Twenty-sixth

On the eve of the National Robotics Championship, I smashed my carefully designed bot to pieces and announced my withdrawal. Everyone said I was a fraud who was quitting out of fear of being exposed. Online, the netizens mocked me relentlessly. Only one person, Adrian Cross, the so-called genius of the century, spoke up in my defense, his voice dripping with false sincerity, "I believe in River Lowell’s skills. Only he deserves to be my opponent. No matter what setbacks he’s facing, I hope he comes back to the arena and proves himself." In my previous life, the robot I built was identical to his. No matter how I tried to prove he had copied me, Adrian stood before the cameras, wearing his benevolent mask, and said, "It’s fine. This robot can go to River. I can always build something even better." His fans swarmed me, tearing me apart online, and no one believed in my talent. I swallowed the humiliation and vowed to rebuild my robot from scratch. However, when I was assembling it, the Power Core in my kit exploded, shattering my skull. That same night, I was rushed into the ICU. Netizens clapped and cheered, saying I got exactly what I deserved. That night, my girlfriend, Lila Hart, signed the hospital’s DNR consent form without hesitation. Until the day I died, I never understood how Adrian had gotten my robot’s data or why Lila had joined forces with him. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day of the competition.

Emily, age 24, feels like she's treading water, unable to find work and uncertain about her future. She's on the verge of giving up, plagued by worry and a string of dead-end jobs when fate steps in and introduces her to Nathan, a gorgeous young billionaire and a single parent. Nathan requires a personal tutor and nanny for his 5-year-old, intelligent, and beautiful daughter, Lilliana, who is having difficulty adjusting to life following her mother's death. When he gives Emily the job, it feels like a lifeline. As Emily encourages Lilliana with her studies and emotional issues, she discovers a passion for teaching that restores her sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Nathan, who has been entirely focused on his work and daughter, begins to lower his guard. He admires Emily's generosity and drive for the sake of his daughter, but he's also afraid of exposing his heart again. Is their encounter fate or a curse?

"Kailangan ko ng anak, ibibigay mo sa akin iyun sa ayaw at gusto mo!" Elijah Villarama Valdez! Mula sa mayamang angkan ng mga Villarama Clan at walong taon nang hinahanap ang kanyang pag-ibig sa katauhan ni Ethel Angeles! Subalit nang matagpuan niya ito pagkatapos ng walong taon, napag-alaman niyang mayroon na itong ibang lalaking iniibig! Para makabawi sa lahat ng pagkakamali na kanyang nagawa dito, pinili niya na lang na magpaubaya pero sa isang kondisyon, kukunin niya ang kustudiya ng anak nilang si Ezekiel! Papayag lang si Ethel na ibigay ang kustudiya ng kanilang anak kung magbabayad siya ng dalampung milyon na kaagad namang sinang-ayunan ni Elijah! Para sa anakm na gusto niyang makapiling, gagawin niya ang lahat pero bago pa niya nakuha ang bata, isang trahedya ang hindi niya inaasahan na nangyari! Nalunod ang kanyang anak at ang itinuturo ni Ethel na may kasalanan ay ang maganda at sexy na life guard na si Jennifer Madlang-awa! "Hindi ako Yaya ng anak mo para twenty four seven ko siyang bantayan!" katagang lumabas sa bibig ng magandang si Jennifer habang kaharap ang umiiyak at galit na si Ethel! Paano matatangap ng isang bilyonaryo na si Elijah ang isang hindi inaasahang trahedya na siyang dahilan kung bakit biglang umusbong ang galit sa puso niya? Malalagpasan niya ba ang pighati na dulot ng matinding kabiguan lalo na kapag malaman niya na ang anak na inaasam niyang makasama ay tuluyan na siyang iniwan dahil sa kapabayaan ng mga taong nakapaligid dito or mananaig ang galit sa puso niya at pagbabayarin niya ang lahat ng naging sangkot kung bakit napahamak ang anak niya? Sabay-sabay nating tunghayan ang kahihinatnan ng buhay pag-ibig at kabiguan ng isang Elijah Villarama Valdez!

(SSPG WARNING, Read at your own risk!) What if one day you discovered that your father sold you to a handsome billionaire who doesn't know how to love? That all he needs from you is your body? Piere Monecidad frowned as he stared at the woman, Lumi Torinio, who was sold by her own father to pay off his debts and gambling addiction for twenty million. "Don't lecture me about love, Lumi," Piere said firmly, gazing dispassionately at the innocent face of Lumi. "It's written in the contract that I'm only interested in your body, and that's all you're here for. Don’t you dare cross the line by trying to teach me how to love someone." Piere grasped Lumi's small face, his green eyes uninterestedly staring into her anxious gaze. "Don't try to teach me to love you. Because what you want will never happen, do you understand me?" He tightened his grip on Lumi's jaw before bending down and kissing her lips, leaving Lumi stunned. "Answer me," Piere demanded firmly. "P-Piere—" "Give me the answer I want, Lumi. Stop calling my name," he commanded with authority. "I-I understand, Piere," Lumi answered nervously, causing Piere to smirk and plant light kisses on her lips.

