Is money the root of all evil or the lack thereof?

When Hope’s younger brother, Elijah involves himself in the dealing of the most notorious gang in all of California, Hope is sent on an adventure down the rabbit hole. Falling deeper and deeper with no way out. Will she make it out from the other side?


DARK DECEPTION
Copyright © Agatha Rose
All Rights Reserved.
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The "TBNB" Series by Agatha Rose
Young / New Adult :
1. The Bad Nerd Boy - Season 1, 2, 3
2. Asian Potterhead and the Lovestruck Bad Boy ( Hunter Jones & Mey Wang )
3. The Blonde That Got Away ( Luke & Shanelle Bernucci )
4. To Blackmail Flynn Ascott ( Tyler's twin's story - Flynn & Kelsey )
5. True Love and Other Disasters ( Tae-Woo & YoonA )
6. Kiss Me First ( AU | Castile & Autumn )
7. Irresistible Duology: Irresistible Temptation ( Autumn & Phraser )
Romance / Mature :
1. Fuck You and All of Your Bullshits / Dark Pretenses ( Clara Summers & Dean )
2. Prince Not-So Charming ( William & Kate )
3. Not So Plain Jane ( Steven Summers & Jane Austin )
4. Irresistible Duology: Simply Irresistible ( Autumn & Phraser )
5. Dark Deception ( Declan Summers & Ma Qingshan )
6. Dark Betrayal ( Thornton Summers & Ava Smith )
7. Mr. Fiction ( Julie & Remliel )
8. Royal Entanglement 
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D A R K D E C E P T I O N
50 years ago, long before Declan and Qingshan were born, a promise was made between the Chinese businessman, Ma Fenghuang, and American tycoon, Rochester Summers. A promise that one day they will have a bond stronger than friendship. A bond of marriage that will tie their families together for eternity.
30 years later, the Summers Empire collapsed. However, Ma Fenghuang, true to his words, asked all of his granddaughters to fulfill his promise. No one stepped forward. No one but Ma Qingshan, the daughter of the courtesan that Ma Fenghuang's son had accidentally knocked-up and ended up marrying.
Tired of being the only proof of her family's flaw and scandal, Qingshan took the task none of her cousins would dare to take and marry the American tycoon's second son, Declan Summers.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
 
In order to prove to his wife and her family that he is not just "the useless, good-for-nothing gigolo", Declan decided to help his wife to become the sole-inheritor of the Ma Fenghuang Empire.
 
* * *
 
The only reason Ma Qingshan agreed to marry a foreigner, Declan Summers, years ago was to make her grandfather, Ma Fenghuang, happy even if she has to enter a loveless marriage. A marriage that was based on a fifty-year-old promise. A marriage that her cousins were not willing to enter. And the only reason she still keeps him by her side is pride. Nothing else. Her entire married was nothing but a lie.
With her grandfather's sudden wish to choose an heir, she wants to prove to her conservative family that females were also capable of leading an empire and not just to be married off to strengthen connections or in her case, fulfill an old promise. Qingshan is determined to do whatever it takes and calculates her plan carefully.
What she does not anticipate is that one of her grandfather's conditions for the chosen heir is to have an heir to make sure the empire will never fall to an outsider's hand and forever stay in the family. Knowing her marriage is nothing but a lie that has never been consummated before, Qingshan's determination starts to falter.
Little does she know that her so-called useless husband is coming to her rescue behind the scenes, helping her every step of the way while keeping his true identity a secret. Marriage is about love and trust. Albeit there's no love between them, there's always some degree of trust. Will keeping her in dark break her trust and leave him with nothing?
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THE RISE OF THE BULLIED SON IN LAW // Dark Deception
Copyright © Agatha Rose
All Rights Reserved.
 
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
The "TBNB" Series by Agatha Rose
Young / New Adult :
1. The Bad Nerd Boy - Season 1, 2, 3
2. Asian Potterhead and the Lovestruck Bad Boy ( Hunter Jones & Mey Wang )
3. The Blonde That Got Away ( Luke & Shanelle Bernucci )
4. To Blackmail Flynn Ascott ( Tyler's twin's story - Flynn & Kelsey )
5. True Love and Other Disasters ( Tae-Woo & YoonA )
6. Kiss Me First ( AU | Castile & Autumn )
7. Irresistible Duology: Irresistible Temptation ( Autumn & Phraser )
Romance / Mature :
1. Fuck You and All of Your Bullshits / Dark Pretenses ( Clara Summers & Dean )
2. Taming The Wild Duke ( William & Kate )
3. Not So Plain Jane ( Steven Summers & Jane Austin )
4. Irresistible Duology: Simply Irresistible ( Autumn & Phraser )
⪼ ⪼ 5. Dark Deception ( Declan Summers & Ma Qingshan )
6. Dark Betrayal ( Thornton Summers & Ava Smith )
7. Mr. Fiction ( Julie & Remliel )
 
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
D A R K D E C E P T I O N
50 years ago, long before Declan and Qingshan were born, a promise was made between the Chinese businessman, Ma Fenghuang, and American tycoon, Rochester Summers. A promise that one day they will have a bond stronger than friendship. A bond of marriage that will tie their families together for eternity.
30 years later, the Summers Empire collapsed. However, Ma Fenghuang, true to his words, asked all of his granddaughters to fulfill his promise. No one stepped forward. No one but Ma Qingshan, the daughter of the courtesan that Ma Fenghuang's son had accidentally knocked-up and ended up marrying.
Tired of being the only proof of her family's flaw and scandal, Qingshan took the task none of her cousins would dare to take and marry the American tycoon's second son, Declan Summers.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
 
In order to prove to his wife and her family that he is not just "the useless, good-for-nothing gigolo", Declan decided to help his wife to become the sole-inheritor of the Ma Fenghuang Empire.
 
* * *
 
The only reason Ma Qingshan agreed to marry a foreigner, Declan Summers, years ago was to make her grandfather, Ma Fenghuang, happy even if she has to enter a loveless marriage. A marriage that was based on a fifty-year-old promise. A marriage that her cousins were not willing to enter. And the only reason she still keeps him by her side is pride. Nothing else. Her entire married was nothing but a lie.
With her grandfather's sudden wish to choose an heir, she wants to prove to her conservative family that females were also capable of leading an empire and not just to be married off to strengthen connections or in her case, fulfill an old promise. Qingshan is determined to do whatever it takes and calculates her plan carefully.
What she does not anticipate is that one of her grandfather's conditions for the chosen heir is to have an heir to make sure the empire will never fall to an outsider's hand and forever stay in the family. Knowing her marriage is nothing but a lie that has never been consummated before, Qingshan's determination starts to falter.
Little does she know that her so-called useless husband is coming to her rescue behind the scenes, helping her every step of the way while keeping his true identity a secret. Marriage is about love and trust. Albeit there's no love between them, there's always some degree of trust. Will keeping her in dark break her trust and leave him with nothing?
 
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
 
First of all, HOLY SMOKES! I wrote a pure Romance story! *le gasp
I want to say thank you to all of you who decided to check this out! 
I hope you like/enjoy it. 
To avoid confusion, I am writing under two names: 
A.J. Rosen (for all Entwined books)
Agatha Rose (for all Romance/YA books)
thank you!
loads of pizza,
your noob neighborhood author
agatha x


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you can also find me on social media and other platforms under the same username: agatharoza
Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad | WebNovel | Goodreads

In order to prove to his wife and her family that he is not just "the useless, good-for-nothing gigolo", Dean decided to help his wife to become the sole-inheritor of the Ma Fenghuang Empire. 

* * *

The only reason Ma Qingshan agreed to marry a foreigner, Dean Summers, years ago was to make her grandfather, Ma Fenghuang, happy even if she has to enter a loveless marriage. A marriage that was based on a fifty-year-old promise. A marriage that her cousins were not willing to enter. And the only reason she still keeps him by her side is pride. Nothing else. Her entire married was nothing but a lie. 

With her grandfather's sudden wish to choose an heir, she wants to prove to her conservative family that females were also capable of leading an empire and not just to be married off to strengthen connections or in her case, fulfill an old promise. Qingshan is determined to do whatever it takes and calculates her plan carefully. 

What she does not anticipate is that one of her grandfather's conditions for the chosen heir is to have an heir to make sure the empire will never fall to an outsider's hand and forever stay in the family. Knowing her marriage is nothing but a lie that has never been consummated before, Qingshan's determination starts to falter. 

Little does she know that her so-called useless husband is coming to her rescue.

