Chapter 1

In the bustling streets of London, Ava Thompson caught the eye of Ethan Carter, a charming bookstore owner with a dark secret. She thought their meeting was fate; he knew it was careful planning. From the moment he saw her, he knew he had to have her. Ethan studied Ava, noting her favorite coffee shop, the way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when she was nervous, and the books she lingered over in his store. He introduced himself as a casual acquaintance, but in his mind, she was already his.