Summer in Sterling Point has always meant late nights, bonfires, reckless decisions—and Ellis. Cecily Fraser and Ellis have spent years stuck somewhere between friendship and something more. They flirt, kiss, make each other laugh and pretend none of it means anything. Cecily keeps things casual, always too afraid to make it serious. Ellis knows better. He’s loved her for a long time, but he’s never told her—and he never pushes. This summer, keeping things uncomplicated might finally become impossible.
Between the chaos and constant danger, a quiet tension builds between Thomas and Isla. She sees him as a threat first, but never quite looks away. Small moments slip through her cold exterior—hesitation, restraint, unspoken protection that doesn’t match her attitude. Thomas doesn’t trust her, but he can’t ignore the way she keeps pulling his attention back. Neither of them crosses the line into trust… but something unsteady is starting to form between them.
At Aurelia Academy, students rise and fall through a brutal gambling-based ranking system ruled by the elite Crown Ten. Keiko Kasamoto enters as an unknown transfer student, quietly climbing the ranks with unmatched skill and a fearless love for high-stakes games. But behind her calm smile lies a hidden truth: her parents were once part of the Crown Ten—and were killed by the system she is now entering. To uncover what really happened, Keiko must gamble her way to the very top.
