"We never asked for this. Our lives were written by others, our hearts shackled to a contract neither of us wanted. But somewhere between the lies we told ourselves, we found something we never expected to feel-something dangerous, the truth ." Love was a luxury I never sought, never allowed myself to want. I built walls so high, pushing people away to keep them safe, only letting a few in for fleeting moments of pleasure. But when her parents demand an arranged marriage to unite our families, my father has no choice but to agree. Defy them, and we risk everything. I knew her already-knew the way the sun made her skin glow, the way her curly brown hair danced with every step she took. But did I like her? That was a whole different question. Our families' hatred ran deep, centuries of bloodshed and betrayal fueling the fire that had burned between us for as long as I could remember. The only reason I even tolerated her was because of her brother-my best friend. The one person I thought I could trust... until I learned I was never supposed to be his ally at all. Now, fate has forced us into a marriage neither of us wanted. It feels like a foreign limb, an unwanted tumor growing at my side, suffocating every ounce of freedom I had. The question is-can we both survive this? Or will one of us end up broken, shattered by the weight of what we never asked for? But somewhere along the way, the impossible happened: I fell for her. Completely. Undoubtedly. And now, I don't know if we'll make it out alive... or if we'll destroy each other in the process.

In the quaint, secluded town of Stallow, a chilling tradition lurks beneath its serene facade. Once a year, as the leaves begin to turn, the town's graduating class are presented with a disturbing opportunity: to participate in a series of perilous games where the stakes are life and death. Reagan Jones, a name whispered with a mix of admiration and pity in the small, forgotten town of Stallow. On the cusp of graduation, Reagan harbors a burning desire to escape the suffocating grip of her abusive family and the dead-end prospects of her hometown and winning the games and claiming the prize money as hers would open many doors for her promising future, but there is only one obstacle standing in her way. Jaques Walker. Jaques Walker is a name synonymous with misfortune. Born into a lineage plagued by broken promises and shattered dreams, Jaques carries the weight of his family's curse: a legacy of deadbeat fathers and unfulfilled potential. Desperate to break free from this predetermined path, Jaques sees the games as his only salvation. The prize money is not just a luxury; it's his ticket to rewriting his destiny and he will not let anyone get in his path, not even the fire eyed girl his eyes keep finding in every crowed. As Reagan and Jaques clash in the games, their rivalry ignites an unexpected spark. Their hearts, initially set on victory, now blurring the line between rivals and something more.