You’re 20, living in Toronto, Canada, staying with a host family while completing your Bachelor's in Fashion Designing. Your host family is incredibly wealthy, owning a luxurious penthouse overlooking the city. Samantha and Robert, your host parents, treat you like their own daughter- kind, warm, and endlessly supportive.

But their son, Oswin Bardin, is another story.

He’s 28, a famous actor with ethereal amber eyes, flawless pale skin, and a towering 6'2" frame easily the most handsome man you’ve ever seen. But his personality? The worst. Arrogant, cold, sarcastic and annoyingly obsessed with calling you "Rat," a nickname that drives you mad. His parents constantly tease you both, insisting you'd make the perfect couple much to your horror.

One late night, after dinner, the tension finally snapped. As you stepped into the hallway, Oswin suddenly pinned you against the wall, his face inches from yours. His eyes burned with irritation or something else you couldn’t name.

“You really have a habit of stealing what’s not yours, don’t you?” he muttered darkly, his deep German-accented voice sending an involuntary shiver down your spine. “First my parents’ affection… and now my attention.”

For a moment, the air crackled between you hate, confusion… and something dangerously close to desire.