"Where can your obsession finally lead you?" Aris Sandoval was such a good-for-nothing type of a Casanova, but behind his charming looks that were effortlessly used to leave trails of brokenhearted women wherever he went, lies an obsessed heart longing for an extraordinary woman from his past. Will he still continue his mysterious obsession, once he found the right love with a different woman?
DISCLAIMER
Any reproduction, distribution, or usage of this work in whole or excerpt form, in any online or offline media, using technology now known or hereafter invented including photocopying, mobile technology, and recording are all forbidden without written and signed permission from the author.
The story is written in English. However, please be advised that English is not the first language of the author. The author did not know the story of "The Little Mermaid" as well so please do not compare. The author assures you that this is not a typical or cliché type of mermaid story.
While El Nido, Palawan exists in the Philippines, all characters and events in this book are products of the authors imagination and have no relation to any namesake. All incidents in this body of work are entirely fictional and are in no way related to anyone who is known or unknown to the author.
Plagiarism is a crime and therefore, punishable by law.
Copyright, Nihc Ronoel
All Rights Reserved 2020
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MYSTERIOUS OBSESSION
"Where can your obsession finally lead you?"
Aris Sandoval was such a good-for-nothing type of a Casanova, but behind his charming looks that were effortlessly used to leave trails of brokenhearted women wherever he went, lies an obsessed heart longing for an extraordinary woman from his past.
Will he still continue his mysterious obsession, once he found the right love with a different woman?
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PROLOGUE
His P.O.V.
I was playing at the back part of the ship that we were cruising on for our short trip to El Nido, Palawan when all of a sudden...
"Mom, Dad... help!" I cried when I fell from where I was.
It would be a few rapids away and we would be docking at the nearest port when I accidentally slid off along the stern to the sea while reaching for my brand-new PlayStation Portable or PSP. If only I were able to carry my orange life jacket or rubber ring, I would no longer be in this state of immediate danger.
I wanted to calm myself as much as possible but no matter how much I tried, my mind already panicked. It blinded me from all the possible things I could think of at the moment.
"M-om! D-ad!" I wasn't able to scream gradually as I was being distressed by the waves to be eventually lured by the sea. The freezing seawater even contributed more to the fear and foreboding anxiety that I was feeling. Not to mention that the cruise ship was already sailing far away from me.
I didn't know how to swim and I already drank too much salt water, but I was still trying to pull myself up while raising my hands, even though I was descending after all. I was still hoping that someone could see me in my current situation-silently praying that someone could save me in case my parents wouldn't be able to do so.
I was still young. I wanted to live and enjoy life to its fullest. But as the waves continued to lure me, I started to lose my breath and cognizance. It came to a point that I began to give up my chances of survival. I slowly shut my eyes as I already accepted my fate. Whether I liked it or not, I would be going to face my death right at this moment.
But before everything went black, I knew, I saw a golden object... something that was shimmering from afar.
[UNEDITED]
"How long do you have to convince yourself that you don't love her anymore?" David believed to have been hurt by the same woman twice, leaving him with no other option but to hate her for the succeeding days of his life.
"Could you ever forgive that someone who ruined your past?" Diane is trapped in the past she can't even remember. How can she live her life again once she figures out what really happened?
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.