Treading Fire

A sequel of Beneath the Surface.

Six years have passed since Ashley Kim and Joshua Hong last saw each other-six years since ambition, pride, and heartbreak tore them apart.

Once an elite swimmer destined for greatness, Ashley was forced to abandon her dream after a career-ending injury. Now, she rules the modeling world with the same relentless precision she once reserved for the pool. She has become exactly what her powerful parents always wanted: the future heir to a sprawling empire, sculpted in steel and ice.
And Joshua Hong? A name she no longer allows herself to say out loud.

But fate has other plans.

After years abroad solidifying his family's global reach, Joshua returns to Korea-older, sharper, and with a new title waiting: CEO. On the surface, he's the same charming heir with a perfect smile. But underneath, bitterness festers. He hasn't forgotten Ashley. And he hasn't forgiven her.

They once thought love was behind them. But what if it's not gone, just buried beneath pride, pain, and the lives they were forced to lead?

In a world ruled by legacy and manipulation, Ashley and Joshua must decide: will they fight each other or finally fight for each other?