Secret Prize (18+)

Notes

I signed up for extra shifts at the restaurant—not to get tangled up with a reality TV contestant. But when our branch gets picked to host part of the show, I suddenly find myself serving drinks to a bunch of camera-ready strangers, including him.

Matteo.

Six-foot-three. Impeccably dressed. Light brown eyes that see way too much. A tattooed body built for sin. The kind of man who walks through the world like it already belongs to him. And unfortunately, he's decided I'm next on his list.

Too bad for him—I'm not that easy.

I have work to do, exams to pass, and exactly zero time to play along with some cocky, smooth-talking Italian who thinks I'll melt at his feet. But Matteo? He doesn't take no for an answer. He pushes, teases, and tempts—until resisting him feels more exhausting than giving in.

The problem? He's not just a distraction.

Because behind that charm and wicked smirk, Matteo has secrets. Dark ones. Ones that could wreck both of us.

And by the time I figure out the truth, walking away might not be an option.

Romance • Comedy • Drama • Mystery • Crime •  Women's Fiction • Steamy

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Content Advisory

This story contains mature themes, including graphic sexual content ⚠️, crime, violence, explicit language, and substance abuse. Reader discretion is advised.

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Language

Tagalog-English (main), Italian

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This novel is a complete reimagining of a story I began years ago but never had the chance to finish. The original version received several accolades and gained a loyal following. However, due to personal challenges, I unpublished and set it aside more than once. Now, I'm excited to revisit and complete this story, sharing its new life with you.

Thank you for reading and joining me on this journey—it means the world!

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, snapshotting, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

All the characters in this book are fictitious. Names, characters, places, and events are purely products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to real-life events is entirely coincidental.