Mu Ru came to Jingxuan gallery in fear, thinking about how she would answer Shangguan Jingtian's question about the three paintings yesterday?
Of course, if Anglo American company didn't pay for the three paintings, she would have to pay for it herself. Fortunately, the money had already been taken from Dongfang Mo, that devil.
More importantly, she was worried that she had offended Shangguan Jingtian's client. No matter what, the client was God, and Anglo American company had called Shangguan Jingtian to order the paintings, so naturally, it was Shangguan Jingtian's God.
However, when she rushed to Jingxuan Gallery, she didn't see Shangguan Jingtian. Xiaoyun said that the boss hadn't come today, and she didn't know if he had come back from city g yesterday.
Xiaoyun was a colleague of the company, an Old Lady. She was thirty-one years old this year, a woman over thirty years old, and had already entered the marriage-crazy industry. No, to be precise, she had entered the marriage-crazy industry.
The boss didn't come, so mu ru decided to put aside the matter of the three paintings yesterday. She chatted with Xiaoyun casually for a while, then went upstairs to draw.
Two of her paintings were already hanging in the gallery, but they were newcomers. Moreover, the paintings couldn't be compared with the works of Shangguan Jingtian and the other teachers, so they were hung in a corner and hadn't received any attention for a week.
During lunch, Xiao Yun told her the good news. The people from the anglo-american Company called and said that the three paintings hadn't been signed for yesterday. They asked her to sign the delivery order today so that they could pay for it.
Mu Ru quickly said that her painting hadn't been completed yet, so it was better for one of you to take the delivery order and collect the money. She wanted to stay in the gallery to finish her painting.
Xiao Yun said that you were stupid. Yesterday, you sold the painting and you gave it to me. Today, if you send the delivery order and collect the money, you will get a 2% commission, which is four to five hundred dollars.
Mu Ru quickly said that she didn't want it anymore. Well, if one of you goes there, the commission will be on your head. Oh right, when the time comes, you can just tell boss Shangguan that the painting was sent by you.
Xiao Yun and Xiao Wang were naturally happy about such a good thing, but in the end, Xiao Wang went because Xiao Yun was going on a blind date tonight. She was afraid that if she came back late, she would miss the scheduled meeting time.
No one was surprised that Xiao Yun was going on a blind date tonight. Mu Ru had been here for more than a month and knew that Xiao Yun had gone on no less than five blind dates, and each time, it ended in failure.
In the afternoon, Mu Ru had just finished painting and was washing her brush when Xiao Yun came in. She patted her shoulder and said, "Mu Ru, accompany me on a blind date tonight. "
"A blind date? " Mu Ru immediately raised her head to look at her, then shook her head and hurriedly said, "I have something to do tonight. Can you find someone else? "
Xiao Yun was a famous marriage maniac in Jingxuan gallery. No, it should be the entire oil painting village. The desire of a woman over thirty to get married was indeed not something that ordinary people could understand. According to Xiao Wang.. The sisters in the neighboring gallery, including herself, had of course gone on blind dates with Xiao Yun.
However, every time someone accompanied her on a blind date, it would end in tears. So now that Xiao Yun wanted to go on a blind date, no one was willing to go. They all found excuses to turn it down.
Mu Ru had also gone on a blind date with Xiao Yun once. It was half a month after she came to Jingxuan Gallery. That day, it was noon. She went to KFC restaurant with Xiao Yun to meet her uncle, who was in his late twenties. However, that uncle was really too disgusting. He even went Dutch on a blind date The three of them spent 96 yuan, but he only paid 25 yuan for his own expenses. The rest was paid by Xiao Yun and mu ru themselves. Xiao Yun was so angry that she couldn't marry such a man even if she was beaten to death.

Five years ago, she replaced her twin sister to marry him who was burned beyond recognition and even became a eunuch. Five years later, when they met again, he pressed her against the wall in the corner A low voice sounded with doubt. "Is your daughter mine? " The corners of her mouth curled into a sneer. "Are you sure you have the ability to do that? " His originally cold face instantly turned into the darkness before the storm His voice was fierce and low as he growled, "woman, you are challenging me! "

It is the middle of winter in Bagdad, Iraq.  Inside a marriage magistrate office in the Thawra district (Sadr City), couples wait inside a crowded room to say their vows. The early morning 45-degree weather was the perfect climate for marriage. Young women starting at the age of fourteen are getting married to men who are eighteen and older. 

	One particular couple stood out from amongst everyone else. The groom is a twenty-seven-year-old, African American male in his late twenties. He has a healthy physique that is displayed in his torso and biceps. He wears a black thobe that flows to the ankle of his sandals; and white Kufi and a checkered black & white keffiyeh. He is 6'3 in height and weighs about 230 lbs. His face has a clean-shaven beard with connecting sideburns. His beard luster with shea butter that gives his face an ebony glow. His name is Asad Ibn An-Nas.

	His bride is an Arab woman of Iraqi descent who is in her early twenties with light olive skin color. She is 5'7 in height and weighs 180 lbs. Her body carries the extra pounds gracefully in her breast and hips. She wears a pink abaya, white hijab, and brownish-red boots. She wears makeup to enhance the beauty she already possessed. Her emerald green eyes are beautified with dark kohl eyeliner and smokey grey eyeshadow. Her lips glistened with a magenta color lipstick, enhancing her an exotic look. Her name is Zuleika Bint Malak.

	Zuleika is shaking with nervousness while Asad sat next to her with a firm calm demeanor. Asad's arms and legs are folded as he waits patiently. The couple waited for hours to see a marriage magistrate. Zuleika notices the condescending stares she was getting from the men. One man mumbles in Arabic, "She is marrying an abd." It  is a derogatory remark meaning slave, a word used against Iraqi citizens of African descent.

	Within a five hour wait, Asad and Zuleika opportunity came to say their vows. Asad and Zuleika stood before the middle aged magistrate who wore a judge's robe that was accustomed to the Iraqi court system. He prepares the paperwork by signing his name and date. When he is done, he grabs the Qu'ran and tells them both to put their hands on it to swear the two into marriage.

"As you know that marriage is a serious matter. There must be sincerity, trust, and most important no coercion. Zuleika you may state the marriage vows.

"I Zuleika Bint Malak offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife""

"Zuleika, do you accept this marriage to Asad? If you do, say I accept three times," Zukaika repeats "I accept" three times.

"Asad you may state your vows"

 "I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband."

	The magistrate asked Asad to accept Zuleika as his wife by saying "I accept," three times. Asad confirmed as he replied three times. The magistrate requested Asad to present a dowry. Asad gives Zuleika an envelope with $1000 inside. Zuleika was surprised as she did not ask nor expected anything but a new life with her soon to be husband. After Asad paid fifty American dollars and both signed their names and stamped their thumbprints on the page. The two were presented with a marriage license written in Arabic.

-ZULEIKA-

	When I signed the marriage contract, I prayed to Allah that this was the man who was going to love me. I have long waited for a husband that American's would call a prince charming. Even though I am not a deserving bride;  knowing my past, Asad married me anyway. Asad is not my first husband as I have been married so many times that I lost count. It is a very unlikable situation for a Muslim woman who has been divorced in Iraq, even if it's a first divorce. You may ask how this was possible.

	I was raised in the city of Mansoor that is twenty mile from Bagdad. My parents made the decision to marry me off at the age of 14. My husband at the time was a thirty five-year-old friend of the family.. During my first marriage, my husband and I moved from Mansoor to the Kadhimiya district in Baghdad. There he sold dry goods; such as prayer rugs, clothes, perfumed oils, incense, and jewelry. Shortly after getting married, I was treated inhumanely and restricted to the stereotypical roles of a housewife. Cooking, cleaning, and giving my ex-husband's  rights in the bedroom was my only purpose. I was pregnant twice but had miscarriages due to his beatings; sometimes to the point that my face was unrecognizable and swollen. When I finally fought back by cutting him with a kitchen knife; he divorced me by word of mouth. "I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you," were his final words before being thrown out on the street.

	I was homeless for months. I slept in alleyways and any place that sheltered me from the weather. There were times I didn't eat for days and  had to steal food. May Allah forgive me. I thought I was at the lowest point of my life when I met Sheik Abdelnour. The Sheik saw me stealing food. He followed me to a secluded place where I slept. Abdelnoor offered to help me. He told me to follow him from a distance to his office. I did so. I knew it was an adverse judgment. If I was caught with him alone, I risked jail time and possibly death.

	I was dead either way; rather, it was from starvation or being executed by the Iraqi estate. So I took my chances and went with Sheik to his office. He led me to an alley where no one would have seen us. He took me to a building that had a door with chipping red paint. "The streets are very busy at this time. Wait here, and I'll go inside to open the door," Sheik instructed. I watched him walk towards the busy main street. I waited for about an hour. At that time, the sun was setting, and I decided to pray Maghrib prayer. I made my prayer on a used cardboard box. After twenty minutes, the Sheik opened the back door. "Forgive me, sister. I had a few clients that needed attending to. Come in."

	The Sheik served me Arancini balls (fried potatoes stuffed with meat) and freshly made black ice tea. The Sheik inquired why I was living on the street. I told the Sheik my story. He gave me some comforting words and offered a solution to my problems." Sister, I can help. How do you feel about temporary marriage," Sheik asked.  I could not believe he was offering Muk'tah marriage as an option. Muk'tah marriage was a common practice in the Kadhimiya. Men marrying women on short term contracts for sexual pleasure.

"I always wanted to be married for life."

"You are divorced. Take my word that no man wants to permanently marry a divorced woman in Iraq. You are considered used goods."

"Then why would you offer Muk'tah marriage. I am not a prostitute."

"You won't be. You will be married. After you are paid you a set dowry, you will pay 70 percent for the finder fee and paperwork. When the marriage is over, you'll be richer than what you are now. Think about it. You can buy food and have a place to sleep. Unless you like going hungry or sleeping on the street. Sister I tell you it is not safe out there especially for women who do not have a protector. I will protect you."

	The Sheik made his proposal sound simple. Simple it was not. The thought of marrying men temporarily for money was appalling but I had no choice. Once I agreed, he gave me a key to an apartment, a cell phone, and $300,000 in Iraqi dinar, which equates to close to $200 in American currency.

	When I entered the apartment I found cramping living quarters. It was literally a studio apartment with a bathroom, a kitchen, and a bedroom was all in one area. The sanitation was below living standards. The cement and paint was chipping off the wall. There was at least a few years of dust that settled on the floor.  I could not complain as I had a roof over my head and some money. Mashalla, that there were a broom and some cleaning supplies available. It took me two hours to clean the apartment. After I was done I showered and washed my clothes with a used bar of soap and hung them in the bathroom. 

	The following morning I went shopping for all the essential supplies I needed. While shopping for clothes, I received a cell phone call from Abdelnour. He said he found someone that wanted to marry for a day. I had no choice but to accept. He proceeded with the marriage over the phone. He asked me was I doing this of my own free will. I said yes. Then he asked me, "Do I accept."  I answered three times with the answer, "I accept."

	With those easy words, I was married. I quickly finished shopping and rushed home. I put on some makeup and some perfume and the new clothes I bought. Once I was finished, I waited for hours for my temporary husband. When nightfall came, there was a knock at my door. I opened the door, and I saw a middle-aged man with a graying beard. I was very nervous and wanted to change my mind but it was too late. 

	After my first night, I married countless men.  The experience was tiring and detrimental to my faith as a believing Muslim. At some point the Muk'tah marriage was becoming dangerous. The Sheik was setting me up with men that were abusive just to act out their sick fantasies such as sodomy, which is not permissible in Islam. When refused, I was forced into doing so. I beg the Sheik not to marry me to these types of men. He got upset with me and  replied that I must please these men regardless. When the Sheik ignored my concerns, I knew I had to find a way out of this ungodly cycle.

