Sebastian Reeves lives in shadows—grumpy, brilliant, and fiercely private. To the world, he’s a cold and powerful CEO. But behind that tailored suit and guarded scowl is a secret: he’s the exiled prince of a European monarchy, hiding from a legacy he refused to inherit. Silence is his armor. Control is his sanctuary. Until she walks into his office.

Lila Hart is everything Sebastian is not—sunny, persistent, emotionally fearless. Hired by accident, she becomes his assistant and starts leaving behind more than just color-coded folders and motivational sticky notes. With every smile, every challenge, and every sarcastic quip, she chips away at the walls around his carefully controlled world.

When a single photo triggers a royal scandal, the truth threatens to upend everything. As the media closes in and his past collides with the life he’s built, Sebastian must decide what—and who—is worth protecting.

But falling for Lila means putting her in the spotlight he’s spent years avoiding. And letting her go might break them both.

Can a man who walked away from a crown ever deserve the woman who makes him feel like more than a prince?

Or will his fear of exposure cost him the only thing that ever felt real?

Brooklyn P. Rivers