When Kaoree became an orphan, she worked as a maid of five men because of her parents' death. She fell in love with one of them but unexpectedly – whether they hide the past and forget it, there are still people coming back to mess everything. Will they be able to overcome it because of the love, and friendship that they bond them together? Or, there are things that can't be changed because that's what's destined to happen.
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are neither the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance of actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Do not distribute, publish, transmit, modify, display or create derivative works from or exploit the contents of this story in any way. Please obtain permission
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I love handsome boys, but I never had a boyfriend. Because of the love, my parents gave me, I don't find the need to seek more.
I love watching TV dramas. My biggest actor crush is Donny Pangilinan. Who wouldn't be thrilled with that handsome and humble man?
"Kaoree!" Jezrielle calls me. Jez for short. He has been my friend for a long time.
He loves shopping, and the paper bag that he was holding is proof of that.
Every time he earns a salary in his part-time job, he buys some stuff like make-up. Jez really loves make-up! He's like a second version of Paolo Ballesteros.
"Goodness! There are so many men there, Sis!", He pointed to the alley on the corner of the street along the barangay hall. It's vacation time, so we have a basketball league in our town. I'm sure that's why there are many people in the court, to watch the league.
"Crazy! All this time, I thought you have forgotten about me already!" I said as I carried another paper bag he was holding. This bag I am holding is heavy.
He laughed, then adjusted his bangs to block his eyes.
"Just a few trips from your house, and yet you can't visit me!" Jez used to live in the same town as mine with his parents. They moved in when he was in high school. However, we now live in a different town.
Jez is two years older than me. I am currently a fresh Senior High School graduate, while Jez is an incoming third-year college in a university. He has a younger sister named Apple, who's also my friend. But compared to Jez, Apple is not that close to me.
"I'm sorry! I have a lot of part-time jobs these days. I came to my mother's house and then viola! I'm here visiting you! Aren't you glad?" he was kicked out of their house. His father caught him putting make-up on his face and could not accept that his only son was a woman at heart.
He currently lives at his friend's house. There is no rental fee, so it's okay because he can save money. He only pays for other expenses such as water and electricity bills.
"It's good that your parents accept you even if you flirt," he snorted. I laughed. "I'm not a flirt. Okay, maybe a bit flirty, but I have regretted that already!" I did not like anyone with numerous men courting me because Donny Pangilinan's level is what I want! But of course, I have to be an actress first, so maybe he can stay with me.
"You are so full of yourself! You will grow old as a single woman because you rejected those men! If my body was a woman ..." He even raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm going to be pretentious!" I just ignored what he said.
"It's good that you visited me today because it's my father's birthday."
"It's good to know! I didn't have a snack when I got out of the jeep earlier," he said. When we got home, we found a few acquaintances. Some were taking food while others were chatting with my dad, who's holding a chicken. He even sniffed it. It looks like his real son more than me. I once thought of making it tinola, but every time I attempted to slaughter the chicken. Dad always came home, and I almost got caught.
"You seem to have many visitors," said Jez.
"Sweety!", It was Mama putting the plates on the table. She kissed me on both cheeks. "Why did you take so long? I thought you were in Charlotte's house for a while" This holiday, I went to do a part-time job teaching Chander, Ate Charlotte's daughter.
Ate Charlotte is my Mama's batchmate, but they are not close, so she was not invited either.
"Ma! Look who's here! It's Jez!" Mama gasped in surprise.
The two kissed on the cheeks.
"Wow! You look so handsome!" said Mama. But that is true. Compared to his last visit here, he looks different. He seems too stressed in life.
"Yes, Tita! But I'm not handsome. I'm beautiful" we laughed at what it said.
"Is that you, Jezrielle?" Dad is still holding his chicken. Does he have no intention of releasing that?
"No, Tito, I might be a doppelganger" Dad was very scratchy at what he said. "You're a teenager now! He looks more handsome compared before" Dad tapped his shoulder.
"I'm touched! Uncle!", His tongue almost twisted at what he said.
Mama invited us inside. I saw some of my Papa's co-workers at a construction site. Sadly, we have no relatives that are invited. Because they are living in the province. Every vacation, we come to visit them. My grandparents on Mama's side are both dead. Lolito, Papa's father, has also passed away. My only cousin is alone-his name is Lucky, younger than me.
Jez and I scooped up something to eat.
As usual, Shanghai was his first target, while mine is a hotdog stabbed with marshmallows.
"There are no handsome guests here. Most of them are all old people!" Jez drank some water.
"It's more important that you eat," I said to him.
"My stomach is full, but my eyes aren't, so I need to see a handsome guy!" he cried.
After a while of crying and murmuring that he wants to see handsome guys, Mama came to talk with him.
"Of course, joke! That's okay. You're still kids. Just enjoy, but not right away!" I don't know what they are talking about, but Mama sees she belongs in generation Z when she engages in conversation.
"Yes, Tita! Do you know I already sent her too many guys to date? But she doesn't want to," he snorted.
"Who is it? The guys should be handsome and kind!" Mama first inquired into the picture shown by Jez.
"It's mine!" he complains as I took his cellphone.
" My dating life always leads to failure," I said. The recent man he chose to be my date has a girlfriend. It's a good thing the woman didn't slap my face.
"Just choose there!" Jez and Mama giggled as I stared at the picture. They are all handsome, but why does all of them know how to smile except for this one who looks like an anime guy?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
To fund her father's medical bills, Helena stepped in for her half‑sister and wed the city's notorious deaf heir. On their wedding night, as she bared herself, he dismissed her hope with, "This is strictly business." Living beneath the weight of his unpredictable moods, she learned to fear every moment. When everyone bet on her ruin, he became her fiercest protector. But as their contract expired and she gathered her things, tears shimmered in his eyes. "Please… don't leave me."
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"