Abigail, 17, has always lived in the shadow of secrets. Ever since that night, the one no one talks about, her world has been silence, stares, and scars. Going back to school after a quiet summer, Abby tries to keep her head down - and fails. Worse: her father just remarried a woman she barely knows. Evelyn. 33. Elegant, mysterious, and cold as winter. With her perfect black hair, her chilling smile, and her sharp words when no one's around, Evelyn quickly turns their shared house into a prison Abby can't escape. Forced to live under the same roof while her father's away on business trips, the two women begin a quiet war - of glances, insults, tension, and something else they both refuse to name. Something dangerous. Something that hurts. And yet... something neither of them can ignore. What will happen when forced proximity turns into something far more dangerous than hate? WARNING: this story contains mature themes including traumatic past, emotional manipulation, toxic dynamics, and age gap. 18+ content may appear. Highest rankings: #1 slowburn 22/07/25 #1 womensfiction 14/08/25 #1 womanxwoman 21/07/25 #1 girlxwoman 12/07/25 #1 mommy issues 10/08/25 #1 stepmother 26/08/25 #1 femxfem 01/10/25 #1 lgbt 04/10/25 #1 richgirl 12/11/25 #3 wlw 09/07/25 #5 love 28/07/25 © All rights reserved.

Naomi Beaumont was never the picture-perfect daughter-and she's not about to start now. Growing up in a family obsessed with status, tradition, and strategic marriages, Naomi's spent her whole life dodging expectations she never asked for. So when her dad starts throwing suitors at her like it's the 1800s, she strikes a deal: she'll play nice if he calls off the matchmaking. The catch? She has to keep tabs on Evelyn-her uncle's way-too-composed fiancée... who also happens to be Naomi's new professor. Simple, right? Except Evelyn's not what Naomi expected. She's smart, calm under pressure, and somehow always one step ahead. The more time Naomi spends around her, the harder it is to tell who's actually playing who-and why Naomi can't stop thinking about her. Now stuck between loyalty, a lifetime of rebellion, and a connection she definitely wasn't ready for, Naomi's starting to realize some secrets don't stay hidden for long. And falling for the wrong person? That was never part of the plan.