Phoenix‌ ‌was‌ ‌an‌ ‌archaeologists‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌core.‌ ‌Ultimo‌ ‌ang‌ ‌tipo‌ ‌niyang‌ ‌lalaki‌ ‌ay‌ ‌ makikita‌ ‌lang‌ ‌sa‌ ‌historical‌ ‌books‌ ‌at‌ ‌kina-i-inlove-an‌ ‌niya‌ ‌dahil‌ ‌sa‌ ‌mga‌ ‌artifacts‌ ‌na‌ ‌naiwan‌ ‌ng‌ ‌mga‌ ‌ito.‌ ‌Kundi‌ ‌kasing‌ ‌talino‌ ‌ni‌ ‌Jose‌ ‌Rizal‌ ‌o‌ ‌kasing‌ ‌kisig‌ ‌ni‌ ‌Alexander‌ ‌the‌ ‌Great‌ ‌ay‌ ‌bagsak‌ ‌sa‌ ‌standard‌ ‌niya.‌ ‌And‌ ‌most‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌guys‌ ‌find‌ ‌her‌ ‌weird.‌ ‌Maliban‌ ‌kay‌ ‌Vance‌ ‌Antiporda.‌ ‌ Si‌ ‌Vance‌ ‌ang‌ ‌kanang-kamay‌ ‌ng‌ ‌Tito‌ ‌Mauricio‌ ‌niya.‌ ‌Mula‌ ‌nang‌ ‌mapunta‌ ‌ito‌ ‌sa‌ ‌ poder‌ ‌ng‌ ‌tiyuhin‌ ‌niya‌ ‌ay‌ ‌wala‌ ‌na‌ ‌itong‌ ‌ginawa‌ ‌kundi‌ ‌sirain‌ ‌ang‌ ‌araw‌ ‌niya.‌ ‌But‌ ‌things‌ ‌changed‌ ‌when‌ ‌he‌ ‌brought‌ ‌her‌ ‌to‌ ‌El‌ ‌Nido.‌ ‌Ipinakita‌ ‌nito‌ ‌sa‌ ‌kanya‌ ‌ang‌ ‌mga‌ ‌bagay‌ ‌na‌ ‌pwede‌ ‌pa‌ ‌niyang‌ ‌pangarapin.‌ ‌Ginising‌ ‌din‌ ‌nito‌ ‌ang‌ ‌natutulog‌ ‌niyang‌ ‌damdamin.‌ ‌ Hindi‌ ‌niya‌ ‌napigilan‌ ‌ang‌ ‌sarili‌ ‌na‌ ‌ma-in‌ ‌love‌ ‌sa‌ ‌mortal‌ ‌niyang‌ ‌kaaway.‌ ‌
Maasim ang ngiti ni Phoenix habang nakatitig sa cake at juice na nakahain sa harap niya. Nasa sala siya sa mansion ng mga Villaviray. Ipinakilala siya dito ng Tito Mauricio niya nang nakaraang araw sa isang charity event. At nang di siya pumayag na makipag-date ay dinalaw siya nito sa bahay habang may dalang bonggang bulaklak at imported na chocolate. As if she would be impressed with that.
Kanina pa siya nakikinig sa paulit-ulit at walang kamatayang kwento ni Fred Manuel tungkol sa political history ng angkan nito. And it was not impressive enough.
Mula nang dumating siya mula sa isang expidition sa Egypt bilang archaeologist ay hindi na naubusan ng mga lalaking dumadalaw sa kanilang bahay upang manligaw. Ayaw ng kanyang Tito Mauricio na ipagpatuloy niya ang pagiging archaeologist. Kaya't ipinatawag nito ang lahat ng prospect na mapapangasawa para hindi na siya umalis. At kasama si Fred sa mga iyon.
Kailangan niyang pakiharapan itong mabuti dahil na rin sa utos ng kanyang Tito. Ayon dito, pangarap nitong magkaroon ng mamanuganging tulad ni Fred na galing sa prominenteng angkan.
"Alam mo bang ang rebulto sa harap ng plaza? Lolo ko iyon sa tuhod! Bayani ang lolo ko noong panahon ni Bonifacio," nagmamalaking kwento nito.
Pinigil ni Phoenix na maghikab. Alam na niya ang isusunod nito. Na ang tiyuhin nito ang naging dahilan kung bakit naging first class ang bayan nito. Kasunod ang plataporma nito sa susunod na eleksiyon sa pagtakbo nito bilang mayor.
Kung siya naman ang botante, nungkang iboto niya ito. Dahil sa kanya pa lang, basted na ito. Wala na ng kahahantungan ang panliligaw nito. May kasaysayan ang mga ninuno nito pero wala itong appeal sa kanya. Wala pa naman itong accomplishment na maipagmamayabang. At ayaw niya sa lalaking walang accomplishment at masaya nang magtampisaw sa pinaghirapan ng mga nauna dito.
"Uncle ko ang nag-approve sa pagkakaroon ng quarrying site kaya naging first class municipality ang bayan namin. At kapag nanalo akong mayor, itutuloy ko ang nasimulan nila."
Papatagin ko ang lahat ng bundok para mas lalo pa tayong umunlad, gusto sana niyang idugtong sa speech nito.
Naiirita at nakukulili na ang tainga ni Phoenix. Gusto niyang sisihin ang kanyang Tito Mauricio. Bakit mga walang kwenta ang pinaaakyat sa kanyang manliligaw? Wala siyang itulak-kabigin. Lahat karapat-dapat mabasted.
"Wala iyan sa boyfriend ko!" hindi mapigil niyang bulalas sa sobrang iritasyon.
"May boyfriend ka na?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Fred.