Asad is an American Muslim who travels to Iraq as he tours the Middle East. While taking a taxi to a hotel, Asad saves a woman who was about to jump off a bridge. Not long, a Sheik claiming to be her Wali (guardian) quickly whisk her away. Feeling obligated to check on the well being of the distressed woman, Asad decides to track her down. After successfully locating the Sheik, Asad discovers the so called religious leader has been prostituting women, through Muk'tah marriages (temporary marriage).

Teodorico Victorio David was born on the 1st of July, 1919, in Lubao, a town in Pampanga, a province in Central Luzon Philippines. He was born, a year after the end of the First World War. He belongs to one of the noble families in Lubao, Pampanga at that time, the family of Victorio. The Victorio family had a business which was rice mills in Lubao, a business which they succeeded from their ancestors. My grandfather was born and raised as a Christian, a believer, and a God-fearing person. My grandfather Teodorico or often called "Teddy" by his cousins and friends was a Capampangan, an adjective to Filipinos who were born in Pampanga, and is a native speaking Filipino dialect used in few provinces in Central and Northern Luzon. His mother, Maria Victorio David was a single mother and had a failed marriage. My grandfather was the only child of his parents. His mother and father were separated, and he never had a fatherly love and caress. His father was Don Anselmo David, a Pharmacist from Betis, Guagua Pampanga. His father died when he was three years old therefore, he just grew up with the love and care of his mother and aunt, Dorothea. His mother did not come to his father's funeral because according to my mother, they never loved each other. Their marriage was just a mandatory thing for his mother. It all began when his father touched the right hand of his mother for the first time without her consent. During that time, a touch of hand to a woman was a big thing to be considered. If a man touches a woman it will surely come to a sudden commitment to a relationship or even a mandatory marriage. At that time touch to a woman can be considered already as sexual interaction, and to a woman's side, it will look like she lost her dignity, purity, and virginity if she has been touched by a man. Sounds crazy but it's true, it was an old fashion Filipino tradition. My grandfather Teodorico studied and finished his secondary education at Lubao Institute, this school is also my alma mater in High School. One of his classmates in this school eventually became an actor, Mr. Jaime Dela Rosa. He has a best friend in our hometown according to my Mother, he was Vicente Ocampo. They were schoolmates in Lubao, Central Elementary School, an Elementary school located at San Nicolas 1st, Lubao, Pampanga a Barrio nearby. As a normal teenager, he enjoyed his high school days with his classmates and friends. Every weekend he used to hang out with his cousins and friends, ending their days riding their bicycles, playing various cultural Filipino games like Patintero and Sipa. Whenever they have school programs like foundation day or other activities, he performs at the stage with a song or dance number with his classmates including Jaime Dela Rosa. Even though his mother used to spoil him to certain things as he is the only child, he was still a responsible son to his mother, and a hard-working student until he finished his studies before the Second World War. During that time, the Philippines was under the American Government, therefore there were Thomasites, a group of American educators that was sent to provinces to share American education with Filipinos. The Thomasites were like early Peace Corps Volunteers, teaching in remote places such as Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Samar, Zambales. Aparri, Jolo, Negros, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bataan, Batangas, Pangasinan Tarlac, and other places.
In 1934 he graduated from high school, and this was the beginning of his journey to live as an independent student in Manila. His mother decided to enroll him at the University of the East in Manila to take his first tertiary education, the "Bachelor of Arts". He had half-siblings to his father, and one of them was settled in Caloocan, a city located in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. His sibling was Rosita David the eldest among the children of Don Anselmo David. My grandfather used to spend his college life together with his sister and brother in law. He was asked to stay in his sister's house as an offer while taking his college education at UE. It is a privilege for my grandfather to deal with because his school is just approximately 3 kilometers away from Caloocan city, therefore he took his eldest sister's offer. Every weekend his mother visits him bringing a bunch of different kinds of delicacies, and special dishes like longganisa, tocino, ham, and special chicharon from Pampanga. This is a traditional Filipino practice when one traveled from another place, he/she expected by someone bringing something special. This offering is called "Pasalubong", a little gift from relatives or even friends. My grandfather's favorite is the chicharron, a Filipino dish made by the stripped skin of pork or cattle, it is deep-fried for a few minutes to make it very crispy. Manila is very different compared to his hometown, the noisy environment, several infrastructures, and has an enormous population. He made a lot of friends in Manila, and as a Kapampangan, he used to introduce his province to his friends and tell a lot of things about Kapampangan culture. His first day in school as a college student was quite normal for a youngster. Just like what we feel when we start our first day of school with our new classmates, there is excitement, nervous feeling, shame, and consciousness, because you're just about to join a new company in a brand new environment. He had a seatmate who eventually became his best friend, Mr. Jose Gutierrez. Jose was from San Juan Manila and he belongs to one of the noble families in San Juan during that time. He was a believer in God the son but a disbeliever in God the father. My grandfather described Jose as an unusual person, because of his clever personality and his different perspective on some things.
Weeks and days went by until the week for preliminary examination comes. During high school days, my grandfather was already fascinated by literature. Philippine History was his favorite subject in fact, at his young age he can already discuss the history of the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War, and the Novel of the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, entitled "Noli Me Tangere(Touch Me Not)". My grandfather was then assigned to report the Three Major Battles of Alexander the great by their World History instructor. From the moment of his research about his report, he became more fascinated in History. Whenever he had leisure time, he used to spend his time reading history books in the library. He focused his research on ancient Asian, European empires, and American Military history, all the way back from the American Revolution. He used to idolize famous historical figures like Julius Caesar, Alexander, and Constantine the Great. He used to tell historical stories to his classmates and friends and he was frequently asked by them if he ever wished to be a Soldier, his answer was just always a smile because at his young age there were a bunch of professions in his mind whereby he kept on asking himself if he made the right choice of choosing his course. At the time of my grandfather, the subject ROTC(Reserved Officer Training Corps) in the Philippines was considered an important Subject in College. Once a week they had to train as Filipino Soldiers for two and a half hours. Their instructor taught them the proper way how to hold and fire a gun, sprint, Crawl, and March. For training, they used World War One rifles such as Enfield, Springfield, and bayonet. And for Artillery, they used Bamboo Canons. ROTC in the Philippines began in 1912 when the Philippine Constabulary commenced with military instruction at the University of the Philippines. The university's Board of Regents then made representations to the United States Department of War through the Governor-General and received the services of a United States Army officer who took on the duties of a professor of Military Science. Through this arrangement, the first official ROTC unit in the Philippines was established at the University of the Philippines on 3 July 1922. President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order No. 207 in 1939 in order to implement the National Defense Act of 1935, otherwise known as Commonwealth Act No. 1, the embodiment of the national defense plan formulated by General Douglas MacArthur for the Philippine Commonwealth. This executive order made ROTC obligatory at all colleges and universities with a total enrollment of 100 students and greater. My grandfather's life as an AB student was colorful, he became stronger and developed his personality at his young age. He became the group leader for their thesis. Their thesis writing was research but a very hard one. For their documentation, they had to write manually the output of their research from Acknowledgements to the Appendix, which was almost a hundred and fifty pages.

