

Betrayed by her husband and falsely accused of theft, Elise Sloane has nowhere left to turn. At her lowest point, Harold Cole appears. He has loved her quietly for ten years, and now he offers her shelter in the form of a contract marriage. Elise refuses to let that define her. Starting from nothing as a counter salesgirl, she rides the electric tide of Creston City's special economic era, fighting her way up until she owns a garment factory of her own. She builds the business, earns the love, and becomes the woman she never once let herself imagine.

Matthew Tipton is one breakthrough away from immortality, held back only by unresolved mortal ties. Sent down the mountain to cut them loose, he finds Cristal Bridges, a woman who wants nothing to do with her father's arranged marriage and makes that very clear. But trouble keeps finding Cristal, and Matthew keeps stepping in to pull her out of it. Somewhere between reluctant proximity and quiet acts of protection, feelings take root that neither of them planned for. The immortal who came to leave ends up staying forever.