"For him, I was nothing more than the daughter of his mentor, someone he needed to protect." "For me, she was more precious than my life itself." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nariya Patel sought a modest life after losing her mother and witnessing her father's downfall. Independence became her sole desire, avoiding reliance on others and shunning the idea of seeking help. Yet, she found herself without a foothold in this unforgiving world. Alexie Ivanov, a maverick of freewill, was adept at obtaining what he desired and taking what eluded him. Commanding others had become second nature, and he soared to the pinnacle of power, wealth, and connections. His life had emerged from the depths of hell when his former mentor, the man who extended a helping hand in his darkest times, appointed him as the protector of his only daughter. In a world where he could bend everyone to his will, there was one exception - her. Amidst trusts and betrayals, hidden rooms and secrets, the seemingly impossible happened - akin to tasting the forbidden fruit of paradise. Their initial animosity toward each other transformed into an enduring love. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~