True to life Story of Corporal Teodorico Victorio "TEDDY" David, and the Japanese Philippine invasion, 1941-1945.

As for the outside, it had been a few days of peace. Everyone had gradually accepted their relationship. The only thing was that the two of them had been too discreet and thus, many people wanted to dig for more information regarding the two.
Some even headed over to the kindergarten to pester their kids.
Fortunately, there were bodyguards there and nobody had the chance to enter.
With so many reporters surrounding the kindergarten, it riled up some people's disdain. They felt like the normality of the kindergarten had been disrupted.
As Shiyuan was still young, she did not really care about these. Gu Shinian had been leaving through the side door every day and was cold towards the reporters outside.
The teachers felt helpless as they looked outside. Watching them outside was really testing their patience. They could only look from afar, not able to chase people away.
Lin Che felt worried at home. She could monitor the situation at the kindergarten from where she was. Looking at the reporters outside, she felt even more worried.
However, one could never have the best of both worlds. There would always be all kinds of worry, there was no way of caring for every aspect.
Lin Che could only watch and be worried.
Just then, she saw someone's opinion on the Internet.
It mentioned something about Lin Che and Gu Jingze being together for years and never being exposed?
Lin Che was the same as most female stars. With a little fame, she married into a wealthy family. Whether her life in the wealthy family was good or not, one would have to see how long it took for Lin Che to have her two kids. There could be a possibility that she would continue giving birth. With her husband not allowing her to expose for that many years, one would know how life is in a wealthy family.
The first part of the article mentioned how Lin Che's marriage was not looking good, comparing her to other female stars who married into wealthy families. It discussed if most female stars who had married into a wealthy family had the same ending. The second half of the article discussed female stars who did not marry into a wealthy family but married ordinary people and concluded that it looked like these stars were truly in love.
Lin Che was outraged.
Are these people mad?
She was so enraged that she called Yu Minmin. 
Yu Minmin answered, "What's wrong again?"
Lin Che said, "These people have nothing better to do than to curse me on the Internet. What about me? How I could not wait to marry into a wealthy family? Saying as if I married Gu Jingze for money. Whatever they're saying is what they do not know. Why are these people discussing such a conspiracy?"
Yu Minmin understood, laughed, and said, "Yes yes. You should let them know. Your relationship is not as simple as they think. You guys started because you poisoned him first and then forced yourselves into marriage. Oh, they're really too naive…"
"…"
Her words left Lin Che dumbfounded.
Fine, thinking about it, it was quite true…
Yu Minmin heard that she had nothing to say and chuckled. "Forget it. We'll not say anything either. We'll just show them."
"Who is this guy spinning these stories? What are his intentions?" 
"Maybe it was for viewership hits, you never know. It's the digital age now. All these media influencers have advertisements and fees are paid according to their viewership count. The more hits they have, the higher fees they get. So they have to make something out of nothing to get the attention of the audience. If not, what are they going to earn?" 
"But it must be based on some truth. How can you babble about something without facts?"
"This is already not too bad. There were still some examples and scenarios played out for you. You haven't seen more disgusting ones where they would write about feminism. Many are completely written with crooked theories, with no sense of responsibility. Just a load of rubbish, calling women to stand up to men and then gaining the attention of many females and earning loads of money. I find it strange too. A marriage between a man and woman who are in love is a beautiful thing. That is your husband, not the enemy. Why do you have to fight him? Aren't we supposed to talk reason, act coy, communicate our feelings properly, go for a holiday to relax, and bond? What's there to fight against? When should I make a call to the public too? I wonder if anyone would read about Gu Jingming's weird habits should I write about them."
"…" Lin Che analyzed and replied, "Sure, go ahead and write. It would be a bit. Should I end up being blacklisted and unable to earn an income, I'll be depending on your weird antics to support me!"
The two of them teased each other and felt happier. 
Yu Minmin then asked, "That paparazzi has made an apology recently, didn't you see? I think he's admitted defeat. Netizens are in jubilation. They say that this is the first time they apologize to a celebrity and that you're brilliant. I guess this should simmer you down."
Lin Che did not care about this. There were too many messages online and she could not read every one. 
Lin Che asked, "Is this apology for me or to Gu Jingze?"
"I think they know that both of you are not to be messed with. So, forget it."
"If you already know it, then why do it in the first place?"
Lin Che rested at home for a few days. The good news came from Hollywood.
Xue Yang was still there, filming. He was also spotted by MBC, an American production company. They want him to play the role of a permanent character in a new TV drama. 
American dramas were different from locally produced dramas. They acted and aired the episodes at the same time. Some characters were constantly changed but permanent characters were like the lead roles. Also, the male and female leads may not be the most popular characters in their dramas. It usually depended on the development of the drama and the preferences of the audience. The importance of the roles may also go through changes. The screenwriter may change the plot according to the audience's response, giving more depth to a well-received character and cutting out a less well-received character. Permanent roles were usually not too bad characters. 
There was a small scar on Xue Yang's face after his injury. Although not very obvious, it was still visible up close. 
This scar was thought to be of nothing in American dramas. Their make-up was not like that of the local production. The local production's make-up would make one's skin fair and clear with not a trace of a scar to be seen. It was as though everyone's skin was that good, no matter man or woman. The make-up in American productions was light and there was no problem even if scars showed.
From hearsay, the other party had taken a liking to his present look. It had the right feel and so they prepared to hire him. 
Yu Minmin happily agreed, of course. There were not many local stars who could make it into American dramas. With this, Xue Yang was considered to have really gone into it. 
Just that, Yu Minmin still said to Lin Che, "I'm just a little worried. With his face like that, it took so much effort in the country to make it less obvious. Now that he's overseas, this scar can't be hidden and his idol image would change when the fans see it."


