Seven years ago, a single, passionate night in Italy gave art restorer Elara the greatest gift of her life: her son, Leo. To protect her heart and her boy, she buried the memory of the handsome stranger who fathered him, creating a story of a lost love. Now, she’s a struggling single mother, and her family’s gallery is on the brink of collapse. Her last hope is a career-making contract offered by the formidable Sterling Enterprises, run by the city’s most powerful and elusive CEO, Damian Sterling. But when Elara walks into the boardroom, her world shatters. The cold, ruthless billionaire is the man from that unforgettable night and he’s the spitting image of her son. Forced to work together, the spark between them reignites, threatening to burn down the walls Elara has so carefully built around her heart. But Damian is engaged, and a dangerous secret lurks in the shadows, determined to tear them apart. As lies unravel and a shocking truth comes to light, Elara must decide if revealing her secret is worth the risk of losing everything, including the man she’s never been able to forget.

Maya Lane walks in on her fiancé proposing to her best friend, and her world collapses in a single breath. She was betrayed, humiliated, and stripped of everything she built; she vows never to trust again. But in her darkest moment, someone steps forward. Kaelen Blackwood, a mysterious billionaire who witnessed her heartbreak, offers her the one thing she never expected: revenge. A fake romance is supposed to ruin her ex and rebuild her life. But the more Maya pretends, the more real her feelings become. And the closer Kaelen gets, the more his carefully guarded secrets unravel. In a world where betrayal wears a perfect smile, Maya must choose to stay broken in the shadows and take her second chance at love.