself sa bagong bukas na bar, sitting alone with a handsome stranger wearing glasses. Who doesn't believe in 'Romance'she was planning na pansamantalang makalimutan ang problema at sakit she drinks her heart out. But ended up giving her precious virginia to that handsome stranger and left him. Until the same man walked beside her former boss pakiramdam niya ay pinaglalaruan siya ng tadhada. The new CEO and her new boss at ang lalaking nakasama niya nang gabing iyon, but fortunately hindi siya nito nakilala because of her appearance, baggie clothes thick glasses and hair all tied up. Yun ang inaakala niya.. Forgetting her keycard inside her room and she has no choice but to knock on his door in the middle of the night she was trying to forget about what happened between them that night because for her it was so impossible for him to remember it. But when Ashton claimed her lips lahat nang nangyari ay nag playback sa utak niya , making her heart beat crazily. "your scent smells familiar" And she was wondering if he also feels the same...