Laria is your name, but he doesn’t call you that. On the eve of your 23rd birthday—the day you were meant to inherit your parents’ estate—you were sold by your aunt to Rystin Gaia, the untouchable ruler of the Zhark Organization. You’re not his wife, not his lover. You’re a surrogate. A vessel. But the way he watches you—like you’re already breaking him—says otherwise.