After the death of his father, Michael's grief transforms into a rigid need for control, shaping the way he views intimacy-not as connection, but as a structure of power. Methodical and observant, he studies human behavior with unsettling precision, using online dating as a calculated environment in which trust can be carefully constructed and quietly manipulated. Told largely through Michael's perspective, the novel reveals the subtle mechanics of psychological influence-mirroring language, establishing routines, and cultivating dependence-while alternating chapters follow Stephanie, a perceptive survivor of emotional abuse working to rebuild her sense of stability after betrayal. Her self-awareness makes her cautious, yet her hope for genuine connection leaves space for vulnerability. As their relationship develops, tension steadily builds, exposing the unsettling contrast between perception and reality. Stephanie must rely on her understanding of psychological harm to navigate circumstances that challenge her sense of agency, while Michael's carefully maintained composure begins to reveal fractures beneath the surface. Blending dual perspectives with mounting suspense, the story examines how power can disguise itself as care, how trauma reshapes decision-making, and how survival often requires more than escape. The novel explores the lingering impact of manipulation and the complicated aftermath of reclaiming autonomy, leaving readers to question where true safety begins-and whether it can ever be fully restored.
