Lina Kacem, 22 ans, avance dans la vie comme une ombre discrète. Lucide, silencieuse, elle observe le monde sans y prendre vraiment part. Fille unique d'un père brisé, elle a appris à ne rien attendre - ni des autres, ni de l'amour. Elle donne sans compter, mais ne s'attache jamais.
Adrien Morel, 27 ans, semble avoir tout : beauté, fortune, avenir tracé. Pourtant, derrière la façade de l'héritier idéal se cache un homme marqué, blessé dans sa chair et enfermé dans une stratégie de fuite. Depuis l'accident qui a bouleversé sa vie, Adrien tient les autres à distance avec un masque soigneusement calculé.
Rien ne devait rapprocher ces deux êtres que tout oppose, sinon un contrat. Un mariage arrangé, froid, administratif, pensé pour lier deux familles, pas deux cœurs.
Et pourtant...
Entre les silences lourds, les faux-semblants et les attentes déçues, Lina et Adrien devront désapprendre à se protéger pour apprendre à s'aimer.
L'amour n'était pas prévu. Il pourrait bien être leur seule vérité.
PAUL
I cheated on my fiancée.
Sophie and I were building our future. In love, happy, peaceful. Then she found a lump in her breast and I made the worst choice: I numbed my fear by sleeping with someone else. My worst mistake and my biggest regret. Now I see Sophie around town with him. She's radiant and laughing with people who actually show up. I'm trying to learn how to be a man who does. If she lets me, I'll spend the rest of my life proving I can choose her when it's hardest. If she lets me...
SOPHIE
I thought the promise was in sickness and in health.
But he buried his fear in someone else. On the same night, I walked into a bookstore and meet the gentle giant owner who invites me to his book club full of misfits.
I'm laughing again, I smile more than I ever have, I heal my heart.
My ex says he can learn to stay, but my bookstore owner keeps showing up like it's as easy as breathing. I don't know what the future holds; I don't know if I'll win this battle against cancer, but I do know I'm done wasting time on people that love only when it's easy.
CALLUM
She came in to Rivers & Rhodes Bookstore and asked for books with happy endings only.
I gave her a recommendation, an invitation, and an offer of friendship. Now, this beautiful brave woman is completely under my skin. I'm not here to win a competition against him. I'm here because choosing someone, second by second, is the only way I understand love.
Content Warnings: on page cheating, emotional and physical infidelity, cancer, mentions of vomiting, bleeding, surgery. Please be advised.