The Second Time Around (The Murphy Empire #1)
Kazzy Miles
After years of enduring a marriage defined by control and fear, 29-year-old Allie finally finds the courage to walk away. But her "freedom" is a cage of a different kind. Her ex-husband refuses to let go, transforming into a shadow that haunts her every move. Retreating into a life of isolation in London, Allie is a shell of her former self—until a public breakdown at work forces a crossroads.
When she is offered a high-stakes transfer to Chicago, Allie sees it as more than a promotion; it’s a lifeline. She leaves the rainy streets of London for the towering skyline of the Windy City, determined to remain invisible and "un-fixable."
Enter Mason, a 35-year-old Londoner who built a new empire in Chicago to escape the wreckage of his own bitter divorce. He is disciplined, guarded, and has no room for complications. When his long-time PA retires, Allie steps into the role.
The chemistry is immediate and inconvenient. Mason recognises the haunted look in Allie's eyes, while Allie finds a strange sense of safety in Mason’s steady presence. As they navigate the high-pressure world of Chicago business, the professional boundaries they’ve painstakingly built begin to crumble.
What starts as a mutual distraction evolves into an undeniable connection. They stop running from their pasts and start sprinting toward each other. But the final test isn't in Chicago—it’s back where it all began. Together, Allie and Mason must return to London to face the ghosts they left behind, finally reclaiming their lives on their own terms.
