When twenty-year-old Ava Carson’s mother marries into wealth, Ava is forced to move into a luxury estate with her new stepfather—and his brooding, reclusive son, Rylan Cole. At twenty-eight, Rylan is everything Ava’s never dealt with before: intimidating, emotionally detached, wildly attractive… and absolutely off-limits.Their first meeting is disastrous. Rylan wants nothing to do with his father’s new family, especially not a wide-eyed, sharp-tongued step-sister invading his space. Ava, on the other hand, is determined to find her footing—but the constant push-and-pull with Rylan starts chipping away at her guarded heart.As they’re left alone during their parents’ honeymoon, the tension between them escalates from irritation to a dangerously forbidden attraction neither of them knows how to control. But secrets run deep in the Cole household. Between Ava’s own past trauma and Rylan’s emotionally distant father, their growing bond is threatened by both internal fears and external enemies—including Rylan’s obsessive ex and a nosy housekeeper who’s always one step too close to discovering the truth.When a sketchbook of hidden drawings is revealed, and Ava uncovers the truth behind Rylan’s cold façade, she begins to wonder: Is what they feel really so wrong… or is it the only real thing they’ve ever known?In a house built on secrets, desire is dangerous—and love might just be the biggest sin of all.

When Sarah Williams signs a marriage contract with cold and calculating billionaire Alexander Carter, she seals her fate with ink and duty—not love. For one year, she must play the role of the perfect wife in the public eye, all to secure a deal that benefits everyone but herself.To the world, their union will look like a fairytale, but behind closed doors, it’s nothing more than a business arrangement—void of emotion, affection, or connection.Haunted by her father’s expectations and trapped in a life she never chose, Sarah tries to navigate a loveless marriage while quietly discovering her strength. But as Alexander remains distant and unreadable, cracks begin to form in his flawless facade. Is there more to the ruthless CEO than meets the eye?As public appearances blur with private moments and boundaries begin to shift, both Sarah and Alexander must confront a question neither expected: What happens when a contract starts to feel like something real?