Falling in love with a man twice her age seems ridiculous. But falling in love with her father's best friend is even worse. Ceynol Tarragon is the man of Jade Vine's dreams. He's thirty-six years old, mature and experienced, with intense eyes and a way of owning his six-foot muscular body that has her mind melting... It's no surprise she had a crush on him for a long time until falling in love with him. She saves herself for him and does everything she can to make him fall in love, even though it is forbidden... A taboo because Ceynol is his father's best friend. How can she persuade Ceynol that what she feels is genuine, that it isn't just puppy love, and that he is the only man she has ever desired? That she is willing to sacrifice everything in order to make the man hers? Will the man gamble his friendship with Jade's father, or will he totally break the woman's heart forever?
As Jade Vine made her way down the grand staircase, every eye in the room turned towards her. She smiled gracefully, but she could feel the weight of their gazes following her every step. There was something almost surreal about the moment-she was the center of attention, but all she could focus on was her appearance and how it might look to others.
She paused for a moment to take in her reflection. The long black and gold tulle ball gown she wore shimmered under the lights, a perfect combination of elegance and luxury, and she felt a rush of pride. However, a persistent nervousness quickly eclipsed her pride.
The theme of the night was black and gold, fitting for her debut, a celebration of her stepping into adulthood. Similar attire from the guests further enhanced the formal and refined atmosphere. The host of the party introduced her, along with her parents, and Jade scanned the room with curious eyes, hoping to spot someone in particular.
Today, of all days, she longed to see one specific person-someone who had captured her heart for what seemed like forever.
As she made her way into the ballroom, she whispered to herself, giving herself the encouragement she needed: "Battle on, Jade. Tell him the truth now, before it's too late!" She tried to push down the anxiety building up inside her.
And then she saw him. Ceynol Tarragon. He stood at the edge of the crowd, his strong build and handsome features accentuated by his black tuxedo. There was an air of confidence and power about him, a presence that demanded attention.
To Jade, he seemed like the perfect mix of mystery and masculinity. Every time their eyes briefly met, she found herself drawn to him, her heart racing.
In her mind, Jade cursed her feelings. "Damn! Ceynol Tarragon is one sexy man. I own him! Keep your eyes away from him!"* she thought, frustrated that even in the midst of a room full of guests, she couldn't stop focusing on him.
But Ceynol remained distant, as always. His cold, almost impervious demeanor made it clear that he didn't want anyone to intrude on his personal space. He didn't crack a smile, not even for a second. His expression was always serious, intense, and unapproachable.
Jade couldn't help but feel like she was floating on air as she descended the stairs. Nothing else in the world, not even the grand celebration in her honour, seemed to matter in that moment.
As the host's voice rang out, announcing her arrival, she barely even registered the words. "Let's welcome the debutante and her eighteen dances!" The words washed over her as she continued to fixate on Ceynol. She had no idea what was happening around her, completely lost in the thrill of being near him.
If Jade had her way, the only person she'd be dancing with that night would be him. But instead, she danced with the sons and daughters of her father's business partners, as well as her classmates-none of whom held her interest.
When it was time to dance with her father, Jade felt a mix of emotions. Her father was so proud of her, and the smile on his face filled her heart with joy, but there was still a part of her that was preoccupied with what was going on inside her heart. One more dance with Ceynol was needed before dancing with her father.
As she saw him approaching, her nerves skyrocketed. Her throat felt dry, and her heart pounded in her chest. Ceynol's presence was overwhelming, and as soon as their hands touched, she felt like she might collapse.
They locked eyes, and in that moment, everything else disappeared. There was nothing but the two of them, suspended in time. She tried to steady her breathing as they moved to the rhythm of the music, but every second felt like an eternity.
Finally, summoning all the courage she had, Jade spoke, her voice slightly trembling. "I need to talk to you about something. Can we talk in the garden after this?"
Ceynol didn't respond immediately, and for a long moment, Jade's heart seemed to stop. Then, after a small pause, he simply nodded. Relieved, Jade exhaled. She wasn't sure what his answer meant-he could just be agreeing to avoid an awkward moment-but she still hoped it was a positive sign.
Her father was her last dance partner, and she smiled broadly as he pulled her into a tight embrace. He was beaming with happiness. "If I ever make a big mistake, Daddy, will you still forgive me?" Jade suddenly asked, the question slipping from her lips without warning.
Her father's brow furrowed in confusion. "It depends, Jade. If the mistake isn't forgivable, I will try to find reasons to forgive you, even if the others don't," he answered with a sincere tone.
Jade couldn't find the right words to respond. There was something about her father's answer that made her think deeper. She finished the dance with him in silence, lost in thought.
As the last song ended, Jade thanked her father and the guests, her heart still racing from the earlier exchange with Ceynol. She excused herself from the ballroom, hoping that no one noticed her hasty departure.
Her heart beat faster as she caught sight of the garden through the large windows. She whispered to herself, "I hope he's there." Her gown, heavy with layers of tulle, seemed to weigh her down, but her determination to speak to Ceynol made her ignore it.
She scanned the room for any signs that someone was watching her, but there was no time to care. She rushed to the garden, her mind focused only on the conversation she was about to have.
When she stepped outside, she saw him. Ceynol stood in the center of the garden; his icy blue eyes fixed on her. Her body went cold with nerves, but she took a deep breath and approached him.
