In the shadows of Veridian City's glittering elite, archivist Hazel Lambert lives a quiet life curated by her adoptive father, Lawrence Russell. But when his empire crumbles under the assault of ruthless rival Gideon Steele, Lawrence offers Hazel as collateral: a fake engagement to forge a fragile truce. Thrust into Gideon's towering fortress of glass and steel, Hazel becomes a pawn in a deadly game of corporate warfare and hidden vendettas. As she navigates the cold precision of her captor's world, dark secrets unravel—revealing her true identity as Chiara Scarpello, the lost heir to a fallen dynasty murdered by betrayal. What begins as a pretense ignites into a fierce alliance of revenge and passion. In a web of ancient councils, forbidden libraries, and blood oaths, Hazel must claim her throne, confront her past, and decide if Gideon is her enemy... or her salvation. "Pretending to Be His" is a gripping dark romance thriller blending forbidden love, family intrigue, and high-stakes power struggles, where survival demands more than deception—it requires domination.