From the afternoon their parents wed, Julian endures seven years of calculated hostility from Jace, his intimidating older stepbrother. Convinced that Jace despises him, Julian watches helplessly as Jace systematically sabotages his romantic prospects, driving a permanent wedge between Julian and any partner he pursues. Their bitter feud defines every interaction in their shared family estate, creating an atmosphere of unrelenting psychological warfare.
Everything changes when a high-society hotel gathering goes sideways, forcing the two stepbrothers into an intimate encounter that strips away years of defensive armor. Shocked by Jace's raw vulnerability, Julian realizes his stepbrother's cruel interference was never born of hatred, but from a desperate, possessive obsession he could neither confess nor control. Caught between forbidden desire and family scandal, they must decide whether to bury their secret.
