Vicious Cycle

Divorcés puis remariés, j'ai perdu le compte du nombre de fois où Aaron et moi avons ainsi fait des allers-retours dans le mariage. Il m'avait autrefois bien traitée, mais moins d'un an après notre mariage, il a demandé notre premier divorce. La raison était simple, Vivian est revenue. « Vivian est une personnalité publique », m'a-t-il dit, « Je ne veux pas que quiconque pense qu'elle est liée à un homme marié. » Tout ce que cette actrice de troisième rang a obtenu a été dû au sacrifice de son père. Son père avait pris une balle pour Aaron, une vie contre une autre. Et pour cette raison, Aaron a cru qu'il lui devait tout. Chaque fois que Vivian revenait au pays, Aaron divorçait de moi. Et chaque fois qu'elle repartait, nous nous remariions. La première fois que nous nous sommes séparés, j'ai noyé mes larmes dans le whisky et je suis retournée chez lui à moitié ivre. La lumière à l'intérieur était chaleureuse, il était avec elle. Et je suis restée dehors, grelottant toute la nuit. La deuxième fois, j'ai suivi chacun de ses déplacements, restaurants, ventes aux enchères, galas caritatifs, juste pour le croiser « par hasard ». Plus tard, j'ai appris à faire autrement. Dès qu'il a mentionné le divorce, j'ai silencieusement fait ma valise et je me suis volatilisée de son manoir. Mon amour et mon humiliation m'ont enfermée dans ce cycle sans fin de séparations et de retrouvailles. Mais cette fois, lorsqu'Aaron m'a attendue à la mairie pour nous remarier, je ne suis jamais apparue.

Zoe Colette Serpant o mas kilala sa tawag na Colette. Si Colette ay bunso sa tatlong magkakapatid. Isa siya sa tagapagmana ng ZC Group. Ang kompanya nila Colette ang pangalawa sa nangungunang kompanya sa Pilipinas. They handles thousands company of mall and hospital. Hindi mapagkakailang may gintong kutsara sa bibig itong si Colette, pero kahit na ganun hindi umaasa si Colette sa yaman ng kanyang mga magulang. Bagkus nagtatrabaho pa nga ito sa restaurant ng kanyang kaibigan na si Maisha. Hindi interesado si Colette sa yaman nila sapagkat hindi naman siya ang naghirap nito. Gaya nang ibang babae simple lang ang buhay na meron ito. Nagtatrabaho siya, nagpaparty at nagmamahal din, Gano’n lang ang cycle ng buhay niya, pero nagbago ang lahat ng mamatay ang mga magulang nila. Dahil sa pagkawala ng mga magulang nila, unti-unti nang nalulugi ang kompanyang naiwan sa kanila. Ang ZC Group na lang ang natitirang alaala nang namayapa nilang magulang kaya walang nagawa ang panganay nilang kapatid na si Haley kundi ipagkasundo ang bunsong kapatid sa anak ng Wood Group na si Atlas para ma-survive ang kompanya nang kanilang magulang. Ang Wood Group ang una sa pinakamayaman na kompanya ngayon sa Pilipinas. They handles multimillion of company. Si Atlas Wood ang nagiisang tagapagmana nang Wood Group, kahit hindi pa siya nagiging CEO ng kompanya nila. Kilala na ito sa pagiging malupit, masungit at babaero. Sex lang kasi ang habol niya sa mga babaeng nakaka-date niya. He was deeply in love and obsessed in her ex girlfriend to the point that he never forget her. Kahit na hindi siya ang pinili nito sa halip ay pinili ang kanyang matalik na kaibigan. Sa kabilang banda dahil sa nalaman ni Colette palihim itong lumipad ng amerika at doon nagtago ng ilang taon.

