Some debts don’t appear on any ledger. Maren Hale clawed her way out of Baltimore to become a ruthless junior associate at one of Washington D.C.'s top corporate law firms. Her entire career was built on a prestigious scholarship she earned after the sudden, tragic death of her mother. Or so she thought. Cade Ashford is the cold, untouchable heir to a multi-billion-dollar hedge fund empire. He is also the man who has secretly engineered Maren's life from the shadows for five years. Why? Because Cade's ruthless father is the man who likely orchestrated Maren's mother's murder. When Maren is unwittingly assigned to defend the corrupt Ashford empire against a federal investigation, the careful distance Cade has maintained shatters. Trapped in glass conference rooms with the man who secretly owns her past, Maren begins to uncover the horrifying truth. Now, Maren holds the weapon to destroy the Ashford dynasty. And Cade—the man who loves her enough to burn his own world down—is the one handing it to her. Cruel Heir is a dark, high-stakes enemies-to-lovers romance featuring white-collar crime, forced proximity, toxic family dynamics, and a morally grey hero. Reader discretion is advised.