Tiningnan ni Isabella ang kapirasong papel na hawak niya. Nanlaki nang mabasa ang nakasulat doon. "Kayo po ang CEO ng kompanyang ito?" hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Isabella. Ngumiti ng malawak si Maximus. "Yes I am. At mayroon akong offer sa iyo na trabaho. Magiging madali lang ito para sa iyo. Isang taon ang kailangan mong guguluhin dito. At ang trabahong ito ay nagkakahalaga ng twenty million pesos." Halos malaglag ang panga ni Isabella sa kanyang narinig. "P-Po? A-Ano po bang k-klaseng trabaho po iyan?" "I need a contract wife, miss. No feelings involved. Just pure business." *** Hindi niya inakalang lolokohin siya ng kanyang asawa. Sobra siyang nasaktan at nadurog ng pino ang kanyang puso. Hindi niya hahayaang maging masaya ang asawa niya pati na ang kabit nito. Kaya naman umisip siya ng paraan upang makapaghiganti. Isang dalaga ang makakatulong sa kanya upang makapaghiganti na hindi niya aakalaing bibihag din sa sugatan niyang puso. At iyon ay walang iba kundi ang kanyang inaanak.

At the age of twenty, Kyrous Lorcan is already contented on his life. But everything ruined when he met Scarlet Agape, his girlfriend's younger sister. Because of rage, he hated her and planned ways to punish her. Until one night, he found himself in bed with Scarlet. He was breaking and hurting her, just like what she did to him. He expected her to suffer and beg for him to stop. But, she just smiled and confessed her feelings to him. Indicating that she is desiring his ruthless ways of getting revenge. If Scarlet is wanting Kyrous' ruthlessness, will he still able to hurt her just like how he desired?

Amara Locsin, labing walong taong gulang. Lumaki mula sa pangangalaga sa kanyang lola. Pangarap niyang maiahon sa kahirapan ang matanda kaya naman nang alukin siya ni Donya Felimina na maging personal maid ng nag-iisang apo ng Donya, hindi siya nagdalawang isip na tanggpin ito kapalit ang pag-aaral niya sa kolehiyo. Zach Monterde, twenty four years old. The arrogant CEO of MONTERDE'S HOLDING INCORPORATED. Sa araw-araw na nakakasama niya ang inosenting dalaga na si Amara ay may kakaibang damdamin na uusbong. Ngunit paano kung bumalik sa kanyang buhay ang babaeng una niyang minahal at kinababaliwan nito noon. Handa ba siyang panindigan ang kanyang pangakong binitawan para kay Amara? Sino nga ba ang mas matimbang? Ang una o ang pangalawa? Sundan ang buhay pag-ibig ng nag-iisang Amara Locsin.

Mary Anne Monferrer was a rebellious daughter of the sinking empire facing bankruptcy which was the Monferrer Hotels. She lived a cruel life with her family, and was treated like an outcast. Her parents were heartless, and wanted her to taste their wrath as they blamed her in the death of their favorite daughter. She was forced to be sold, and was soon to be the sixth wife of Señor Adolfo Gutuangco, an old pervert man that used his power as a Billionaire to taste and impregnate every virgin woman that he wanted. Her parents wanted her to be their scapegoat just to save themselves and their sinking empire in the scandal and bankruptcy. She didn’t agree with what her manipulative parents wanted. They should be the one who needed to deal with their own dilemma. With that, she ran away from hell, and let herself be drunk in Arum to forget her miseries and pain in the family. She even shamelessly seduced a stranger that caught her attention, and asked to have sex. However, the heated one-night stand Mary Anne shared with the hot stranger would make accidentally pregnant with his babies. And little did she know that her world turned upside down, because the man that devirginized her was Daxton Delvecchio, a Multi-Billionaire that had a dark secret for being a Mafia Boss.

It's said that vallains were created through a heart wrenching story. After suffering twenty long years in prison paying for the crime he didn't do, Dominic Filipe, came back as an exact opposite of what he's used to be. With hundreds of goons under his wing, he became the feared mafia boss in the city. His connections and wealth made him untouchable. Ready to collect the debts that his ex-wife and her present husband owed him, Dom rushed to settle their unsettled score. However, he never expected that he would encounter the greatest obstacle in his plan, Autumn Romano, the woman he once had shared pleasure with who turned out to be his ex-wife's step-daughter.

Wounded Ego Series Chronology °WOUNDED EGO: Omega’s Disguise °WOUNDED EGO SIDE STORY: An Alpha’s Dilemma How far can you go in order to feed your own ego? “Twenty thousand dollars for every session. Have sex with me and keep your mouth shut.” These were the words that my Alpha boss left me the moment I caught him doing something shady inside his very office. It was obviously bribe money to prevent me from ruining his image. But even so, I still accepted his offer for the sole reason that I’m interested in knowing his true nature. But never did I thought that this curiosity of mine would only lead me into a much troublesome circumstance.