I am the sole heir to the Alpha King of Northaria, but I'm an Omega. All of Northaria awaits the day I come of age, hoping I'll awaken the kind of Alpha bloodline strong enough to claim the throne. But when the day finally comes, I'm still just a low-rank Omega. So, they say that the true heir must be one of the three "pledged Alphas" my father adopted from the major tribes. Whichever one of them marks me becomes the ruler of all Northaria packs. But none of them have ever truly looked at me. The one I like most is Quin Lawson. When I fainted on the snowy plains as a child, it was he who carried me back to the pack. I've tried countless times to get close to him, only to be met with nothing but cold, contemptuous stares. I used to think he was just emotionally distant—until the Moon Goddess Festival. That night, I saw him kneel before Silvia Anderson, the daughter of my father's second-in-command. His voice is soft, and his gaze is tender. "I'm marrying Evelyn only to repay the Alpha King's kindness. Once I get the inheritance, I'll make you my Luna. As long as she doesn't harm you, I'll even grant her a piece of land to live out her life in peace. You're my true mate." The night before the marking ceremony, my father asks me who I choose. I think of the way all three of the pledged Alphas look away whenever our eyes meet. I smile and say, "I'm the rightful heir of Northaria. My mate should be someone who brings the greatest strength to our pack. And so, I choose Alpha Heath of the Pyraxis pack." The air goes still. My father frowns. "Him? Are you sure? Every one of his mates has died under mysterious circumstances. His wolf is known to be vicious—no one dares get close to him. You truly want to be his mate?"

"Is my touch angering Ms. Gomez?" His fingers traced her bare back, as he whispered in her ears. "Don't worry, I'll fuck you more better and harder than that so called love of yours, Doll," His tongue licked her earlobe. She fisted her palms "So hard that you will beg me to stop," He nibbled her earlobe "What else can we expect from a monster like you. A fucking monster who had tried to force himself on an 19 year old girl," She blurted out. A painful hiss escaped from her mouth, as he grabbed her hairs and pulled them. Her eyes filled with more tears, recalling that inhumanity he had tried to do with her when she was just 19. "I have already paid for that fucking thing, Melanie, with my everything and now you will have to pay for what I had to endure in all these fucking 4 years, just because of you," He groaned, like a caged animal. "You didn't trust me but that fucking love of your life and now look," He brushed his lips over her cheeks. "That love of your life has sold you to me," He pushed her on the bed. "I guess that's enough talk for tonight," His gaze scanned every inch of her naked body, making her horrified. "After all, it's our first wedding night, Mrs Melanie Adrian Salvatore," He hovered over her and she immediately tried to back away but he pinned her on the bed. His hungry vicious eyes bored deeper into her terrified ones. His thumb started tracing over her lower lip. "Now let's make this night the most memorable and painful night of my wife's life," He brushed his lips against hers. "So, she can remember our first wedding night, till the last breath of her life,"

Merciful Lies Lies can be merciful. It just depends on the why. Anna:I knew the second I saw him, my life would change forever. When my brother offers me as payment to Nico Fury, the king of the Vipers, how can I refuse? Tattooed, built, and tall, he was the only man I saw when I walked into the room. It was like he occupied all the available space, sitting on his throne of blood, sweat, and lies. Nerves assailed me, but I owed my brother too much to let anything happen to him. One night. That was all. But it would leave me wrecked. Actions always had consequences. Six months later, my brother was killed by a rival organization, and now they were after me. There was only one place I could go to keep my unborn baby safe. I just hoped the king would be merciful. Nico Perfect things didn’t exist, at least not in my experience. But she was pretty close. I had her in my bed for one night, and I couldn’t shake the memory. No, I wasn’t meant to keep soft things like Anna Keller. My life belonged to my crew, and we were a vicious group. Hell, we weren’t called Vipers for nothing. But she was different. She made me want, and I loved and hated her for it. Anna was light in a world of constant darkness. She was all warmth and beauty like no other. And I craved her like a drug. Six months had passed since I took her in return for clearing her brother’s debt to me, but that man attracted trouble like honey did flies. It wasn’t long before I learned Sam Keller had gotten himself killed. Less than an hour later, Anna came back to me, on her knees, asking for sanctuary. I knew the moment I saw the swell of her stomach she was carrying my baby. Anna thought coming here would protect her, but she was walking right into the Viper’s nest. Before I was finished, my little runaway would be begging me for mercy.

