Charlee Sullivan, a once-prominent heiress, finds her life in shambles after a humiliating public breakup with her fiancé, Liam. Desperate to reclaim control, she crosses paths with Kane Maddox, a mysterious and dangerously charming stranger, after a reckless encounter involving a car accident. What starts as a night of impulsive revenge soon spirals into something deeper as Kane becomes an unexpected anchor in her chaotic life.
As Charlee steps up to lead her family’s struggling foundation, she discovers a newfound purpose in revitalizing a community center project. But just as she begins to rebuild her life, her past threatens to unravel everything. A scandalous news article exposes her connection to Kane and the accident, putting her reputation and the foundation’s future at risk.
With Kane by her side, Charlee must navigate the fallout, confront her fears, and decide whether to let her past define her or fight for the future she’s starting to believe in. But as secrets about Kane’s shadowy past begin to surface, the stakes grow higher, leaving Charlee to wonder: can she trust the man who’s become her unlikely ally, or is he hiding something that could destroy everything she’s worked for?
The question remains—will Charlee rise above the chaos, or will the weight of scandal pull her under?
Chapter 1: I’m Single
“Are you seeing anyone?” Charlee Sullivan asked, leaning casually against her shiny red sports car. She was dressed in a sleek red dress that hugged her figure perfectly, her auburn hair falling in soft waves around her face. She looked every bit the sophisticated woman she was, but her usually bright eyes were cold and distant.
The man she was talking to had been crouched next to his beat-up motorcycle, but he stood up when she spoke. Under the glow of the streetlight, his rugged features and undeniable charm were impossible to ignore. He looked like someone who lived life on his own terms.
“I’m single,” he replied, his deep voice smooth and captivating.
Charlee smirked, leaning in a little closer. Her hair, still speckled with bits of party confetti, fell forward as she made him an offer. “Spend the night with me, and I’ll forget about the damage to my car,” she said boldly.
She wasn’t usually one to let things slide, but after finding out that her fiancé, Liam Todd, had cheated on her, she was looking for a way to get back at him. And this man—with his strong jaw, commanding presence, and effortless charm—was everything Liam wasn’t. Compared to this stranger, Liam seemed dull and unremarkable.
The man glanced between her expensive car and his wrecked motorcycle, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He knew her car was worth far more than his bike, but he didn’t seem too concerned. With a sly grin, he pulled her close, his voice teasing but firm. “Deal. I can’t afford to fix your car anyway. But don’t come crying to me later, little firecracker.”
Before she knew it, he had swept her off her feet and carried her to a nearby hotel. Once inside the room, Charlee took charge. She pushed him onto the bed and quickly found a pair of restraints on the nightstand, securing his wrists to the headboard. “I like to be in control,” she said, her cheeks flushed with confidence.
But her control didn’t last long. Afterward, as she caught her breath and tried to compose herself, she muttered, “We’re even now.”
He wasn’t done, though. In one swift move, he flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him. His eyes burned with intensity as he teased, “That’s it? You promised me the whole night. It’s still early.”
Before she could process how he’d gotten free, she was completely overwhelmed. He matched her earlier boldness, covering her mouth with his hand and pushing her to her limits. Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to keep up with his relentless energy.
True to his word, he didn’t let up until morning. By the time Charlee finally slipped back into her clothes, she could barely look at him. Her voice was hoarse as she warned, “I have the footage of the crash. Once I walk out that door, we’re nothing to each other. Keep quiet.”
From behind her, his voice was lazy but sharp. “Funny. I’ve got a copy of that clip too.”
Confused but unwilling to engage further, Charlee grabbed her things and headed for the door. Her legs were shaky, and she nearly stumbled as she walked away.
His deep chuckle followed her. “Sure you don’t need more time to recover?”
What a jerk, she thought, slamming the door behind her with all her strength.
As she made her way through the hotel lobby, a news report on the TV caught her attention. The headlines were about a scandal involving two powerful families in Jurgh. The Todd and Sullivan families, who were supposed to unite through marriage, had been publicly humiliated. Apparently, the groom—Liam Todd—had stormed out of the wedding, leaving the Sullivan heiress, Charlee, in tears.
A bystander nearby muttered, “Rumor has it the groom’s got a thing for his fiancée’s half-sister. Now that her parents are back together, who knows? Maybe he’ll end up with the other sibling.”
On the screen, a photo of Charlee in a red gown flashed by, her smile frozen and her eyes betraying her heartbreak.
Surprisingly, after everything that had happened last night, Charlee realized the pain of losing Liam didn’t hurt as much as she thought it would. She had held onto him for so long, convinced their relationship was unbreakable. But he wasn’t irreplaceable. Someone else had come along and filled the void effortlessly.
Someone like the stranger from last night, who had more than enough stamina to make her forget all about Liam.