Fading facades: love beyond the deal

In the modern day, where fixed marriages seem trivial, Gianna Emilia never thought she'd be in that situation. She never planned on getting married at the age of twenty-five, but fate had its own way of playing her life that one morning, and she woke up married. It was fine with her since it was her dad's wish, and she never said no to his wishes. She was that kind of daughter; she would always obey and follow. But for the first time in her whole existence, she regrets agreeing to that marriage. "This will only be on papers." She remembered what he said on the day of their marriage. His voice was so cold and full of irritation, making her feel the same. She regrets marrying him, the arrogant and cold-hearted Maverick Jaxon De Chavez. The guy who made her feel more unwanted and irrelevant and shattered her heart into a million pieces But how can she hate him if she has fallen for him? Will Emilia finally choose herself for the first time?

I'm Elaine Lopez. I'm a woman at the bottom of the food chain who once thought that love triumphs everything until my deadbeat husband cheated on me with another woman. It never occurred to me how exhausted I was with the marriage until she took the burden off me. Looking for a fresh start and vowing never to let love get in the way of the better life I'm forging for myself, I cross paths with Kingsley Larson, the ruthless billionaire who's known to have lost his smile and has a heart of stone. Entangled in a web of undeniable passion for one night, I'm convinced I'll never see him again until he turns out to be my new boss. If clawing my way up to the social ladder means I have to strike a deal with the devil, then I'll do it. After all, for our arrangement, all I have to do is to please him s3xually while I get to keep my job and live the life I have always wanted. But as we chase the lust that has taken root between us with no strings attached, it becomes clear to me that Kingsley isn't just the devil, he's so much more. He's my ruin, the same way I'm his.

Yara Martinez was meant to be a one night fling and everything that happened was meant to end right there in Montero Clubhouse. But that faithful night of intimacy led to an unwanted pregnancy which made Yara and Grayson have no other choice than come to an understanding if they want to keep the child.

Forestia Renae Frost is a twenty-two years old model who has always hated Adamson Rockwell, her enemy since high school and now the CEO of the Rockwell Group of Companies. In their class batch reunion held in a high-class resort, the two met again after years of not seeing each other and fell into a heated confrontation after getting drunk that ended up burning with long kept desire and passion. Forestia thought it was just a one night stand, but what if she suddenly received a call from Adam after a week of their first night and offered her an engagement contract? Will she accept the role of being her enemy's fiancé?

Ang unang pagkikita nina Isabelle Reyes at Andres Vargas ay sa isang handaan, kung saan kapansin-pansin ang natatanging kagandahan ng dalaga. Halos lahat ng mga mata ng mga tao ay napako sa kanya. Tanging si Andres lamang na nakasuot ng tuwid na unipormeng militar, may mahigpit na tindig, at tahimik siyang tiningnan na may kalmadong pagkawalang-interes. Ngunit dahil sa kasunduan ng kanilang mga pamilya — ang pamilya Reyes at pamilya Vargas — pinilit ipakasal si Isabelle kay Andres, isang bagay na hindi naman tinutulan ng dalaga. Matapos ang kasal, habang sila ay magkasama sa kanilang higaan, tinanong ni Andres si Isabelle tungkol sa ugnayan nila ng kanyang kapatid na si Marco. Sa pagkakaalam ni Andres, may malalim na pagkakaunawaan sa pagitan ng dalawa. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nararamdaman, dahil sa pakiwari niya, inagaw niya ang nobya ng kanyang kapatid. Ngunit sa paglipas ng mga araw, unti-unting nahulog ang kanyang damdamin para kay Isabelle at ninais niyang mapasakanya ito ng buo. Ngunit may isang lihim si Isabelle — isang lihim na siya ay muling nabuhay upang iligtas ang buhay ng lalaki mula sa nalalapit nitong kamatayan dulot ng digmaan. Maililigtas kaya niya ito, o magkasama silang mapapahamak?

