Traumaandtrust Stories

Betrayed and forsaken, a young woman escapes prison with kindred allies, driven by a thirst for retribution against those who wronged them.

She ran to disappear. He returned to be forgotten. Neither expected to be noticed-especially not by each other. A guarded caretaker hiding from her past clashes with a reclusive estate heir escaping scandal-until suspicion turns into a dangerous, slow-burning connection as their secrets close in.

CBI agent Teresa Lisbon is tough, sharp, and unshakable - until she's suddenly facing deportation. A clerical error and expired visa mean she could be forced to leave the country... unless she finds a quick fix. Enter Patrick Jane - her arrogant, charming, and annoyingly observant consultant at the California Bureau of Investigation. The solution? A fake marriage. The catch? They have to convince immigration it's real by passing a brutal couples test. As they practice being madly in love, the lines between fake and real begin to blur. She knows it's a lie. He claims it's all a game. But some feelings can't be faked. And when secrets, trust, and past heartbreaks surface - will they still choose each other when the test is over?