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"One agreement. One year of pretending. No emotions to get entangled." In an agreement she couldn't refuse, Emma Sinclair was forced to pretend to be the wife of renowned CEO Chase Donovan. Their relationship was just a show - no emotions, no complications. But as the months passed, everything changed. The fake embraces left real heat, and the pretend kisses left marks on her heart. However, not all love stories end in a beautiful fairy tale. Emma thought she had found something real - until she discovered the truth. From the very beginning, she was just a pawn in Chase's game. Their marriage was never meant to last; it was just a step to protect Chase's power, a contract she unknowingly became a part of. And when their agreement ended, the illusion ended too. But behind the lies and deception, Chase had a secret that could never be revealed. He loved Emma; but if he admitted it, he knew he would have sealed his own death sentence.
Chapter 1
"FINAL NOTICE."
Emma Sinclair stared at the document in her hand, her jaw agape. It felt like a sharp knife piercing her chest.
Final notice.
It meant that if she couldn't pay within thirty days, she would lose her house-the only thing left of her family.
She gasped, her vision blurring. She reread the document, desperately searching for a loophole. Maybe she misunderstood something. Maybe there was still a way to escape this.
But the words were clear:
-"We regret to inform you that due to your failure to settle the remaining balance, the property located at Lot 23, Greenfield Subdivision, Quezon City, will be foreclosed within thirty (30) days."
This was followed by details of the exact amount she owed-an amount impossible for her to pay within a month.
Her knees weakened, causing her to fall onto the old sofa. Trembling, she clutched the paper, as if its magic could change what was written on it.
"No... I can't lose this house."
She looked around. Even though it was an old house, it was full of memories. Her mother's old piano was still there, the table where her father used to read the newspaper, and their family portrait hanging on the wall-one of the few things she hadn't sold despite her dire need.
Her chest tightened. Tears welled up in her eyes.
FLASHBACK – A TIME OF HAPPINESS
"Emma, come here!" her mother called cheerfully as she laid out freshly baked bibingka on the dining table.
She immediately rushed to the kitchen, where her father smiled as he stirred hot chocolate in a mug.
"Sweetheart, do you want to play outside after you eat?" her father asked, stroking her head.
She nodded with a smile. "Yes, Daddy!"
Her mother giggled. "Just don't go too far, okay? Or Grandma will scold you again!"
Laughter. Joy. Love.
That was her family then. Complete. Happy.
And above all, they had a business to be proud of-a successful chain of restaurants built from nothing by her parents.
The name of the restaurant? Monte Sinclair Café.
The Monte Sinclair Café was a well-known name in the industry. They had five branches in different parts of Manila, known for their signature chocolate lava cake and homemade bibingka. Emma grew up in the restaurant-learning to count using receipts, learning to cook with their chef, and learning to smile at customers, making her business acumen seem innate.
She knew that one day, her parents would pass it on to her.
Until the day of the downfall arrived.
One blow after another came.
It started when a major food scandal implicated their business. A customer filed a complaint after allegedly suffering food poisoning at one of their branches. Even though they were innocent, it became a major issue on social media. Fake reviews further worsened the situation.
Their once-thriving restaurant gradually went bankrupt.
But even when things got tough, she didn't lose hope-because her family was still there.
Until the most painful thing happened.
One rainy night, her parents announced they were leaving for a business trip.
"Don't forget to study, okay?" her father said, kissing her forehead.
"And pray before you sleep," added her mother.
"Yes, Mommy! Yes, Daddy!" she replied before they left the house.
But that was the last time she would see them alive.
The next morning, she woke up to news that turned her world upside down-her parents' car had been in an accident, and they didn't survive.
In an instant, she lost her family.
And now, would she also lose their house?
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Emma returned to the present, unable to hold back her tears.
"I won't let them take this house," she whispered to herself.
But how?
EMMA'S STRUGGLE: A FRUSTRATING JOB HUNT
Three months without a decent job.
After her family's business went bankrupt, she tried to fight for it-but to no avail.
Now, she had no business, no decent job.
For three weeks, she applied online, submitted resumes, lined up at job fairs-but no one hired her.
