Kindled

She survived him. Now she has to survive the truth-and decide if love can be safe in the light.

Cameron "Cam" has rebuilt her life on quiet rituals: ferry rides at dusk, tea in a corner café, therapy at 8 a.m. She doesn't date, doesn't risk, doesn't slip on the black ice of "maybe." Then she meets Carson-gentle where others take, steady where others sway-and for the first time in years she imagines a future that isn't measured by exits and alibis. There's just one problem: Carson is the brother of the man who broke her.

When a late-night text from her ex detonates the calm she's clawed back, Cam's world begins to close in-harassing messages, a shadow outside her door, a voice she can't outrun. With best friend Mari and therapist Alyssa at her back, Cam starts doing the unthinkable: telling the truth out loud. Carson listens. Believes. Stands up. But choosing safety means choosing to be seen-and the more Cam steps into the light, the more her past fights to drag her under.

What follows is a slow-burn, high-stakes journey from survival to reclamation: a home invasion that changes everything, a courtroom where her voice does not shake, and a love that refuses to rush what it's willing to stay for. Kindled is about the courage it takes to ask for help, the family you build on purpose, and the quiet ways healing looks like joy-fresh bread in a warm kitchen, porch lights at dusk, a soft "always" whispered in the dark.

Tropes & vibes:
slow burn • survivor heroine • cinnamon-roll MMC • brother's-brother twist (ethical, protective, no cheating) • found family • therapy on-page • safety first romance • courtroom justice • HEA

Content notes (reader safety):
Emotional abuse, stalking/harassment, on-page assault and home invasion, panic attacks, hospitalization, legal proceedings-handled with care, grounding techniques, and a strong support network on page.