COMPLETE. Gretel has a long list of reasons to despise arrogant and wealthy Javier del Mundo. First, he was proud. Second, he was not her dream man. Third, she was attracted to him. Javier was mysterious, and he seemed to hide a lot of secrets. Gretel had no business with him at all. But when her brother got involved in a robbery in Javier's mansion, she offered herself to him as a sacrifice while proving that her brother was innocent. Will Gretel finally uncover Javier's secrets, or did she just put her life in danger?
CHAPTER ONE
GRETEL knew poverty since she was a child. She lived in a small cottage in a humble village and her older brother, Hansel, and their mother. Despite that, she grew up to be happy and grateful because she had a complete family.
But five years ago, their father died while he was working in a merchant ship. They met a storm, and not even a single soul came back alive to the shore. Their mother had to work harder so she could provide for the two of them. From a plain housewife, their mother began selling fruits and vegetables in the market. While her brother Hansel helped her, Gretel would be in-charge of their house and garden and assisted in their stall when she had more time.
Their stall never ran out of customers, especially young men, whenever Gretel was around. She was beautiful with her sun-kissed skin, long, brown hair, and slender body.
Men would bring her fresh flowers and other gifts, hoping she would give them a chance. But Gretel knew her priorities, and it was her family. She could not marry yet. After all, she was just nineteen years old.
Gretel wanted to marry the man of her dreams. And she knew she must wait and take her time. He'll come along; she was sure of that.
"Here. Take all of them. Don't let me see them again."
Gretel laughed as she took the pile of books from her friend.
She was waiting for her under a huge oak tree. It was on the other side of the road, in front of their houses. They would usually hang out in the afternoon.
"Books are one of the most wonderful things in the world, Dory." She wiped the little dust from the book.
"Unfortunately, I sit in front of the sewing machine for a whole day every day, so I don't get much time to read. Books are just adding to the clutter in our house, " Dory said with a frown.
Dory's family owned the biggest dress shop in town. Sometimes, Gretel would work part-time for a few bills, which was a big help.
"If you got more clutters in your house, you know what to do, okay?"
"Of course. You're just one call away."
The two of them laughed. Dory finally sat beside her.
Gretel glanced at the huge mansion on top of the hill. It was a beautiful view from there. It was built a couple of months ago by a wealthy merchant from another town.
She would hear stories about the man. How he dressed nicely and how intimidating he looked. Some would say he was good-looking, but he did not look friendly at all. Gretel wished she would see him just to satisfy her curiosity. She wanted to see for herself what kind of a man he really was.
"What are you thinking?" Dory asked.
"Will I ever get to live in a beautiful house like that?" she said and sighed.
"If you can marry the terrible person who lives in there."
Gretel glanced at Dory with a frown.
"Do you really think he's a terrible person?"
"That's what people say, " Dory replied with a shrug.
"Anyway, I don't literally mean living in that house. As long as I marry the man of my dreams." Gretel smiled.
"You have to leave this village for that to happen. The world is big out there. You will surely meet a lot of gentlemen."
"Hmm, you're right. But I can't leave my mother and my brother yet."
GRETEL liked the weekends. She had all the time to read books as she rested without worrying about the house chores. There was a tiny stream near their vegetable garden. She would spend hours reading and bathing all by herself without getting bored.
Her favorite spot was the huge branch that was close to the ground. Gretel would put her clothes and book there as she bathed in the stream.
Gretel squeezed her wet hair as she walked away from the stream. She had a good swim and was refreshed enough to go back to reading again. She pulled her towel and dried herself. Instead of putting her clothes back, Gretel remained naked. She climbed to the higher part of the branch, where thick leaves would serve as her cover.
She finished the remaining pages of her book and finally closed it with a satisfied smile on her lips. She slipped the book inside her pouch bag that was hanging in one of the branches. She laid on her back. She was overwhelmed and satisfied. And that feeling the book gave her would definitely stay in her system for a long time.
"Hmm..."
The next thing Gretel knew, she was already touching herself. Gretel was never ashamed about it. It was human nature.
She shifted in her position, practically riding the sturdy, rough branch. Gretel parted her thighs to feel the roughness against her sensitive flesh. The leaves began to shake as she started humping.
Gretel was panting and trembling a few moments later. She looked between her thighs and saw her warm juices flowing on the branch. She looked down and found that her dress fell.
"Oh."
She shifted in her position once again. Before she could get down from the tree, a huge, black dog appear and grabbed her clothes by its mouth.
"Oh, no! Hey, that's mine!"
The dog ran away. Gretel jumped and hit the ground with a loud groan. The dog was now running toward the woods.
"Come back!" she screamed as she ran after it.
The dog disappeared into a huge tree, and Gretel chased it.
"Aw!" Gretel bumped into a hard figure, and she was thrown off balance.
She heard a groan, which was a man's voice, and the next thing she knew, she was on top of an unfamiliar face wearing hunting gear. Her eyes widened in horror. And when she realized how awkward their position was, she moved away from him, and she felt the ground.
This is not a romance novel. Different women and their stories of giving in to their desires whatever the consequences may be. Chapter I, Part-time Lover: Arissa found pleasure in the arms of her boss after being neglected by her fiance.
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
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!"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."