BOOK 1 in the Drowning/Bully Standalone Series. WARNING: This book contains intense bullying, explicit scenes, triggering language, violence, and psychological content. I told Caden to cancel his stupid party. He told me, with that infuriating smirk, "Why? Planning to be my snack tonight?" Caden has made my life hell for four years, ever since our parents got married. He's gorgeous, arrogant, and the kind of boy Stanford girls trip over themselves for. Me? I'm the only one who sees right through him. He's a blatant bully, the devil who turned me into a surreptitious one. And now we're stuck sharing the same off-campus apartment for our entire freshman year. Living together means new rules, no boundaries... and a tension I never expected. The closer we get, the harder it becomes to remember why we ever hated each other in the first place- and nothing threatens our pride more than that. *** Step into an adventure of passion, forgiveness, and second chances. This is Caden and Madison's story.

In the midst of solving mysteries and exploring their undeniable chemistry, Fifteen Salustiana is determined to help Xildius Vouganville confront his dark past and embrace the light once more. As they uncover the truth behind every crime, she must also seek the truth behind Xildius's fears. *** Desperate for money, Fifteen Salustiana takes a job as the personal assistant to the enigmatic Xildius Vouganville, or XV, a genius professor living in the eerie mansion of Villa Vouganville. XV, a master of anatomy and psychology, solves crimes from the shadows, haunted by a dark past that keeps him from stepping into the sunlight. Fifteen becomes XV's eyes and ears in the outside world, venturing out to gather clues and solve crimes. As they work together, she finds herself drawn to XV's brilliance and vulnerability. The more time they spend together, the more she realizes her feelings for him are growing stronger. Will Fifteen be able to help XV step out of the shadows and into the light, or will their love be consumed by the darkness? DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish.