Cultivated Series

I met a random stranger in a coffee shop and felt an instant connection between us. That was five years ago but I never forgot him. Now, I have news. Turns out that Charles, my reserved and mysterious crush, is the heir to one of the largest business dynasties in the US. Unfortunately, his fortune made him a target. According to his family, Charles is now in Ireland. He's been lured in by a narcissistic and cunning cult leader with a troubling reputation. His family wants me to go undercover and extricate Charles from the cult.

People think that I'm a nice guy. They're wrong! What they see is the polished, non-threatening, good guy that I want them to see. It helps distract them from the darkness within me. No one can know that I have a sick mind like my dad, the infamous monster from the Red Manor Cult. Except, unlike him, I suppress my urge to dominate, hurt, and control. Every day, I tell myself that I'm not my father; that I'm a better man.

Damian took a bullet for me when I was 17. He didn't ask for my heart in return, but it's been his ever since. We are as different as night and day. He's fun-loving and outgoing while I'm skeptical of new people and prefer to avoid social events. So, why did I agree to be handcuffed to him for a full week in the name of science? It's not because he dared me to do it or because I need the money that comes with it.

People say that being in love is the best feeling in the world. What a bloody lie! I hate that I'm in love with Serena and that she used me to get what she wanted. What good is it that my heart and body is a twisted mess of longing for her when I'm also furious with her for hurting my sister, River? I don't care if Serena is a Hollywood star - no one messes with my family.

I'm a beauty and fashion influencer with millions of fans and admirers. Sadly, my love life is catastrophic as the men I attract are either married, addicts, cheating bastards, closeted gay guys, or self-centered billionaires. Now, I've come to Indonesia, to help my brother, Maximum, who works with orphans. He says I depend too much on material things and that my time here will give me a new perspective on life. My highlight so far has been meeting Noah Parker, a carefree surfer from Norway who is the exact type of man I usually avoid.

I've lived my life trying to undo the evil my father caused in this world. With every penny I donate, and every orphan I help, I feel lighter, but it never lasts long. Always on the move, I'm restless and feeling more lost than I allow people to see. That is, until I met Fleur. She is as grounded as Mother Earth and fearless around wild animals, but is she brave enough to take another chance on love? And if so, would she ever fall for someone as flawed and troubled as me?