Wealthy, powerful and handsome; Gu Jingze is the cream of the crop in the entire country. Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to be with him. His life is perfect... except that he has one tiny secret that keeps him from getting close to any woman—apparent impotency.

That is, until he wakes up in bed with a total stranger one day. The next thing he knows, he is forced to marry this stranger; a feisty and boisterous woman by the name of Lin Che. 

Lin Che is an average girl whose only aim is to become a successful actress. Ostracized by her family and forced to become independent, she cooks up a scheme to attain her goal. But her plan fails and she ends up marrying this cold and seemingly heartless Gu Jingze. Not only that, she must now find her place in high society, where jealous women and devious plots lay abound - all while juggling her new career.  

Two strangers under one roof: From the outset, they agree to stay out of each other’s lives, but he somehow always manages to appear during her moments of crisis. Slowly and unwittingly, Lin Che begins to find it difficult to imagine a future without him. Will their relationship grow, or is their marriage destined to remain just a contract?

One of the reasons Daphne had been so successful with her company; later conglomerate; was because she had a wide range of representatives and she, as the owner and founder was anonymous. 
Daphne was willing to bet nobody thought the owner of the Vermillion Conglomerate was a woman. 
Another reason for her success was the existence of the internet and capitalism. Since she knew the game, she could exploit it. She also had many "friends" in high society to which she would subtly publicize whatever her company was trying to achieve. 
Just the name being tossed around in those circles was a boost in reputation and reliability. Daphne found it ridiculous now, how sneaky she had been, how entertained she was by the whole ordeal. How fun it seemed to manipulate, move around and succeed in a male dominated field. 
At this point though, where business was stable and the input she was required to give, minimal; Daphne had more money than she could spend in ten lifetimes. The fun of being accomplished had grown old, she had recognized that she was not as mischievous as she thought she was. Everybody wore a mask, just like her. The friendships were not genuine and it hurt to realize that people who sweet-talked you to your face, would bash you just as much behind closed doors. 
Daphne's marriage to Ezra, she had done it in the end because he looked good and seemed perfect. She did not want to admit it, but just as much as he might have used her for her prestigious name, she used him for his money, looks and capabilities. But her naïve brain had not even contemplated how much jealousy and envy such a man would send her way.
Ezra was of mixed descent, he had some Asian blood, some American, some German and who knew what else. He had been raised with high expectations placed on his shoulders and he always met them. He was called a business prodigy, as once he took charge of his father's assets, he raised the value of the combined assets by at least thirty times in just five years. Those five years included the first four years of their marriage.
Many people theorized that in a few years, his group of companies would be worth trillions. In American dollars. 
'Money isn't all it's cracked up to be.' Daphne thought as she turned over to lay on her back. Her eyes looked empty and crystal tears started to fall from them. Despite the tears, her face looked neutral. 
Images shifted trough Daphne's brain. She was jealous of poorer married couples that struggled together. She struggled as well, but she had no one to share her struggles with. 
Her marriage had started on the wrong foot and it had been in limbo ever since. It was sickening to realize how fast time had passed. Despite it being an almost decade long ordeal, there had been no improvement; no change. 
Ezra was probably sleeping with his secretary. He had around five assistants, but this one was his private secretary, which is why, although he and Daphne barely had any interactions, Daphne had met the woman a few times. That woman had too much courage in the way she looked at Daphne for there to be no reason behind it. There was no cordiality coming from her, she did not even try when Ezra was present, and the fact that he never said anything spoke volumes to Daphne. 
Theresa was a beautiful, well-educated woman, how else could she get a secretarial position with Ezra if she had no capabilities? As such, it was highly unlikely such a woman would treat the wife of her boss with disregard unless something was happening behind closed doors.

