ILLICIT ROMANCE
Zelda Delacroix is no ordinary girl—raised in a world of affluence, power, and hidden secrets, she’s adopted into the prestigious Delacroix family, where appearances are everything and silence is survival. But beneath the surface of her new life lies a web of forbidden desire, fractured loyalties, and dangerous truths no one dares to speak.
As Zelda tries to navigate university, dreams of becoming an architect, and the unrelenting expectations of the Delacroix household, she finds herself drawn to Lucien—the cold, enigmatic eldest son of the family who has always watched her from a distance. He’s off-limits, untouchable, and infuriatingly magnetic. Their connection simmers quietly, the tension growing more unbearable with each stolen glance and whispered word.
But Lucien isn’t the only one watching her. The family’s secrets begin to unravel, and a forgotten brother erased from all records haunts the corners of Zelda’s life. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy that could shatter the Delacroix name—and cost her everything.
Meanwhile, rivals emerge. Marcella, a cunning girl from another elite family, pretends to befriend Zelda while scheming to steal Lucien. And Delphine Vale, a petite and seemingly harmless classmate, hides sinister intentions beneath her sweet smile. Every step Zelda takes forward is shadowed by betrayal.
With her budding friendship with the genuine and free-spirited Ariyah, and the quiet support of her adoptive brothers Berrett and Ryan, Zelda tries to hold on to her sanity. But as the line between protector and possessor blurs in her relationship with Lucien, and long-buried feelings rise to the surface, Zelda must decide:
Can she survive the weight of a love that was never meant to happen?
And in a house built on secrets… who will burn first?
