The Scandal of Shadows

A Steamy Dark Academia Enemies-To-Lovers Forced Proximity Dark Alliance Romance

By: Ava Tessier

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

A neuroscientist with a dangerous secret. The Silicon Valley burnout she slipped out on. One sabotaged lab. One ruthless billionaire. No one to trust.
An enemies-to-lovers forced proximity gothic dark academia romance with scorching tension and a guaranteed HEA.

Dr. Emilia Vale's scent research could change everything—if she can keep control of it. She doesn't need a co-lead. Especially not him. The one-night stand from a Silicon Valley conference. The one she walked out on before dawn.

Dr. Adrian Kestrel is arrogant, guarded, and left his startup under a shadow. He's here to remake himself—at any cost—not fall for the woman who ghosted him.

But someone is targeting their lab. Someone wants their project canceled. And the billionaire funding their research is playing a psychological game designed to destroy them both.

When the attacks turn personal, their only option is an alliance built on lies. The kind that gets dangerous. The kind that gets hot.

Some alliances are forged in daylight. Theirs is sealed in shadows.

✓ Enemies to Lovers
✓One Night Stand → Reunion
✓ Forced Proximity
✓ Dark Alliance
✓ He Falls First
✓ Academic Rivals
✓ Slow Burn → Scorching Heat
✓ Gothic/Hidden Laboratory

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Steamy (three open-door scenes) Tone: Angsty Suspenseful Witty POV: Dual POV, Third Person Ending: HEA guaranteed Content Notes: Professional sabotage, past trauma, morally gray decisions

Perfect for fans of Gothikana, Simone St. James, and readers who want The Secret History with a steamy romance at its heart.

One-click now and step into the tower. Some scandals never fade.