Bria Smith's life collapsed the moment her father died. Her mother married her boss, and just like that, Bria was thrown into a life of privilege she never wanted-and a college she hadn't earned, courtesy of her new stepfather. She planned to keep her head down at Harvard Business University, but fate had other ideas... Elijah Park. Her step-uncle. Her professor. The man she's not allowed to want-but can't stop thinking about. He's older, sharper, dangerous in a way that feels like a warning and a promise all at once. And he sees right through her-her grief, her anger, her desire. One look and she's undone. One touch and she's his. This isn't just love. It's temptation, secrets, and a choice that could ruin them both. Because some lies keep you safe... and some loves are worth breaking every rule for. ~

Victoria Rothwell has never made a single decision for herself. Every choice-what she wears, who she speaks to, how she smiles-has been dictated by her mother's infamous Rule Book, a thick leather binder that is updated annually like a corporate handbook. The rules are drilled into her daily: • Rule #1: A Rothwell daughter is a reflection of her parents, not herself. • Rule #19: A woman's worth is determined by her ability to elevate a man. • Rule #33: Love is a liability. Marry for power, stay for appearances. So when her parents announce her engagement to Eli Harrington, heir to a vast tech empire, Victoria accepts it silently. It's just another rule: "Rule #50: A Rothwell does not refuse a marriage that benefits the family." But Eli is nothing like the men her parents have groomed her to impress. Plus Eli is never far from His friends Troy, Gavin, and Luca.