Zack Foster

When I received the news that my fiancé, Ellison Perez, had postponed our wedding for the 18th time, I happened to be walking out of the hospital, clutching my medical report. Once again, he had delayed our wedding for an entire month, all because of my adopted foster sister, Becky. I thought about what the doctor had told me. After hesitating for a long time, I finally dialed Ellison's number. "I can't wait until next month. If we can't get married tomorrow, there won't be another chance." However, Ellison only took my words as another fit of childish willfulness. "Don't be unreasonable, Lily. Have you forgotten how Becky took your place as the hostage? She was tortured for a whole month before being rescued." "It's because of you that she developed severe trauma. Now you can't even wait one more month for her to recover?" I could hear my parents' voices chiming in over the line. "Becky still suffers from extreme fear of men. Ellison is the only one who can calm her down. Isn't it your fault she ended up like this?" "You're being selfish, Lily. A wedding can wait, but Becky's condition can't!" I had known for a long time that ever since that incident, my entire family had chosen Becky's side. Even so, tears streamed down my face. "Fine," I said softly. "Postpone it." I clenched the medical report tightly in my hand. They did not know that just moments ago, the doctor had told me the truth— I was in the final stage of liver cancer. I only had one month to live.

On the day of my wedding, the video I had painstakingly prepared was suddenly replaced with intimate photos of my fiancé and my foster sister, Lindsey Remmington. Within minutes, it hit the top of the trending list. Overnight, I, a celebrated actress, became the abandoned bride of a wealthy family and a public laughingstock. Just when I thought I'd reached rock bottom, Connor Presley, the heir of Elluel City's most powerful family and the boy I'd grown up with, returned from abroad. In front of flashing cameras, he knelt with a diamond ring and proposed, silencing every rumor and every sneer. After we married, we appeared inseparable, our affection the picture of perfection. The only flaw was his infertility—his condition made it nearly impossible for me to conceive. For three long years, I underwent countless rounds of IVF. At last, I became pregnant. Connor was overjoyed. To celebrate, he threw an extravagant party in honor of our long-awaited child. But in the middle of the revelry, one of his closest friends, drunk and unguarded, muttered in Russian, "Connor, you've gone too far. Just because Lindsey was afraid pregnancy would ruin her figure, you put the zygote into Rachel's body and let her carry the baby for you two? If she ever finds out the truth, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Connor's expression didn't waver. "This was Lindsey's only wish. I had to grant it," he replied coolly. "Besides, having a child with Lindsey has always been my dream. Only her child deserves to be the heir of the Presley family. The days ahead are long—I'll make it up to Rachel, eventually." I stood frozen, my body trembling uncontrollably. That night, I made an appointment for an abortion. When Connor stormed into the hospital, raging like a madman, I looked up at him with chilling calm and said, "I understand Russian."

Selena was once one of Harbor City's most envied women. She came from an ordinary family but married into wealth when Jonathan fell for her stunning beauty. For more than ten years, she lived the life everyone dreamed of. People often said she was blessed. At thirty-six, she still looked like a woman untouched by time, living a life of comfort with a loving husband and a sweet, well-mannered daughter. Then Jonathan cheated. Selena cried for days, and it felt like everything had fallen apart. But to Jonathan, it was nothing serious. He thought a few sweet words, along with some handbags and jewelry, would make her forgive him. Even her best friends had known about his affair but never told her. They told her, "Selena, look at your life. Everything you wear, eat, and use costs a fortune. Could you really leave Jonathan? You're thirty-six. What could you possibly do without him? You'd fall apart in a few days." But Selena didn't listen. For the first time in years, she saw things clearly. She filed for divorce. Jonathan watched her leave with a smile, convinced she'd come crawling back within a week, begging to be his wife again. A year passed. Selena was still breathtakingly beautiful, but now she stood on her own two feet. Using the skills she'd perfected over the years caring for her husband and daughter, she built her own life. She became a top influencer with millions of followers, earning her own fortune and turning herself into a woman every man dreamed of marrying. That was when Jonathan finally regretted everything. But by then, it was too late. Selena was being doted on every day by Zachary Foster, one of the most powerful men in the city. The man spoiled her, adored her, and couldn't wait to make her his wife.

