Phoenix was born into humble circumstances, her childhood scarred by trauma and loss. Now, she works for her uncle as a landscaper, pouring every ounce of her being into cultivating the lush, vibrant gardens she tends. One of her clients is Marguerite Gray, a celebrated lifestyle icon known for her extravagant garden parties, her massive online following, and her status as the muse in a famous painting by Serge Kuhnert.
When Phoenix is invited to a lavish event at the Gray family estate, Rosecliff, a violent storm nearly claims the life of Marguerite’s husband, Geoffrey. It is Phoenix who intervenes, saving him from certain death. This act of heroism shifts the dynamic between Phoenix and the Grays, drawing her into their world for reasons far beyond her role as a gardener.
But shortly after the storm, tragedy strikes: Marguerite is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her untimely demise leaves a trail of questions and hidden motives, each more tangled than the last. As Phoenix becomes more entangled in the lives of the Grays, she finds herself spiraling deeper into a web of obsession, power, and dark secrets.
This is a psychological thriller that immerses readers in a world of wealth, intrigue, and the dangerous consequences of buried truths. With Carter’s evocative prose, the slow-building tension keeps readers on edge, drawn into a haunting narrative where the line between sanity and madness blurs. In this world, one may discover that the hell they create for themselves can be far worse than the truth they fear to uncover.
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