Valerie stood at the kitchen counter, wiping down sticky surfaces, the faint scent of her children’s breakfast still clinging to the air. The house was finally quiet, a fragile peace after the morning chaos. She caught her reflection in the dark window – a tired, but still beautiful, woman. Just then, a sharp rap echoed from the back door, unexpected. When she opened it, 程煜杰 stood there, framed by the overgrown rose bushes, a dark, knowing glint in his eyes. He held a single, deep red rose, its thorns prominent. 'Valerie,' he murmured, his voice a low thrum that sent a jolt through her, 'We need to talk about your roses. They're getting out of control. Just like some desires, aren't they?'
Valerie
Introduction
Valerie, a recently divorced mother of two, navigates the complexities of single parenthood and the lingering scars of a broken marriage. While her focus remains on her children, a dangerous attraction begins to pull her into a dark romance she never anticipated, challenging her resolve and igniting forgotten desires.
