this is how it always is

Prologue. “You are not her,” his deep, dangerously dark voice whispered softly in her ear. “W…what do you mean? I am not who?” holding her breath unconsciously, she stuttered. “My bride. You are not the woman I was supposed to marry. Where is she?” His hoarse voice pierced through her chest like a knife and she felt her knees go weak, and then staggered backward, shivering. “Where is my bride?” === Sapphire Rodriguez's life got turned upside down when she suddenly had to take her twin sister’s spot on her wedding day. When she thought nothing could be worse than the maltreatment she was getting from her family, her twin sister got involved in an accident a day before her wedding which caused her to go into a state of comatose and she had to be the substitute bride until the real bride wakes up to take back her place. When the billionaire who married her was smarter than she had expected, Sapphire knew that her life was never going to be easy because this husband of hers will not believe that she didn't cause her sister’s accident in order to take her place at her wedding.

A story about two people using each other and how they end up in love instead. After killing her parents, Katherine's cousin sends her to an earl of the enemy nation for marriage. Of course, she doesn't want to be a plaything – neither of the earl nor her murderous cousin – but what can she do being a seventeen-year-old girl in a men-controlled country? Having healing as her magic, while all other have some awesome attacking skills? Katherine vows to get her revenge anyway, and the first hurdle to a self-determined life is to seduce the earl to get his resources and connections. It couldn't be that hard, right? Just that after arriving in the earl's territory he tells her that he doesn't even want to marry her but only wants her to work for him. No, no, that can't be! She needs to make him change his mind!

Being assigned to become the personal guard of a mafia boss is already a difficult task. Becoming his guard and carrying his child at the same time? Near impossible. “The baby isn’t yours.” Luciano smirked, a deadly glint flashing in his eyes. “Oh, really?” he asked, one of his eyebrows raised. He walked closer to me, each of his steps resonating in the dark room. I couldn’t help but gulp at the sight of him. It has been three long years since I’ve last seen him, but why has he even gotten hotter than before? “I’m going to ask you once more,” he said, leaning closer to my face. I held my head up high, determined not to succumb to his charm. “Is she mine?” I shook my head. “Definitely not yours.” His jaw ticked, and he looked to the side before leaning his face even closer to mine, his hot breath hovering over my lips. I held in my breath and watched the alluring movement of his lips. “Then, which scoundrel does that child belong to?” I placed both of my hands on his chest and gently pushed him back. “Why? What are you going to do about it if you know?” He tilted his head to the side and smirked. “I’m going to kill that bastard.”

“Kiss me.” The words tumbled out and Lex stepped back instantly. He turned away from her and Isis felt her pride being butchered. “Isis, I-” His voice travelled through the room. It was laced with uncertainty. His back was still to her. "I am sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. I-uh. Good bye, Mr. Greyson.” Isis replied as she slid off the desk. She needed to leave, before her embarrassment killed her. Isis grabbed her bag and stalked off towards the door. A grip like iron encased her shoulder and she was spun around to face Mr. Greyson, he pushed her against the door and dropped her bag onto the floor. He pinned her body with his, a hand around her waist bringing her body against his and his other hand cupping her face. He ran his thumb along her lower lips and took satisfaction in her shuddering. He drew her hands up and anchored them above her head, pinning them to the door. His mouth slowly covered hers and moved teasingly. Isis gasped at the skillful movement of his lips against hers. He possessed her fully, slipping his tongue into her mouth. He tasted her, devoured her and nothing was sweeter for Lex. He fought to control his natural instincts firing to life and focused on giving her this but he was certain he would gain the most pain from it. He knew he would never forget this kiss, never meet its equal. He pulled away from her, their breath labored. He rested his forehead against hers and committed the moment to memory. He leaned off her, let her hands drop to her sides, he handed Isis her bag. "Good bye, Ms. Davenport.” He replied with some pain as he turned the door knob and allowed her to leave.

Raising stories of households that have long-distance relationships even though they are legal. Arsya is pursuing his master's degree in Jogjakarta, while Anjani is pursuing her thesis in Jakarta. The giving of trust makes them believe in the integrity of their household even though the distance stretches. However, it turns out that there are still pebbles trying to shake up the household. It is not easy for them to face household problems. Nisya, the daughter of the owner of the boarding house occupied by Arsya, accuses Arsya of raping her, and forces Arsya to marry her. Anjani, knowing the news, immediately went to the city of Jogjakarta and proved to everyone that Nisya's accusation was not true.

"Life and Death are like green and red: you can't be both, but you can be neither. " Will you accept if you were given a chance to live forever? Or would you rather live with the fact that life ends with death? For Simon, there is no other choice than to live until everyone dies. All he wants is to be dead, but how?

Betrayed, raped, tortured and abandoned to her death, Eve swore that she would find vengeance on the family who had wronged her and her people. This includes the very man she had given her heart to, Adam Sviatoslavich. .... Being a princess of the Ice kingdom Zhatiera, Eve knew she wanted to do more than to soon rule after her beloved parents and, roaming through the forest and finding new adventure was the one thing she can't ever let go. When one of her adventures causes her to encounter the future king of the Lycan empire, Adam, she was smitten and ready to abandoned her throne for the man she calls soulmate. Despite being warned by her parents, she chose to stay with Adam who claimed to love her and swore to do right by her. Unfortunately, his own family do not hold the same sentiments and is determined to make the couple suffer. When their goal was achieved, Eve was left to die by the very person she entrust her life to. Surviving her painful ordeal with no kingdom and family to call her own, Eve swore to do whatever it takes to get her revenge and, if a whole kingdom has to burn because of it, it wouldn't matter. They all deserve it. No matter what it takes. ... I met him when I was a child, I knew he was mine from the moment I met him, I have sworn to never love anyone but him, I was his, but I didn't know that he was never mine, I never expect him to turn his back on me and betray me so cruelly, I would have given my life for him, I just never knew that was what he had wanted from me in the first place...

Ye Zhiyu felt that Ji Huaizhi had changed a lot since they got married.Before marriage: All cold and noble, he was her Prince Charming.After marriage: Her waist was constantly on strike!"I protest!" She said loudly.The result was an even harder "work" shift at night.Everyone said that Ji Huaizhi was a cold-blooded devil, and people wanted to stay away from him!But only she knew that his cold exterior hid a heart overflowed with love for her…

June Hanson unintentionally spent a warm night with a man she just met. All she knew was the man's first name, Drake. She vows that one day she will take revenge on the man who slept with her that night and left before she woke up. However, June lost track of him. A year later, fate brought her to meet Drake again. But it was not like June had imagined. It turned out that Drake was the CEO at her new workplace. Drake Burton, that's his name. And what June hated the most was, Drake didn't remember her at all. When Drake begins to be soft on her, fate brings her to Alarick Joseph, the mysterious, gray-eyed man who saved her life from an accident. June had no idea that she was dealing with two dangerous men. The Dragon King and the Werewolf Alpha. Strange events make June realize that she has been caught in a war that began thousands of years ago. Follow my IG: @cindychen06

He is a CEO who once had autism, and in a hollow world, only she can make him feel at ease. Because of her, overnight, he destroyed the city's largest nightclub; because of her, he took a series of stunningly beautiful photos that caused a sensation. He domineeringly keeps her by his side, destroying the things she likes, all because he wants to earn her favor. She feels unlucky and miserable, he is like a madman, obstinate and resolute. His crazy possessiveness frightens her. When she asked him to let her go, she never expected him to actually agree...