You're Still My Man
Maria Soledad · Completed · 64.5k Words
Introduction
Unexpectedly, Ace suddenly proposed marriage to her, even though he wasn't courting with her. But Ace Durant's unromantic words were hardly the proposal of her dreams. Seeing this as perhaps her chance to get married before she is twenty-five years old, and thus she can break the spell of their family beliefs. Gina decided to take Ace offer, but she also had a proposal on her own.
Never had such words affected the cold-hearted Ace. The undercover agent who pretended to be a waiter, had told her that the only reason he would marry her was to protect her, as if Gina's world collapsed when she heard that. But he was finding it increasingly difficult to keep their temporary marriage strictly in name only. Can Ace avoid Gina's venom and her seduction of him?
Chapter 1
ACE
He entered the Mexican Restaurant where he works late. He immediately took a small box from his pocket which was also the reason why he was late.
He carefully opened the contents of the small box he had given as a gift to the beautiful woman who was celebrating her twenty -fourth birthday today. But the real purpose of this gift could very well save her life, the fact is that she can't tell him.
He left cold America for his special mission here in the Philippines as he entered another door to a different world.
He has also been working at the said restaurant for a year. He also has the opportunity to experience a few problems in his work, but all of that is easy for him to handle and even so until now.
He immediately went to the counter to find out if they had a reservation tonight. At first glance he thought there was nothing, but when he looked at it again, there was. It's reserved for a single name and it's none other than Brando Nicolas. The man who lives in darkness and in the secret world.
He clenched his fist knowing that it was Brando Nicolas who reserved it. He took the small box from his pocket again and went to the kitchen while he was thinking of a reason for being late. He stopped outside the door and listened intently to the silence in the kitchen. Either his noisy colleagues just meant to keep quiet or he really arrived too late.
All the reasons he could think of suddenly flew through his mind when he opened the door. He found out that there was no one inside except Gina. She faces a stainless-steel barrier that divides their working station from the cooking area, where their chef will cook the foods they serve at dinner. He just looked at Gina from behind her and didn’t know what her emotions were now whether it was angry, irritated or whatever she was feeling on that time.
He could hear Gina scolding herself, but why was that? did she do something wrong?
He wanted to think that Gina was going crazy because she was talking to herself, but it wasn't fair if he thought she was like that, maybe she was just hiding her resentment.
He quietly walked over to Gina's place to apologize for being late for her birthday party.
GINA
She set aside the gifts he received from her colleagues. It was her 24th birthday and everyone knew it was important to her. The rest of their colleagues came early just to celebrate with her, even their manager, except for the one person he was waiting for the most.
"That's what you got Gina to wait for nothing, but I hope he just said he was sick so I wouldn't have to wait." said Gina as she was still talking to herself.
"Happy Birthday Gina!" Ace suddenly greeted, which surprised her.
Gina's face lit up as she turned to see Ace, breathing heavily.
Ace Roderick Durant III. Tall, gorgeous and oh so handsome as what she describes to him. A six-footer man, has dark brown hair, charming eyes, and a killer smile if he was just smiling all the time, and of course his body is already a dish.
OMG! Adonis seems to have come down from space, it takes her breath away when she sees the handsome face in front of her. What Ace didn't know was that marrying him was Gina's birthday wish when she blew out her birthday candles.
Gina was swallowed up by what she saw, and her anger was replaced by joy.
"I'm sorry because I missed your party." Ace apologized as he walked towards her.
"No one checked the attendance." she said and continued arranging her gifts.
She couldn't stare at Ace for a long time because she might melt. It's better for her to just avoid looking at him than to be tensed when she faces Ace. After all, it's been a long time since they've been together at work, it's only been a year, but until now Ace still has the same effect on her.
"Looks like you need someone to carry your presents." Ace said and took the knife to slice the cake that was on the table.
"Is this a gift for you, too?" he said, specifically to the cake he was slicing and he immediately tasted it. "Mmm...it's delicious"
ACE
He frowned when he saw one of Gina's gifts, a wedding photo album that really emphasized the word 'WEDDING ALBUM'.
"That's also a gift for you?" he asked curiously on the album. "I thought it was just a birthday party, a bridal shower too."
Gina took the album and hugged it.
"It's nice to put wedding pics on this album."
"As far as I know, you don't have a boyfriend, so it's impossible for you to get married or..maybe you wanted someone to marry you? Because they said you don't want to be an old maid like your cousins."
"What about you if I really wanted to? Of course one of my goals is to get married." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Besides, I'm busy at school and work so I might not be able to meet my prince charming."
Ace didn't answer and just helped Gina put away the cluttered gift wrappers. He stopped suddenly when he touched a scattered wrappers.
"I think you have another gift you haven't seen."
"Which is?"
"This, the traditional something blue." Ace showed her the blue carton of condoms.
"Who gave me that?" Gina asked and shook it.
"You keep it, it can also be used." He just smiled at Gina. "By the way, I also have a gift for you."
"Really?" Gina asked and she looked happy when she heard he had a gift for her.
