Four years ago, Max was the "daughter" of the Malik household-taken in by Trisha and raised alongside Zayn and his sisters. In the quiet corners of the house, a secret blossomed: Max and Zayn, eighteen and inseparable, were planning a life together. But their world shattered when the Malik matriarch (Zayn's grandmother) discovered them. To protect Zayn from being disowned and losing his family legacy, Max accepted an ultimatum: leave him without a word, or watch his life be destroyed.

For four long years, Maxine lived as a prisoner in a golden cage, forced into an abusive marriage by her ruthless father to protect the man she truly loved. Stripped of her freedom and hiding a life-altering secret about her daughter's true parentage, she could only watch the world from behind glass-until the night she finally escapes to the doorstep of Zayn Malik. Now, facing the shadows of a powerful family, a dangerous ex-husband, and the lingering scars of trauma, Maxine and Zayn must fight to reclaim their stolen past. Guided by the unwavering support of a band of brothers and a newly discovered truth, they embark on a journey of healing, courage, and unconditional love to break down the walls that kept them apart and build a real home together.

Surviving the Scorch is simple: Don't stop running. Don't look back. Don't trust anyone... . . Max has lived by those rules since she woke up in the sand with nothing but a weapon and a shattered mind. She's the girl the Cranks fear-a broken warrior with a lethal aim. But when she crosses paths with Thomas and his group, her cold, solitary world is set on fire. She was supposed to be a ghost. Now, she's their only hope of survival. But WCKD is still watching, and they want their blueprint back.