On my eighteenth birthday, the High King summoned the heirs of the four great clans—the Vampires, the Werewolves, the High Serpent Clan, and the Merfolk. He laid their portraits before me and said, "Choose one to be your bondmate." I did not hesitate. I pointed to Damon—the werewolf with no noble bloodline, born in a forgotten corner of the realm. The entire court erupted in disbelief. Everyone knew who I used to love. Alpha Iris—the heir of the most powerful Lycan bloodline. For seven years, I chased him with blind devotion. No matter how harshly he treated me, I never gave up. I confessed to him over and over, sometimes right in the royal court. I even performed a blood-binding ritual—slitting my wrist—to earn the right to marry him. In my previous life, I got what I wanted—I married him and we performed the mate bonding ceremony. With that union, he inherited the High King's resources and rose to become the ruler of all four clans. However, what I did not expect was that after our wedding, he turned around and marked my adoptive sister. My parents were furious and sent her away. From that day on, Iris hated me with a vengeance. He surrounded himself with women who all looked eerily like her. One by one, they came—each more vicious than the last. With his silent approval, they tore me down, piece by piece, until I was nothing more than a joke—no longer the queen I once was. The suffering pushed me into severe depression. Only suppressants keep my wolf form from spiraling out of control. Until one day, my medication was replaced with a slow-acting poison. He was the one who did it. I died alone, locked away in the cold palace, a child still growing inside me. However, fate gave me another chance. In this life, I would not make the same mistake. When the High King once again asked me to choose a partner for the marriage alliance, I chose Damon—the one no one ever noticed—without even blinking. I thought I was finally free of the past. However, the moment the engagement was announced… Alpha Iris lost his mind.

Marizell Socorro Acevedo found refuge in bed with Teo, her fuckbuddy. Being with Teo between the sheets was a way for Marizell to cope with her father’s death. Naniniwala siya na hindi aksidente and pagkamatay ng kan’yang ama ngunit wala siyang ebidensiya na mapatunayan ‘yon. Kahit na dumaan ang dalawang taon kakahanap ng ebidensiya, wala siyang napapala. In the morning, she would tire herself looking for leads and at night, she would get comfortable with Teo. But despite the kiss and touches she’d exchange with Teo, she didn’t feel anything. Marizell already lost hope until they finally found a strong lead. Desperate for her father’s justice, she had let go of her relationship with Teo. It was just the sex she’s after so it wasn’t hard for her to let go. Handa na si Marizell para makamit ang hustisiya pero nang malaman na isang makapangyarihang pamilya ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay ng kan’yang ama, imposibleng makakamit niya ang hustisiya. The powerful and vicious Valleros were behind her father’s death. She knew too well that it’s impossible, they’d kill her before she could even file a case. But she doesn’t lose her hope, if she can’t get justice, then she has to get her revenge. She’s thirsty for justice but she never imagines she could be thirsty for revenge too. Everything was in alignment with her plan when she received a proposal from the Valleros. An arranged marriage with one of their heirs. In a blink, Marizell knew what she needs to do. Keeping her enemies closer would be easier for her to destroy them. She was ready until she met Teo again. But this time, he wasn’t her fuck buddy anymore. He’s Mateo Vallero, the ruthless of them all. And the worst, he’s her fiancé’s brother. Now, she’s confused and dumbfounded. Her plans crumbled every time she’d feel his touch. Now, she doesn’t know what she wants. Would it be revenge or him despite committing sin after sin with him?

“After drinking the potion, your wolf scent will be completely altered and your mate bond will be broken. Are you sure you want to do this?” The witch looked at me in surprise. "I'm sure." I nodded calmly and drank the potion without hesitation. My Alpha mate, Lucas, marked me three years ago but never held a formal mating ceremony because he spent three years designing a wedding dress for me himself. That was until a week before the ceremony, when I watched Lucas with my own eyes as he draped that Luna gown over my sister, Seraphina—who had been missing for three years. Even my beloved Beta twin brothers, who doted on me the most, were gathered around Seraphina. Seraphina and I were twin sisters. I had a crush on Lucas for ten years, but I knew Lucas had always loved her. However, three years ago, when the pack was on the verge of extinction after an attack by rogue wolves, Seraphina ran away, abandoning everyone. When everyone was in despair, I fought with all my might to protect everyone until Lucas and my brothers returned. I almost died in that battle. Lucas, trembling, held my hand and asked if I would be his mate. He said I had saved the entire pack, that I was the bravest she-wolf. My brothers also swore that Seraphina, that coward, had been banished from the family. They said that from now on, I was their only sister. Until two days ago, when Seraphina returned. She claimed that she didn't run away but left to lure away a more vicious pack of rogues. She said she had been poisoned with silver toxicity during the fight and only had a month to live. Lucas and my brothers believed her without hesitation. To make up for the three years they "owed" her, and to fulfill Seraphina's "dying wish," they decided—to give my Mating Ceremony to her. After drinking the potion, I sent a message to the Alpha King of the Northern Territory: I am willing to join the Northern Territory. Help me stage a fake death in a week.

My husband forced me into labor the same day his widowed sister-in-law went into labor. I was only seven months pregnant when he dragged me to the hospital and demanded that the doctors induce me. Eugene Cobb locked me inside the delivery room, his expression tense and urgent. "The baby Fiona's carrying has a rare disease. The doctors say he'll die as soon as he's born. They need umbilical cord blood and special stem cells during delivery to save him! My brother's already gone. It's my responsibility to take care of her and her child." A four-inch-long induction needle pierced into my body. Violent contractions crashed through me, cold sweat soaking my back. I said weakly, "Fiona's pregnancy has been perfectly healthy. How could the baby suddenly have a rare disease? And my pregnancy is high-risk. The doctor said I need to carry to term. If you force an early birth, you'll kill both our baby and me!" Eugene frowned slightly and pinned me firmly to the hospital bed. "The doctor already explained everything. The baby just needs to be born two months early. Nothing will happen." As Fiona Smith's screams rang out from the delivery room next door, something seemed to occur to him. "You're not trying to get rid of Fiona because I've been taking care of her all the time, are you? I told you a long time ago I'm only helping her because she's my sister-in-law. How can you be so vicious?" I stared at the blood spreading beneath me and begged through tears. As long as he spared the child, I was willing to divorce him and give them my place. Eugene's eyes filled with impatience. "What are you talking about? I'm the baby's father. Why would I harm my own child?" My umbilical cord blood and stem cells were finally used on Fiona's baby. Both mother and child were declared safe. Only then did Eugene finally remember us. But when he arrived at the hospital room, the only thing waiting for him was an empty bed.

While studying abroad, I move into a shared apartment. Not a single day goes by without my housemate, Stuart Harper, calling himself some variation of a sweet, brave, and responsible guy. On the very first day he moves in, he hires workers to take out the insulation from the walls. I confront him about it, but he simply grins at me and proudly boasts about his decision. "That was all just some shoddy foam that the construction workers padded the walls with. Not only was it useless, but it was even taking up so much space. The fact that I forked out my own money to get rid of it proves that I'm such a sweet and responsible guy!" With a scowl on my face, I explain to Stuart the purpose of having proper insulation. He immediately leans in close with an admiring gaze. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea! I just wanted to do something nice for us. What should I do now? You have to help me think of something!" I naively assume Stuart just lacks common sense and doesn't act with malice. Thus, I willingly enter into a cycle of always cleaning up after his messes. One day, I get a fever. He ends up buying a secondhand electric slow cooker and declares he's going to take care of me by cooking me soup. My head throbs as I quickly put a stop to his attempt to heat the electric slow cooker on the induction stove. I tell him to let me catch a nap before I teach him how to cook later. But not long after I fall asleep, he secretly sticks the electric slow cooker into the microwave to heat it up. The microwave explodes. As the flames start to spread, Stuart screams and dashes out of the apartment at once. The fire alarm wakes me up. I try to evacuate the burning building, only to find that Stuart has locked the door from the outside. In the end, the fire burns me to a crisp. After that, however, he starts twisting things around. He goes online and says with a helpless expression, "My housemate set the apartment on fire while cooking. I'm the one who had to call the fire department on his behalf, and I even had to compensate the landlord for him. I'm definitely the sweetest, bravest, and most responsible guy to ever live!" As the online community proceeds to condemn me, Stuart uses the attention and publicity to go viral as a content creator. Some time later, my eyes open again. This time, I'm going to roast him good.