may day eve by nick joaquin

My marriage to Lucian Hawke was hailed as the most perfect union in the mafia world. As the daughter of the Sinclair family and him being the sole heir of the Hawke family, our marriage united the two most powerful mafia families in the Northeastern. I thought we were unbreakable. Then, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. As if life couldn’t get any worse, my husband's first love returned—on the very same day. That night, the man I’d been married to for years didn’t come home. The next morning, his voice was cold, distant. Indifferent. “I’ve got the divorce papers ready. When can you come sign them?” I hesitated, struggling to steady my voice. “I’m still at the hospital.” He didn’t even pause. “I don’t care if you're on your deathbed, Elara. Come home and sign the goddamn papers.” My heart shattered, but I refused to let it show. “As you wish, Lucian.” What he didn’t know was that I was dying—literally. A week later, at my funeral, Lucian wearing a tuxedo, weeping at my grave, whispering regrets he should have voiced when I was still breathing. Ironically, my funeral day, was also his wedding day with his sweetheart. But it was too late, my love. This time, you’ll never see me again.

Siapa sangka, liburan yang awalnya terasa begitu menyenangkan tiba-tiba berubah menjadi sebuah bencana? Tiba-tiba Tante Ariane dan Om Frank melamarku untuk dinikahkan dengan Aldert, anak angkat mereka. Kami sedang berlibur di Brussel waktu itu terjadi, mengacaukan daya kerja otak, jantung dan pernapasanku secara total. Menjajah kebahagiaan yang selama hampir satu bulan kudapatkan di Netherlands, tentu saja. Merubah istilah holiday menjadi broken day. Apakah aku tidak berusaha untuk menolak? Sudah. Mati-matian bahkan, dengan mengerahkan seluruh kekuatan jiwa dan raga. Tapi mereka ditambah dengan Mama justru semakin gigih untuk mengalahkan pendirianku. Oh, sebenarnya aku mengalah---pada akhirnya---karena Batik tak merespon sama sekali ketika aku berterus terang dan meminta pendapatnya. "Jadi, gimana ini, B?" tanyaku setengah menjerit di saluran telepon yang tak bisa dikatakan jernih, "Aku harus gimana, apa yang harus aku lakukan?" Klik, tut tut tut, tuuuttt! Dia malah memutuskan saluran telepon yang sangat berarti dalam hidupku saat itu. Ujungnya, dalam kebingungan yang semakin memuncak ke langit, aku meminta pendapat Uta. "Jangan bodoh kamu, Hill!" Uta mengingatkan dengan ketegasan level tinggi saat aku mengakui kalau tak enak dengan Batik, "Ingat, kesempatan emas tak datang untuk yang ke dua kalinya. Menikahlah dengan Aldert dan berbahagialah, Hill!"

"Ms. Longstaff, are you saying the wedding will proceed as planned, but the bride will be replaced with someone else? Is that correct?" Faced with the staff member's puzzled expression, Heather Longstaff nodded without hesitation. "Yes, the wedding will take place in two weeks as scheduled. I'll deliver the revised materials to you in the next few days." "Understood. Should I inform Mr. Bennett about—" "There's no need!" Heather cut the other person off, her voice sharp with emotion. Noticing the startled look on the staff member's face, she quickly composed herself and explained, "He's busy. All wedding-related matters should come directly to me from now on." This wedding was meant to be her final gift to Mitchell. And like any gift, it had to remain a surprise until the very last moment.

-COMPLETED-A girl with a severe illness wanted to end her life immediately until he met the guy who has a playboy ambiance. Little did she know she's slowly falling in love with this boy that made her hope and wish for more days to live.

There was no feeling worse than being in a one-sided love. Caroline never thought that she would find herself in this kind of a situation. All just because of a man who didn’t deserve her. Wesley couldn’t deny that Caroline was perfect in every way. She had taken care of him well over the years but he couldn’t change the way that he felt. Forcing herself into his life made him hate her and yearn for the love of another woman who he couldn’t have 5 years ago. Now that she was back, he was ready to say his special goodbye. “Sign the divorce papers so that we can free ourselves from this sorry excuse of a marriage. The love of my life is back now and we are going to try and rebuild our lives together from where we had left. I have no space for you in my life, okay. “The man said emotionlessly as he threw the documents on her lap. “You are right, this is the end of us. I am leaving and I am never coming back. Go be with the love of your life.” She signed and reclaimed her real identity. However, a certain man soon started becoming her shadow. Everywhere that she stepped, he would show up. “Why are you stalking me?” Caroline asked. “Because you are the love of my life. ” Wesley answered with tears in his eyes. “The word love means nothing to me. It is for fools” she snarled and walked away.

