Under The Hawthorn Tree

Ythaniel delos Reyes is the campus heartthrob. Tahimik, seryoso, at laging inuuna ang pamilya at pag-aaral. He rarely talks, but he has a soft spot for one person: his step-sister, Ashannah Zacharias. Ashannah is his total opposite, magulo, masayahin, at tila laging sinusundan ng malas. Trouble seems to find her, kahit anong iwas niya. Mabait siya, pero parang may sumpa. And every time may gulo, si Ythaniel ang laging sumasalo. Hindi sila tunay na magkapatid, pero may natural na koneksyon sa pagitan nila. He’s always there for her, whether it’s a late-night rescue, school drama, or family conflict. At si Ashannah? Sa kahit maliit na bagay, si Ythaniel agad ang takbuhan niya. Hanggang sa dumating ang puntong hindi na lang “kuya” ang tingin niya sa kanya. At si Ythaniel? Hindi na lang basta “kapatid” ang turing niya kay Ashannah. They didn’t plan it. They didn’t want it. But they fell in love. Mali sa paningin ng iba. Bawal sa mata ng pamilya. Pero totoo sa puso nila. Will they fight for their love or choose peace for the sake of family? Can love survive when the world sees it as wrong? This is a story of forbidden love—between two hearts brought under one roof, not to fall in love… but did. --- DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or events are purely coincidental. NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This book is unedited. Please bear with the flaws. I poured my heart into this. Thank you for supporting my story. 💗

At the age twenty-one, she lived a quiet, carefully crafted life and she only spent her days writing stories. Sa mata ng ibang tao ay isa lamang siyang simpleng dalaga na maraming pangarap sa buhay. But under a pen name known only to millions of readers, she was a celebrated novelist, an erotic writer whose real identity remained a mystery. But everything shattered that night... when she accidentally witnessed a crime she was never meant to see. Nakita niya ang grupo ng kalalakihang tinatapon ang katawan ng mga tao sa isang malawak na lawa. Pero bago pa man siya makaalis ay isa sa mga lalaki ang nakakita sa kanya at hinabol siya. What follows is a desperate chase for survival... until fate intervenes in the most dangerous way. Running blindly through the dark, she bumps into a stranger. Niccolo Madrigal. Hindi niya ito kilala, pero himingi pa din siya ng tulong sa binata para lang makatakas. At walang pag-aalinlangan ay sumang-ayon si Niccolo. What she doesn’t know is that the man she stumbled into is far more dangerous than the ones chasing her. Because he is known as the leader of a dangerous and untouchable group... He is a gang leader and has been obsessed with one person for years. The mysterious erotic novelist. The woman whose identity the world has never seen. And now, without realizing it, Caroline has placed herself directly into his arms. As secrets unravel and bloodstained truths surface, her peaceful life collides with a world ruled by violence, obsession, and control.

Si Steel Reynandez ay kilala bilang ang MVP ng Miamiranda University. He was adored by many, not only because of his skills under the basketball ring, but also because of who he was. Maraming mga babae ang nagkakagusto rito dahil sa pagiging misteryoso nito. He was quiet, cold, and had no interest in women. He was basically an introvert who happened to be a skilled basketball player. Kung wala ito sa ilalim ng ring ay nagtatago ito sa madilim nitong silid. But that would soon change. Thanks to Kennary. Si Kennary ay anak ng labandera ng pamilya ni Steel, at malaki ang pagkakagusto nito sa binata. She was a top 1 student in her class and had big dreams for the future. Nagkaroon ito ng pagkakataong makuha ang cellphone number ni Steel dahilan kaya nagagawa nitong padalhan ng mga mensahe ang binata na noong una'y ikinapipikon pa nito. But eventually, Steel would get used to Kennary's existence and they would become regular text mates. Napansin ng ama ni Steel ang malaking pagbabago ng karakter ng binata, at noong nalaman nitong si Ken-Ken ang dahilan ay ni-kombinsi nito ang dalagang tanggapin ang part-time job bilang personal assistant ni Steel. In return, Steel's father would finance her college education. Ito na ba ang pagkakataon ni Kennary upang maging malapit sa iniirog? Mapapaamo ba nito at mapalalambot ang matigas na puso ng binata? And... would she and Steel go beyond text mates?

