Crack. Came a resounding slap to her face, reddening her smooth cheek. "Your mother is gone now. You will do as I say Colette." Her father said in an eerily even voice, just the slightest twitch of his ice blue eyes giving away the anger he fostered towards her. Her brother watched from the corner, not coming to her defense. And so, she did as he said, for the next fourteen years. * After the disappearance of her mother, Colette Addington finds herself in the midst of her abusive father and unconcerned brother, who make her existence a living hell. When her father trades her hand in marriage for monetary gains, Colette is ready to give up on a life that only gets worse...that is...till she meets Atticus Emsworth, neurosurgeon and next in line to inherit his father's multi-million dollar empire. Atticus is completely disillusioned by Miss Addington, who seems to be a typical social climber, with only her looks in her favour. But as time goes by, Atticus finds that he has seriously misjudged the junior Addington who seems to have much darker secrets that he could have ever imagined. Can Atticus ever unravel the mystery that is Colette? Will Colette ever find solace? Read to find out! * Please note that this book does have depictions of abuse and may not be suitable for younger audiences.