James has transformed his innocence into an element of the dark, and Devon has an image of a saint but has a dark secret hence, a great pretender. When James chooses to leave home for a reason at very young age, he finds refuge with a mother and son. Growing up, a special connection with Kevin is built up. Living a very ordinary life, he tries to forget the past until one day, Kevin has to look for his life somewhere else and he keeps a promise to look after His mother. But one day, he faces a terrible thing that makes him a sudden element of the dark which conscience and mercy do not occupy space in his heart. And the shadow of the past chases him which makes his life tragic and miserable. How can he fight for his life if his enemy is the most outstanding young man as named by the most credible and reputable magazine in the world, has an image of a saint, and a very philanthropic? This is a life story. A story of possession, feelings, desire a, sexuality and identity.

…“And sweet love,” I said, addressing the scared lady on the bed. “You didn’t steal my man. In fact, you have finally liberated me. Thanks for the favour,” I added before taking a picture of them. Sophia decides to escape from the wreckages of a failed marriage and enjoy her newfound freedom. She soon finds unexpected sanctuary in the arms of a man who is twice her age, a silver-fox tycoon with immaculate charm. Their romance ignites against a backdrop of bustling corporate affairs and simmering personal battles. As Sophia's past demons and Dominick's vengeful ex-wife converge like storm fronts, their love becomes both shield and target. Her daughter's safety is now and stake and Sophia must become a mother, a lover and a warrior to navigate the dark crevices of betrayals and half-truths. Would the love between her and her new found romance be the key to their salvation or would it mean their downfall?

Who wants to become a replacement in someone else wedding day? Anthony Enriquez has a long history of failed relationships until it was concluded with a marriage but all of a sudden, the bride ran away with another man at the very last minute. Gretchen Kennedy is a modern-day Cinderella who was forced to escape from humiliation of her nasty step sisters and harassment from her step-father. Trying to seek safety and refuge, she went as far as Mexico. The two brokenhearted people yet single at the moment accidentally met in Mexico. Anton and Gretchen never imagined themselves being forced to marry a total stranger as a replacement bride and groom for that once in a lifetime special occasion any man and woman could ever dream of. The two imperfect people were matched by fate to make them believe that love at first sight and marriage can really happen. However, after consuming the first hundred days together, they made a serious decision to face the giant in their own lives. How will Anton and Gretchen forget the memory of their perfect replacement marriage? Will they accept the challenge of a real married life or remain single forever?

This story is about Allanah Reign Avery or known as ARA. 24 years old, She's kind, loving, rude sometimes and most of all caring. Pero pag dating sa kanyang Prof, magiging mabait at respectful pa kaya ang pakikitungo niya rito?. His name is Grey Khyler Simpson a 28 years old CEO and Professor known for being cold and perfectionist he always wants everything to be perfect. At nang dahil sa kanyang ina na gusto na nito mag karoon ng apo ay doon na pag planuhan nila ni Ara na mag kunwaring nag mamahalan sa isa't-isa. Si Ara ay isang mag-aaral sa De Maharlika University kung saan malapit na siyang makapag tapos sa kolehiyo ngayong taon at kapag nakapag tapos na siya ay siya na ang mamahala sa kanilang Kompanya which is yun naman talaga ang main goal niya ngunit dahil sakanyang ugali at galit sa isang guro na si Grey ay maging buhol-buhol ang kanyang buhay kolehiyo. Magkakaroon sila ng kontrata ng kanyang guro na kung saan ay mag papakasal sila ngunit sa isang kundisyon na hindi sila MAHUHULOG SA ISA'T-ISA. Mapipigilan kaya nila ang kanilang damdamin o sasabay na lamang sila sa daloy ng pag-ibig?

Empty vessels make the most noise, and men who fit that description to a tee hardly make for suitable partners. When Corinne had to go on a blind date with someone like that, she did the unthinkable simply to show her disinterest in him—she kissed a handsome older man whom she had never met before. "I hereby pledge myself to you," the older man vowed. If a single kiss from her was all it took for him to devote himself to her, would a second kiss entail much more? There was only one way for Corinne to find out…