"I've never met a madman such as yourself. You're necrotic! I'd go as far as to say you're the son of necrosis." The roaring 1900s were a time to behold, especially in New York's first integrated-staff hospital, where 31 year old Michael Jackson led the crusade as the first African-American chief of surgery. Hailed as the remedy to any demonic plague thrown his way, he still can't seem to cure the one that lurks deep within himself. In a world of "every man for themselves"... some don't even have the pleasure of that much.

masquerade [mas • quer • ade] (n.) behavior that is intended to prevent the truth about something unpleasant or not wanted from becoming known 𝔦𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔰 ℭ𝔥𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔤𝔬, ¹⁹⁸⁹ " ℑ'𝔪 𝔡𝔢𝔳𝔬𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲, 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 𝔦𝔣 𝔦𝔱 𝔪𝔢𝔞𝔫𝔰 𝔰𝔞𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔣𝔦𝔠𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔟𝔶 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔰𝔦𝔡𝔢 " 𝔄 𝔐𝔦𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔢𝔩 𝔍𝔞𝔠𝔨𝔰𝔬𝔫 𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔖𝔱𝔬𝔯𝔶 ²⁰²⁴

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is far from perfect. Before starting her senior year of college, she's already guaranteed her position as the black sheep of her once prestigious family. To make matters worse, she took up bedding the rival family's eldest son, Jackie Jackson. The relationship blurs the boundaries that should exist between a professor and student, but since it remains casual as much as a secret, she doesn't care how it could affect her reputation--that is until she meets Jackie's charming, sweet-talking younger brother. 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 has got it all. In fact, he's the face of the music program and the record company that shot his family into local stardom. Like his talent, his popularity is immeasurable, and he seems to be the Jackson family's prized possession. So after having a tense encounter with him and his older brother, Evelyn can't help but wonder why Michael is so drawn to her and determined to convince her that she's just like him, that the Jackson family isn't all it seems. As they forge an unlikely bond, generations of secrets slowly reveal themselves and threaten to rip their families and fortunes apart at their seams, creating new animosity between the brood of brothers. In the end, the pair is set up to answer the age old question: Is blood thicker than water? And will familial burdens and status overcome the rest of their lives? Disclaimer: This story contains mentions of a large age gap/power imbalance, drug use, violence, domestic abuse and sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.