Carson and Mary Cris are two people marrying not because of love. Carson wants to keep his inheritance and double it if he was lucky, while Mary Cris wants to give honor to her tribe as the future leader. But things keep on going in the wrong track as the two clashed even at their first meeting! Well, Carson must tame his fierce wife if he wants the wedding to push through.
IT'S still dawn, but I'm already up. I'm already used to it, though. It's just that... today's a little different. I tossed and turned last night. My mind is filled with lots of thoughts-about my life changing starting today.
"Cris?"
I am gazing over the dark woods from my window, waiting for the sun to come up as a sign of a brand new day when my mother came inside my room.
"Good morning, Mother," I greet with a smile.
"Did you sleep well last night?" she asks and returns my smile.
I smile curtly and shake my head.
"Why don't you go back to bed then?" she says.
"I can't fall asleep even if I try."
Mother wakes up very early every day, but she does not always check me in my room and ask how I slept. I suppose she did not sleep well, too.
"Are you anxious about what will happen today?" Mother stands beside me.
"A little."
"Are you thinking of backing out? You know we'll understand."
"It's not that, Mother," I reply and sigh. "I'll do everything for our tribe. I'm never backing out as long as it's for our tribe's future."
And I mean it. I live for our tribe, and someday, I will become their leader. It's what keeps me on holding on despite my uncertainties. It's new to me. I don't think I am ready, but I don't think I could disappoint my tribe either.
"I am so lucky to have you as my daughter." Mother carefully caresses my hair.
"Because you did a great job of raising me," I reply with a smile. "Can I just help you with the chores today?"
"If you don't plan to go back to sleep, then you can help me while your grandma is recovering." Grandma has flu since the other day.
The three of us have been living in this house for years. My grandpa died when I was young, and I never met my father. According to my mother, my biological father lives in the city. They met when Mother was in her last year in college.
To cut the story short, my father got my mother pregnant and did not hold responsible because she found out that my father was already married. Just when my mother's dream of being a teacher was within an arm's reach, I happened. She was devastated, but she did not let it destroy her future. She said she used me as her inspiration to pick up herself and dream again.
And my grandma was disappointed for the first time in her life, but she did not regret having me as her granddaughter. My mother took bookkeeping as a vocational course, and she had been helping my Grandpa Mario, grandma's brother, manage Bianon's ample vegetable farm ever since. Mother handled being a mother, a father, and a teacher all at the same time. It's not a mystery why I also dreamt of becoming a teacher-to continue the dream she once dreamt of herself.
As for my father, I never wished to meet him. I don't want to cause a conflict with his family. His absence did not leave an inadequacy in my life either. I have my mother, my grandmother, and the tribe, and they are already more than enough for me.
***
Author's Note: "Adobo" is a popular dish made of marinated meat.
***
"AREN'T you going to cook adobo for the guests, Mother?" I ask her in the kitchen.
"Oh, good thing you brought that up. Can you catch chickens in the woods if you don't mind? I think three are enough for our guests," Mother says.
"Of course, I don't mind. Would that be all?" I say with a grin. "It's been a while since my hands got tainted with blood."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Mother retorted jokingly. "Don't act like that when you're in front of your future husband. You'll scare him."
"Mother, come on," I mutter, wide-eyed. I am not very prepared to face the truth yet.
I return to my room and fetch my bow and arrow under my bed. It's my weapon of defense against wild boars that destroy our crops.
As for the members of the tribe of Bianon, our physical features are not actually different from those who live in the luxury of the city. We are not from other minority groups. Our ancestors fled here in the mountains to avoid the influence of the Spanish colonizers.
I'm not trying to brag, but we are all good-looking, too. Most of us have sun-kissed skin as a result of working hard under the sun and the rain. I am just a little fairer compare to them because my mother said that my father was a mestizo. Ah, no wonder she got fooled. Right?
I walk a couple of meters from our house before reaching the falls.
Farming is our primary source of income. We have all kinds of vegetables here. Grandma says that our tribe was really different before Don Conrado Florencio, who is our generous benefactor, came.
According to my Grandpa Mario, who is the current leader of our tribe, the rich man's chopper had an emergency landing in the woods because of engine trouble. It happened more than thirty years ago. The rich man was wounded along with his pilot, and the people of Bianon helped them.
To show his gratitude for our tribe's kindness, the rich man helped us elevate our livelihood. He gave us advanced machinery in farming. He fixed the road that led to the town and gave us trucks to deliver our harvests. It was because of him that our tribe became the official supplier of well-known restaurants and grocery stores in the city.
He even built schools for us, and those who wanted to take college in the city were offered full scholarships. And of course, I am one of those who are privileged. I've been teaching here at Bianon for three years now. The children here are enjoying free education. I dream of raising our tribe's status in the society that's why despite the tempting job offers in the city, I chose to practice my profession here.
To me, Don Conrad is indeed a blessing to our tribe. And he is also the reason why from this day on, my life is going to change. He and grandpa made a pact a long time ago to strengthen the friendship between our tribe and the Florencios. A member of our family should marry a member of his family.
COMPLETE. Half of her life, Clara had been an obedient niece to her Aunt Carlota. She adopted her and gave her everything she needed. Clara treated her as her second mother, but it was not the same for her aunt. For Carlota, Clara was only a robot meant to follow her orders, including marrying the man she had chosen. Clara only wanted her aunt's affection. And if she follows her every command, maybe she would learn to love her someday. Clara's obedience will be put to the test when she met the rugged and handsome Fuego del Mar after saving her life. Clara could not deny her attraction toward him. She never once broke her Aunt's rules until she met him. But choosing Fuego meant disappointing Aunt Carlota. Will she be able to take the consequences? Is Fuego even worth it?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."