Honestly, Ace doesn’t like women flirting, he made it clear to her and his other female co-workers who also show him liking.
"But I'll just give you my present when we get home." he said. "I want to give it to you in private. If possible I'll give it to you in your boarding house?"
GINA
She looked around and made sure that no one was there. Because their colleagues went home to get dressed since her birthday party ended early and the restaurant where they work will open for dinner.
"Why don't you just give me your gift now? We're the only two here."
"You're really funny, Gina."
"What's so funny about that honey pie?" she called Ace that again because that's what he didn't want to call her.
"Just don't call me honey pie, okay? I'm terrified, oh let's just have a drink."
She handed him a champagne glass which Ace had poured into wine, but he suddenly let go of it. It's a good thing it didn't break.
Ace immediately took a tissue and knelt down to wipe Gina's wet shoes. But she stopped him.
"If you don't want to give me your gift now, then don't."
"Don't get upset Gina, I'll give you this gift."
In fact, she was annoyed with Ace for being so numb. He didn't even notice how eager she was for the gift he would give.
"Okay, just came to my house."
"You might think I'm proud of this gift to you because I'm still suspenseful."
"You know Roderick, we'll just really fight when you give it to me later because I'll really tickle you."
"And what are we fighting over, Gina?"
"Because I'll really tickle and tickle you because I really can't wait."
Ace just smiled back at her.
"You know I'm intrigued by your gift, but if you don't want to give it to me now, it's fine whatever." she said to Ace and she came out of the kitchen.
ACE
He followed Gina's gaze until she came out. Gina called him sometimes by his second name which she is the only one who knows it because Ace is a very secretive person, even to his real name. Like him, he is the only one who calls her Gina by her real name.
He also went out of the kitchen to arrange the dining tables in his working area, and their chef cooked just in time.
He is going to his place in the exclusive club house where he is the head waiter. The thirty-year-old private club offered peace and privacy that was usually reserved there by those prominent people.
He first goes through the beautifully furnished dining room and he sees Gina there lighting candles on the dining tables as she sings. Her white shirt and black skirt really fit hers because her body is more shaped.
He went upstairs to check the billiard rooms and lounge on the second floor, which has usually become his routine.
After he checked the second floor, he immediately went downstairs to look at the reservation list again at the counter. His eyes were now focused on the single name written there. Brando Nicolas. How could such a simple name impact so many lives?
Last Chapters
#40 Epilogue
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#39 Chapter 39
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#38 Chapter 38
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#37 Chapter 37
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#36 Chapter 36
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#35 Chapter 35
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#34 Chapter 34
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#33 Chapter 33
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#32 Chapter 32
Last Updated: 5/6/2026#31 Chapter 31
Last Updated: 5/6/2026
You Might Like 😍
“Burn those who burned me!”
Burn those who burned me is an anthology book circulated on truth; justice; and REVENGE!
Story #1 The Ballad of Rabena Price.
Story #2 The rebirth of Clara Granger
Story #3 The violin of Graceland Teague
Story #4 The list for Josie Taylor
Story #5 COMING SOON!
The Legacy Game
When scholarship student Chris Linds stumbles onto a mystery someone has killed to protect, she becomes the next target. The only person standing between her and death is Ashen Ford, the academy's cold, untouchable Student Council President—and heir to one of Corvain's founding families.
As anonymous invitations summon twelve students into the legendary Legacy Game, alliances fracture, secrets surface, and every challenge brings another deadly truth to light. But the greatest secret isn't who will win.
It's why one winner vanished without a trace... and why someone will do anything to make sure history repeats itself.
BROKEN TRUST
Neither of them knew she was carrying his child.
Emily’s affair didn’t just end her marriage—it erased the life she thought was guaranteed. Ryan left without looking back, carrying his anger like armor and leaving Emily alone with regret she would never outrun. Three years later, fate drags them back into each other’s world, along with a little girl who has Ryan’s eyes and a truth that shatters everything he thought he knew.
Old wounds reopen, grief masquerades as rage, and love refuses to stay buried. As parenthood binds them together and the past demands accountability, Emily and Ryan must face the question neither of them is ready to answer: is broken trust the end of their story… or the beginning of a love forged through loss, forgiveness, and brutal honesty?
Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
Tango 2 the Alpha's Heart
My gaze snapped to his. He was smiling, causing my heart to skip a painful beat. Before I could respond, the music began, and my body instinctively reacted to the sweet melody.
I found myself molded to Lex's will, my feet irresistibly following the dance steps.
The crowd gasped as Lex pulled me into a more intimate position, his hands roaming over my body in a seductive manner.
The experience was both terrifying and magical, allowing me to feel every longing emotion through the dance.
I soon found myself lost in his arms.
When the music finally stopped, my arms were wrapped around his neck, his hands resting on my back, our noses almost touching. He gazed deeply into my eyes.
The ballroom fell silent.
Was he about to kiss me?
Lilly’s life was never easy; she lost her memory and family in a blazing fire. Angelica found and took her in—only to make her a slave to the household.