"Hey," she said, her voice a little shaky. But Ceynol didn't return the greeting. Instead, he looked at her with a directness that sent shivers down her spine.
"What do you want to say, Jade?" His voice was low and commanding, a tone that almost made her knees give way. She paused, gathering her courage.
She had mentally practiced this moment countless times, yet as it finally arrived, her words appeared to stutter. She could feel the fear creeping up inside her, but she pushed it aside.
"I love you, Ceynol," she said, her voice steady and clear. She gazed into his eyes, her heart laid bare for him to see.
For a brief moment, Ceynol's expression softened, but then something flickered in his eyes, and he shook his head. "It's just a crush, puppy love, or whatever childish thing it is, Jade," he replied coldly, the words stinging like ice.
Jade's heart shattered in that instant, and anger flared inside her. "It is love! Damn it! Didn't you see it, Ceynol? I've loved you all this time! I know you feel something for me too!" Her voice grew louder, and she didn't care who heard her. She had built up the courage to speak her truth, and now she wasn't going to hold back.
Ceynol avoided her gaze, his face set in a stern expression. "I love you, Ceynol. Can you see it? Can you feel it in your heart that my words are real?" She asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
But Ceynol shook his head again, this time more forcefully. "Fuck! You're a child! You're like a daughter to me with your age!" His words hit her like a slap in the face, and Jade staggered backwards, her chest tightening with hurt.
"Age has nothing to do with this! It's my feelings that matter!" She screamed, tears welling up in her eyes. "Tell me, don't you feel anything for me?"
Ceynol didn't respond. He just stood there, his eyes filled with discomfort and regret. Jade reached out, taking his hands in hers. She kissed him-gently, softly, as if she were trying to pour every ounce of her love into that kiss. But when she pulled back, the pain in her chest was still there.
"Tell me, do you feel the same way about me?" She repeated her question, desperate for any response.
She felt her heart tearing apart as she waited for him to speak. When he finally opened his mouth, his words crushed her.
"I'm sorry, Jade. I can't gamble my feelings for you and my friendship with your dad."
Jade felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. Her vision blurred with tears, and the ache in her chest was almost unbearable. She stood there, frozen, as Ceynol turned away from her, his footsteps heavy as he walked off into the distance.
Her heart broke with every step he took, and she felt her body trembling with the weight of his rejection. She whispered through clenched teeth, "You are a coward, Ceynol. If only you had just been honest with me."
Ezra Slain Velleoti is a man that everyone wants to avoid. He's a tough enemy. A mafia boss who disapproves of almost everyone. Anyone who gets in his way will never make it out alive. Khione Louelita Silay is a woman who is socially awkward. A person who has socially anxiety and dislikes crowds and other people's opinions. She is a nerd who prefers to work and stay at home. Working as a top counterintelligence agent for the NBI, Khione was unintentionally able to uncover the dark secrets of some government officials. Khione desperately wanted to flee, but she couldn't until they killed her, and Ezra, the notorious Mafia boss, was the only one who save her.
"You all pay attention! Pay close attention! You already know I'm in love! Who is it? With the person that despises me! So, I congratulate myself." -Marydeth Marie Goodfield She is desperate to win Calven Ken Strauss's heart but the question is. Will Calven love him back?
Livia Lumiere Carlos is a beautiful lady. Others were always deceiving and tricking her. She had difficulty on their hands. Others used her as an errand girl - their slave - while mocking her behind her back for her brilliant mind, commitment, and innocence. But when her husband cheated on her with her best friend, she decided enough was enough. However, Livia died of a sudden heart attack with her dying wish to turn back time. "Whoever stands in my way, I will mercilessly trample them," she promised. "Livia, the slave and errand girl, is no more."
Prim and proper? That's not Savannah Bea Ann Takahashi-Castillo at all. She's savage, boyish, and a risk-taker. Raised by her four overprotective-brothers, she flees out of their Hacienda for the first time. She meets Phantom Claude Hyperion, a cold, selfish, arrogant bastard, and package full of trouble. Their presence collided, a fire ignites. They never wanted each other but, their body says otherwise. Their destinies never meant to cross, yet they had it. It was impossible, but they couldn't resist.
Emaline Liliana's dreams and sleep have always been erotic and lustful, fueled by intense touch, passionate kisses, love, and care. She dreamed of a man with red eyes and two pointed fangs who always smiled and laughed before ending the dream with a bloody scream. A nightmare that is both beautiful and endless. Once the Vampires had taken over the world, the ruthless Vampire King gave the humans a choice: become a source of blood for them, or become their beloved. A place where a human who is both naïve and blind would perish.
In a world where humans and lycans co-exist, both societies must adapt to new norms and circumstances. Lycans became prominent city leaders due to their superior strength and intelligence. As the idea of a destined mate faded into myth, lycans began to choose their mates from among human participants in an annual mating ceremony. And at that ceremony, human beings stay far away from Alpha Nero Aimilios Astadel. The human race has a long history of warning its young, especially female offspring, to keep their distance from the Alpha. Avert your gaze, stay out of his way, and under no circumstances should you anger him. What if, an average human named Verity Catina Eirian showed up at the mating ceremony and was mated with Alpha Astadel, the most powerful and notorious Alpha, who didn't believe in fated mates and who showed no mercy to his enemies? Will Verity heed her mother's advice and stay away from Alpha Astadel, or will he win over his destined mate?
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
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!
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"