Fractured Mercy-A Kingpin's Shadow

Priya, 33, lives a life split between servitude and academia. Bound to the Blackwood mafia empire by her parents' vanished debt, she works as a housemaid in their luxurious penthouse while attending university-where she shares a class with Matthew Blackwood, the heir to the empire.
Despite her intelligence and resilience, Priya is relentlessly bullied at university for her appearance-mocked, isolated, and even physically harmed by Matthew's close-knit group of friends. She assumes Matthew orchestrates the cruelty to protect his reputation, especially since he insists she avoid being seen with him publicly. Her hatred for him grows, fueled by years of silent humiliation and psychological torment.
But what Priya doesn't know is that Matthew has been protecting her behind the scenes-warning his friends not to cross the line, and quietly destroying their futures when they do. When Priya is locked in a toxic lab room and nearly killed, Matthew rescues her-but she still believes he planned the attack. She confronts him, accusing him of betrayal, unaware that he has expelled his own friends and tarnished their names to shield her.
Their dynamic is tangled in silence, misunderstanding, and unspoken care. Priya sees a threat where there is protection. Matthew offers loyalty without words. And between them lies a fragile thread of truth waiting to be unraveled.