(After High Series # 1) Saffron Rose Borromeo appears to have it all-top grades, family connections, and a guaranteed future in law. But appearances can be deceiving. Maximiliano Jose Delgado is her academic equal and complete opposite. Brilliant, intense, and fiercely independent, he seems to see right through her polished facade-and he clearly doesn't like what he sees. From their first day at the SCA- College of Law, they're locked in a rivalry that goes beyond textbooks and test scores. It's personal. It's consuming. And neither understands why the other brings out such strong reactions. But when good intentions collide with wounded pride, their carefully constructed worlds begin to crumble. Some secrets destroy trust. Some lies are meant to help. And sometimes, the person you're trying to save is the last person who wants your rescue.

From the moment Aurora Romano could walk, she was warned to stay away from him. Luca De Luca - the ruthless heir to Italy's deadliest mafia family. Cold. Cruel. Deadly. And terrifyingly silent. He never spoke to her. Not a word. Not a glance. Not even when they were children playing in the same villa courtyard. While others chased her with laughter, he stood in the shadows, watching. Always watching. To her, he hated her. His silence screamed of disdain. His sharp gaze felt like a knife. His presence made her heart race-for all the wrong reasons. But what she didn't know was that Luca had been obsessed with her for years. From the moment she smiled at him when they were eight and he didn't know how to smile back. Now, ten years later, she's grown into a fierce beauty-still soft-hearted, still scared of him. And Luca? He's no longer just the quiet boy in the corner. He's a man feared by everyone, even his enemies. Ruthless. Heartless. Unforgiving. She thought he hated her. But the truth is far darker. He was never ignoring her. He was waiting.