a botanist's guide to parties and poisons

“Aku bersedia menjadi papa untuk anakmu, tetapi jangan pernah berharap agar aku menganggapmu layaknya seorang istri.” Demi mewujudkan mimpi putranya yang sangat ingin memiliki seorang papa, Lily bersedia melakukan pernikahan kontrak dengan Keenan yang juga kebetulan terdesak untuk mencari seorang istri demi mewarisi perusahaan keluarganya. Perjanjian pun dilakukan di mana hubungan keduanya akan terlihat harmonis hanya di depan sang anak saja. Namun, mereka tak bisa menolak takdir yang telah menumbuhkan perasaan tak biasa. Sayangnya kemunculan sosok masa lalu juga tidak bisa dielakkan. Membuat keduanya berat untuk melangkah lebih jauh lagi. Akankah Lily dan Keenan akan tetap bersama? Ataukah masing-masing memilih menyerah saat tak ada lagi alasan untuk bertahan?

WARNING ⚠️ SOME SCENES CONTAINS WORDS THAT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS..!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK ...!!! Dala ng matinding bugso ng damdamin sa pagdadalaga Amber Rizalyn Joy got pregnant at the age of seventeen, without knowing who is the man she slept with on that night. Paano kung isang araw ay makakaharap niya ang lalaking kamukhang-kamukha ng kan'yang anak? Would it be possible that the man in front of her is the father of her son? Paano kung bigla na lang itong sumulpot sa kan'yang harapan kasama ang kanilang anak at yayain s'yang magpapakasal? Kaya n'ya bang tanggihan ang alok nito sa kabila ng nasaksihan n'yang pagmamakaawa ng kan'yang anak sa ama nito na pakasalan s'ya at buoin ang kanilang pamilya. Ano ang naghihintay na buhay sa kanilang mag-ina sa piling ng isang mafia? Magiging reyna kaya s'ya sa puso ng lalaki o magiging asawa lang dahil sa anak nila? Paano kung isang pagsubok ang dumating sa kanilang pagsasama? Pagsubok na s'yang sisira sa tiwala nila sa isat-isa kasama na ang kanilang pagsasama bilang mag-asawa. Mananaig kaya ang nabuong pagmamahalan laban sa tiwala na nasira at nawasak?

“Get up and strip” The unknown man commanded, his deep voice reverberated through the room bringing me out of my ogling phase. I stared on mortified as sudden realization hit me. I’ve just been bought for a one night stand by this unbelievably handsome man, but that means I’ll loose my virginity tonight!. Feeling his piercing gaze at me, I get up to undress but instinctively move towards the counter for a glass to alleviate the burning feeling creeping through my veins. “God damn it!, why won’t it bulge, I’m positive this zipper is determined to ruin my life”. I said underneath my breath as I dare not spare him a glance. I gulped as I summoned courage to meet his fierce gaze and with an almost inaudible tone I pleaded “It won’t bulge, can you help me?” He closed the gap between us with long strides while I subconsciously retreated till I hit the wall, my breathe hitched as he locked my lips. “Pah!” The sound of a slap resounded through the room, My eyes filled with terror as I raised my hands to cover my mouth. What have I done? I asked mentally still stunned at my action. “How dare you!” He roared and I knew I was done for!. What would happen if a legitimate but outcast daughter of one of the prestigious families decides to sell her body for money and unexpectedly gets into a contract marriage with a cold blooded mafia boss? Will their encounter be just a one night stand? Why would the world’s richest and powerful tyrant choose to enter a marriage of convenience? Find out in <<<Auctioned to a Mafia boss>>> Disclaimer: the book cover isn’t mine, credit goes to google

