Audrey's newly-minted husband, Mark, seems to lose interest after her body changes during pregnancy. As Audrey struggles with health issues, Mark becomes fixated on her appearance. When she gains a little weight, he grows cruel, criticizing her and playing a prank that backfires, leaving Audrey hurt and hospitalized.
While Mark faces the consequences of his actions, Audrey begins to rebuild her life after the birth of her son. Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi, she learns to embrace her pain and find strength in her brokenness. Her hurt transforms into resilience, proving that even after everything falls apart, she has the power to start anew.
As Audrey heals, someone new enters her life-someone who teaches her how to put herself back together as he shows her that he cherishes her completely, imperfections and all.
Now, Audrey faces a difficult choice: Can she forgive Mark, who has now proven that he deeply cares for her and is truly sorrowful for the hurt he caused, or has too much been broken to heal? Or will she choose a new path, trusting her own strength and the love of someone who sees her for all that she is? The decision is hers, but the journey before her holds both painful memories and promises of a different future.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]