Serve. Protect. Love. Venera Rustik Yates spent her life walking the runway as a supermodel. Daughter to a billionaire and younger sister to a responsible brother, Vee is the envy of many and a favorite of the cameras. Jordan Jacobs Gallagher left the limelight a decade ago to serve in the military and leaves no trail wherever he goes as he does his secret service. When duties bring them together, will they continue living their own ways, or start blending as one?

“Next question.” His eyes locked on her. He was close. Too close. Emily raised the tablet between them. “If your brand—” Scott pressed down on the tablet. Emily backed into the desk. Nowhere left to go. Scott placed his hands on either side of her, caging her in. His face inches from hers. “Scott—” “Next question.” His voice was rough. Emily’s breath caught. Heat flooded her body. “If your brand was a person,” she whispered, “how would you describe her—them?” His eyes dropped to her lips. “Resilient.” His thumb traced her jawline. “Beautiful.” His breath warmed her skin. “Irresistible.” The word hung between them. Emily’s heart pounded. One movement—one inch—and his lips would touch hers. She wanted it. God, she wanted it. “I should go.” Her voice shook. Scott’s jaw clenched. But he didn’t move. “The contract says no physical contact.” His blue eyes burned into hers. “It doesn’t say anything about wanting to.” Emily’s arranged marriage to Ian Hunter was a transaction—his family’s money for her father’s freedom. For three years, she endured his coldness, his cruelty, his mistress. The day his grandmother died, Ian filed for divorce and walked away with everything. Emily’s business collapsed. Ian’s empire grew. Now, she’s desperate enough to make a deal with the devil’s half-brother. Scott Hunter is pitched against his half-brother to claim his billion-dollar inheritance. One of the three requirements is a wife. Emily needs capital to rebuild—and revenge on the man who destroyed her. It shouldn't be. It's unheard of. It's supposed to be a simple contract: one year of marriage, no feelings, no complications. Except Scott can’t stop touching her. And Emily realizes she’s stopped pretending.

Polly is an Aspin who got separated from his mother and brothers when he was very young. He struggled to keep himself alive. He wanted to belong but what he got was rejection after rejection, heartache after heartache - yet he marched on with his leg that could not be bent. This is a story of survival - a story of hope - that even with his leg that could not be bent, love is possible.

The new teacher gave the wrong medicine, causing a child to suffer sudden cardiac arrest and die after failing to receive timely help. My fiance, who was also the vice principal, forged evidence on her behalf and pinned all the blame on me. I was fired and reported by the child's parents. Due to insufficient evidence, I was acquitted. But the child's devastated parents broke into my home with a kitchen knife and hacked me to death, severing me in multiple places. My fiance chose to cover it up for them. He disposed of my body and even comforted the parents. "A life for a life. Let this be my atonement." When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day the teacher gave the child the wrong medicine.

Sebastian Sterling was the CEO of the Sterling Group, ranked third among the world's wealthiest business leaders. We had a five-year-long relationship, three years of which we lived together. He told me he loved me so much that he was willing to sacrifice himself for me, yet he never gave me the title of Mrs. Sterling. During those three years of living together, he betrayed me three times, pushing me into hell with his own hands. The first time, he secretly obtained a marriage certificate with his close friend's widow. However, he knelt before me, crying and begging me to believe that it was just for protection. The second time, under the spotlight of media cameras and thousands of watching eyes, he held her hand and announced that she was his wife and the lady of the Sterling family. Backstage, he gripped my hand and swore in a low voice that he would marry me once everything ended. The third time, he spent a passionate night with her and got her pregnant. I discovered the truth when I saw them at the hospital, attending a prenatal appointment together. Loving him was death by a thousand cuts. I forgave him again and again, yet he betrayed me every time. One day, I finally walked away. In my pocket was my positive pregnancy test—I was carrying the child he had always wanted. Only then did Sebastian collapse to his knees in regret, crying out my name with a broken voice. However, he had lost not just me, but the heir he never knew existed too!