He’s the heir of ruin. My ruin.

For the past six months, Callie Fray has served the Ashbournes—a brutal, powerful family with enough influence to get whatever they want. My family.

For Callie, the job is a lifeline. It keeps a roof over her head, protects her independence, and lets her hold on to the life she’s built. She knows the rules: keep her head down, take the money, and stay far away from the Ashbourne heirs. Especially me.

People whisper that I’m cruel, irresistible, and dangerously bored. They’re not wrong. I’m used to getting whatever I want. So when my cousins bet I can’t seduce the waitress who refuses to be impressed by my name, my money, or my family’s power, I take the deal without a second thought.

But Callie isn’t a game. She sees the darkness beneath my polished persona and isn’t afraid to call me out. And beneath the glittering surface of Ashbourne luxury, the line between temptation and obsession begins to blur. The bet was supposed to be simple—until Callie becomes the one thing I can’t afford to lose.

Content Warning:
Explicit sex
Unhealthy existing relationship (FMC)
Toxic relationship dynamics
Possessive behavior
Emotional manipulation
Domestic violence
Strangulation
Sexual coercion
Physical violence
Arson
Alcohol abuse
Drug use
Grief
Parental loss
Panic attacks
Classism
Financial hardship
Unprotected sex
Profanity