Years of torment and abuse left Lilly weak, vulnerable, and believing she was without a wolf, but that didn't mean that all hope was lost.
At night, in her dreams, he would patiently wait for her—the man who brought sunshine into her darkest moments.
They would dance the night away, but as dawn approached, he would vanish into the morning sun.
Lilly had given up hope of finding a mate, having a family, and leading a normal life.
But things are about to drastically change for her...
Secrets, lies, betrayal... and a baby on the way.
What if Lilly wasn't wolf-less? What if it was all a lie?
What if she had a living family? Would she stay and bond with them or make a run for freedom?
Faking It With My Worst Enemy On Ice
But on his birthday, everything falls apart when his girlfriend exposes Clare's most humiliating secret in front of the entire team.
Just when Clare is ready to disappear, Rhys Calloway, her worst enemy and the team's arrogant captain, pulls her into his arms and tells everyone she is his girlfriend.
She should have pushed him away, but she kissed him back instead.
Now Clare is locked into a two-month fake relationship with the most infuriating man she has ever met, trying to get over a stepbrother who never cared and survive a captain who makes her forget why she was supposed to hate him.
The problem is that Rhys kisses like he means every single second of it, and just when Clare starts to move on, Zane decides he wants her back.
One girl, two hockey players, and a heart that was never supposed to feel this much. Will she choose the stepbrother who broke her or the enemy who caught her when she fell?
Legacy Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 2
Ria and the Balaur brothers never imagined how far their family would come.
After surviving betrayal, loss, and the lies that nearly destroyed everything they loved, they dedicated themselves to building a future. What began as a training facility for dragons soon grew into something far greater—a place where dragons and other species from around the world could learn, train, and thrive together.
Now the facility is flourishing. Their children have grown, many finding their own mates among dragons, shifters, and other species from distant lands. The family Ria fought so hard to protect has expanded beyond anything she once dreamed possible, bringing new friendships, new adventures, and a growing legacy of grandchildren.
As old secrets continue to surface, long-held beliefs about dragons and mixed-species bloodlines are being challenged. Truths buried for generations are finally coming to light, reshaping everything they thought they knew about their world.
Filled, Owned, and Fucked by My Best Friend’s Father
He was supposed to be off-limits. Untouchable. The kind of man you only fantasize about when you’re alone in the dark with your hand between your thighs.
But the night I caught him eating another woman alive by the pool, I couldn’t look away.
And he knew it.
The moment his dark eyes locked on mine through the glass, I became prey. His filthy smirk promised one thing—he saw me touching myself to him, and he wasn’t about to let me forget it.
Now, every time I’m in his house, I can’t breathe without thinking of his mouth between my legs.
I left my cheating boyfriend behind, only to fall into something even more dangerous:
a man who could ruin me, break me, and make me beg for his cock while his own daughter sleeps in the next room.
He’s too old. Too powerful. Too forbidden.
But Gianni doesn’t ask—he takes.
And I don’t want him to stop.
The Softest Chains
The Spy Who Left
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
The Family Books 1-3 (A Mafia romance)
The saint to my sinner. with her innocent eyes and devilish curves.
A Madonna that was meant to be admired but never touched.
Until someone took that innocence from her.
She left.
The darkness in my heart was finally complete.
I avenged her, I killed for her, but she never came back.
Until I saw her again. An angel dancing around a pole for money.
She didn’t know I owned that club. She didn’t know I was watching.
This time I won’t let her escape.
I will make her back into the girl I knew.
Whether she likes it or not.
2/ Judge and Jury- I can’t stop watching her.
I’m not even sure I want to.
Taylor Lawson, blonde, beautiful, and totally oblivious to how much dangers she’s in.
She’s also the one juror in my upcoming murder trial that hasn’t been bought.
The one who can put me behind bars for a very long time.
I know I should execute her.
After all that’s what I do.
I am the Judge.
I eliminate threats to The Family.
And Taylor is a threat.
But I don’t want to kill her.
Possessing her, making her love me seems like a much better plan for this particular Juror.
3/ Rags and Ritches-
Ex-Wife, Current Wife
For three years, she lived in the shadow of a loveless marriage. She was the woman everyone loved to hate, the one who supposedly "stole" him from his first love. She endured his cold indifference, raised their son—who struggles with a speech impediment—in silence, and traded her own brilliant career for the thankless role of a trophy wife.
But when his long-lost love returns, she is unceremoniously pushed aside to make room for the "real" family.
Enough was enough.
After he publicly humiliates her and chooses the mistress’s daughter over his own son during a birthday party, something inside her finally snaps. She doesn't just want out of the marriage; she wants her life back. With a secret talent for design and a newfound resolve, she walks away from the gilded cage of his estate.
But as she rises from the ashes of her failed marriage to reclaim her status as a top-tier designer, he realizes the woman he treated as a disposable pawn was the only one who truly held his world together.
Now, the woman who once begged for his attention is no longer looking back. Will he be able to earn her forgiveness, or is he finally too late?
