In the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where duty outweighs desire, a princess is bound to a future she did not choose-and a protector she cannot have. At eighteen, she is reunited with him-not as a distant figure in the palace, but as the man assigned to guard her life. The years have made him colder, untouchable, yet she cannot forget the way he once looked at her. The way she still longs for him. As danger brews in the empire's heart, they walk the knife's edge of duty and longing, neither willing to betray their honor-or their hearts. Sworn to guard her with his life, he knows his place in the shadows, but some battles are not fought with swords. As Whispers of rebellion stir and long-buried secrets come to light, the lines between loyalty and longing begin to blur. When unrest shakes the empire, hidden truths emerge, forcing them to confront the feelings they have long denied. But in a world where love is a luxury and betrayal lurks behind every veil, some secrets must remain buried forever. Because not every secret is meant to be told... ... Read more to find out 😊💖

Amara, a forensic science student in Saint Petersburg, Russia has a crush on her senior Ivan Volkovitch soon finds herself tangled in web of obsession where there's a shadow who's fallen for her. ******* My neighbor. Always watching. Always too close. At first, it was little things-the way he lingered in the hallway when I got home, the way I'd catch his reflection in a window, staring. He never spoke much, just a polite nod, but his eyes... they stayed on me too long. Then, things started going missing. My spare key. A sweater I left in my wardrobe. My bedroom door cracked open when I was sure I'd locked it. I told myself I was imagining it. That I was being paranoid. Until I saw him. And he was there outside my door last night- just watching. Waiting for me. And this morning a message "I'm still here." Written from inside. And the real horror is just beginning. - #71 mysteryromance out of 1.82k stories. #501 mysterious out of 1.72k stories.