Chase Sterling always felt like furniture. The kind you don't notice, the kind that's easy to shove in a corner and forget. He was used to it: people looked right through him, brushed him off like lint. But it only takes one phone call to erase a lifetime of being overlooked. When his estranged family meets a tragic end, Chase suddenly finds himself in charge of the sprawling Sterling fortune. Turns out, riches aren't the only thing the family left him. There's a curse running through his blood, warping love into something hungry and dangerous, impossible to escape.

Vivian Ashford never set out to blow Chase's life to smithereens. Just one decision (a sharp, ruthless move at graduation) was all it took to set their worlds spinning out of control. While Vivian soaks up the Hollywood limelight and collects red-carpet headlines, Chase slips into his new role as Manhattan's most intimidating heir. But no matter how far they run, something keeps yanking them back together, like a stitch in an old wound that refuses to heal.

The gala speech. Everywhere. Every platform. Every news outlet. Every gossip site.


"Sterling and Ashford's Unhinged Gala Confession Goes Viral"


"Billionaire Admits He's 'Cursed and Dying' During Charity Speech"


"Vivian Ashford: 'I'd Rather Die Loving Him' - Career Suicide or Cry for Help?"


The headlines are brutal. Merciless. Exactly what I deserve.


I scroll through Twitter. Trending worldwide. Twenty-four hours later and still number one.


This is the most honest thing I've ever seen from celebrities


They're both clearly having mental breakdowns


That speech was beautiful and terrifying


Get these people therapy not a microphone


I can't tell if this is true love or true insanity


My phone rings. I ignore it. Has been ringing nonstop since last night.


Marcus. My agent. My publicist who quit. Studios pulling offers. Brands canceling contracts.


Chapter 51 - Aftermath