Vanished Hearts
Esmeralda "Esme" Moreau never imagined her life would lead to a secret arrangement with Alexander "Alex" Vale, the enigmatic billionaire. Desperate to save her family from ruin caused by her stepmother’s reckless spending, Esmeralda became Alex’s "kept woman," sacrificing her freedom for her family’s survival. Yet behind the power imbalance, she found herself falling for the man beneath the facade. But whispers of Alex’s first love returning convinced Esmeralda she was only a replacement. Heartbroken and determined to protect herself, she vanished without a trace, hiding the fact that she was carrying his child.
Three years later, Esmeralda is a thriving tech entrepreneur, fiercely independent and raising her son, Luca Moreau-Vale, on her own terms. But her carefully rebuilt life comes crashing down when Alex spots her at a gala. Now more ruthless and determined than ever, Alex confronts Esmeralda, his fury ignited by her disappearance and his shock intensified by Luca’s uncanny resemblance to him.
As Alex fights to reclaim the family he didn’t know he had, old wounds and new betrayals surface. Esmeralda must navigate the scars of her abusive past, from her manipulative stepmother to her scheming stepsister, while grappling with her unresolved feelings for Alex. Meanwhile, Alex is determined to prove that Esmeralda was never second-best, even as jealous rivals and dangerous secrets threaten to tear them apart again.
In this tale of passion, redemption, and second chances, can two hearts bound by secrets find their way back to one another?