Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart Book 1 – Synopsis

Octavia D’Angelo thought she had it all: a successful, handsome fiancé and the perfect life mapped out before her. To friends and family, she and Harry looked like the golden couple. He spoiled her, praised her, made promises of forever. But behind closed doors, the dream was cracking. After losing his job due to an affair with his boss’s wife, Harry’s charm unravelled. His shame curdled into control, possessiveness, and emotional abuse. What began with subtle jabs soon escalated to isolation, gaslighting, and violence.

The fairy tale began to rot.

Eventually, the emotional abuse turned physical. Making sure her close relationship with her overprotective brother was shattering, her friendships were all destroyed. Making her feel it was her fault everytime he slapped, kicked or punched her. Octavia tried to excuse it. Told herself he’d return to the man she fell for. But his grip only tightened—until one night, he beat and raped her, leaving her alone and bleeding on their flat floor. Only a last-minute message to her brother saved her life. The incident wasn’t a one-time outburst—it was the culmination of months of psychological warfare and intimidation.

In hospital, Octavia learned she’d lost a pregnancy she hadn’t even known about. And the illusion was finally shattered—for her, and for her devastated family.

Depressed, ashamed, and haunted by nightmares, Octavia spiralled. Alcohol dulled the pain. She stayed in bed. She couldn’t breathe in the world he’d left behind. But one night, in the haze between too many sleeping pills and surrender, she had a dream: not of death, but of survival.

Determined to reclaim her life, Octavia leaves Hertfordshire behind and boards a plane to Los Angeles for her 26th birthday. It’s not escape—it’s resurrection. And though her family begs her to stay, but now Harry begins appearing uninvited, she knows she has to go.

Joshua Lockhart—Hollywood’s golden boy. Talented. Charming. Devastatingly handsome. The man plastered across movie posters and daydreams alike. This is the man she dreamed about and received a few beatings for. But when Octavia meets him at a nightclub with her new friends, it isn’t his fame that grabs her—it’s his humorous and sincerity. He sees past her nervousness. And she sees past his persona. Their connection is magnetic. Comforting. Real.

But the past doesn’t let go easily.

As their fierce, passionate, romance begins to bloom, the shadow of Octavia’s trauma still lingers. But being with Joshua comes with a price—and their love doesn’t go unnoticed.

When one of Joshua’s stalkers sets her sights on Octavia, everything unravels. A break-in. A violent attack. A city that no longer feels safe. Octavia runs into another man’s arms before running back across the ocean. Back into silence. Back to a world where love felt too dangerous to hold.

But this time… she’s not running from someone.

She’s running from herself.

Publisher - BookVAULT Publishing

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

By author

TC Williams

Published Date - 2025-07-20

ISBN - 9781806541881

Dimensions - 20.3 x 12.7 x 2.3 cm

Page Count - 422