"I'm sorry, Miss Sinclair, but we need someone with more experience."
"We'll call you if there's an opening."
"I'm afraid you're overqualified for this role."
Where would she go?
Once, she was forced to buy the cheapest food at a convenience store-a cup of noodles and bottled water. While eating on a park bench, she sighed.
Was this how low her life had become?
A LAST HOPE
Her phone rang.
UNKNOWN NUMBER CALLING.
She quickly answered, hoping this was the answer to her problems.
"Hello, this is Emma Sinclair speaking."
"Good evening, Miss Sinclair," a deep, formal voice answered on the other line. "I received your application for the matchmaking position. Are you available for an interview tomorrow at Donovan Enterprises?"
Her eyes widened.
Donovan Enterprises?!
This was one of the largest companies in the country!
She gripped her phone. She didn't yet know what kind of job she would be taking, but one thing was certain-this was her last hope to save her house.
And she had no intention of failing.
A marriage built on lies. A past buried in secrets. A love that never should have existed. Isabella Ramirez never wanted to marry Sebastian Villafuerte, the cold and ruthless heir to a billion-dollar empire. But to save her family, she had no choice. Their marriage is nothing but a contract-a forced union meant to settle an old debt. She vows to keep her distance, but Sebastian's possessiveness and unpredictable rage make that impossible. Sebastian loathes Isabella, believing she is just another pawn in their families' dangerous game. Yet, every time he looks at her, something stirs inside him-something dark, something undeniable. When a single moment of weakness ignites a fire between them, he realizes that keeping her at arm's length might be the hardest battle of all. But neither of them knows the truth that binds them. A past filled with betrayal, shocking family secrets, and a twisted fate threaten to shatter everything. As they fight to resist the pull between them, their forced marriage begins to blur the lines between love and hate, drawing them into a storm that neither of them can escape.
In fairy tales, when the two person get married, they'll say it's a happy ever after. But for Aiana and Caspian, that wasn't the case. Exchanging wedding vows doesn't guarantee that they will love each other forever. Marriage doesn't guarantee love. And love isn't always enough.
"Si Rena ay nasangkot sa isang malaking pagbaril nang siya ay lasing isang gabi. Kailangan niya ang tulong ni Waylen habang naaakit siya sa kagandahan nito sa kabataan. Dahil dito, ang dapat ay isang one-night stand ay umusad sa isang seryosong bagay. Maayos ang lahat hanggang sa natuklasan ni Rena na ang puso ni Waylen ay pag-aari ng ibang babae. Nang bumalik ang kanyang unang pag-ibig, tumigil siya sa pag-uwi, iniwan si Rena na mag-isa sa maraming gabi. Tiniis niya ito hanggang sa makatanggap siya ng tseke at farewell note isang araw. Taliwas sa inaasahan ni Waylen na magiging reaksyon niya, may ngiti sa labi si Rena habang nagpaalam sa kanya."Masaya habang tumatagal, Waylen. Nawa'y hindi magtagpo ang ating mga landas. Magkaroon ng magandang buhay." Ngunit gaya ng mangyayari sa tadhana, muling nagkrus ang kanilang landas. This time, may ibang lalaki na si Rena sa tabi niya. Nag-alab sa selos ang mga mata ni Waylen. Dumura siya, "Ano bang problema mo? Akala ko ako lang ang mahal mo!" "Keyword, mahal!" Napabalikwas si Rena ng buhok at sumagot, "Maraming isda sa dagat, Waylen. Tsaka ikaw yung humiling ng breakup. Ngayon, kung gusto mo akong ligawan, kailangan mong maghintay sa pila." Kinabukasan, nakatanggap si Rena ng credit alert na bilyun-bilyon at isang singsing na diyamante. Muling lumitaw si Waylen, lumuhod ang isang tuhod, at nagwika, "Puwede ba akong pumila, Rena? gusto pa rin kita."