"Of course! Sa ganda ko ba namang ito, mawawalan ako ng boyfriend?" pagmamalaki niya. "Boyfriend ko yata ang Napoleon of Egypt. Sikat siya. Kamag-anak ni Cleopatra."
Umismid ito na parang hindi naniniwala. "Mayaman ba siya?" tanong nitong hindi man lang na-impress na kamag-anak ng nobyo niya ang dating Reyna ng Ehipto.
"Ay, sobra! Gaya ng mga kamag-anak mo, marami siyang naipatayong structures. He even owns a pyramid."
"Pyramid?" nagtatakang tanong nito. "Pwedeng bilhin ang pyramid? As in Pyramid of Egypt?"
Niluwangan ni Phoenix ang ngiti. Tingnan lang niya kung hanggang saan ang kayabangan nito. Titiyakin niyang hindi na ito manliligaw kahit kailan.
"Yes. Ganoon siya kayaman," pagmamalaki niya.
Kumunot ang noo ni Fred sa anyong hindi pa rin naniniwala sa kanya. Sino nga ba namang tao ang kayang mag-may-ari ng pyramid? Of course, boyfriend lang niya at ang mga kamag-anak nito.
"Anong pangalan ng boyfriend mo? Baka sakaling kilala ko siya or familiar ang pangalan niya," tanong ni Fred para di gaanong magmukhang eengot-engot o hampaslupa dahil di ito aware sa mayamang taong may pag-aari na pramid.
"Thutmose III!"
"Thutmose III?" ulit nito at nakakunot ang noon na tumingala. "Hindi ko yata siya kilala."
"Okay lang. Hindi ka rin naman niya kilala."
"K-Kumusta naman ang pyramid niya?"
"Okay naman. Mukhang komportable siya doon kasama ang kanyang mga alipin. Tahimik silang namumuhay."
"Businessman ba ang boyfriend mo? O isa ring political figure. Hindi kasi nababanggit sa akin ng Tito Mauricio mo ang tungkol sa kanya. O kung ano ang trabaho niya," puno ng interes na tanong ni Fred.
"Ah, si Thutmose? Naging leader siya ng army ng Egypt. Pero bata pa lang siya, siya na ang agad ang nagmana ng trono ng tatay niya."
Nanlaki ang mata nito. "Trono? Royal blood?'"
Tumango siya sabay inom ng juice. "Maaga kasing namatay ang tatay niya na si Thutmose II. Hinawakan muna ng stepmom niya ang trono. Pero later on, naging Pharaoh na siya."
"P-Pharaoh ba kamo?"
"Oo. Iyon ang tawag sa mga hari sa Egypt."
Naguguluhan itong napakamot sa ulo. "H-Hari? Pharaoh? You mean meron pa sila noon?"
Nati-thrill si Phoenix na sagutin ang mga tanong ni Fred. "Wala na. Dati pa iyon."
"Kung ganoon, bakit pharaoh pa rin ang boyfriend mo? Kailan ba siya naging p haraoh?" usisa nito.
Tumingala siya na animo'y binabasa sa kisame ang sagot. "Around 1479 to 1426 B.C. He ruled the 18th dynasty of Egypt," kaswal niyang sabi.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Fred. "From 1479 to 1426 B.C.?"
Cheska needs closure from her first love, Darryl, when she decided to go to Jeju Island. She wants to visit his tomb. In her trip, she met Carter, a Filipino who is working in Seoul as an English teacher and he looks a lot like Darryl. She feels like Darryl came back to life in Carter. Chesca wants another shot at love, this time with Carter. Will things work out between Cheska & Carter? Is Cheska sure she is really over with her past and feelings for her lost love?
Esmeralda has no time for love. She has a brother with leukemia and she’s willing to do everything for him. When Aiden offered a marriage of convenience to help him get his inheritance and get away from his controlling brother, she accepted in the condition that he will help with her brother’s medical expenses. Everything changed when she saved a handsome and virile man who was washed away by the flood. Richard Infante is arrogant and rich - both characters she hated in a man. And because the flood and landslides isolated their place, he had no choice but to live a simple life since doesn’t own a cent under his name. Everytime she meets his eyes laced with anger, she melts. He lights up the fire inside of her and shave gave herself to him- body and soul. She’s’ ready to forget her promise of marriage to Aiden to be with him. But who would have thought that her love for him will ruin all her plans and promises? And the man she loves her own enemy.
Completed story Do you believe that love is blind? Errr... I don't think so. Cameron’s playboy ways changed after brushing with death in a shipwreck. Mitos, the crew who saved his life, made him promise to look for his ex-girlfriend and ask for her forgiveness. When he finally found her, Love was being hounded by the gangsters and she was already blind. To protect her, he had to pretend to be Mitos, her ex-boyfriend. Until his lies turn to love. What if she finds out that everything was a lie? The original story is in Filipino published under Precious Hearts Romances
With her apartment devastated by fire, Alondra’s boss asked her to stay at her vacant condo. It has been vacant for a year and was afraid lost spirits would find its way there. One time, she heard someone taking a shower and the voice of a man in the other room. Bringing her antique cross, she went to the other room to offer a prayer to the lost soul. While kneeling in front of the door of the bathroom, the door opened and a man with the face of a demigod and a perfect physique stood in front of her. His body was covered by nothing but a piece of towel. Only, it was not a ghost but the real owner of the condo and her new boss.
An arranged marriage. A perfect bride. An old, creepy mansion. Deive thought he is lucky to be paired with Callea Lopez - she's beautiful, talented, and loyal. Except she lives on a haunted mansion. And she is keeping secrets from him. Original cover by Runa Lee, lunafatima1093@gmail.com
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
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."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."