A rebellious woman and a policeman. Will she accept that she was loved and chained by him? Tunay nga na kapag tumitigas ang ulo ng isang bata, kailangang dinidisiplina. Pero sa kaso ni Gisselle na dalaga na, hindi niya matanggap na dinidisiplina siya ng isang pulis na hindi niya naman kilala. Ang nais niya lang naman ay magrebelde dahil sa sama ng loob niya sa sarili niyang ama na dating pulis, na aniya’y tila wala naman daw sa katuwiran, at abusado sa karapatan ng kababaihan. Naging party girl siya dahil sa mga barkada niya at sinasadyang magpa-late ng uwi upang inisin ang kaniyang ama. Pero ang hindi niya alam, iyon na pala ang huling beses na magagawa niya ang mga bagay na ’yon. Nahuli siya ng mga pulis sa kalsada nang hating-gabi, at naging buena manong curfew violator sa gabing iyon. Napatawan siya ng community service sa loob ng isang buwan. Naiinis siya sa tuwing nakakakita siya ng mga pulis, lalo na ang lalaking hindi niya inaasahang makikilala niya. Naiinis siya lalo dahil desidido itong palambutin ang ulo niya. Tahimik lamang itong lalaki pero walang sinoman ang kayang bumali sa mga salita nito. Hanggang sa hindi niya namamalayan na nag-iiba na pala ang tingin at pananaw niya sa mga pulis, na hindi pala lahat ay masasama tulad ng iniisip niya noon. May tulad pa rin pala ni PCol. Carlos Joseph Guevarra na matino at disiplinadong pulis na magpapatino sa kaniyang rebeldeng pag-iisip. Lingid sa kaalaman ng dalaga, may lihim palang interes sa kaniya ang single at treinta y tres anyos na pulis. Kaya naman pala kahit na anong gawin niya ay pinapansin agad nito at todo kung makaprotekta sa kaniya. Papaano niya kaya mapipigilan ang lalaki kung siya mismo ay hindi ito magawang mapaikot sa mga kamay niya?

CAROLINE PATRICIA FROWLINE, is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Frowline. Nang ipinanganak siya ay namatay ang kanyang ina kaya hindi ito naikasal sa kanyang ama. Kahit na ganun ay lumaki siyang mabait, magalang at masipag. May potensyal sa negosyo ang dalaga so she gave her all into it. May pinupusuan siyang binata pero hindi niya ito tinuunan ng pansin dahil alam niyang wala siyang pag-asa—not until both of their fathers arranged their marriage. Tumutol siya nung una, pero pumayag na rin siya. Alang-alang sa ama niya, at dahil mahal niya ang binata. Caroline thought that once she married him, he would bring heaven to her—but it turned out to be the other way around. Sa simula lang pala maayos ang lahat. She lost their first baby because of him. He keeps hurting her every time umuuwi ito galing trabaho. It was endless misery until one day, she saw him lying on the ground outside, unconscious with blood on his chest. She was seen on the crime scene, so the police took her into custody and accused her of murdering her husband. She was sent to jail for 8 years. When she got out, akala niya ay OKAY na ang lahat, but when she went to her father's house, she was kicked out. She was left with nothing. The accusation of her killing her husband changed her life, pero hindi sumuko si Caroline. Nangako siyang babangon siyang muli at binago ang kanyang katauhan bilang ROSITA MANSALANG. Namasukan siya bilang katulong sa binatang si CROSS RAVEN WOODSMAN—isang binata na obsessed sa kanya. Pero malamig pa sa yelo, at walang sinasanto pag-dating sa ibang tao. At parte ang binata ng isang malaking organisasyon sa bansa. Tatanggapin kaya ni Rosita ang pag-ibig ng binata sa kanya? O may matutuklasan ang binata sa kanya?

Beautiful but poor Klara Santos hasn't had much luck in her life, but circumstances lead her to meet rich and handsome Logan Falcon at the exclusive club she works in. Charm by her, the two begin a relationship of opposites. ___ Orphaned at a young age, 19-year-old Klara Santos has relied on the goodness of others to get ahead in life. With her fierce will and drive to succeed, Klara is finally on the path to a way out of her impoverished life. While studying, she takes a job as a waitress at an exclusive club where she meets handsome CEO Logan Falcon who is immediately taken by her. When he finds out about her situation, Logan extends an offer that will allow her to focus fully on her studies and the two eventually fall for each other. However, Logan's father is unhappy with the union and does all in his power to keep them apart. Money, illness, and misunderstandings all stand in Logan and Klara's path to their happily ever after. With their love put to the test, will they be able to overcome all their obstacles?

