Madeline Winters. When people hear that name whispered in the halls of McGregor high school, they think one of two things: a quiet and somewhat awkward girl to pick on, or nothing at all. What no one realizes is that they're tearing her down with each hurtful remark. Cue Asher King moving into the school, acting as his surname immediately upon entering. With his tattoos, cigarettes and rough attitude, he's anyone but someone you would want to befriend. However, he also takes an interest in her that no one else ever has from the first glimpse into her empty eyes. What he doesn't realize is just how much of a shell she's become. *deals with eating disorders #1 on mental illness - 1/26/20, 7/8/20, 12/21/21 #1 on boy - 2/12/20, 1/4/23 #2 on bully - 4/1/20 #1 on high school - 7/6/20 #1 on sad - 8/16/20 #2 on sad - 11/5/21 #1 on funny - 8/18/20, 1/25/23 #1 on ed - 11/30/20, 12/19/20, 3/25/21 #2 on girl - 12/22/20, 11/30/22 #2 on acceptance - 1/7/21 #1 on abuse - 4/11/21 #2 on teen - 5/21/22 Completed November 1, 2021

It had been a very trying year for Clarisse Ricci, whose world was shattered with the tragic loss of her beloved father, Lorenzo, a larger-than-life billionaire. Everyone admired him for his kind nature and savvy business management. They all called it a tragic accident. Clarisse, however, wasn't buying it. Now that she was a senior in high school, with the looming thought of going off to university and her future on the horizon, she could not let go of the feeling that something darker had happened. Her life soon took a dangerous turn down the rabbit hole. Accompanied by Joseph Samuels, her loyal, stubborn boyfriend, and her creative sister, Camille, Clarisse dove into a mystery that threatened everything her parents had built for them. The girls' mother, Isabelle, a formidable, world-renowned artist, tried to help, but even she was drowning in her own grief and distractions. Then the real danger stepped out of the shadows: Harold Ward, Lorenzo's ruthless former COO, who was determined to claim the Ricci legacy for himself. Suddenly, Clarisse and Joseph weren't just chasing answers, but they were fighting to protect her family's future. If they failed, they would lose everything- their safety, their independence, their relationship, and their one chance at the lives they were just beginning to heal. Clarisse and Joseph thought that turning eighteen meant gaining more freedom. Instead, it meant stepping up and risking it all. Would Clarisse and Joseph be able to succeed?