Where Are U Now

I don't expect to be reunited with Reyn Aldric, the heir of Frostfang Clan, at a banquet to celebrate his ascendance. I also don't expect him to throw me out heartlessly. As I walk along a deserted street, my mind replays Reyn's mocking words. "You abandoned me for money and status, Ms. Valtara. Do you regret your actions now that I've become an heir? Throw this materialistic gold digger out! I don't want to see her anywhere near me!" And so, I'm thrown out of the banquet hall just like that. I fall to the floor. It's been five years. I didn't think he would still hate me so. Then again, it makes sense. Who wouldn't hate someone who left them when they were on the brink of death? But my dear Reyn isn't dead. He's alive and well; he can even get mad at me without worrying about it affecting his health. I'm about to die, though. I don't even deserve to be emotional. Why? Because my Heart of the Wolfkin beats in Reyn's body.

On the day Zachary Lake stands at the pinnacle of global technology, accepting his award, I'm lying in a hospital bed, abandoned by doctors because I can't afford treatment for kidney failure. On TV, the host asks him to call the person he's most grateful for. Without hesitation, he dials my number. "Shannon, do you regret leaving me?" he asks. I clutch the astronomical medical bill in my hand, the paper crumpling beneath my fingers. Forcing a light tone, I reply, "Can you take me on as your kept woman now that you're a big deal?" On screen, his face remains expressionless as he hangs up without a word. Then, his cold voice pierces through the broadcast. "Now, I have nothing to feel grateful for." But what he doesn't know is that when he was on the brink of death years ago, I was the one who gave him my kidney.

Richard, a 49 year old widower with two daughters. Richard had spent his life devoting his time to his girls and to his work. Ava, a 23 year old girl from a countryside with little or no knowledge on how to survive in Bellamy- city of bright lights and dreams and fortunes. These two crossing paths could only be coincidental as they lead different lives with a huge age gap between. But, maybe they were waiting for each other all their lives to fill the gaps. It would take a lot to be together. But how much can one take? An angry girlfriend. A selfish daughter. They'll find out that love is never enough!

It was the fifth year of my engagement to Jake Zimmer. Just as we were preparing to get married, his first love came back. Suddenly, every promise he had made to me meant nothing. Because of her, he began to resent everything I did. That was when I realized I was nothing compared to the woman he truly loved. I was tired, so I let go. I gave them my blessing and walked away from Jake’s life for good. But then, he changed his mind. He came back in tears, begging me not to leave.

Ailisha memutuskan untuk kembali mengikuti audisi bintang Kpop yang sedang diselenggarakan oleh beberapa agensi besar di sana. Sudah cukup lama ia tak kembali berkompetisi seperti itu. Terakhir kali Ailisha mengikuti audisi adalah ketika dirinya masih duduk di kelas 2 SMA, sementara saat ini statusnya sudah menjadi mahasiswa seni musik di salah satu kampus swasta yang ada di Indonesia. Itu sudah lama sekali sejak ia mencoba peruntungannya yang terakhir. Sudah bisa ditebak jika gadis itu tak pernah lolos audisi sama sekali. Karena kalian masih bisa mendapatinya di Indonesia. Tanpa sengaja Ailisha mendengar kabar jika ada agensi baru yang namanya sudah cukup popular saat ini. Rumor mengatakan jika agensi itu milik dari seorang pria non Korea. Meski baru berdiri, agensi ini sudah cukup kuat untuk menyaingi agensi besar lainnya yang tak kalah hebat. Sampai saat ini belum ada satupun media yang merilis profil pemilik serta pengelola agensi tersebut. Ailisha berusaha untuk memberanikan dirinya sendiri. Pada akhirnya ia kembali mencoba peruntungannya di agensi lain. SAN Entertainment adalah salah satu dari sekian banyak agensi yang coba ia lamar. Kali ini dewi fortuna sedang berpihak kepadanya dan membiarkannya lolos hingga ke tahap akhir. Awalnya ia sempat keliru, karena sejauh yang ia ingat sampai saat ini adalah dirinya melamar posisi penari. Namun pada saat proses wawancara berlangsung, kotak keterangan yang berada di formulir menunjukkan jika dirinya terpilih sebagai seorang penulis lirik. Rasa kecewa wajar timbul pada saat itu, namun tak berlangsung lama karena Ailisha adalah tipe orang yang cepat melupakan. Ia memilih untuk tak ambil pusing soal hal itu. Yang terpenting baginya saat ini adalah karirnya. Hingga dirinya terjebak pada satu situasi yang tak pernah bisa ia lupakan sedetikpun kejadiannya. Semua rasa penasarannya saat ini terjawab sudah tanpa sengaja. Pusaran waktu membawanya kembali pada pria itu. Tak ada yang pernah menduga jika hal ini akan terjadi.