The notorious Alpha of the Black Wolf pack, Kellen Blackwood, is feared throughout the entire pack for his violent temper. Yet, everyone knows he adores his mate, Lilith Hayes. I am only an Omega, the lowest rank among werewolves, and I haven't awakened my wolf by the age of 18. Even though I became a laughingstock in the Black Wolf pack, Kellen still treats me as the love of his life. He always says I am as pure as moonlight, and he's willing to bow his head and surrender his pride for me. I believe him. Despite my family's objections, I become his mate. For five years, we have been together. He cherishes me like a priceless treasure. The Alpha Kellen, who shows no mercy outside, cooks meals for me and takes care of our home with his own hands. The fearsome leader, who never bows to anyone, gently lowers his head and shows deference to me. When my brother, Rex Hayes, breaks werewolf law, Kellen is the one who accompanies me to find someone who will testify for him. But on the day of the trial, the only person who can prove Rex's innocence, Ella Foster, is nowhere to be found. Rex is convicted of assault instead of being cleared for self-defense. The moment Rex is found guilty, Kellen is the first to stand and applaud in agreement. I lose control and run to confront Ella, demanding to know why she turned her back on us at the last moment. Ella clutches her stomach, tears rolling down her face, her voice trembling as she says, "Rex really is at fault. I can't just stand by and let my father be blamed for something he didn't do!" I stand there in shock, and then Kellen appears behind me. "Lilith, Ella is pregnant with my pup. I can't let anything happen to the pup she's carrying. Rex's punishment is exile to the Frozen Wastes. Compared to everything Ella has lost, that's already merciful."

The night before high school graduation, Ethan Luciano pulled me into his bedroom. His hands were rough, his touch demanding, yet my heart overflowed with a decade's worth of unspoken longing. I'd loved Ethan for ten years, and finally, it seemed my silent wishes had come true. Afterwards, as we lay tangled in his sheets, he whispered that he'd marry me after graduation. Once he took over the Luciano family's empire from his father, he'd make me the most cherished woman in the family. I believed him. The next morning, I sat curled up against his bare chest as he casually told my foster brother, Lucas, about us. My cheeks were flushed, and my heart raced, still clinging to the sweetness of the night before. However, then their conversation shifted into Italian. Lucas smirked, leaning back against the doorframe. "Not bad, Young Boss. Your first time, and the school's 'it girl' just threw herself at you. So, how's my little sister taste?" Ethan gave a lazy chuckle. "Looks like an angel, but a freak in the sheets. Who would’ve thought?" The room erupted in low, conspiratorial laughter. Lucas raised a brow. "So, should I call her my little sister or my future sister-in-law?" Ethan’s tone darkened, his arm tightening around my waist for a moment. Then he let out a sigh. "She’s nothing. Just practice," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I’m trying to hook up with the cheer captain, Sylvia Dawson, but I don’t want her thinking I’m clueless in bed. Cynthia Saville’s just a warm-up." He paused. "But don’t tell Sylvia. I don’t need her getting all emotional." They didn't know that I’d spent months secretly learning Italian, preparing for the life I thought I’d share with Ethan. I didn't say a word. Later that day, I quietly withdrew my early decision application to Caltech and applied to MIT instead.

“Huwag ka ng umasa na tatanggapin pa kita ulit. Dahil hindi ko masisikmurang magmahal ng isang tulad mong may dugong kriminal.” Si Rocky Bouchard ay isang ulila sa Canada na inampon ng mag-asawang Mary at Roen Bouchard noong sampung taong gulang pa lamang. Hindi nila alam kung sino ang tunay na magulang ni Rocky dahil wala rin naman itong maikwento sa kanila sa tuwing tinatanong nila. Kalaunan, naging legal na Bouchard si Rocky na siyang lumaki sa isang mayaman at respetadong pamilya sa Canada. Pagkalipas ng ilang taon ay isa na siyang successful na corporate lawyer. Sa hindi inaasahan, nahulog ang loob niya sa pamangkin ng kanyang foster mom na siyang nakatadhana na rin sa iba. Napagdesisyunan niyang ibaon na lamang sa limot ang nararamdaman at mag-focus sa career. Sa kabilang banda, si Cristianna Erica Rowanda ay lumaking breadwinner simula noong hindi na bumalik mula sa Canada ang OFW niyang ama. Wala na silang naging balita rito na para bang naglaho gaya ng isang bula. Dahil dito, kinailangan niyang magtrabaho para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya niya. Sa kasamaang palad, siya ay napagbintangang magnanakaw ng pera ng kumpanya na siyang naghatid sa kanya sa rurok ng kahirapan. Wala siyang kapera-pera dahil ang araw na inaasahan niyang unang sahod niya ay nauwi sa pagkakakulong. Nang kunin ni Rocky ang kanyang kaso, nagawa niya itong ipanalo at patunayan ang kainosentehan ni Cristianna. Gayunpaman, pagkatapos ng dalawang buwan ay muli silang nagkita bitbit ang kani-kanilang problema—si Cristianna na hindi makahanap ng trabaho at si Rocky na pressured ng parents na magkaroon ng asawa. Isang kontrata. Dalawang taon. Nag-iisang krimen na akala nila ay nabaon na sa limot. Magagawa kaya nilang ipanalo ang kanilang pagmamahal kung gayong ang dugo na nananalaytay sa kanilang katawan ay siyang hahatol sa isang ipinagbabawal na pag-ibig?