What does it mean to love someone? What does it mean to beloved by someone? Can a couple learn to love each other despite their not so stellar start?

In the early 20th century, most women in the United States did not work outside the home, and those who did were primarily young and unmarried. In that era, just 20 percent of all women were "gainful workers," as the Census Bureau then categorized labor force participation outside the home, and only 5 percent of those married were categorized as such. Of course, these statistics somewhat understate the contributions of married women to the economy beyond housekeeping and childrearing, since women's work in the home often included work in family businesses and the home production of goods, such as agricultural products, for sale. Also, the aggregate statistics obscure the differential experience of women by race. African American women were about twice as likely to participate in the labor force as were white women at the time, largely because they were more likely to remain in the labor force after marriage.


The history of women's work and wages and how it has created success for us all
Janet L. Yellen
MAY 2020
As we celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, we should also celebrate the major strides women have made in the labor market. Their entry into paid work has been a major factor in America's prosperity over the past century and a quarter.


Despite this progress, evidence suggests that many women remain unable to achieve their goals. The gap in earnings between women and men, although smaller than it was years ago, is still significant; women continue to be underrepresented in certain industries and occupations; and too many women struggle to combine aspirations for work and family. Further advancement has been hampered by barriers to equal opportunity and workplace rules and norms that fail to support a reasonable work-life balance. If these obstacles persist, we will squander the potential of many of our citizens and incur a substantial loss to the productive capacity of our economy at a time when the aging of the population and weak productivity growth are already weighing on economic growth.

A historical perspective on women in the labor force
In the early 20th century, most women in the United States did not work outside the home, and those who did were primarily young and unmarried. In that era, just 20 percent of all women were "gainful workers," as the Census Bureau then categorized labor force participation outside the home, and only 5 percent of those married were categorized as such. Of course, these statistics somewhat understate the contributions of married women to the economy beyond housekeeping and childrearing, since women's work in the home often included work in family businesses and the home production of goods, such as agricultural products, for sale. Also, the aggregate statistics obscure the differential experience of women by race. African American women were about twice as likely to participate in the labor force as were white women at the time, largely because they were more likely to remain in the labor force after marriage.

If these obstacles persist, we will squander the potential of many of our citizens and incur a substantial loss to the productive capacity of our economy at a time when the aging of the population and weak productivity growth are already weighing on economic growth.

The fact that many women left work upon marriage reflected cultural norms, the nature of the work available to them, and legal strictures. The occupational choices of those young women who did work were severely circumscribed. Most women lacked significant education—and women with little education mostly toiled as piece workers in factories or as domestic workers, jobs that were dirty and often unsafe. Educated women were scarce. Fewer than 2 percent of all 18- to 24-year-olds were enrolled in an institution of higher education, and just one-third of those were women. Such women did not have to perform manual labor, but their choices were likewise constrained.

Despite the widespread sentiment against women, particularly married women, working outside the home and with the limited opportunities available to them, women did enter the labor force in greater numbers over this period, with participation rates reaching nearly 50 percent for single women by 1930 and nearly 12 percent for married women. This rise suggests that while the incentive—and in many cases the imperative—remained for women to drop out of the labor market at marriage when they could rely on their husband's income, mores were changing. Indeed, these years overlapped with the so-called first wave of the women's movement, when women came together to agitate for change on a variety of social issues, including suffrage and temperance, and which culminated in the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 guaranteeing women the right to vote.

Between the 1930s and mid-1970s, women's participation in the economy continued to rise, with the gains primarily owing to an increase in work among married women. By 1970, 50 percent of single women and 40 percent of married women were participating in the labor force. Several factors contributed to this rise. First, with the advent of mass high school education, graduation rates rose substantially. At the same time, new technologies contributed to an increased demand for clerical workers, and these jobs were increasingly taken on by women. Moreover, because these jobs tended to be cleaner and safer, the stigma attached to work for a married woman diminished. And while there were still marriage bars that forced women out of the labor force, these formal barriers were gradually removed over the period following World War II.

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