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
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .