When Arianna marries billionaire Zach Price to save her family, she doesn't expect to fall in love with a man who'd always consider her a second choice. An unexpected turn of events brings the couple closer together, but can a marriage based on lies and deceit ever survive? ***** When Arianna's older sister, Olivia, decides to run away on the day of her wedding, Arianna is forced to take her place to save her family from ruin. But her new husband is angry, heartbroken, and seems to hate her guts. The cold, elusive billionaire Zach Price has never quite struck Arianna as the kind of man she'd want to spend her entire life with. She was more than content with her sweet, thoughtful boyfriend Noah, but when circumstances force them together, Zach and Arianna's hearts get entangled in a way she never saw coming. As the couple grows closer, they must battle the demons of their past and of the lives they left behind - especially when Olivia returns and decides she wants Zach all for herself. Content/Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of violence and sexual abuse, and mentions abortion and miscarriage. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Ren Tachibana

Mahirap maging mahirap, panibangong araw na naman para pagsilbihan si tiya. Ano na naman kaya ang ipapagawa niya? Kahit pagod ay wala naman akong pagpipilian, kailangan ko pa ring kumilos. Para kay Amanda ay normal na araw lamang iyon, iyon lamang kasi ang paraan para mabuhay siya ngunit isang araw ay dumating ang isang tawag na makakapagpabago sa kanyang buhay. Makakapagtrabaho na siya! Masaya ngunit malungkot iyon. Aniya sa sarili na babalik naman siya at tutulong pa sa kanyang tiya ngunit masyadong mabilis ang pangyayari, nang tangkain niyang magpaalam para magtrabaho ay hindi iyon natanggap ng kayang tiya. Malalakas na bulyaw at mura pa ang narinig niya bago tuluyang pumatak ang kanyang luha, masakit man ay wala naman siyang pagpipilian. Sakto ang mensahe ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan, pasko na at kaarawan niya pa. "Kaya ko ito." Bulong niya sa kanyang sarili bago ipikit ang mata, siguradong kinabukasan ay panibagong araw muli para sa kanya. Masaya, malungkot at sobrang hirap. Masayang sumasayaw at nagtatalon si Amanda, hindi inisip ang mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya. May mga ilang nagtangka para kausapin siya ngunit ilang beses niya rin iyon tinanggihan, hanggang sa maramdaman niya ang init sa kanyang likuran. Ang haplos ng estranghero sa kanyang katawan, ang hininga nito sa kanyang tenga. Warning: Mature Content (R-18) Not suitable for young readers. It contains graphic sex scenes, adult languages and situations intended for mature readers only. Read at your own risk. Amanda Ruiz S: 3/15/22 E: 10/13/22