For as long as she can remember, Claire has lived in the shadows her mother’s silence, her stepfather’s temper, and expectations she never asked to bear. Behind closed doors, Frank, the ruthless construction tycoon who built his empire on steel and stone, controlled every choice. Even now, as an adult, she still feels the grip of fear he left behind.

But Claire’s story isn’t only about what broke her it’s about what she chooses next. Determined to live honestly, she claims her identity and begins carving out a life of her own. Then she meets someone who doesn’t see her as a problem to solve or a secret to keep. With him, she feels a kind of recognition she thought she’d never deserve.

Yet the world of wealth and power carries its own risks. Betrayal lurks close, and Frank’s shadow still stretches across her future. To move forward, Claire must decide if she’s ready to shed the chains of her past and risk her heart on love that demands trust.

Will she step into the life that’s finally hers, or let old ghosts hold her back?

Patricia Brice