Charles: I’ve built an empire from nothing. People see the suits, the cars, the name—and they all want a piece of it. A piece of me.
But I’m tired of the whispers, the fake smiles, the shallow interest. So when the annual gala rolls around, I make a choice that surprises even me. I ask her.
Ellie Dalson—my best friend’s little sister. The one woman who never cared about the money, who saw me before I became Charles Thornton, CEO. The one who made me swear off love… until now.
Then we get stranded together, somewhere I can be the man I’ve always wanted to be. The man she deserves. The man who wants her… in ways I never planned. It should’ve been simple.
But nothing about Ellie has ever been simple.
Ellie: I should’ve said no. Charles Thornton is every reason my heart has a “Do Not Enter” sign. My first crush. My longest heartbreak.
And still, when he’s near, I feel every unsaid word, every stolen look, every night I imagined this moment.
So when he texts me, asking me to be his date for the gala, to play a part, I agree—for closure. For one last chance to finally let him go.
But then the storm hits, and we end up stranded in Hope Peak. A town that looks like a holiday postcard… but there’s nothing cute about the tension crackling between us.
The walls I built crumble fast. He’s still infuriating. Still dangerous. Still gorgeous. And I’m still powerless against the temptation to fall for him… all over again.