"Let's divorce. Bumalik na ang ex-girlfriend ko at kailangan na nating tapusin kung ano man ang nakasaad sa kontrata. Bibigyan kita ng pera para sa panibagong buhay mo.” “Wala bang halaga sa ‘yo ang tatlong taon nating pagsasama para itapon mo iyon ng ganun-ganun lang?” Si Manson, ang asawa ni Claire na gustong makipaghiwalay sa kanya dahil sa pagbabalik ng ex nito. Pero hindi pa man naproseso ang hiwalayan nila ay gusto na agad siyang balikan ng asawa? Gayunman ay tinanggap ni Claire ang asawa pero saka naman niya nalaman na ang kanyang kababata na first love at mahal pa rin niya hanggang ngayon ay bumalik at buhay pa pala? Huli na ba ang lahat para pagsisisihan niya ang naging desisyon niya? Si Lucas, ang lalaking handang magpakamatay para lang iligtas siya. Bago sila ikasal ni Manson ay nagmamahalan silang dalawa. At ngayong bumalik ito ay naging kumplikado ang puso ni Claire. Hihiwalayan niya ba si Manson para kay Lucas?

“Nagliligpit ka…” puna ni Cassian sa ginagawa ni Ember na naabutan. “Why? Tapos na ba ang selebrasyon sa birthday ko?” Pilit na ngumiti si Ember at sinalubong ang mga tingin ni Cassian. “Naisip ko na hindi naman ako ang gusto mong kasama ngayon kaya hindi na ito kailangan. And about your birthday… may naisip akong mas magandang regalo para sa ‘yo. Sigurado kong magiging ma—” “Huwag ka na mag-abala,” putol ni Cassian sa sasabihin niya. “Hindi ko kailangan ng regalo mula sa ‘yo.” Natigilan si Ember. Napakurap. Mapait na nangiti sa sarili. Paano niya bang minahal ang lalaking ito sa harap niya nang gano’n katagal? Hindi lang lima kung hindi lampas dekada na espesyal ito sa kaniya at nag-iisang itinangi. “Promise,” muling wika ni Ember. “Promise at magugustuhan mo ang ireregalo ko. I want divorce, Cassian.” *************** Nang bumalik si Lauren, ang stepsister at dating kasintahan ng asawa niyang si Cassian Montgomery Syquia... alam na agad ni Ember na wala siyang laban. Mula pa noon ay alam ni Ember na si Lauren lang ang minahal ng asawa. At kahit ang sariling ina ay ito ang laging pinapaboran. Kaya bago pa siya masaktan ng lubusan, nagdesisyon si Ember na makipag-divorce para magparaya. Pero si Cassian? Bakit nang sabihin ni Ember na mag-divorce sila ay ayaw nito? At bakit kung kailan ayaw na niya ay saka naman ito naging interesado sa kaniya?

Anna Langford loved him once. She died for that love—betrayed and broken, watching Jackson Blackwell turn his back on her. But fate gives her a second chance, rewinding time to the moment before it all began. This time, Anna isn’t the same naive girl. She’s determined to protect her heart and take down the man who destroyed her. But as she steps back into Jackson’s world, the cracks in her memory grow wider… and the truth doesn’t seem so clear. When his rival, the dangerously charming Harris Liam, offers her safety—and something dangerously close to love—Anna must choose between the man she once trusted and the one who tempts her to start over. In a world built on lies, can she risk her heart again… or will love be her downfall?

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it's time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred. Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse. It won't be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

She was reborn soft, sweet, and touched — surrounded by women who never learned to let go. Evangeline “Eva” Claire Maxwell — Lioré was once a brilliant, overworked woman from a cold, futuristic world. When exhaustion finally claimed her, she didn’t expect to wake up as a baby in the arms of luxury — a second chance in a modern world where time moved slower, kisses came warmer, and desire wore velvet gloves. In a world without magic, desire is its own spell. And love? It’s the most dangerous kind of possession.