"I, Stephanie Orlov, promise in my faith that I will in the future be faithful to the Imperatum, never cause him harm, and will observe my homage to him completely against all persons in good faith and without deceit." To be a part of Imperatum, one of the most famous maf!a organizations in the world, the oath of fealty must be fulfilled. At hindi basta-basta kayang basagin ng kahit ano at kahit sino ang sumpaang 'yon, not even the maf!a lord himself. Bata pa lamang si Stephanie ay napilitan na siyang sumumpa dahil sa mga taong kumupkop sa kaniya. She picked a kn!fe on her first birthday instead of a toy, and learned to use a gün first instead of a pen. Miski and foster parents niya ay hindi inaasahan ang instinct nito lalo pa at hindi naman siya tunay na anak ng mag-asawa. Kaya naman napagdesisyunan nilang imulat ang munting bata sa mundo na kanilang kinalakihan. And when Stephanie turned twenty-four, binigay sa kaniya ang isang titulo na iilan lamang ang nakatatanggap-the title of a maf!a queen. She's now the leader of the fifth division directly under the Imperatum corporation. She was doing good in life. Proud ang parents niya sa naatim niya sa organization. She established a good relationship with different maf!a corporations. She was respected and feared at the same time. Ngunit sa pagdating ng isang hindi inaasahang tao sa buhay niya, magsisimulang matibag ang pundasyong tinayo niya. Will Ava Ramos, the most sought out billionairess in town, be able to tame the ruthless maf!a queen? O isa lang siya sa mga magiging laruan nito gaya ng iba?

Tatiana was only seventeen years old when she forced to go to France by her father after her mother was murdered and her grandfather fell into comatose condition. After 12 years, Tatiana has become a strong and intelligent Captain of Special Operations Unit of French Armed Forces. She acts tough and arrogant but hides her kindness and suffering over her mother’s death,and her dark past caused by the syndicate who abducted her. After returning to the Philippines to have a vacation with a covert mission ordered by their General, Tatiana starts to execute her exciting and thrilling vengeance to annoy the five members of her family. As she follows her first stepbrother who enters the church, she meets Elias Gentry who is also a house boy in their mansion. He a naive man who has a lot of part-time jobs in order to earn money that he wants to give to his family before he enters the seminary. His family doesn’t like his dream of becoming a priest. But he really wants to pursue his ten-year dream because of his love for God. As Tatiana falls in love with him, she discovers the truth behind her mother’s death and her grandfather’s condition. She cleverly makes her mark in the history as she put her own family to jail that surprised the whole country. By giving her right drops of divine to overcome brokenness, Elias makes Tatiana step out of the darkness. But because she broke rules, Tatiana was forced to go back to France to face her punishment under the military law. Elias is left heartbroken but still manages to cling onto her promises. By the grace of the Lord, He brings them back together after a year and continues their divine story.

“Alam mo ba kung gaano mo nilagay sa kapahamakan ang sarili mo the moment you stepped into my house? It means that you are now under my possession and when I say you’re mine, you’re mine. No one can take you away from me, you have no right against your own body because that is mine too Glory, there’s no turning back!” Ralph Romualdez. Iyon na ang itinatak ni Ralph kay Glory, sa simula pa lamang ng relasyon nila ngunit ayaw ni Glory sa ganong klase ng pagmamahal dahil naranasan niya na iyon sa dating asawa na si Enrico Villanueva. Nakaka trauma, nakakatakot, nakakalungkot. Iyon ang palaging nararamdaman ni Glory kaya ginawa niya ang lahat ng paraan na magagawa niya makalaya lamang mula sa malupit na asawa, nagtagumpay siyang makipag divorce dito ngunit kung kailan handa na siyang magmahal ulit ng iba ay bigla namang sumulpot si Ralph na siyang nagpapabalik ng trauma kay Glory, lahat ay ginawa niya maiwasan lamang ang manliligaw na si Ralph ngunit paano kung isang trahedya ang maganap at kung kailan mahal niya na ito ay bigla pa itong makalimot? Maaalala pa kaya ni Ralph ang pagmamahal at panunuyo niya kay Glory? At matanggap niya pa kaya ang naiwan niyang kambal na anak dito?