"Bulag ang pag-ibig!" Tinalikuran ni Lucinda ang kanyang maganda at komportableng buhay dahil sa isang lalaki. Nagpakasal siya sa kanya at nagpaalipin sa kanya sa loob ng tatlong mahabang taon. Isang araw, sa wakas ay nahulog ang mga kaliskis sa kanyang mga mata. Napagtanto niya na ang lahat ng kanyang pagsisikap ay walang kabuluhan. Tinatrato pa rin siya ng asawa niyang si Nathaniel na parang tae. Ang tanging inaalala niya ay ang kanyang manliligaw. "Tama na! Hindi ko sasayangin ang oras ko sa lalaking walang puso!" Ang puso ni Lucinda ay nadurog sa maraming piraso, ngunit naglakas loob siyang humingi ng diborsiyo. Nagdulot ng kaguluhan sa online ang balita! Isang maruming mayamang dalaga kamakailan ang nakipaghiwalay? Siya ay isang mahusay na catch! Hindi mabilang na mga CEO at guwapong binata ang agad na dumagsa sa kanya na parang mga bubuyog sa pulot! Hindi na kinaya ni Nathaniel. Nagsagawa siya ng press conference at lumuluhang nakiusap, "Mahal kita, Lucinda. Hindi ko kayang mabuhay ng wala ka. Pakiusap bumalik ka sa akin." Bibigyan ba siya ni Lucinda ng pangalawang pagkakataon? Basahin para malaman!
NAGTAGO siya sa Isla Lutherio upang kalimutan ang nabigong pag-ibig kay Lucy na napangasawa ng kapatid niyang si Martin. Ngunit sa halip na mapanatag ang kaniyang isip, mas lalo iyong gumulo at nakisali pa ang kaniyang puso. Hanggang saan aabot ang pag-ibig niya kung ang babaeng napupusuan ay milya ang layo ng edad sa kaniya? Jasson Luther is eighteen years older than Samara. Maaakusahan na nga siyang cradle's snatcher, mapagkakamalan pa siyang pedophile. Kaya naman para pigilan ang kakaibang nararamdaman sa anak ng mayordoma at driver nila, ibinaling niya ang atensiyon sa iba. Subalit, paano kung ang batang si Samara ay unti-unting nagdalaga? Ang musmos na katawan ay unti-unting nagkakaroon ng kurba. Mapigilan pa kaya niya ang nadarama? Does age really matter? O, mapapa-Yes, Master niya ang dalaga?
Si Hera Louisiana Reyes ay isang outcast ng kaniyang pamilya. Siya ay itinuturing na isang itim na tupa at tinatrato nang masama. Sa kaniyang mga kapatid, siya lang ang hindi nakapagtapos ng kaniyang pag-aaral. Isa siyang waitress ng isang sikat na restaurant ngunit natanggal dahil sa pananampal niya sa pinsan ng kaniyang amo. Naghanap siya ng trabaho at isang araw ay may bigla na lang sumulpot na lalaki at nag-alok sa kaniya ng isang trabaho na may malaking sahod. Kahit desperado siya, tinanggap niya ang trabaho. Ngunit hindi niya alam na ang trabahong naghihintay sa kaniya ay magdadala lamang sa kaniya ng sakit at kakaibang sarap na hindi pa niya nararanasan sa tanang buhay niya. Ano na lang ang kaniyang magiging reaksyon kung isang araw ay natagpuan na lang niya ang kaniyang sarili na may kakaibang relasyon sa kaniyang Amo?
“Kailangan mo ng nobya, kailangan ko ng nobyo. Bakit hindi tayo magpakasal?” Parehong inabandona sa altar, nagpasya si Elyse na itali ang may kapansanang estranghero mula sa katabing venue. Nakakaawa ang kanyang estado,nangako siyang sisirain siya kapag ikinasal na sila. Hindi niya alam na isa pala itong makapangyarihang tycoon. Inisip ni Jayden na pinakasalan lang siya ni Elyse para sa kanyang pera, at binalak na hiwalayan siya kapag wala na itong silbi sa kanya. Ngunit pagkatapos niyang maging asawa, nahaharap siya sa isang bagong dilemma. “Paulit-ulit siyang humihingi ng diborsyo, pero ayoko niyan! Ano ang dapat kong gawin?”