Codependent

At twenty-seven, Riley is invisible. At her high-tech agency in Seattle, she's nothing more than a ghost producing flawless work that others take credit for. The last time she remembers being truly seen was years ago by her former mentor, the brilliant, cold, and untouchable Susan. When Susan, forty-three, reappears in her life, the mask has fallen. The icon of power is now a woman shattered by a recent divorce, suddenly vulnerable and achingly alone. When she invites Riley to her sterile penthouse overlooking the city, it isn't to talk about work. It's a confession. What begins as an unexpected connection quickly turns into a secret, intense, and dangerous affair. For Riley, it's validation more intoxicating than any drug; she's finally been chosen. For Susan, it's a way to reclaim the control she's lost. Between admiration, emotional dependence, and a desire that consumes everything, the line between love and manipulation blurs until it all implodes, leaving Riley in ruins. Forced to rebuild her life away from Susan's orbit, Riley finally finds stability in a new life and a healthy relationship. But when Susan returns, changed by therapy and determined to prove their connection was real, Riley faces a choice. Can you forgive the person who broke you? And can love built on ashes ever be truly equal?