Anim na taon na ang nakalipas mula nong magpakasal si Amelia kay Dante. She devoted herself to her husband and their daughter, Clara. Tiniis niya ang malamig na pakikitungo nito sa kaniya dahil naniniwala siyang mamahalin siya nito pabalik. Pero nagbago ang lahat ng natuklasan niya ang tinatago nitong sekreto. He has a mistress… living abroad. Habang pinapanood ni Amelia ang kanilang anak sa malamig na operating room ay nagdaraos naman ang asawa niya kasama ang ibang babae dahil nanalo ito ng isang international award. Dito niya na-realize na ang lahat ng kanyang sakripisyo at pagmamahal ay para lamang sa wala. Kaya naman nagdesisyon siyang pirmahan ang divorce paper. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng anak at iniwan si Dante. Lumipas ang ilang taon at nagbago ang takbo ng kaniyang buhay. She’s not just a housewife anymore, she became a well-known personality in medicine. Ang kanyang mga research ay nai-publish sa mga prestihiyosong journals, at marami siyang natamong international awards. Nagniningning siya sa publiko at sa wakas ay binigyan niya ang sarili ng pagkakataong maging masaya at malaya. And just when she thought she had everything under control… biglang dumating si Dante. Lumuhod ito sa harapan niya at hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay. “Amelia… Please don’t leave me.” This time, it was his turn to beg.

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this book contains sensitive themes and includes explicit scenes, making up approximately 20% of its content. It is intended for mature readers only. _ "Teka lang, Sir! A-Ano kasi eh..." Napangiwi si Mahal habang naghahagilap ng mairarason dito sa lalaking ito na binili siya sa Auction. "Are you kidding me? 'Teka lang?' Are you sure that's really 'teka lang?" Napayuko na lang siya dahil sa pagalit na natanong ng lalaki. Halatang napipikon na sa kaniya. Inilapit pa nito ang mukha sa kaniya para iparamdam sa kaniya ang inis nito at nagsalita, "Remember, I paid a hefty 10.5 million at the auction just to purchase you. You wouldn't have even set foot in that auction if you hadn't given your consent. So now that you're under my ownership, don't think you can fool me with your usual 'teka lang, sir' tactics kasi kabisado ko na 'yan." Para siyang tinanggalan ng utak na nakatunganga sa pinagsasabi nito na ang tanging naintindihan lang ay ang salitang, 'kabisado ko na 'yan.' Ano naman ang alam niya sa English kasi tulog naman siya lagi sa subject na iyon noong nag-aaral pa siya. Para naman huminahon ito, nagsalita na lang siya. "Ahm...wag ka na magalit sir, maghuhugas lang naman ako. Ayaw mo naman ng mabaho, diba?"

“Cum for me and be a good girl.” "Then make me, Roigie. Or are you only a commander when I’m already yours?" Roigie is used to being in total control—he’s a Villarreal, it’s in his DNA. When he gives a command like that, he expects absolute submission. He’s using his dominance to mask the fact that he’s actually obsessed with Aria. But Aria? She’s a rebel. She knows that the only thing Rogie wants more than her obedience is her reaction. By challenging him to make her, she’s flipping the script and making him work for the control he craves. Even though they’re at each other's throats, there’s this toxic, possessive energy. Aria is thinking, “If I’m going to be a good girl, it’s only for you”. She hates that she wants him, especially since she’s hiding the pregnancy, but she’d rather be under his command than anywhere near Luigi. While Roigie is busy trying to command her in the bedroom, Luigi is outside waiting to ruin it all. That’s the irony of the love triangle—Roigie is so focused on winning the war inside their marriage that he doesn't see Luigi playing a dirty game with their reputation. Every time Aria submits or fights back, she’s also trying to distract Roigie so he doesn't feel the shapewear or notice her morning sickness. She's playing a lethal game to keep her heart and her secret safe.     

Antonette met Lucas noong gabi ng eighteenth birthday niya at mula noon, hindi na siya naka-recover. Ninong niya ito sa binyag, pero hindi na 'yon ang tumatak sa isip niya. The way he looked at her that night. The way he smiled, like he saw something she didn’t even know she had. Pati ‘yung pagkakasabi niya na ang ganda niya sa suot niyang dress, tumatak sa utak niya. His deep voice. His body under that sleek black suit. Lahat ng ‘yon, hindi niya makalimutan kahit limang taon na ang lumipas. Matagal siyang nagkunwaring okay lang. She tried to forget. Pero sa bawat saglit na naaalala niya si Lucas, may apoy na nabubuhay sa loob niya. She wanted him. Badly. Lagi niya itong napapanaginipan, hinahawakan siya nito sa paraan na hindi niya kailanman aaminin sa iba. Pero panaginip lang lahat. At bawat paggising niya ay punong-puno siya ng frustration. Then dumating ang chance. Umalis ang parents niya for a six-month business trip at sa bahay ni Lucas siya pansamantalang tumira. Her Ninong. The man she had no right to want but couldn’t stop thinking about. This time ay hindi na siya uurong. She was going to seduce Lucas. Kahit gaano pa kamali iyon. Kahit may kapalit. And she won’t stop until her Ninong is hers.