When Arianna marries billionaire Zach Price to save her family, she doesn't expect to fall in love with a man who'd always consider her a second choice. An unexpected turn of events brings the couple closer together, but can a marriage based on lies and deceit ever survive? ***** When Arianna's older sister, Olivia, decides to run away on the day of her wedding, Arianna is forced to take her place to save her family from ruin. But her new husband is angry, heartbroken, and seems to hate her guts. The cold, elusive billionaire Zach Price has never quite struck Arianna as the kind of man she'd want to spend her entire life with. She was more than content with her sweet, thoughtful boyfriend Noah, but when circumstances force them together, Zach and Arianna's hearts get entangled in a way she never saw coming. As the couple grows closer, they must battle the demons of their past and of the lives they left behind - especially when Olivia returns and decides she wants Zach all for herself. Content/Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of violence and sexual abuse, and mentions abortion and miscarriage. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Ren Tachibana

In the peaceful town of willowbrook, where every street holds a whispered secret and every shadow hides a mystery, two souls, Riley and Ivan, are drawn together by an unseen force. Riley, a spirited young woman with an insatiable curiosity and a talent for art, finds herself yearning for adventure beyond the familiar confines of her small town life. Meanwhile, Ivan, a reserved sports enthusiast with a gentle heart, harbors dreams of escape from the shadows that seem to envelop him. Their worlds collide one fateful day at a local gathering, where chance brings them face to face in a moment that ignites a spark neither can ignore. Despite their differences, Riley and Ivan are inexplicably drawn to each other, their hearts beating in rhythm to a melody only they can hear. But as they navigate the budding feelings between them, they soon discover that their love is not without its challenges. Whispers of disapproval ripple through the town as rumors spread like wildfire, threatening to extinguish the flame of their burgeoning romance. Riley and Ivan find themselves caught in a web of secrecy and deceit, forced to confront the harsh realities of small-town life where judgment and gossip reign supreme. Yet, amidst the turmoil, they cling to each other, determined to defy the odds and carve out their own path. As tensions rise and stakes grow higher, Riley and Ivan must confront the shadows of their pasts and the demons that lurk in the corners of their hearts. Will their love withstand the trials that fate has set before them? Or will the weight of expectation and the pull of convention tear them apart? In a town where every whisper holds a secret and every glance hides a truth, Riley and Ivan's journey is one of love, loss, and the unyielding strength of the human spirit. But as the shadows deepen and the mysteries unravel, they will discover that sometimes, the greatest adventure of all is the one that leads straight to the heart.