Monroe Brown, a 29-year-old psychotherapist specializing in violent crimes, navigates the vibrant life of Manhattan. After concluding her collaboration with the NYPD and the FBI, she celebrates the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one in her life with her friend, Sam, the bartender, at their favorite bar. On this fateful evening, she meets Liam Knight—a mysterious and successful criminal defense attorney, feared in courtrooms, who ignites her deepest desires. Their passionate, tumultuous love affair develops quickly, and just four months later, they marry in the garden of Liam’s parents’ home on Long Island. Two years later, they purchase a house in the small town of Somers, just thirty minutes from Manhattan, while Liam keeps his penthouse in the city. However, secrets and betrayal tear them apart when Liam is murdered. Grieving, Monroe remains in Somers, where suddenly Brian King enters her life. This enigmatic man, who reveals nothing about himself, soon awakens unexpected feelings in Monroe as a sinister game begins. She finds notes urging her to take specific actions, threatening to harm Liam’s family if she informs the police or anyone else. Overwhelmed by grief for Liam, Monroe stays in Somers, where Brian King suddenly appears in her life. Despite his initial refusal to help with minor repairs, suggesting she hire a handyman, Monroe persuades him to assist without payment, valuing his company above all. Brian is a tough nut to crack, while Monroe’s excessive chatter nearly drives him to madness. Yet, he remains tight-lipped about his own life, igniting unexpected emotions in her. Shortly after they first make love, someone begins a malicious game with Monroe. She finds notes in her house, invading her privacy in places like her underwear drawer. Fear grips her when she realizes these aren't from Brian but from an unknown person making wild claims about Liam that she cannot comprehend. The unknown individual knows many personal details about Monroe's daily life, ensuring she knows she's being watched. She attempts to communicate by writing on small notes, insisting she doesn’t understand the accusations about Liam and that there must be a mistake. The unknown responds promptly but, as Monroe hoped, maintains that Liam was indeed corrupt—the very worst kind. Realizing Monroe's ignorance, he begins his devious game, forcing her under threats to perform specific tasks, always with the risk of harming Liam’s family if she even considers sharing their game with anyone else. This game is designed for only two players. Monroe is tasked with searching for certain files in Liam’s office under specific names or cases, as well as on his computer, with instructions on which files to open and read. These files are often password-protected, and she sometimes struggles to find the right one, causing the unknown to apply pressure with detailed threats until she achieves her goal and secures the information to review at home. Initially, Monroe doesn’t understand what the perpetrator intends with this information, nor what it reveals about Liam. But as she investigates and pieces together the clues and claims about Liam, she uncovers horrific truths, gradually revealing a web of bribery, blackmail, and corruption. This ultimately explains the reasons behind Liam’s success in winning seemingly airtight and complex cases. However, the victims and families of those harmed, who never had a chance at justice, are left behind. Monroe realizes that the unknown individual is likely also Liam’s murderer, initially unaware of her ignorance or involvement when he began leaving her notes, aiming to reveal the real Liam and seeking revenge. In her desperation, she seeks protection from Brian, asking him under a false pretense to stay over at her house, which he declines, offering understandable reasons. However, he installs a security system in her home, providing some reassurance until she finds a new note with another task, terrifying her with the realization that, during the night when she is most vulnerable, the perpetrator has accessed her home again, yet the security system did not trigger. This discovery leads Monroe to Brian’s apartment, where she finds him with another woman. He makes it clear that she cannot say anything because they are not a couple, as she is not ready for that. Monroe acknowledges his point and decides to tell Brian about the unknown individual, his threats, and demands. Brian takes the distraught Monroe into his strong arms, promising to protect her. He shows Monroe his Glock, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, which he draws from the back of his waistband, shocking her. Why does Brian have a weapon so readily available? She realizes she knows nothing about Brian and begins to release her instincts and profiling skills as a forensic psychologist, which had been buried under her grief. She wants to uncover who the unknown assailant is, threatening her life and those she loves. But whom can she truly trust? Who is this unknown enemy? Or is this enemy closer than she thinks, leading to an inevitable battle of life and death?Monroe lay dying before Brian, on the cold, damp forest floor, her thoughts drifting to her mother and the hope of seeing her again. The reader is confronted with the overwhelming reality that her fate and Monroe's purpose in this world were not destined for love and safety for herself, but rather she was the element that maintained these for others. With the fulfillment of her purpose, Monroe's destiny concludes in ultimate loss. Brian, overcome by the tragedy of the situation, takes his own life after killing Monroe, highlighting the profound despair and futility of their circumstances. **Sub-elements:** Flashbacks reveal Monroe's life and the people who became victims of violent crimes, those she aided as a psychotherapist, and the individuals she loved and lost. Until her end, Monroe was a woman who ventured into the darkest depths despite her own fears, in order to help others. Yet, the light she sought and found throughout her life extinguished with her, enveloping her in complete darkness as a victim of a violent crime. An open ending leaves lingering questions about justice and the nature of fate.