Blurb: Lucas Sterling was stunned when a DNA test revealed that his three-year-old twins weren't his. His wife, Elena, is devastated as he files for divorce and publicly denounces her. But there’s a twist—Elena’s stepsister, Sabrina, had been scheming behind the scenes, with jealousy as her main motive. Now, years later, Lucas discovers the truth: The twins were his, and Elena was innocent all along. But it’s too late—she’s moved on and built a life without him. As Lucas fights to win her back, he must navigate family betrayal and the growing tension between his heart and his empire. Will their twisted vows of betrayal and passion lead to a second chance, or is the damage irreversible?

"I will never marry and pass this curse on to another human being. Do you understand? It's your fault that I'm broken! I will never give you the satisfaction of having a child from me! I will remain a lonely man! I promise you that!" "They say you should; never say, Never." Dexter Lee is about to find out why that statement is so true. Though he meant every word he said, despite being tall, dark, and handsome, it doesn't hurt that he is the only son of one of the 3% wealthiest Billionaire families in the world. He's the kind of man a girl can only wish to obtain because he checks all the boxes perfectly on the outside. Yes, Dexter Lee would have been perfect if he wasn't a broken man with a haunting secret that only a unique martial bond could cure. But he promises Never to Marry. All that will change when he unimaginably meets the most unlikely and intriguing girl. Is Tameka Tran the cure this broken man needs? Or will she only make his lonely existence more miserable? It's a riveting sweet romance novel. No cheating. No cliffhangers. Happy ending? You'll have to read it to find out.

Luke finally agreed to bind with me, urged by his mother Monica on her deathbed. Moonlight spilled through the window, casting a glow on his golden-brown fur. He stood by the bed, his amber wolf eyes deep and seemingly nervous. As soon as he stepped out of the room, his expression returned to its usual calm, and he said to me coldly, "Emma, let's wait a little longer." "I need to bond with Alina first," he continued, his wolf eyes distant, his tone neutral. "Her mother is seriously ill, and I promised her." "What about your mother? She wants to witness our bonding too!" "I have to bond with Alina first. You don't need to worry about my mother’s health," he said, as he effortlessly removed the vow ring Monica had given me from my finger, then turned and walked away. His little wolf followed, its tail wagging happily, showing no sign of reluctance. But as soon as he left, his mother suddenly took a turn for the worse. By the time Monica passed away, I was the only one by her side. Weakly, she squeezed my hand and whispered, "Emma, don’t wait for him anymore. Find someone who truly loves you." Her hand fell limp, and in the quiet darkness, I made two calls. The first was to the church, changing our marking ceremony to a funeral for his mother. The second call was to my best friend. Her brother was the Alpha of another pack, with dark fur and sharp green eyes. "He once said that if I was willing, he would bond with me... Is that promise still valid?" There was a pause on the other end before a deep voice, full of natural authority, came through: "Emma, have you finally figured it out?"

Seven years ago, Althea Marquez was ready to share life-changing news with Mikhael Bryce Henderson—the love of her life—when she discovered he had returned to his ex. Heartbroken, Althea fled abroad to raise their child alone. Now back in the Philippines, Althea is shocked to find her new boss is none other than Mikhael, now a powerful CEO. Furious and confused by her sudden disappearance, Mikhael demands answers, but Althea remains cold and distant. As secrets from their past come to light, including the startling revelation of Althea's father's connection to Mikhael, both are forced to confront painful truths. To make matters worse, Mikhael's ex-fiancée re-enters his life, determined to win him back. Amidst betrayal, hidden enemies, and unresolved feelings, Althea and Mikhael must decide whether to fight for their rekindled love or let the past tear them apart once more.