NO STRINGS, JUST LIES

Emery Caldwell has only two priorities: her two-year-old son, Noah, and staying safe from the demons of her past. Once manipulated by Caleb, her son’s charming but dangerous father, Emery rebuilt her life with walls no one could scale. Her job in crisis media management keeps her surrounded by the damage she can contain. But when Rhyland Ward moves into her high-security building guarded, enigmatic tech mogul with his dark past—the walls begin to crack. Sparks fly, but Emery has no intention of letting romance into her fragile world. To secure an investment Rhyland proposes a fake engagement to Emery. As public figures, visibility could be their shield. Together, they perform a life of luxury, intimacy, and stability all for the camera. Behind closed doors, they navigate trauma, trust, and simmering attraction. Emery is terrified—of loving, of losing, of needing someone again. That is until Caleb resurfaces with a threat. One photo. One message. And Noah is gone. Rhyland doesn’t hesitate. He mobilizes resources, burns bridges, and joins Emery in the hunt. When they recover Noah, it’s clear: this isn’t over. Caleb isn’t working alone. Someone bigger, more connected, is playing a long game—and they’ve marked Emery’s family as targets. But the deeper they go into the ruse, the more real it feels. Rhyland becomes Noah’s protector. Emery becomes his sanctuary. And the lies they tell the world become the truths they hide from each other. Meanwhile, the threat evolves. A symbol appears. Then a second. Clues point to something beyond Caleb, a shadow network with ties to Rhyland’s early business dealings. As enemies close in, secrets unravel. Emery must decide if she can forgive Rhyland’s past, even while her own catches up. And Rhyland choose between control and vulnerability—because love isn’t a tech problem he can solve. It’s a risk he has to take. In the end, survival won’t be enough. They’ll have to choose each other.