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's been a very trying year since Clarisse Ricci's world shattered dramatically. Her beloved father, Lorenzo, a larger-than-life billionaire that everyone admired for his kind, protective nature and savvy business management died suddenly. Everyone called it a tragic accident. Clarisse, however, isn't buying it. Now a senior in high school, with the looming thought of going to university and her future on the horizon, she cannot let go of the feeling that something darker happened. Her life soon takes a dangerous turn. Together with Joseph Samuels, her loyal (and occasionally stubborn) English boyfriend, and her creative thirteen-year-old sister, Camille, Clarisse dives into a mystery that threatens everything her parents built for them. The girls' mother, Isabelle, a world-renowned artist, tries to help, but even she is drowning in her own grief and distractions. Then the real danger steps out of the shadows: Harold Ward, Lorenzo's ruthless former COO, who's determined to claim the Ricci legacy for himself. Suddenly, Clarisse isn't just chasing answers but she is fighting to protect her family's future. If she fails, they could lose everything- their safety, their independence, and their chance at the lives they're just beginning to heal. Clarisse and Joseph thought turning eighteen meant gaining more freedom. Instead, it meant stepping up and risking it all. Will Clarisse and Joseph be able to succeed?